Title: World class logistics - south of the border: an analysis of Mexican maquiladora environmentally responsible practices

Authors: Kevin W. Cruthirds; Tom Coyle; Marco Polo Tello Velasco; Blanca G. Marquez

Addresses: University of Texas at Brownsville, One West University Boulevard, Brownsville, Texas 78520, USA ' University of Texas at Brownsville, One West University Boulevard, Brownsville, Texas 78520, USA ' Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca, Instituto de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Km. 2.5 Carretera Huajuapan-Acatlima, 06900, Mexico ' Albea Cosmetics America, 4649 Towerwood Dr., Brownsville, Texas 78521, USA

Abstract: This research is an analysis of Mexican maquiladoras' (factories in a free trade zone) status toward achieving world class logistics. The hypotheses are predictors of these firms' adaptation toward environmentally-responsible logistics using the typology of positioning, integration, ability and measurement. Statistical testing uses a survey of Mexican maquiladora manufacturing firms from central Mexico and the Texas-Mexico border. The results of the updated literature and statistical testing suggest several conclusions. First, the findings demonstrate that environmentally-responsible logistics (ERL) is a key component of logistics performance in Mexico. The implication is that ERL is not restricted to select countries but is spreading across borders. Second, this research provides a reliable scale for use in Spanish-speaking countries enabling research in most of Latin America. Third, at least two components should be added to the framework construction, corporate social responsibility and reverse logistics.

Keywords: world class logistics; maquiladora manufacturing; environmentally-responsible logistics; ERL; green logistics; corporate social responsibility; CSR; reverse logistics; green manufacturing; sustainability; logistics planning; Mexico; North American Free Trade Agreement; NAFTA; productivity; quality; sustainable development; logistics performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2015.068471

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2015 Vol.15 No.3, pp.285 - 308

Published online: 18 Apr 2015 *

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