Measurement of the logistic customer service level in commercial cargo motor transport companies

The term of logistic customer service is defined as the abilities or skills to meet the customer\u27s requirements and expectations, chiefly in terms of the time and place of deliveries, while using all available forms of logistic activity, including transport, storage, and the management of inventories, information and packages. As eac h of the logistic activities has an effect on the customer receiving right product or service, in its proper condition, in the correct time and space, and at reasonable costs, so seeking the proper service comes down to managing logistic activities in such a manner, as to achieve the essential level of customer satisfaction at the lowest possible costs. The identified elements of logistic customer service in an organization are placed on a specific level, as assessed from the perspective of the purchasers\u27 expectations. Among various methods for measuring customer service level, or quality, which are described in the literature on the subject, the SERVQUAL is recognized as one of the most effective. The SERVQUAL method relies on measuring the differences th at exist between the quality, as perceived by a customer, and the quality demanded by that customer from a specific service. In order to determine the difference, both the customer\u27s expectations for the service level, and their fulfilment by a specific or ganization need to be examined at the same time. The elements of logistic customer service of the Silesian Province\u27s (region in southern Poland) commercial cargo motor transport enterprises under study are placed on a measurable level, as evaluated from t he perspective of the recipients of offered transport services. The measurement of the logistic customer service level, as found in the entities examined, was made using the SERVQUAL method. The survey questionnaire used in the study was constructed based on 22 logistic customer service determinants. Questionnaire forms were filled by 294 customers of 147 Silesian Province\u27s commercial cargo motor transport enterprises examined, i.e. two customers of each enterprise. The article presents theoretical basis for the measurement of the logistic customer service level by the SERVQUAL method, description of acquiring the research material, analysis of examination results and conclusions

Measuring Sustainable Performance among Logistic Service Providers in Supply Chains

To enable an objective measurement of the progress in the operation of third-party logistics service providers in supply chains, we developed a model that shows the sustainability of the outsourced elements of a company’s business. The Third-Party Logistics Green Innovative Framework (3PL GIF) is based on selected environmental, economic, and social indicators showing the objectively comparable state and progress in sustainable development between different companies in goods distribution. The model incorporates the application of quality measurement standards and a PDCA cycle system of continuous improvement into indicators. Using this model, we surveyed the success of sustainable operations between different Slovenian logistics companies according to their size, fields of operation, and positions in the supply chain. The study found that the model provides comparisons of sustainable operation for supply chain operators, logistics companies, and the entire interested public. It also enables supply chain management companies to measure, improve, and report on its performance in a sustainable field, as well as to move toward goals determined by the company with its cycle of permanent improvement. This makes it possible to objectively compare progress in sustainable development between companies

Systemic Thinking and Requisite Holism in Mastering Logistics Risks: the Model for Identifying Risks in Organisations and Supply Chain

Risks in logistic processes represent one of the major issues in supply chain management nowadays. Every organization strives for success, and uninterrupted operations are the key factors in achieving this goal, which cannot be achieved without efficient risk management. In the scope of supply chain risk research, we identified some key issues in the field, the major issue being the lack of standardization and models, which can make risk management in an organization easier and more efficient. Consequently, we developed a model, which captures and identifies risks in an organization and its supply chain. It is in accordance with the general risk management standard – ISO 31000, and incorporates some relevant recent findings from general and supply chain risk management, especially from the viewpoint of public segmentation. This experimental catalogue (which is also published online) can serve as a checklist and a starting point of supply chain risk management in organizations. Its main idea is cooperation between experts from the area in order to compile an evergrowing list of possible risks and to provide an insight in the model and its value in practice, for which reason input and opinions of anyone who uses our model are greatly appreciated and included in the catalogue

Suicide as a late consequence of cancer treatment in childhood. All three cases in Slovenia

Pacienti po zdravljenju raka v otroštvu so glede samomorilnosti izrazito občutljiva skupina. Pri njih sta povišana tako razmišljanje o samomoru kot tudi dejanski samomor. V slovenskem prostoru sicer ne beležimo povišane stopnje samomora pri tej skupini pacientov. Od 1.647 pacientov, ki so bili v otroštvu zdravljeni za rakom, so zaradi samomora umrli trije. V pričujočem članku so predstavljeni vsi trije pacienti, ki so storili samomor. Iz podatkov, ki so nam na voljo, smo sklepali na sorodnosti in različnosti, ki so botrovale razvoju samomorilnosti pri vsakem od njih. Ugotovimo lahko, da je bilo kljub razlikam v poteku in zdravljenju bolezni skupno vsem trem pacientom to, da niso bili deležni polne strokovne psihološke pomoči, ki naj bi bila namenjena pacientom po zdravljenju raka v otroštvu. Razvoj dobre strokovne mreže na tem področju bi lahko omogočil vključitev večjega števila pacientov, da bi lahko spregovorili o svojih psihičnih težavah. S tem bi lahko pomembno prispevali k preprečevanju samomora pri tej ranljivi skupini pacientov.Patients treated for childhood cancer are particularly vulnerable to suicide. There is increased suicidal ideation and a high incidence of suicide among them. In Slovenia, we have recorded no increase in the suicide rate in this group of patients. Out of 1,647 patients who were treated for cancer in childhood, only three died by suicide. The following article presents all three patients who committed suicide. With the help of the available data, we established the similarities and differences that contributed to the development of suicidal behaviour in each of these three patients. We can find that despite the differences in the course and treatment of the disease, all three patients had one thing in common: none of them received professional psychological help intended for patients after childhood cancer treatment. The development of a well-functioning professional network in this field would enable the inclusion of a larger number of patients, allowing them to speak out about their psychological problems. By doing so, we would contribute significantly to preventing suicide in this vulnerable group of patients

