Due to changes in the company and its environment, distribution control requirements will change. Knowledge of the criteria influencing the successful application of distribution control techniques is needed in order to make these changes. This article investigates these criteria. After a...

Purpose – Emerging economies provide a challenging backdrop for the building of trusting and committed cross‐border relationships; weak legal institutions and a turbulent business environment necessitate such relationships between business partners to effectively cope with external...

A large number of firms have reconfigured their supply chains. The general trends entail, among others, the reduction, centralization and re‐location of plants and distribution centers, the design of new distribution systems, and the reduction of the supplier base. The analysis of the...

Purpose – A variant of Kohonen's algorithm for the self‐organizing map (SOM) is used to solve a continuous location‐routing problem that can be applied to identify potential sites for subsequent selection by a discrete finite set model. The paper aims to show how the algorithm may be...

Purpose – This paper aims to discuss a simulation study for a multi‐product, two‐echelon inventory replenishment system. The paper compares a one‐warehouse N ‐retailer replenishment system to a two‐warehouse, N ‐retailer system with cost per unit of distribution and delivery...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the prerequisites for achieving coordinated action in reverse distribution systems. It is an underlying assumption in distribution, logistics and supply chain management that a higher level of coordination between the actors is superior to a...

Trade restrictions; border crossing difficulties, and company organizational structures have limited historical cross‐border distribution activity. The result, generally, is two or three independent distribution systems to support North American logistics operations. With the completion of the...

Reviews current software and hardware as it relates to distribution systems. Presents an organizing framework in order to identify the impact of technological innovations on firms operating in lesser‐developed countries as they consider adoption of such innovations. Discusses the choice...

Discusses the selection of distribution control techniques for a manufacturer of exhaust systems. A method for this selection process is proposed and worked out for the case study company. Argues that selecting one control technique for a complete company is not advisable. Distribution control...

One of the essential components of China’s economic open door policy is the reform in its distribution system. So far the distribution reform has transformed China’s distribution system from being non‐responsive and supply‐driven to increasingly responsive and market‐ driven and the...