Title: Quality management for seaports integrated in supply chains

Authors: Hai Tran; Stephen Cahoon; Shu-Ling Chen

Addresses: Department of Maritime and Logistics Management, Australian Maritime College, Tasmania, 7250, Australia. ' Department of Maritime and Logistics Management, Australian Maritime College, Tasmania, 7250, Australia. ' Department of Maritime and Logistics Management, Australian Maritime College, Tasmania, 7250, Australia

Abstract: Over the years, seaports have evolved through various generations to become an integral node in supply chains. Continual reforms have been required for seaports to change their organisational structure and management practice to provide higher quality of service whilst maintaining lower costs to ensure long-term sustainability. To achieve this, a framework of quality management practices for modern day seaports integrated in supply chains is proposed. Based on the framework, the practices and attributes for seaport quality management are conceptually developed and empirically tested through a postal survey of senior seaport managers in Vietnam. The findings show that eight internal and four external quality practices are recognised by senior managers as being important conditions for quality management in seaports, however, further investigation of the external practices is recommended as seaports and supply chains become further integrated and dependent on a global scale.

Keywords: supply chain integration; seaports; ports; quality management; supply chain management; SCM; Vietnam; quality practices.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2012.049309

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2012 Vol.4 No.4, pp.376 - 392

Received: 07 Nov 2011
Accepted: 21 Nov 2011
Published online: 14 Aug 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article