This study considers collaboration in logistics and transportation networks, hub networks, hub network design and transaction costs economics with reference to Europe. A new modeling framework is presented in which network design theory and transaction cost economics is combined into a comprehensive network design approach suitable for dealing with collaboration among shippers. This design approach is based on economic objectives such as minimizing total logistics costs, minimizing the user costs, and the preferred levels of service set by participants. In addition, the transaction costs of the involved actors (shippers, carriers etc) that influence their decision to participate in a collaborative network, seek an in-house solution, or outsource the activity, are incorporated. The logistics cost are ofgreat importance in this choice. Another important factor is the frequencywith which the decision needs to be reviewed and of course the uncertainty of the considered alternative. A methodology that can be used in this context is transaction cost economics, which is concerned with the minimization of the sum of production and governance costs. A number of options forcollaboration in logistics is described. Factors determining the transaction costs of a firm due to switching from the current situation to a possible collaborative form are discussed. Using these basic notions a networkdesign model is established for optimizing the structure and capacities of a logistics service network given one or more options for collaboration among shippers. This design model is then adopted in two real-life cases to demonstrate the impacts of different forms of collaboration on the structure of the logistics networks and related business costs. For the covering abstract see ITRD E144727. Reprinted by permission of Elsevier.
Samenvatting