Setting up a production network of e-documents: a case of a shipping company
by Walter W.C. Chung, Michael F.S. Chan, Stanley Y.C. Wong
International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management (IJLSM), Vol. 1, No. 2/3, 2005

Abstract: This paper proposes a concept of using a centralised documentation centre to produce shipping documents in a logistics shipping company. This centre is responsible for producing the bill of lading legal documents that were originally the responsibility of company's various geographically dispersed offices. The aim is to enhance the cost of operations and the efficiency of the logistics and supply chain linkages. The centralisation of documentation activities will have to be carried in a way that simultaneously enhances cost and maintains/improves the customer service level (no late document delivery and no change to the document format), with the vision that the centre can in-source document production work from other shipping companies (or even competitors) for economy of scale. This could achieve a win-win situation amongst shippers, agents and customers and improve the competitiveness of the entire shipping line. A case study is used to describe an initiative in business process reengineering that transforms the operation of a third party logistics service provider to one of the fourth party logistics. The case articulates a system implementation project to manage the design and implementation of an inter-organisational information system to link disperse operations together to form a new logistics network to benefit multi-stakeholders within the group. This paper contributes knowledge towards building a theory in the development of a fourth party logistics operation from the multi-stakeholder perspective. This case provides a practical example of enterprise transformation in the real world.

Online publication date: Sun, 09-Jan-2005

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management (IJLSM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com