A logistics and supply chain management approach to port performance measurement

Although there is widespread recognition of the potential of ports as logistics centres, widely accepted performance measurements for such centres have yet to be developed. The essence of logistics and supply chain management is an integrative approach to the interaction of different processes and functions within a firm extended to a network of organizations for the purpose of cost reduction and customer satisfaction []. The logistics approach often adopts a cost trade-off analysis between functions, processes and even supply chains []. This approach could be beneficial to port efficiency by directing port strategy towards relevant value-added logistics activities. This paper seeks to show that through conceptualizing ports from a logistics and supply chain management approach, it is possible to suggest a relevant framework of port performance. A proposed framework is tested in a survey of port managers and other international experts.     

The ‘safety in density’ effect for cyclists and motor vehicles in Scandinavia: An observational study

Safety in density (SID) potentially explains the safety in numbers (SIN) phenomenon by positing that ‘the SIN effect can be reproduced simply through encouraging behaviour that leads to the formation of higher-density cyclist groups’. The study further explores this hypothesis using event-based exposure, queues and groups of road users. Using three different definitions of encounters between road users, these were manually counted at signalized intersections, and their relationship to traffic volume was assessed. Based only on the frontmost motor vehicle in a queue and one cyclist among the several passing in front of that vehicle, the results show a less than linear relationship between meetings and traffic volume. An increase in the number of cyclists entails a general increase in cyclists passing in front of each motor vehicle, and an increase in motor vehicles increases queue lengths. However, crash data from the Swedish accident database (STRADA) show that it is exceedingly rare for multiple cyclists to be injured in the same crash. Together with results from a crash-encounter model, this suggests that the SID hypothesis may help to explain SIN     

Urban Space Distribution and Sustainable Transport

In many cities of the world, road space is increasingly contested. Growing vehicle numbers, traffic calming and the development of new infrastructure for more sustainable transport modes such as bicycles have all contributed to pressure on available space and conflicts over the allocation of space. This paper provides the first assessment of urban transport infrastructure space distribution, distinguishing motorized individual transport, public transport, cycling and walking. To calculate area allocation, an assessment methodology was developed using high-resolution digital satellite images in combination with a geographical information system to derive area measurements. This methodology was applied to four distinctly different city quarters in Freiburg, Germany. Results indicate that space is unevenly distributed, with motorized individual transport being the favoured transport mode. Findings also show that if trip number to space allocation ratios are calculated, one of the most sustainable transport modes, the bicycle, is the most disadvantaged. This suggests that area allocation deserves greater attention in the planning and implementation of more sustainable urban transport designs.     

通用大宇沉浮录·下篇·

GMDAT策略:品牌重建、弥补GM全球车型总体规划的不足和空白、增强在新兴市场知名度上篇中曾提到,为使通用大宇重新占领市场,通用面临诸多挑战。但在很短的时间内,通用就稳定了大宇的军心,重拾了客户与企业之间的信心联系,再次启动新车型开发项目,且确保对GMDAT的财政支持。以上措施尽管取得了一定的效果,但通用深知要想     

销量虽然繁荣,隐性问题犹在

<正>产量过剩,令人眼花缭乱的车型可能降低汽车利润在2009年,中国超越美国成为了世界上最大的轻型车市场。2010年的前4个月,中国轻型车销量创纪录地达到了580万辆,与去年同期360万辆的销量相比提高了60%。强劲的销售势头使得众多汽车制造商充满了极度乐观的情绪。汽车制造商们纷纷宣布计划加大投资以扩大在中国的产能。近期,大众宣布计划将在佛     

Communicating something confidential while travelling by train: the use of a telephone conversation versus silent modes

Wireless ICTs are often used in public transport. Using survey data collected amongst 98 train travellers this article aims to gain insight into important factors that affect train travellers’ intentions to communicate with distant others while travelling. More specifically, the focus is on the decision-making process that leads to the intention to choose for a confidential conversation either via ‘audible’ mobile phone or via ‘silent’ SMS/e-mail. An approach that is related to the Extended Model of Goal-directed Behaviour (EMGB) is applied. Structural equation modelling results indicate that in particular past SMS behaviour, the desire to communicate (goal desire), the perceived efficacy and controllability influence the intention to conduct a confidential phone conversation in the train. The influence of the social environment (e.g. eavesdropping) seems to be less important. Several EMGB constructs are strongly influenced by age. It seems that older respondents have more negative attitudes towards telephoning while travelling by train, and find it more difficult to call other people in such a situation. Finally, they have a lower intention than younger respondents to conduct a confidential conversation over the phone while travelling.

The competitive environment of a service industry: the examples of the U.K.-Continent passenger sea ferry services

The paper examines an international service sector (passenger sea ferry services between the U.K. and continental Europe) from the perspective of its competitive environment. Porter's five forces model forms the basis of the analysis of the market illustrated by recent develoments. Within this context the barriers to entry into and exit from the market are considered in detail. Recently, there have been many changes in market structure, and with increased competition, including that from the Channel Tunnel, it may be necessary to pool services. This will improve ferry competition with other forms of transport, but will require the brand awareness of ferries to shift from the ferry company to the ferry service offer. The service offer will need to be more clearly defined.     

Estimating gravity model parameters: A simplified approach based on the odds ratio

Two computationally simple methods for calibrating the gravity model are presented in this paper. The use of each is demonstrated on several origin-destination trip tables, and the results compared with those obtained from the UTP system gravity model calibration procedure. Our methods, based on the odds ratio, perform at least as well as that of UTP system by several standard criteria.     

通用大宇沉浮录·上篇·

2002年通用汽车决定收购倒闭的韩国大宇汽车组建通用大宇汽车技术公司(GMDAT)时,曾引来业界一片质疑之声,甚至通用董事会中也有成员持怀疑态度。现在回头来看,通用收购大宇是一件无比明智的决定。这家以打造低制造成本、低级别车型的公司经过几年的发展。不仅实现高速增长,还成为了通用面向欧洲、亚洲甚至北美市场重要的研发中心,以及公司全球发展计划中的核心组成部分。为了更深入地了解大宇的发展,Global Insight特别就该收购案中的战略关系,以及就过去五年里改变大宇的关键因素等问题,采访了曾任通用大宇汽车和科技公司总裁兼首席执行官,现升任通用汽车亚太区总裁的Nick Reilly先生。