Synchronization of Material and Information Flows in Intermodal Freight Transport: An Industrial Case Study

Globalization of manufacturing has caused an increase of locations with common markets and customers resulting in harder competition for each of the involved actors. Furthermore, each company has to operate in an increasingly dynamic market and sourcing situation which again lead to complex logistic networks. Some of the main problems affecting freight transportation on a global scale are logistic processes that are characterized by limited information on goods movements. Despite several attempts from large logistic operators and supply chain leaders, the largest majority of goods still moves without accompanying information in electronic form. According to a survey sponsored by Wolters Kluwer (“What It Costs to Manage Collaborative Logistics”, Eye For Transport Research Services, November 2005.), 62% of the carriers are handling call-off management manually, while 90% of the communication on rush orders is handled via phone or fax. This has a negative impact both on logistic efficiency and on safety and security. Furthermore, inefficient handling of the cargo and accompanying documentation hampers the take up of intermodal and combined transport, thus limiting the possibility to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. In this article it will be discussed how necessary concepts and technological solutions need to look like in order to overcome such barriers as well as which impacts this might have on the efficiency and overall performance. The results are discussed for their applicability in a pilot case.