Title: "More instead of less" - Strategies for the use of logistics resources
Abstract: This paper presents the theoretical background for a recently initiated research programme on the utilisation and development of logistics resources in supply and distribution networks. The paper opens with a discussion of previous approaches to logistics with a particular focus on whether and how resources have been dealt with. We conclude that attention has mainly been directed toward processes and activities, while resources have primarily been regarded as the means to an end. Further, we identify a need to focus on networks rather than supply chains since all companies belong to more than one chain. Accordingly, it is suggested that considering logistics networks in terms of inter-linked resources provides a fruitful complement to existing models. We continue by presenting some basic features of resources in general and by developing the foundations of the framework that is to be applied in the research programme. The basic building blocks are four types of resources that are crucial in logistics: facilities, products, business units and business relationships. Finally, three main research issues are derived from this framework.