| Author: | Wan, Sai-chu Agnes |
| Title: | A web-based platform for supply chain management in a Hong Kong air cargo terminal operator |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 2004 |
| Subject: | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations Industrial management -- Computer network resources Aeronautics, Commercial -- China -- Hong Kong -- Freight Airport terminals -- China -- Hong Kong |
| Department: | Graduate School of Business |
| Pages: | xiii, 69, iii leaves : ill. ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | The Internet and information technology have brought new challenges and opportunities to business environment of the air cargo industry. Air cargo industry is driven by various industry agents. The industry demands high time-value express services and vertical integration, cross-company collaboration and time-definite delivery (Leung, et al, 2000). Information integration is needed in enabling process integration, which is one of the key success factors. There are numerous researches on airlines, integrators and freight forwarders as they take a lion share in the air cargo industry, but few studies for Cargo Terminal Operators (CTOs), especially on Supply Chain Management (SCM) system. Nevertheless, CTOs have played an increasingly significant role in aviation logistics nowadays especially in Hong Kong. In response to the increasing need in handling flexibility and diversity, CTOs have not only performed cargo handling services, but have also become the Ground Handling Agent (GHA) of airlines and have provided ancillary services (e.g. bond trucking, agent facilitation services etc.). All these things urge CTOs for a better SCM to improve their operations performances. To achieve information integration, a sound SCM system is critical. An effective SCM system not only provides platform for information exchange, but also automates operations processes, which enables processes integration. There are numerous e-SCM systems available in the market. However, successful cases for organizations to gain benefits from e-SCM systems are not plenty. Information system fails to create value for organization attributed to inability of an organization to manage the change enabled by IT (Benjamin et al, 1993). Much communication, co-ordination and collaboration among the organization and its potential players are involved for a successful implementation. Therefore, information integration cannot be achieved with only an e-SCM system in place. This research is to study on how to incorporate the ideas of business process reengineering, communication, coordination and business collaboration to implement an open SCM platform, so as to link up potential players for information integration. Information integration is explained in two dimensions. They are internal and external integrations. Internal integration results at improvement in operations process performances. External integration leads to SC integration and extension of system connectivity. The model is designed explicitly for an air CTO, by focusing on planning, collaboration and implementation issues on building a SCM platform. A system implementation method is provided, followed with an implementation scenario in a Hong Kong air CTO. Key business processes of the CTO are identified. Elements of business process redesign and business collaboration are adopted to transform manual operations into automatic processes. The Web-based SCM platform provides a state-of-the-art solution to the CTO, such that it can maintain its current operations expenses while increase its handling capacity. Meanwhile, it provides an information exchange platform to the Hong Kong air cargo industry to sustain its competitiveness as an international air cargo hub. The model may be replicated by potential players for building their own systems and connect with CTO's SCM platform. Eventually, it can migrate to the DTTN for unity of the entire logistics industry. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b1781764x.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 2.85 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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