Title: Determinants of scale efficiency in the Brazilian 3PL industry from 2001 to 2008

Authors: Peter F. Wanke

Addresses: Center for Logistics Studies, The COPPEAD Graduate Business School, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Paschoal Lemme, 355, Cidade Universitaria, Rio de Janeiro, CEP. 21.949-900, Brazil

Abstract: The article investigates the Brazilian third-party logistics (3PL) sector which, increasingly competitive, offers clients a wide variety of services/IT technologies in the quest to bolster efficiency. The main research objective is to determine which variables significantly impact 3PLs scale efficiency by applying two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA). Based on an unbalanced panel model, data from the annual study published by Revista Tecnologistica (years 2001-2008) were analysed. The required inputs and outputs for the analysis were identified, as were the contextual variables that can affect the scale efficiency of the 3PLs. The results support findings in the literature regarding the role coordination processes play in logistics performance.

Keywords: data envelopment analysis; Malmquist DEA; third-party logistics; 3PL; scale efficiency; Brazil; competitiveness; ICT; information technology; communications technology; unbalanced panel models; contextual variables; coordination processes; logistics management; economics; globalisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLEG.2010.036301

International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation, 2010 Vol.2 No.3, pp.217 - 232

Published online: 01 Nov 2010 *

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