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Long-Term Partnerships in Japanese Firms’ Logistics Outsourcing: From a Sustainable Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Jin Shi

    (Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan)

  • Youngwon Park

    (Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan)

  • Ryosuke Sugie

    (Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan)

  • Mitsuhiro Fukuzawa

    (Faculty of Business Administration, Seikei University, Tokyo 180-8633, Japan)

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the actual state of Japanese firms’ logistics outsourcing, and examine their relationship with LSPs. This study addressed the following issues by conducting a case study of six leading manufacturing firms. First, it clarified the characteristics of Japanese-style logistics outsourcing as: the outsourcing of the total activities, the consigning to a single LSP, and the development of advanced information systems. Moreover, it examined the logistics outsourcing performance from a sustainable perspective, and concluded that Japanese-style logistics management enables firms to achieve high performance in all the economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Second, this study confirms that the traditional Japanese business practice of long-term partnerships is still maintained in logistics outsourcing management. Third, this study also explored how long-term partnerships create sustainable competitive advantages. Finally, based on these findings, a theoretical framework illustrating the relationship between Japanese-style logistics outsourcing and firms’ sustainable competitive advantage is presented. Our findings may encourage companies to develop a long-term partnership with their logistics service providers, and to put environmental and social indicators into their KPI system to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage by balancing the economy, environment, and society.

Suggested Citation

  • Jin Shi & Youngwon Park & Ryosuke Sugie & Mitsuhiro Fukuzawa, 2022. "Long-Term Partnerships in Japanese Firms’ Logistics Outsourcing: From a Sustainable Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:10:p:6376-:d:822274
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    References listed on IDEAS

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