International Journal of Logistics Management与中文翻译.doc

International Journal of Logistics Management, 2004, Vol 15(1) pp111-123 Author: Baker, P. Aligning Distribution Centre Operations to Supply Chain Strategy Abstract A major focus of modern day logistics is on achieving a higher level of responsiveness to marketplace demand, but with less inventory. Achieving the dual targets of lower cost and higher service has implications for every stage in the supply chain and in particular for distribution centre operations. This paper sets out to identify the extent to which organisations are adjusting their distribution centre operations to match current supply chain concepts. Based on a survey of distribution centres in the U.K., the paper explores the roles that these facilities currently play and seeks to gauge the extent to which modern supply chain theory and distribution centre operations are aligned. This paper examines the current role of large distribution centres within the U.K. and, in particular, explores the extent to which these facilities are aligned to modern supply chain concepts. The first section of the paper reviews the development of supply chain thinking during the past few decades, highlighting the perceived changes in the roles of distribution centres as new supply chain concepts have developed. The second section describes the research method. This is chiefly based on a postal survey of U.K. distribution centre managers, but also draws on some supplementary information. The results of the research are presented in the third section. Finally, conclusions are drawn from the results, examining whether large distribution centres in the U.K. currently exhibit the characteristics that may be expected from the implementation of modern supply chain concepts. Future challenges for distribution centres are examined and areas of further work are identified. The development of the supply chain concept The development of the supply chain concept has been characterised by the increasing degree of organisational inte