Research
Logistics research is pivotal to the development of our industry. SCL partners with leading industry groups to bring its members up to date research and emerging trends in key areas of logistics.
Local Community Context and Logistics Development Decisions: What Really Matters?
Paper by Paul Jakubicek, Candidate for Master's of Arts in Planning, School of Planning, University of Waterloo
Published Spring 2010
Abstract
Distribution, warehousing and logistics facilities located in Canadian municipalities have significant impacts on surrounding land uses and on nearby transportation infrastructure, not to mention the broader socio-economic environment. While there is considerable literature available concerning the location choices of generic industrial firms, explorations of logistics firms’ locations have been less extensive. This is somewhat surprising because of the increasing ‘footlooseness’ of logistics firms and the potential issues surrounding their activity, for example related to the amount of freight traffic that they generate. There is a need for the public sector, including planners and economic developers, to better understand the requirements of the logistics industry in order to accommodate these firms while mitigating potentially adverse impacts to communities.
2010 SCI Group Inc. National Student Paper Award Winner
Capacity Planning with Financial and Operational Hedging in Low Cost Countries: Is Vietnam a Better Bet Than China? by Mr. Letian Wang
Abstract
We study a capacity planning problem in which a risk-averse firm plans to reserve capacities with potential suppliers located in multiple countries to hedge demand and exchange rate risks. We provide both analytical and numerical results from a general model with n suppliers, as well as a special case with two suppliers in China and Vietnam. With financial hedging, the risk-averse firm has access to financial markets so that it is able to adjust capacity and production allocation decisions conditional on financial information, the result of which always increases optimal utility. In general, the effect of financial hedging increases with firm’s risk aversion or when there is positive correlation between exchange rates. Operational hedging becomes more useful when the firm is risk-neutral or when there is negative correlation between exchange rates. Finally, we conclude that financial hedging can be used as a substitute for operational hedging. With financial hedging, the risk-averse firm tends to decrease its capacity proportion in China due to its substitution effect.
Port Performance Research Network (PPRN)
Port Performance and Port Effectiveness Report to Respondents
Published November 2009
About the Study
The Port Performance Research Network (PPRN), chaired at Dalhousie University, is working to identify and evaluate the key components of port performance, with a particular focus on port effectiveness in delivering port services to port users. Our goal is to understand how port users evaluate ports, what is most important to them in terms of the services received, and how they evaluate the performance of ports they use. In this study, participants were asked to rate the importance of various performance criteria and then to apply them to ports they use by evaluating that port’s performance on those dimensions.
This survey is being pilot-tested in Canada. When this research is completed, the PPRN will be implementing a port satisfaction / port performance survey that will be used throughout the world to evaluate port performance in meeting customer needs. As performance is about more than just satisfaction we wanted to know what else contributes to better performance in the eyes of port users. This research will assist in two ways: 1) based on the findings, port users will be able to see how ports perform on the various dimensions of port performance; and 2) the findings should assist ports in benchmarking their performance against others they see as competitors, and should guide ports in improving the quality of their services, which will be a significant benefit to the port users.
Green Supply Chain Management Reports
Published September 2009
Supply Chain & Logistics Association Canada partnered with Industry Canada to review the benefits of adopting GSCM practices to improve business competitiveness. Fall 2009, will see the release of the first comprehensive Canadian reports that resulted from this partnership focused on three sectors:
- Logistics and Transportation Services
- Retail and Consumer Products (3rd partner, Retail Council of Canada)
- Manufacturing (3rd partner, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters)
Based on the 2008 Green Supply Chain Survey and intelligence from industry, and using economic analysis from Industry Canada, the reports will provide industry with the latest KPI, best practices and future trends as a benchmark tool to develop their own business case and roadmap for implementing an action plan. Policy makers will gain industry perspectives for developing policies that better respond to current and future industry needs. The hallmark of the reports highlights the competitive advantages that best-in-class businesses receive.
2009 SCI Logistics National Student Paper Award Winner
This is the full research article as metioned in SCL's Fall/Winter 2009 issue of the Journal.
RESEARCH ON DEMAND FORECASTING ACCURACY WITH DIFFERENT PROCESSES AND FORECASTING METHODS by Kemeng Jiao
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research is to review the effectiveness and accuracy of usage rate forecasting methods that are currently used by Company A, and to make suitable recommendations and improvements regarding to demand forecasting approaches.
The final result of this research indicates the company’s unclear realization of the seasonality behind some SKUs, inefficient classification for SKUs, and inefficient inventory control at the branch level of the company. Additionally, the research indicates the performance of using the ABC classification for future demand forecasting of non-seasonal products and identify the suitable usage months for different groups of SKUs.
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Insights For Building Canada's Stock of SCM Talent
This is the full research article with graphs. An edited version appears in SCL's Spring/Summer 2009 issue of the Journal.
Enhancing supply chain management (SCM) performance in Canadian companies requires developing people with the appropriate vision, determination, and SCM competence. This represents a real opportunity for individuals with career interests in SCM, but realizing the opportunity involves addressing a crucial question: what specific skills and attributes must those individuals have in order to help companies effectively confront current and future SCM challenges? This places an important responsibility on the major suppliers of SCM talent: post-secondary institutions with programs in SCM and SCM’s allied fields such as logistics. Correctly answering this question is essential in supporting the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council’s (CSCSC) goal of having a robust stock of SCM talent.
