Institute of Transportation, MOTC

Hsin-Ker Chang, 2008.06
Graduate Institute of Transportation Science, Tamkang University

　　Supply chain collaboration has become an important issue in response to the keenly competitive market. The recent collaborative initiative, termed Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment (CPFR®), has begun to gain wide acclaim for the benefits it delivers. Collaborative Transportation Management (CTM) is a new collaboration model in CPFR by extending the core elements to include the transportation component. CTM is a holistic process that improve the operating performance of all parties involved in the relationship by eliminating inefficiencies in the transportation component of the supply chain through collaboration. However, past studies in supply chain collaboration mostly focused on the vertical collaboration of supply chain parties, few literatures have been paid to the impact of transportation management on logistics capabilities and competitive advantages for logistics providers in supply chain. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships between CTM, logistics capabilities, and competitive advantages, and analyze the CTM influence those relationships.

　　This study empirically examines the relationships between collaborative transportation management, logistics capabilities, and competitive advantages for logistics companies introducing the CTM. This study applies factor analysis and structure equation modeling (SEM) to identify major aspects of CTM, logistics capabilities and competitive advantages, and analyze their relationships. Based on a factor analysis, three key collaborative factors, four key logistics capabilities, and three key competitive advantages were identified. About collaborative factors, namely, relationship integration, collaboration and planning, and collaborative information.

　　Key logistics capabilities include audit and internal operation, customer service, costs and service quality, and productivity. Key competitive advantages include, cost leadership, differentiation, and uncertainty. A SEM approach was also employed in this study. The results indicate that collaborative transportation management has a positive effect on logistics capabilities and competitive advantages, and logistics capability has a positive effect on competitive advantages. Furthermore, an interaction analysis on path analysis of SEM was also discussed in this study. The results indicate that the integration of collaborative information and costs and service quality has positive effect on cost leadership, while the combination of relationship integration and customer service has positive effect on uncertainty reduction. This study deduces information for logistics companies about what are determinants of CTM adoption, and what are impacts of CTM on logistics capabilities and competitive advantages.

　　This study suggests logistics companies not only develop core logistics capabilities but also apply collaborative transportation management system to enhance their competitive advantages.