Despite the spread of automation and new supply chain management paradigms, logistics remains dependent on a rather specific set of skills and competencies, whether for managerial, administrative, or blue-collar jobs, such as trucking or warehousing. This dependence implies that the logistical performance of businesses, industries, and nation states is strongly influenced by the quantity and quality of the workforce. Insufficient resources of a competent and properly trained workforce in logistics adversely affect the quality of service, reduce productivity in sectors dependent on logistics, and ultimately reduce trade competitiveness. While other interventions that affect logistics performance—such as international infrastructures, trade corridors, regulations, and services—have already been reviewed extensively, this report is the first to cover the contributions of human resources and explore how to develop skills and improve competencies, especially in developing countries. The study proposes a framework for the skills needed according to the logistics activity (such as transportation or warehousing) or the type and level of responsibility. Based on several sources, including recent surveys carried out by the World Bank and the Kühne Logistics University, the report uncovers where the skills constraints are according to the type of job or countries. Findings include that logistics is an industry struggling to hire skilled workers, although with differences between developed countries (where trucker shortages are more acute) and developing economies (where managerial shortages are more widespread). Typically, blue-collar logistics jobs have lower status and lower pay than blue-collar jobs in other industries; they are thus less attractive for skilled workers. In developing countries with a potentially available workforce, lack of vocational preparation for careers in logistics means that less-skilled workers are not easily re-skilled. Logistics tasks at the upper end of the occupational hierarchy and those with high information technology content often require an upskilling of employees to keep pace with new technology. Yet the problem is not confined to recruitment. The surveys point to limited resources, money, and staff time allocated to training, especially in developing countries. Realizing the promise of quality jobs from the growth of logistics worldwide requires a coordinated effort by logistics companies, professional associations, training providers, and policy makers. Through a combination of facilitation, regulation, advice, financial instruments, and land use planning, governments can exert significant influence.

In 2019, African heads of state and governments launched in fanfare the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), a historic agreement for economic transformation across the continent. But now comes the hard bit: how to make the agreement a success? In this book, senior experts from across the world come together to provide a comprehensive analysis of the conditions needed for AfCFTA to successfully spur economic development in Africa. It puts forward three foundations for success: demography dividend, digital economy, and economic diversification. In addition to trade policy, the book recommends that African policymakers should strengthen fiscal and monetary policy coordination, adopt and implement the appropriate regulatory environment, and build suitable connectivity infrastructure. The stakes are high. If implemented correctly, the book argues that AfCFTA could speed up trade within Africa, which could double every five years. Success would mean growth, investment, changing trade patterns, jobs, economic transformation, poverty reduction, and a continental market for services. Driven by concrete, evidence-based strategies for long-term growth, this book is an essential read for policy makers, development practitioners, economics researchers, and everyone with an interest in the future of Africa.

Macrologistics is a strategic view of logistics as a production factor on national scales to support a shift towards sustainability. The book details logistics' evolution from a functional discipline to a value chain optimiser and, ultimately, an enabler of sustainability, including the evolution of metrics to support this shift. Macrologistics instrumentation involves striving towards the lowest total cost of ownership for national economies where, to improve decision-making, these costs should ultimately include the societal and ecological costs incurred due to logistics activities. From Logistics Strategy to Macrologistics represents macrologistics research outputs for a number of developing economies, identifying distinctive macrologistics policy and infrastructure investments themes to address national logistics challenges in developing economies. The book culminates in a discussion on the potential future role of logistics to support the shift to a more sustainable society, where an acceptance of a degrowth paradigm might be required, and even advisable, for a more secure, fulfilling future. Logistics (and economics) scholars, researchers and practitioners should steer their work towards contributing to the development of an ecologically sustainable society, where resources and returns are shared widely, sustainably and equitably.

