The partnership between logistic operators and client companies: joint activities and processes coordination mechanisms

Abstract

This article identifies and analyzes the mechanisms of coordination of the partnership between logistic operators and client companies, recovering the main approaches about logistic partnerships. Special emphasis is given to the model proposed by Lambert et al. (1996). The methodology is based on the description and analysis of two cases, one involving the management of a partnership in the automotive sector and the other in which the client is a toy importer. The study concludes by pointing out the differences between the coordination mechanisms utilized according to the type and nature of the partnership. The partnership in the automotive sector constitutes a more balanced relation, where each party brought either a great percentage of the business or a significant amount of activities to the partnership. The logistic operator made an amount of specific investments getting, on the other hand, the exclusivity from the client company and the strategic interest in deepening of the relationship. The partnership with the toy importer company showed a strong unbalance, where the client company is totally dependent, at least on short term, on the logistic operator.

Key words: logistic operator, partnership, coordination mechanisms, integration degree.