IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i19p11836-d919988.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Bibliometric Analysis of Third-Party Logistics Services Providers (3PLSP) Selection for Supply Chain Strategic Advantage

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamed Rafik Noor Mohamed Qureshi

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Third-party logistics (3PL) service providers are crucial to achieving sustainability in supply chain management (SCM). Third-party logistics service providers (3PLSP) are identified in such a way that they can help a firm fulfill its targeted objectives. The choice of 3PLSP must take into account broad selection criteria that are pertinent to both current and future needs. Various modelling techniques have been applied to evaluate and select 3PLSP. For the evaluation and selection of 3PLSP in the given set of situational requirements, a set of different selection criteria has been set up. This paper screens 191 articles from the Scopus database and finds 132 articles spread over two decades from 2001 to 2022 (30 July 2022). The 132 filtered articles are further assessed using bibliometric analysis, qualitatively and quantitatively. The identified research articles are studied and analyzed according to different bibliometric parameters, using MS Excel, VOSviewer version 1.6.17, and Biblioshiny 4.0. It has been found that the top five countries engaged in research are India (36%), Turkey (13%), Taiwan (12%), China (11%), and the USA (10%). The top three journals with the most research publications were International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management , Benchmarking , and Expert Systems with Applications . The three research methodologies most often used to solve 3PL selection problems were fuzzy-based, AHP, and TOPSIS. Numerous studies of theoretical models have applications in real-world situations. The developed selection models have high applicability in the automobile industry, agricultural industries, marine products, etc.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Rafik Noor Mohamed Qureshi, 2022. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Third-Party Logistics Services Providers (3PLSP) Selection for Supply Chain Strategic Advantage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:11836-:d:919988
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/11836/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/11836/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Govindan, Kannan & Kadziński, Miłosz & Ehling, Ronja & Miebs, Grzegorz, 2019. "Selection of a sustainable third-party reverse logistics provider based on the robustness analysis of an outranking graph kernel conducted with ELECTRE I and SMAA," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1-15.
    2. Lai, Kee-hung, 2004. "Service capability and performance of logistics service providers," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 385-399, September.
    3. Sadia Samar Ali & R. Kaur & Rameshwar Dubey, 2014. "Analysis of 3PL sustainable relationship framework," International Journal of Services and Operations Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 17(4), pages 404-420.
    4. Anchal Gupta & Rajesh Kumar Singh & Sachin Kr Mangla, 2022. "Evaluation of logistics providers for sustainable service quality: Analytics based decision making framework," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 315(2), pages 1617-1664, August.
    5. Berna Bulgurcu, 2018. "An extent analysis of 3PL provider selection criteria: A case on Turkey cement sector," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 1469183-146, January.
    6. Jharkharia, Sanjay & Shankar, Ravi, 2007. "Selection of logistics service provider: An analytic network process (ANP) approach," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 274-289, June.
    7. Nirupam Choudhury & Rakesh D. Raut & Bhaskar B. Gardas & Manoj G. Kharat & Sankalp Ichake, 2018. "Evaluation and selection of third party logistics services providers using data envelopment analysis: a sustainable approach," International Journal of Business Excellence, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 14(4), pages 427-453.
    8. Vijayakumar Samgam & Himanshu K. Shee, 2017. "Strategic outsourcing objectives drive 3PL selection criteria in India," International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 27(1), pages 20-39.
    9. Nees Jan Eck & Ludo Waltman, 2010. "Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(2), pages 523-538, August.
    10. Kannan Govindan & Vernika Agarwal & Jyoti Dhingra Darbari & P. C. Jha, 2019. "An integrated decision making model for the selection of sustainable forward and reverse logistic providers," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 273(1), pages 607-650, February.
    11. Marasco, Alessandra, 2008. "Third-party logistics: A literature review," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(1), pages 127-147, May.
    12. Rajbir Singh Bhatti & Pradeep Kumar & Dinesh Kumar, 2010. "A loss function based decision support model for 3PL selection by 4PLs," International Journal of Integrated Supply Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 5(4), pages 365-375.
    13. Katherinne Salas-Navarro & Paula Serrano-Pájaro & Holman Ospina-Mateus & Ronald Zamora-Musa, 2022. "Inventory Models in a Sustainable Supply Chain: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-21, May.
    14. William W. Hood & Concepción S. Wilson, 2003. "Informetric studies using databases: Opportunities and challenges," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 58(3), pages 587-608, November.
    15. Yayi Yuan & Zeshui Xu & Yixin Zhang, 2022. "The DEMATEL–COPRAS hybrid method under probabilistic linguistic environment and its application in Third Party Logistics provider selection," Fuzzy Optimization and Decision Making, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 137-156, March.
    16. Kannan, Govindan & Pokharel, Shaligram & Sasi Kumar, P., 2009. "A hybrid approach using ISM and fuzzy TOPSIS for the selection of reverse logistics provider," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 28-36.
    17. Chia-Nan Wang & Ngoc-Ai-Thy Nguyen & Thanh-Tuan Dang & Chen-Ming Lu, 2021. "A Compromised Decision-Making Approach to Third-Party Logistics Selection in Sustainable Supply Chain Using Fuzzy AHP and Fuzzy VIKOR Methods," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-27, April.
    18. Rajesh Kr. Singh & Angappa Gunasekaran & Pravin Kumar, 2018. "Third party logistics (3PL) selection for cold chain management: a fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS approach," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 267(1), pages 531-553, August.
