An essential guide to outsourcing logistics services, offering step-by-step guidelines to successful implementation and invaluable toolkits and frameworks.

For any business involved in today's supply chains, logistics services are critical. Companies have to decide whether to retain their own logistics operations or place their trust in third-party suppliers. This potential move away from the traditional approach of managing these processes internally can lead to improved service and reduced cost although this isn't always the case. The Logistics Outsourcing Handbook provides step by step guidance on the process of logistics outsourcing and explains how to apply this information for commercial success. Vital advice is given on benchmarking existing operations, how to shortlist companies, produce a request for a proposal, choose the optimum supplier and implement and manage the contract. The Logistics Outsourcing Handbook analyses outsourcing from both an industry wide perspective, while also drilling down into specific individual considerations. The book provides valuable guidance in terms of contractual relationships, cost models and the integration of information technology systems. By analysing current statistics and surveys, looking into factors behind why contracts are awarded and terminated important insights can be acquired. This book contains tools, models, online resources and case studies on the outsourced relationships of companies including Intel KFC and BA to further develop the reader's knowledge which makes this book an informative and essential resource.

"This book is concentrated on the key players of the outsourcing paradigm; the organizations that provide logistics services, the Third Party Logistics (3PL's), as well as their clients, presenting and promoting the lessons learned by their cooperation"--Provided by publisher.

Logistics and supply chain outsourcing is an area of constant growth, and global sourcing is now a competitive requirement. This text covers both strategic and operational aspects with observations and practical advice.

Outsourcing is now increasingly used as a competitive weapon in today's global economy. 'The Outsourcing Handbook' is a guide to the whole process. It looks at key factors in the success of a project as well as problem areas and potential pitfalls.

This handbook begins with the history of Supply Chain (SC) Engineering, it goes on to explain how the SC is connected today, and rounds out with future trends. The overall merit of the book is that it introduces a framework similar to sundial that allows an organization to determine where their company may fall on the SC Technology Scale. The book will describe those who are using more historic technologies, companies that are using current collaboration tools for connecting their SC to other global SCs, and the SCs that are moving more towards cutting edge technologies. This book will be a handbook for practitioners, a teaching resource for academics, and a guide for military contractors. Some figures in the eBook will be in color. Presents a decision model for choosing the best Supply Chain Engineering (SCE) strategies for Service and Manufacturing Operations with respect to Industrial Engineering and Operations Research techniques Offers an economic comparison model for evaluating SCE strategies for manufacturing outsourcing as opposed to keeping operations in-house Demonstrates how to integrate automation techniques such as RFID into planning and distribution operations Provides case studies of SC inventory reductions using automation from AIT and RFID research Covers planning and scheduling, as well as transportation and SC theory and problems

The Supply Chain Handbook brings together a team of 23 experts from management, engineering, technology, consulting, and academic backgrounds. These experts share proven operations methodologies, evaluate technologies and offer practical how-to instruction on topics impacting today's supply chains. Each topic is explored in-depth to provide readers with greater understanding and the ability to put the ideas presented into action. Innovative concepts and state-of-the-art technologies such as leaning the supply chain, logistics outsourcing, RFID, and supply chain execution software are explored in-depth helping you evaluate these solutions for your supply chain. The Supply Chain Handbook also covers fundamental topics such as warehousing operations, space layout and planning, distribution network planning and design, transportation, manufacturing strategies, material handling systems and integration, inventory management and more.