Logistics and Supply Chain Management has been a vital part of every economy and every business entity. Both sciences have become prestigious research fields focusing on best practices, concepts, and methods. Outsourcing Management for Supply Chain Operations and Logistics Services 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. Specifically, this publication presents studies which are relevant to practitioners, researchers, students, and clients of the application of the Outsourcing practice on the Logistics and Supply Chain Management services giving emphasis to 3PL’s.

This edited volume aims to describe the transformation of supply chain management (SCM) and logistics services by merging sustainable logistics, SCM, sustainable consumption and lifestyle research. This assessment of the transformation potential serves the development of sustainable business models and optimized decision-making systems for achieving sustainable economic value creation within a green economy. In 5 sections, the volume takes a unique transdisciplinary approach to assess sustainable business practices within SCM and the logistics sector, and to understand the interactions between logistics services and consumer lifestyles while creating transparency within the decision making process. This book will be of particular interest to academics, policymakers, planners, and politicians. Section 1 introduces readers to the importance of blended research and innovation between sustainable SCM and consumer lifestyles for transformation towards a green economy. Section 2 addresses the question of how trends and developments in consumption behavior and lifestyles influence the development of sustainable logistics. Section 3 discusses the transformation potential towards sustainable logistics using the food sector as an example. Section 4 focuses on strategic decision making in SCM, and how long-term improvements of sustainability performance can be achieved. Section 5 concludes with policy recommendations as well as research and innovation perspectives for future sustainable development with SCM and logistics.

Logistics is becoming increasingly popular as a competitive weapon for firms to gain advantage in cost and services. This book extends the just-in-time (JIT) concept in manufacturing to business logistics. In managing global supply chains, it is a useful reference for organisations seeking logistics performance improvements on JIT ways.

The „EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr“ was a winner in the Leading Edge Science Cluster competition run by the German federal Ministry of Education and Research. The mission and aim of the „EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr“ is to facilitate tomorrow’s individuality – in the sense of individual goods supply, mobility, and production – using 75 percent of today’s resources. Efficiency – both in economical and ecological terms – is enabled by state-of-the-art and innovative logistical solutions including transportation, production and intralogistics. These proceedings “Efficiency and Logistics” give first answers from 27 research projects as an insight into the current state of research of Europe’s leading research and development cluster in logistics and as a contribution to the discussion on how logistics as a science can help to cope with foreseeable resource shortage and sustainability as global challenges.