Title: The use of third party logistics services by Swedish manufacturing firms: current situation and future prospects

Authors: Lianguang Cui, Lisa Sjoholm, Ying Wang

Addresses: EMM, Jonkoping International Business School, P.O. Box 1026, 55111, Jonkoping, Sweden. ' Thule (Sweden) AB, P.O. Box 69, 33033, Hillerstorp, Sweden. ' Martin Bencher (Scandinavia) AB, Nymarsta Grand 6, 2nd floor, SE-195 30 Marsta, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: The aim of this research is to examine the usage of TPL services by manufacturing firms in Sweden. The paper focuses on several key issues relating to the extent of usage of TPL services; decision-making process; the impact of using TPL services on user firms; specific TPL services that were used and future plans to use TPL services. More than half of the respondents were using TPL services and most of the users were satisfied with their service providers. While cost consideration was still critical, customer satisfaction reliability and service quality were becoming more crucial to decision-making and evaluation. This research provides results and analysis to practitioners by depicting the impacts of using TPL services. It also gives information to TPL service providers so they can better understand the current situation and future challenges.

Keywords: outsourcing; third party logistics; TPL; 3PL; supply chain management; SCM; manufacturing supply chains; Sweden.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2009.027682

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2009 Vol.1 No.4, pp.396 - 418

Published online: 07 Aug 2009 *

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