Warehouse Performance and Supply Chain Management: Current Practices in the Useof Performance Measures

摘要

This thesis addresses the question of how warehouses, which use a supply chainmanagement logistics strategy, measure performance compared to companies with more traditional logistics strategies and how each of these two groups rate their performance measures in terms of effectiveness. Little research has been published in the area of warehouse performance measurements and this research provides exploratory information. In order to properly distinguish which companies use supply chain management versus companies which use a traditional logistics strategy, this study also provides a comprehensive literature review on supply chain management, to include company additional information on how a supply chain management strategy is developed, implemented, and the experience of companies that have adopted this strategy. A method of identifying which companies use supply chain management strategies is also used. Upon determining warehouses that are and those that are not using a supply chain management strategy, the study analyzes the differences in the way the two types of companies measure performance to provide business with information on other company's practices and potentially improve their measurement programs. The performance measures used are taken from recent literature on warehouse operations. Companies were surveyed to determine whether or not they are practitioners of a supply chain management strategy, how long the strategy has been practiced, measures used to evaluate warehouse performance, whether the warehouses believe them to be effective.