Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of lean principles to drive operational improvements in intermodal container facilities. Intermodal terminals have an important role in today’s globally complex supply networks. In the case of bottleneck-derived terminalization, operational issues such as achieving effective material flow remains a significant and common challenge. To assist with such challenges, the paper develops a conceptual framework built on the principles of lean. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, a theory-building approach is adopted and a lean terminalization framework developed by combining aspects of lean- and intermodal transport theory with practical insights. The framework was developed in conjunction with two intermodal container facilities within the Scandinavian region. Findings – The conceptual framework demonstrates how lean approaches can be used to identify improvement areas, as well as to develop solutions for improved material flow in the context of intermodal transport operations. The framework can be used to guide the lean implementation process in small to medium intermodal container facilities. Research limitations/implications – The development of the framework represents the first stage of a two-stage project. The second stage will involve implementing and empirically testing the framework in the practical settings of the two-case facilities. Practical implications – Lean is a philosophical approach that consists of a set of principles that drive organizations to continually add value to their operations. The application of lean practices enhances necessary process steps and eliminates those that fail to add value, thereby improving material flow and performance. Social implications – Improving the operational efficiency and effectiveness of container terminals out not only assists the profitability of the facilities but also has flow-on benefits for stakeholders, external customers, consumers and the environment. Originality/value – Lean has been successfully applied in manufacturing because the 1990s, and though it has also found relevance in a number of other industries, applications of lean within the intermodal transport sector is limited.

Ports are integral parts of many supply chains and are as such a contributing factor to the overall efficiency of the supply chain. As the role of the ports is increasingly changing towards being more integrated into the supply chain, ports need to start focusing on optimising the activities and striving for low-lead time. Ports are also complex entities comprising of different companies. The dynamic nature of ports is also a problem when trying to optimise the utilisation of resources and ensure a low lead-time. Information sharing is crucial in the attempt to improve ports operations. This paper attempts to explain how information sharing is enabled in such an environment, and which considerations are relevant, both in regards to the information and required technology. The paper highlights trust, availability of data, and complexity of solutions and technology, as being the main hurdles.

Abstract. In modern industry there are well defined methods for planning and optimising the efficiency of the production. However, when looking at supply chain operations there are often problems with lack of communication and planning between nodes. By not communicating the risk of creating non-value adding work also increases as the organisations becomes less synchronised. Therefore the focus in this paper is on how information can improve the performance of a container terminal. It was found that information relating to the containers is currently not widely used. Further it was found that there are improvements to be found in terms of reducing non-value adding activities by utilising information sharing.

Part 1: Knowledge Discovery and SharingInternational audienceSmall-to-medium ports are characterised with inefficient, ineffective and resource intensive information sharing, which is not supporting their complex and dynamic environment. This creates challenges both for optimizing the internal planning of the activities at the port according to the demand, and for stronger supply chain integration with the external actors. This paper focuses on identifying the needs and criteria for an information sharing system, and proposes an approach for sharing operational data in port systems for improved supply chain integration, in the context of logistic engineering. The proposed approach has the potential to alleviate some of the problems when operating in a dynamic demand environment

There is a lot of focus on intermodal transportation, maritime efficiency and port governance in the literature, but there is little regarding how to plan and coordinate activities in ports, especially in the context of small and medium sized ports. This paper will approach the planning tasks in port by using knowledge from the well-investigated field of planning and control in manufacturing and make use of the structure of strategic, tactical and operational planning, but relating this to the non-hierarchical setup found in most smaller ports. The paper finds that the general planning functions found in manufacturing planning and control can be applicable if approached as a way to align capacity and demand, and not focusing on the methods in the planning functions.