Developing supply chain security design of logistics service providers: An analytical network process-quality function deployment approach
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
ISSN: 0960-0035
Article publication date: 3 August 2015
Abstract
Purpose
Supply chain security has been recognized as an important part of managing business risks. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology with systematic metrics for logistics service providers (LSPs) to develop their security design to meet customer demands.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a three-stage process of desk research, content validation test, and in-depth case study. The study demonstrates an integrated analytical approach which combines analytical network process (ANP) with quality function deployment (QFD), and then applies the approach to an international LSP.
Findings
A case study of an international LSP shows how the ANP-QFD approach can be deployed to understand customers’ expectation for security and develop tactics and measures with the aim to achieve the desirable outcome for LSPs’ security design.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to supply chain security literature and practice. This study is among the research taking the first step to use ANP-QFD to translate the customer requirements (CRs) for supply chain security into systematic metrics for LSPs to develop their security design. Results from such research into the development of security performance can benefit LSPs in terms of increasing the effectiveness and improving the customer orientation of security efforts. By extension, other firms can enhance their security design by referring to the case study and the integrated analytical method. The flexibility of this ANP-QFD approach offers leeway for firms to change the CRs and design requirements based on their unique circumstances.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the editors and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions on the manuscript. The case study was conducted by the first author Dr Jasmine Siu Lee Lam through the support of the Singapore MPLP project, Nanyang Technological University ref. M4061473. The LSP and logistics professionals are acknowledged for providing data and information.
Citation
Lam, J.S.L. and Dai, J. (2015), "Developing supply chain security design of logistics service providers: An analytical network process-quality function deployment approach", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 45 No. 7, pp. 674-690. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-12-2013-0293
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited