Eirill Bø

Sustainable Futures 5(December 2023) p. 1-11 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2022.100102

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the COVID-19 crisis affected delivery security and firms’ preparedness and responses in Norway. Investigations focus on supply chains which were critical for maintaining the supply of essential goods when large parts of society closed down. This includes four firms belonging to food and pharmaceutical industries, representing different parts of the respective supply chains, and covering imports, exports, domestic distribution, and home-delivery services. The originality of this article is that we employ theoretical models on supply chain risk management, resilience and reliability in conjunction, where these are usually used separately. Recognizing links, overlaps, and complementarity between the models, and using them step-by-step, we exploit synergies that enable more comprehensive assessments of strengths and weaknesses in firms’ supply chains, covering gaps, prioritizing between improvement areas, and collecting input towards detailed, actionable risk mitigation actions. Investigations build on semi-structured interviews, systematically covering the formative elements for each of the models. Using the models in conjunction, we compare the firms and identify differences, similarities, strengths, and weaknesses in the consequences of pandemic-related disruptions and how firms approached the challenges. The main challenges for the firms were sudden demand changes early in the pandemic. While the firms had minor differences, their pre-pandemic contingency plans were generally not actionable or detailed enough, nor prepared for the pandemic's longevity. Therefore, more detailed and long-term guidelines are desirable, noting the importance and interrelationships of elements of supply chain risk management, resilience, and reliability. A common feature for all firms, and crucial for handling disruptions, is the importance of good and long-term relationships with upstream and downstream supply chain partners and the need for improving contingency plans and future resilience.

Energy Research & Social Science 75(May 2021) p. 1-15 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102007

This article presents results from a randomized controlled eco-driving experiment with differential treatment between two groups of truck drivers in Norway. Using data from in-vehicle devices, we investigate whether eco-driving interventions (a course, active monthly follow-ups, and non-monetary incentives) reduce fuel consumption by inducing more efficient driving behavior for drivers in a treatment group, compared to a control group. Hereby, we consider persistence of effects over time and the relative importance of eco-driving factors, while controlling for fixed vehicles, routes, drivers, and weather. We find significant fuel consumption reductions, persisting over a longer period of time than in most previous studies (where effects fade or disappear), that weather conditions are important, and evidence of an ‘eco-driving learning curve’. This might result from monthly follow-ups and driver rewards. Further, we find spill-over effects through significant fuel savings for drivers in the control group (undergoing no interventions). These are likely the result of them becoming aware that ‘something eco-driving related’ is going on. Our analysis suggests that improvements on engine and gear management contribute most to fuel savings. We estimate the potential for fuel savings to lie between 5.2 and 7.5% (lower bound, control group) and 9% (upper bound, treatment group). This implies a potential for significant cost savings and emission reductions, which might to some extent be scalable and transferable to other settings. As such, eco-driving may play one part in reducing emissions from road freight, for which much-needed emission reductions are challenging to achieve, especially in the shorter run.

Leadership Strategies for Global Supply Chain Management in Emerging Markets p. 78-95 Doi: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-2867-9.ch004

Transport is an important function in the supply chain. This chapter focuses on how to buy a transport service, how to form a transport contract, and how a transparent relationship will influence the risk and the relationship between transport provider and buyer. By developing a decision support tool (DST-model) and calculating the cost and the time parameters, the right price and the cost drivers will appear. The cases described in this chapter are a large Norwegian wholesaler for food, distribution to the retailer, and two Norwegian municipalities collecting household waste. In these cases, the buyer and the provider are acting blind in setting the transport price. This means that there is a huge risk for either a bankruptcy by the transport provider or an overpriced transport for the buyer.

Logistics 4(3) Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics4030014

Inefficiency in complex reverse-logistical operations, such as the collection and transport of various wastes, can often be traced to two related factors. Adversarial and arms-length relationships between service providers and customers are commonplace, alongside surprisingly limited understanding of the cost base. This study investigated transparency and shared understanding as drivers for higher efficiency and lower costs. Observation and intervention in contractual negotiations was combined with analyses of cost and sensitivity, and a post-contractual transparency exercise with bidders where findings were shared with all parties. The work yielded both immediate efficiency gains and a longer-term infrastructure for cost evaluation and negotiation. Ongoing work is extending the approach into yet more complex and broader areas of municipal waste management.

International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications 20(4) p. 342-358 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2016.1255718

Efficiency in the collection and transport of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is important for economic and environmental reasons. A detailed analysis of the logistical- and cost-effectiveness of the collection and transport of WEEE in Norway reveals regional geography to be a particularly important factor; it varies significantly across the country and heavily influences the cost of collection. The paper explores the influence of this, along with other parameters relating to operational effectiveness and customer service. Implications for all the key actors in the WEEE collection and transport business are outlined.

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development (IJESD) 12(4) p. 379-395 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESD.2013.056343

This research compares the environmental impact, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, of using refillable polyethylene terephthalate (REF–PET) and non–refillable polyethylene terephthalate (NR–PET) bottles in the Norwegian soft drink and carbonated water market. A Microsoft Excel spread sheet was developed in close cooperation with Coca–Cola, Mack, Telemark Springwater, and three of the main food wholesalers in Norway: NorgesGruppen, Coop, and Rema. While academic writers have criticised such life–cycle analysis as impractical, too time–consuming, expensive, and demanding too much effort, and instead advocated qualitative evaluation methods, this project demonstrates that a data–based approach is fully feasible. The research team identifies the CO2 emissions associated with various activities, and finds that NR–PET bottles generate 18% less CO2 emissions than REF–PET bottles. This research provides practical suggestions for achieving environmentally friendly packaging solutions. As a consequence of the study findings, the grocery industry initiated efforts to change legislation, and major Norwegian actors have changed their policies.

Intelligent goods in transport system p. 45-67

Industrial Marketing Management 41(3) p. 394-401 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2011.06.013

Many trading companies have taken a global approach to their supply markets, sourcing from low-cost foreign countries in order to achieve cost reductions. There remains, however, a lack of evidence that sourcing internationally actually leads to improved economic performance. This can be explained by two key challenges in terms of how to achieve a balance between: (1) purchasing and logistics costs; and (2) total costs and customer service. The purpose of this paper is to examine the organisation and management of international supply from a total cost perspective, taking into account both purchasing and logistics costs, as well as customer service and agility. Previous research into a number of Norwegian companies that have sourced from China has identified four configurations for managing international supply. This paper utilises the supply management literature and an example of a Norwegian retail and wholesale company to analyse and discuss these configurations and their effects on total costs and customer service. The paper’s theoretical contribution is the conceptualisation of a total cost perspective on international supply management and the discussion of such costs in relation to customer service. This contribution may, in turn, aid companies that source from foreign, low-cost countries

International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications 13(3) p. 197-210 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/13675560903271203

European Journal of Marketing 44(7-8) p. 1121-1139 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/03090561011047553

Logistikk: et lederansvar/red. Dag Bjørnland, Göran Persson, Helge Virum