Title: Logistics outsourcing and supply management in Finland, Sweden and UAE

Authors: Olli-Pekka Hilmola, Albert Wee Kwan Tan

Addresses: Lappeenranta University of Technology, Kouvola Research Unit, Prikaatintie 9, FIN-45100 Kouvola, Finland. ' University of Wollongong, Block 15, Knowledge Village, PO Box 20183, Dubai, UAE

Abstract: Success factors and state of operating principles are well reported from larger countries and corporations. However, globally, an interesting pool of countries is economically prospering including small ones, and their respective companies. This is the motivation behind our research work – to gain understanding from the scope of logistics outsourcing and strategic supplier management in defined countries. The completed survey shows that transportation function, warehousing and customs brokerage are typical functions for outsourcing activity. Further analysis reveals that transportation is the key decision in the logistics outsourcing path. In the supplier network side, it seems to be the case that UAE differs considerably from North European countries and it is a question whether the first mentioned should absorb practises from the latter.

Keywords: logistics outsourcing; supply chain management; SCM; United Arab Emirates; UAE; Finland; Sweden; strategic supplier management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2010.029774

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2010 Vol.3 No.1, pp.32 - 53

Published online: 02 Dec 2009 *

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