Title: Logistics in small and medium companies in Central and Eastern Europe

Authors: Zoltan Szegedi

Addresses: St. Stephen University, Budapest 1143, Hungary

Abstract: While large (multinational) companies have an advantage in terms of economic competitiveness due to their size and the financial benefits they enjoy on the global market, this does not work for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The path to SME competitiveness – even when fixing and streamlining their logistics processes and installing their logistics information systems – begins with flexibility and adoptability: they must meet the unique needs of their large customers. An empirical survey of 117 SMEs (examining logistics practices and their relationship of information systems, such as the existence and use of an integrated ERP system) was carried out under the leadership of the author. Our goal was to prove the relationship between the quality of the logistics processes (functionality, agility, process measures) and their effect on the position of SMEs on the market. We have received insights on how logistics affect the competitiveness of these enterprises.

Keywords: logistics performance; supply chain competitiveness; strategic partnerships; logistics service providers; LSP; transport intensity; inventory intensity; cost-service optimisation; push-pull operation; enterprise resource planning; ERP; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; supply chain management; SCM; Central and Eastern Europe; CEE; information systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2008.017530

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2008 Vol.1 No.3, pp.359 - 370

Published online: 13 Mar 2008 *

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