Model ocenjevanja stopnje informatizacije šole

Information and communication tech­nology is one of the most important tool in the modernization of the school’s lessons and efficiency of the school administration. Schools need the guidelines how to reach e-competences at all levels and areas. We developed on the base of DEX methodol­ogy the hierarchical multiple attribute deci­sion making model of the evaluation of the school informatization. The model shows to the school the existing situation of informa­tisation and helps it to recognize the way for further development and necessary changes. Three main areas of school informatisation are: school and environment, teachers and community, pupils and living area.Informacijsko-komunikacijska tehnologija je pri procesu modernizacije pouka in učinkovitosti administrativnih procesov na šoli eden izmed bistvenih pripomočkov. Šole potrebujejo jasne usmeritve, kako doseči e-kompetentnost na vseh področjih. Razvili smo večparametrski hierarhični model evalvacije informatizacije posamezne šole na osnovi metodologije Dex. Ta model omogoča, da si posamezna šola predoči obstoječi nivo informatizacije šole, kar ji lahko bistveno pomaga pri nadaljnjem razvoju. Tri glavne skupine ocenjevanja informatizacije: šola in okolje, učitelji in skupnosti, učenci in polje bivanja

MEASURING OF BLACK CARBON CONCENTRATIONS, SUMMARIZING RAISED BLOOD PRESSURE DATA AND IDENTIFYING SPECULATIVE EFFECT ON RAISED BLOOD PRESSURE

Black carbon, as one of the main air pollutants, has gained a significant amount of attention in the last few years. It affects Earth’s climate as well as human health, especially in urban areas where it accumulates in greater amounts because of the dense setting of its sources such as traffic, industry and residential heating. The aim of this study was to investigate black carbon distribution and factors that influence its dispersion and consequently human health. Measurements were carried out in two separate parts, in winter 2017/2018 and spring 2017. Within sampling area, urban and background areas of Celje were included in the study. This setting of the measurements was selected with the purpose of investigating BC’s distribution and changes in its concentrations, while also finding how temperatures, wind, precipitation and traffic affect BC’s features. The results showed the highest black carbon concentrations always occur in the areas with heavy traffic flow, either in colder or warmer parts of the year (7.48 ± 6.48 µg m–3 in winter and 7.25 ± 6.06 µg m–3 in spring). Outcomes of the research also proved that wind speed, rainfall and temperatures affect black carbon dispersion as well as other factors like traffic density, time of day or day of the week. This study also revealed associations between black carbon oscillation and high blood pressure, especially during the winter period. Key words: black carbon; city pollution; environment; health; blood pressur

Lean and Green Paradigms in Logistics: Review of Published Research

The objective of this paper is to propose a systematic literature review on lean logistics, green logistics and the combination of both paradigms. Although prior literature reviews on lean, green and the combination of lean and green do exist, only a few of them focus on the field of logistics as such. The present analysis comprises an examination of 98 scientific articles from 35 international journals, published between the years 1994 and 2015. The articles are classified by next divisions: journal, paradigm, time distribution, research stream and sector-wise focus. Although key findings indicate that over the last couple of years research on all three topics has increased, a research gap regarding the studies of lean and green logistics when combined, has been identified. For all three topics domination in research typology has been extracted, furthermore the findings indicate that most of the papers examined on the topic lean logistics come from the manufacturing industries, whereas for the topic green logistics and a combination of green and lean topics we haven’t identified any specific sector.</p

Models for Life Cycle Assessment: Review of Technical Assumptions in Collection and Transportation Processes

Since the early 1990s, the life cycle assessment (LCA) has been used to quantify the environmental impacts. Due to substantial dissimilarities in results among different LCA waste models, the aim of this review is to analyse different LCA models. Technical assumptions in collection and transportation processes among the models in connection with lifecycle inventory (LCI) databases of inputs and outputs have been compared and reviewed. The most important inputs and outputs in LCI have been analysed. The mechanistic LCA models have been found to operate with more substantial and broader inputs and outputs than deterministic models; therefore, they represent a detailed presentation and a more suitable basis for further calculations, e.g., life cycle costing (LCC) of waste management. Nevertheless, the analysed mechanistic models do not include determined important time consumptions – this was exposed and missing data provided. The final findings are that future LCA models should: (1) include alternative fuels for transportation and bioplastic materials for collection equipment, (2) use mechanistic principles, (3) build detailer LCI data bases, (4) be linked with LCC modelling, (5) use bottom–up approach calculations and provide both environmental and economical point of view

Next generation logistics

The scientific monograph “Next Generation Logistics: Technologies and Applications” focuses on smart system modelling approaches to some logistics problems, sustainability applications on warehousing technologies as well as investment and management of logistics systems. The monograph includes nine chapters that approach to logistical problems from practical requirements. The reader will find both mathematical modelling approaches to some warehousing, supply chain problems as well as management related issues in the related problems. Since it also includes some case studies in the chapters, this monograph contributes the next generation logistics in both theoretical and practical ways