Title: Challenges and opportunities for logistics standardisation in Asia-Pacific countries: a descriptive case study

Authors: Hokey Min; Hyun-Jeung Ko; Yong-Kon Lim; Jong-Won Park; Yong Kap Cho

Addresses: James R. Good Chair in Global Supply Chain Strategy, Department of Management, BAA 3008C, College of Business Administration, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, USA ' Department of Logistics, Kunsan National University, 68 Miryong-dong, Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea ' The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Building B-213, Yousung Road 1312-32, Daejeon, Choongnam, Korea ' The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Building B-213, Yousung Road 1312-32, Daejeon, Choongnam, Korea ' Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion (KIMST), Yangjae 2-Dong, Seocho-Ku, Seoul, Korea

Abstract: We discovered that logistics standardisation could pose various challenges due to marked differences in business customs, culture, infrastructure, and government policies. As compared to USA and EU countries, the extent of logistics standardisation in both China and Korea is limited due in part to the lack of promotional and enforcements made by their governments and the absence of regional organisations that can actively initiate and unify multi-national logistics standardisation efforts. Such a lack of logistics standardisation often hampers the rapid growth of the logistics industry in Asia-Pacific countries. Based on case studies, this paper examined the current logistics practices of two emerging economies (China and Korea) in the Asia-Pacific region, identified the lack of logistics standardisation as the sources of their logistics inefficiencies, and then developed theoretical underpinnings of logistics standardisation and its managerial implications for multinational firms which are engaged in global logistics activities.

Keywords: global logistics; logistics standardisation; case study; Asia-Pacific; business customs; culture; infrastructure; government policies; China; Korea; regional organisations; emerging economies; multinational enterprises; MNEs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2014.059767

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2014 Vol.17 No.3, pp.357 - 380

Published online: 21 Jun 2014 *

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