Collaboration in theory

Abstract

The realization that suppliers, consumers and even competitors can be potential collaboration partners in logistics [29] has led to extended theoretical research on different opportunities to increase cooperation among the entities operating in logistic chains. Formal logistic models provide support for a large range of applications in this field, such as analyzing bottlenecks, improving customer service, configuring new logistic chains and adapting existing chains to new products and markets [103]. In the theory of supply chain management, vertical cooperation applies to different echelons of the distribution system (e.g., a manufacturer and a shipper), whereas horizontal cooperation occurs at the same echelon (e.g., between two shippers). Section 8.1 briefly presents the trends in existing approaches of vertical collaboration forms in logistic chains as well as a detailed overview of the horizontal collaboration forms of hauliers, which stay in focus of this thesis. Section 8.2 introduces the theoretical framework for formalized collaboration modeling.