    19. Ankit Bansal & Pravin Kumar, 2013. "3PL selection using hybrid model of AHP-PROMETHEE," International Journal of Services and Operations Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 14(3), pages 373-397.
    20. M.N. Qureshi & Dinesh Kumar & Pradeep Kumar, 2007. "Modeling the logistics outsourcing relationship variables to enhance shippers' productivity and competitiveness in logistical supply chain," International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 56(8), pages 689-714, November.
    21. Adile Yesim Yayla & Asil Oztekin & Alev Taskin Gumus & Angappa Gunasekaran, 2015. "A hybrid data analytic methodology for 3PL transportation provider evaluation using fuzzy multi-criteria decision making," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(20), pages 6097-6113, October.
    22. Büyüközkan, Gülçin & Feyzioglu, Orhan & Nebol, Erdal, 2008. "Selection of the strategic alliance partner in logistics value chain," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(1), pages 148-158, May.
    23. Govindan, Kannan & Palaniappan, Murugesan & Zhu, Qinghua & Kannan, Devika, 2012. "Analysis of third party reverse logistics provider using interpretive structural modeling," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(1), pages 204-211.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anchal Gupta & Rajesh Kumar Singh & Sachin Kr Mangla, 2022. "Evaluation of logistics providers for sustainable service quality: Analytics based decision making framework," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 315(2), pages 1617-1664, August.
    2. Aguezzoul, Aicha, 2014. "Third-party logistics selection problem: A literature review on criteria and methods," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 69-78.
    3. Chia-Nan Wang & Ngoc-Ai-Thy Nguyen & Thanh-Tuan Dang & Chen-Ming Lu, 2021. "A Compromised Decision-Making Approach to Third-Party Logistics Selection in Sustainable Supply Chain Using Fuzzy AHP and Fuzzy VIKOR Methods," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-27, April.
    4. Kannan Govindan & Vernika Agarwal & Jyoti Dhingra Darbari & P. C. Jha, 2019. "An integrated decision making model for the selection of sustainable forward and reverse logistic providers," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 273(1), pages 607-650, February.
    5. Hosang Jung, 2017. "Evaluation of Third Party Logistics Providers Considering Social Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Stefan Jovčić & Petr Průša & Momčilo Dobrodolac & Libor Švadlenka, 2019. "A Proposal for a Decision-Making Tool in Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Provider Selection Based on Multi-Criteria Analysis and the Fuzzy Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-23, August.
    7. Prakash, Chandra & Barua, M.K., 2016. "An analysis of integrated robust hybrid model for third-party reverse logistics partner selection under fuzzy environment," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 63-81.
    8. Bouzon, Marina & Govindan, Kannan & Rodriguez, Carlos M.Taboada & Campos, Lucila M.S., 2016. "Identification and analysis of reverse logistics barriers using fuzzy Delphi method and AHP," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 182-197.
    9. Haji Vahabzadeh, Ali & Asiaei, Arash & Zailani, Suhaiza, 2015. "Reprint of “Green decision-making model in reverse logistics using FUZZY-VIKOR method”," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 104(PB), pages 334-347.
    10. Agrawal, Saurabh & Singh, Rajesh K. & Murtaza, Qasim, 2016. "Outsourcing decisions in reverse logistics: Sustainable balanced scorecard and graph theoretic approach," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 41-53.
    11. Agnieszka Konys, 2019. "Green Supplier Selection Criteria: From a Literature Review to a Comprehensive Knowledge Base," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-41, August.
    12. Stefan Jovčić & Petr Průša, 2021. "A Hybrid MCDM Approach in Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Provider Selection," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(21), pages 1-19, October.
    13. Haji Vahabzadeh, Ali & Asiaei, Arash & Zailani, Suhaiza, 2015. "Green decision-making model in reverse logistics using FUZZY-VIKOR method," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 125-138.
    14. Kayakutlu, Gulgun & Buyukozkan, Gulcin, 2011. "Assessing performance factors for a 3PL in a value chain," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(2), pages 441-452, June.
    15. Farheen Naz & Rohit Agrawal & Anil Kumar & Angappa Gunasekaran & Abhijit Majumdar & Sunil Luthra, 2022. "Reviewing the applications of artificial intelligence in sustainable supply chains: Exploring research propositions for future directions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2400-2423, July.
    16. Y H Yang & Y V Hui & L C Leung & G Chen, 2010. "An analytic network process approach to the selection of logistics service providers for air cargo," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 61(9), pages 1365-1376, September.
    17. Teerasak Charoennapharat & Poti Chaopaisarn, 2022. "Factors Affecting Multimodal Transport during COVID-19: A Thai Service Provider Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-25, April.
    18. Mohamed Abdel-Basset & Abduallah Gamal & Mohamed Elhoseny & Ripon K. Chakrabortty & Michael Ryan, 2021. "A Conceptual Hybrid Approach from a Multicriteria Perspective for Sustainable Third-Party Reverse Logistics Provider Identification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-29, April.
    19. Yeung, Kwong & Zhou, Honggeng & Yeung, Andy C.L. & Cheng, T.C.E., 2012. "The impact of third-party logistics providers' capabilities on exporters' performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(2), pages 741-753.
    20. Jagannath Roy & Dragan Pamučar & Samarjit Kar, 2020. "Evaluation and selection of third party logistics provider under sustainability perspectives: an interval valued fuzzy-rough approach," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 293(2), pages 669-714, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:11836-:d:919988. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.