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Canadian Transportation & Logistics Magazine: The 10th annual Survey of the Canadian Logistics Professional
Originally published in two parts in the January & February 2009 issues of Canadian Transportation & Logistics.
For the Tenth Year, TSI Executive Search is proud to partner with Canadian Transportation & Logistics, and be endorsed by Supply Chain & Logistics Association Canada (SCL) and Wilfrid Laurier’s School of Business & Economics, to present the most comprehensive, industry specific survey of its kind in Canada; the salary survey of the supply chain professional.
This survey was designed from the outset to get at the heart of what makes for a competitive compensation package for a supply chain professional, and which factors are the most influential in determining pay levels. And after a decade in the field examining pay and other human resource issues, we have been able to gather a great deal of trending information, providing valuable insights into how pay packages for the supply chain profession are evolving. Such trending is valuable in helping us understand exactly how well supply chain salaries are holding up against previous gains.
Download a PDF of the full survey
A Workforce Strategy for Alberta’s Supply Chain Logistics Industry
A Workforce Strategy for Alberta’s Supply Chain Logistics Industry was developed by stakeholders from this sector with support from the Alberta government. Stakeholder representatives were involved in a series of discussions between November 2007 and October 2008 and the input from those sessions forms the content of this strategy. Individual associations have identified actions they support and to which they will contribute with related projects and initiatives.
Materials Management & Distribution (MM&D): 2008 Salary Survey
Published November 2008.
MM&D's 21st salary survey of supply chain professionals reveals who’s making what and how industry professionals feel about pay, work conditions and the challenges they face.
Click here to read the results.
State of Logistics: The Canadian Report 2008
Published November 2008.
Supply Chain & Logistics Association Canada (SCL) and Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) partnered with Industry Canada to identify key performance indicators intended to help Canadian supply chain managers and decision-makers understand current and future trends, their competitive position in relation to leading firms within their own sector, and the steps that can be taken to become more competitive.
About the Report:
Section I of this report examines the cost trends of Canadian logistics and supply chain management (SCM) and reviews Canadian inventory management practices, the logistics industry, as well as port activities that support these specific functions.
Section II provides an overview and analysis of the drivers that affect the Canadian logistics and SCM world. Key drivers include the impact of global commerce, security within supply chains, increasing energy costs, sustainable development practices, and technology.
Annexes I-III contain Canada and US supply chain management costs, Canadian sub-sectors' logistics costs, and Canadian supply chain agility performance indicators to allow firms to benchmarks themselves against their competitors.
State of Logistics: The Canadian Report 2008. L'état de la Logistique: Le Rapport Canadien 2008.
Supply Chain Intermediaries Study
Prepared for: Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation by A. Hickson, Ph. D., CFA, B. Wirth, B. Comm. (Hons), G. Morales, B. Comm. (Hons), University of Manitoba Transport Institute
Published 2008.
Abstract
This report identifies and defines the different types of supply chain intermediary firms in Manitoba. A general analysis of the industry is followed by the results of 18 in‐person interviews of Manitoba intermediaries selected from a list provided by the D&B research company. The interviews examine the issues and opportunities in the industry along with the respondent’s opinions towards Government initiatives.
Taming That Monster Under the Bed
Exploring Critical Relationships Between Supply Chains and the Environment
Highlights from the conference, June 9 - 10, 2008.
The Joint Learning Initiative and partners - the Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal College, The Van Horne Institute, the City of Calgary and the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council - offer you video and PowerPoint presentations on the urgent issue of supply chains and the environment.
Low Cost Country Sourcing Sector Reports
Supply Chain & Logistics Association Canada partnered with Industry Canada to develop research on low cost country sourcing (LCCS). The analysis allows manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and 3PLs to better understand the current trends and to benchmark certain key performance indicators (KPI) of LCCS within their own specific sector.
- The manufacturing report, retail and consumer product goods report and automotive, aerospace, pharmaceutical and electronic reports are available now for SCL members. Please click the link below to access the report in either official language.
English reports French reports
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Approvisionnement mondial - Rapports de recherche
Association chaine d'approvisionnement et logistique Canada s’est joint à Industrie Canada en vue d’entreprendre une étude au sujet des modes d’approvisionnement sur le marché mondial. Les fabricants, distributeurs et détaillants peuvent suivre les tendances et mesurer certains indicateurs de rendement de la chaîne d’approvisionnement dans leurs secteurs respectifs.
- Le rapport manufacturier est disponible dès maintenant pour les membres de CAL.
- Le rapport du secteur du détail est disponible dès maintenant .
- Les rapports des secteurs aérospatiale, automobile, électronique et pharmaceutique sont disponibles dès maintenant.
Veuillez cliquer sue les liens ci-bas pour avoir accès aux rapports disponibles dans les deux langues officielles.
Rapports anglais Rapports français
JLI Banana Case Study
Explore the logistical journey of the banana through the supply chain, careers, and the people that make it happen.
Click here to access the JLI Banana Case Study.