A Concept for Improving the Security and Efficiency of Multimodal Supply Chains

Abstract

Multimodal supply chains are characterized by multiple changes of transport modes and vehicles. Hence the risks for theft, untimely delivery and freight quality deterioration increase. There is hence a growing need to manage the security and efficiency of consignments from door to door. This paper describes the results of the Finnish national SCIE (Supply Chain Security and Integrity) project, which had as main objective the development of a holistic framework for the management of the security and efficiency of supply chains. A profound risk analysis was performed to find key vulnerabilities of the service and suitable monitoring technology. The security service was developed to deal with the vast amount of actors in the multimodal supply chain, accurate transport plan data reception and the identification of exceptional situations. The service concept was tested by monitoring and analysing steel product shipments from Finland to Central Europe. Advanced intelligent monitoring devices were attached to the consignments. These devices gathered and transmitted in real-time environmental, transport stress and location information. The paper will give an overview of the framework, service concept and the analysed results of a multimodal shipment from Finland to Italy.

Understanding supply chain security strategy

“…Understanding strategy is at the core of supply chain research (Christopher et al 2006;Tokman et al 2007) and it is through firm strategy formulation that cost/benefit considerations are weighed (Tang, 2006). But supply chains, particularly those that are multimodal, are vastly complex (Scholliers et al 2012), where a multitude of firms in any given network will employ a myriad of strategies. As a result, academicians have dedicated efforts to understanding them, and in some cases guiding them.…”

Full Issue (23.1, Spring/Summer 2012)

“…Understanding strategy is at the core of supply chain research (Christopher et al 2006;Tokman et al 2007) and it is through firm strategy formulation that cost/benefit considerations are weighed (Tang, 2006). But supply chains, particularly those that are multimodal, are vastly complex (Scholliers et al 2012), where a multitude of firms in any given network will employ a myriad of strategies. As a result, academicians have dedicated efforts to understanding them, and in some cases guiding them.…”