Logistics activities in supply chain business process: A conceptual framework to guide their implementation

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a set of logistics activities for each key supply chain business process of the Global Supply Chain Forum (GSCF) model and a conceptual framework to guide their implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review on supply chain management (SCM) and logistics was conducted to integrate the existing knowledge of SCM, key business processes, and logistics; the latter is critical element for the success of SCM. A set of logistics activities and a conceptual framework are presented to guide their implementation in each of the key business process of the GSCF model. Three case studies were conducted in Brazilian food companies to verify the applicability of the proposed logistics activities, their characterization, and the conceptual framework.

Findings

The logistics activities, the key business processes, and the steps to their implementation are integrated into a comprehensive framework. A total of 24 logistics activities and a conceptual framework to guide their implementation for each key business process of the GSCF model were proposed focussing on competitive advantage in a supply chain environment.

Originality/value

The need for and the benefits derived from the involvement of the logistics in the key business processes of SCM have been reported in the literature, but the logistics activities in these processes and the way they were implemented have not yet been identified. According to Eisenhardt and Graebner (2007), building theory from case studies is an increasingly popular and relevant research strategy that involves using one or more cases to create theoretical constructs, propositions, and/or midrange theory from case-based empirical evidence. Therefore, the research gap to be filled with this manuscript is: “How does the involvement of the logistics area in the key business processes of the GSCF model occur?” The research question of the present study is: “Which activities are performed by the logistics area in the key business processes of the GSCF model and how to implement them?”. This study bridged the research gap and answered the research question by creating a theoretical construct through a conceptual framework to guide the implementation of the logistics activities for each key business process of the GSCF model. This paper aimed to extend the existing theory since the available literature has yet not addressed this research question at all.

Citation

Marchesini, M.M.P. and Alcântara, R.L.C. (2016), "Logistics activities in supply chain business process: A conceptual framework to guide their implementation", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 6-30. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-04-2014-0068