Diagnosis of delivery vulnerability in a logistics system for logistics risk management
The International Journal of Logistics Management
ISSN: 0957-4093
Article publication date: 16 December 2019
Issue publication date: 4 May 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Delivery vulnerability is a critically important theme in logistics risk management. However, while logistics service providers often collect and retain massive amounts of logistics data, they seldom utilize such information to diagnose recurrent day-to-day logistics risks. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate delivery vulnerabilities in a logistics system using its own accumulated data.
Design/methodology/approach
This study utilizes pragmatic business analytics to derive insights on logistics risk management from operations data in a logistics system. Additionally, normal accident theory informs the discussion of its management implications.
Findings
This study’s analytical results reveal that a tightly coupled logistics system can align with normal accident theory. Specifically, the vulnerabilities of such a system comprise not only multi-components but also interactive ones.
Research limitations/implications
The tailored business analytics comprise a research foundation for logistics risk management. Additionally, the important research implications of this study’s analytical results arrived at via such results’ integration with normal accident theory demonstrate the value of that theory to logistics risk management.
Practical implications
The trade-offs between logistics risk and logistics-system efficiency should be carefully evaluated. Moreover, improvements to such systems’ internal resilience can help to alleviate potential logistics vulnerabilities.
Originality/value
This pioneering analytical study scrutinizes the critical vulnerability issues of a logistics service provider and therefore represents a valuable contribution to the field of logistics risk management. Moreover, it provides a guide to retrieving valuable insights from existing stockpiles of delivery-vulnerability data.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
An earlier version of this paper was presented at The 8TH GIKA Conference, where we received many helpful suggestions. This paper is partially supported by Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, R.O.C under grant MOST 106-2410-H-035-013-MY2. The authors wish to thank the Editor-in-Chief Professor Britta Gammelgaard, Associate Editor Professor Samuel Fosso Wamba and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions. Any errors or omissions remain the sole responsibility of the authors.
Citation
Wu, P.-J. and Chaipiyaphan, P. (2020), "Diagnosis of delivery vulnerability in a logistics system for logistics risk management", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 43-58. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-02-2019-0069
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited