An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Fuel Costs on the Level and Distribution of Manufacturing Inventory in the United States

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:Jian-yu "Fisher" Ke

摘要:While fuel costs have become an important factor in supply chain management, the impact of fuel costs on inventory levels and the distribution of inventories remains unclear. Location theory suggests that firms will relocate inventories to regions with lower fuel costs, leading to lower inventories in the states with higher fuel costs. In contrast, inventory theory suggests that firms will ship orders in greater quantity with less frequency when fuel costs are high, thus resulting in higher inventories in states with higher fuel costs. Using state-level cross-sectional, time-series data for manufacturing industries in the United States during 1994-2006, we empirically examine how fuel price disparities impact the location and dispersion of inventories. Our major findings are that: (1) states with higher fuel costs have lower inventories ceteris paribus; (2) there are lower inventory deviations across states when fuel costs rise; that is, the inventory distribution becomes flatter; and (3) when fuel costs increase, states with higher production output increase their inventories, while states with higher expenditures (as indicated by higher GDPs) experience relative decreases in inventories, suggesting that inventories are relocated from points of demand to points of production. We further quantify that a 1 percent increase in the gasoline price for a state results in a 0.40 percent reduction in inventory levels in the state. Public policy and managerial implications are discussed.

Interpretation of Public Feedback to Transportation Policy: A Qualitative Perspective

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:Anjala S. Krishen

摘要:Due to inadequate funding for road maintenance and expansion, many state governments are exploring the implementation of a vehicle-milestraveled (VMT) policy. Such a policy requires adequate communication to the public that not only informs but also communicates the issues of concern to the constituents. As part of this communication, the Nevada Department of Transportation began by conducting workshops, while local newspapers allowed Internet-based response to the basic idea of this tax. Our article takes the qualitative data obtained from these multiple sources and analyzes it via a two-pronged qualitative methodology. First, we ascertain common profiles through iterative coding, and then we use concept maps to delve into the relationships between themes within these segments. Our findings indicate that by using qualitative segmentation followed by concept mapping of open-ended customer data, public policy officials can find genres or issues of interest to large segments and address those in communication endeavors.

Index 2013 Volume 52 Numbers 1-4

[国外交通期刊数据库]

摘要:Index 2013 Volume 52 Numbers 1-4

Informations

[国外交通期刊数据库]

摘要:Informations

Introduction

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:Evelyn Thomchick

摘要:Introduction

Organizational Implants and Logistics Service Innovation: A Relational Social Capital Perspective

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:Scott J. Crawe

摘要:Though many companies are placing or implanting employees within supply chain partners' firms for the purposes of improving organizational and supply chain performance, research to date has not suf-ficiently addressed the outcomes of organizational implantation. Our research is specifically focused on the impact that logistics service provider (LSP) implantation has on logistics service innovation for the customer. In a dyadic study pairing 81 LSP implants with their customers, we assess the direct linkage of interorganizational task interdependence, as well as the mediating effects of relational social capital and knowledge exchange on the logistics service innovation of the customer. Empirical analysis revealed significantly more logistics innovation for those customers hosting implants. The logistics innovation is attributable to fully mediated relational social capital and knowledge exchange capa-bilities in the implantation relationship. Managerial directions related to our findings, as well as possibilities for future implantation-related research, are discussed.

Antecedents and Consequences of Integrating Logistics Capabilities across the Supply Chain

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:David Marius Gligor

摘要:Although current literature acknowledges the importance of integrated logistics capabilities, little empirical research exists on the antecedents and outcomes of this capability. The current study addresses this gap by examining how firms can develop integrated logistics capabilities and how this capability impacts firm performance. Specifically, the study identifies and empirically establishes the link between the behavioral elements of cooperation, coordination, and communication, and the achievement of integrated logistics capabilities. The results suggest that all three behavioral elements contribute directly to the integration of logistics capabilities across members of the supply chain. Further, it was found that the integration of logistics capabilities does impact operational and relational performance. The integration of logistics capabilities has the potential to lower the overall firm costs, and lead to better relation-ships with customers and the delivery of superior customer value.

The Role of Feeder Shipping in Chinese Container Port Development

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:Yuhong Wang

摘要:The future development of China's container ports has become a critical issue, due to the sector's dependence on international trade and the excessive interport competition that exists both within China itself and with the ports of neighboring countries. This article investigates the potential for utilizing domestic feeder shipping services (i.e., coastal and river container shipping services that carry both international and domestic cargoes) as a new source of future long-term growth in China's container port sector. The Gini coefficient is utilized as an indicator for assessing the evolution of throughput over time for the 12 major container ports involved in feeder shipping operations in China. By applying decomposition analysis to a time series of throughput data, the key contributions of feeder shipping services to port development are identified. In addition, structural and spatial concentration effects on corresponding market segment components are computed. Finally, research findings provide evidence that there are potential opportunities for container ports to benefit from burgeoning feeder services carrying domestic trade and engaging in coastal transshipment activities.

Guest Editors' Introduction

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:Sveinn Vidar Gudmundsson

摘要:Guest Editors' Introduction

EU-US Open Skies Agreement: What Is Changed in the North Transatlantic Skies?

[国外交通期刊数据库] 作者:Valentina Morandi

摘要:This article presents analysis of air service levels and competition dynamics in the transatlantic market before and after the EU-US Open Skies Agreement (OSA) signed in 2008. By comparing direct and connecting flights in a typical off-peak week, we investigate whether the EU-US OSA has led to more choices for transatlantic travelers. We examine the impact of the EU-US OSA on competition between carriers, alliances, and hub airports. The results show that the number of direct transatlantic connections and served airport pairs decreased and only indirect competition increased.