This book contains accepted papers presented at ICEUTE 2020 held in the beautiful and historic city of Burgos (Spain), in September 2020. The 11th International Conference on EUropean Transnational Education (ICEUTE 2020) has been a meeting point for people working on transnational education within Europe. It has provided a stimulating and fruitful forum for presenting and discussing the latest works and advances on transnational education within European countries. After a thorough peer-review process, the ICEUTE 2020 International Program Committee selected 44 papers which are published in these conference proceedings achieving an acceptance rate of 41%. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the ICEUTE 2020 edition was blended, combining on-site and on-line participation. In this relevant edition, a special emphasis was put on the organization of five special sessions related to relevant topics as Role of English in Transnational Education and Teacher Training, Personalization and ICT: a Path to Educational Inclusion, Innovation and Research Findings in Engineering Higher Education, Practical Implementations of Novel Initiatives, and Innovation in Computer Science Higher Education. The selection of papers was extremely rigorous in order to maintain the high quality of the conference, and we would like to thank the members of the Program Committees for their hard work in the reviewing process. This is a crucial process to the creation of a high standard conference, and the ICEUTE conference would not exist without their help.

In an increasingly globalised world, despite reductions in costs and time, transportation has become even more important as a facilitator of economic and human interaction; this is reflected in technical advances in transportation systems, increasing interest in how transportation interacts with society and the need to provide novel approaches to understanding its impacts. This has become particularly acute with the impact that Covid-19 has had on transportation across the world, at local, national and international levels. Encyclopedia of Transportation, Seven Volume Set - containing almost 600 articles - brings a cross-cutting and integrated approach to all aspects of transportation from a variety of interdisciplinary fields including engineering, operations research, economics, geography and sociology in order to understand the changes taking place. Emphasising the interaction between these different aspects of research, it offers new solutions to modern-day problems related to transportation. Each of its nine sections is based around familiar themes, but brings together the views of experts from different disciplinary perspectives. Each section is edited by a subject expert who has commissioned articles from a range of authors representing different disciplines, different parts of the world and different social perspectives. The nine sections are structured around the following themes: Transport Modes; Freight Transport and Logistics; Transport Safety and Security; Transport Economics; Traffic Management; Transport Modelling and Data Management; Transport Policy and Planning; Transport Psychology; Sustainability and Health Issues in Transportation. Some articles provide a technical introduction to a topic whilst others provide a bridge between topics or a more future-oriented view of new research areas or challenges. The end result is a reference work that offers researchers and practitioners new approaches, new ways of thinking and novel solutions to problems. All-encompassing and expertly authored, this outstanding reference work will be essential reading for all students and researchers interested in transportation and its global impact in what is a very uncertain world. Provides a forward looking and integrated approach to transportation Updated with future technological impacts, such as self-driving vehicles, cyber-physical systems and big data analytics Includes comprehensive coverage Presents a worldwide approach, including sets of comparative studies and applications

Smart applications are transforming conventional supply chains into digital ones. To compete in today’s competitive market, organizations must utilize the merits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution while being sustainable, lean, and eco-conscious. Smart and Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management in Industry 4.0 closes the gap and provides novel ideas, research, and applications. This book discusses smart and sustainable supply chain management concepts that are analyzed within the Industry 4.0 perspective. It also highlights green systems and smart applications within an Industry 4.0 setting. The book presents the latest technological developments, including disruptive technologies and their impact on smart and sustainable supply chains under the triple bottom line approach. For easy reader comprehension, each chapter will include a case study, a related problem, or a numerical example, as well as the solution. This book is written for academicians, practitioners, PhD students, and researchers involved in this area.

Growing global trade flows and integration has led to continuous and accelerating changes to our global supply chains over the past decades. Recent macroeconomic events, new technological developments, and most notably Covid-19, are envisioned to push global supply chains in further transforming and adapting. How will companies look into issues of resilience, security, and digitalisation in their supply chains and operations?Global Supply Chains in a Glocal World aims to answer these mission-critical questions via a series of articles contributed by academics and senior management covering different industry sectors such as healthcare, food, e-commerce, textiles, mobility, and FMCG, as well as geographical, risk management, and technological perspectives. Proffering varied views of what has happened during the Covid years and what it means for the future, this book provides academics and practitioners a valuable resource when they navigate their next steps in an increasingly turbulent world.

Navigate a continually evolving global risk landscape and react to new logistical challenges effectively with this vital guide on supply chain risk. Implementing robust supply chain strategies has never been so essential in today's everchanging world. From geo-political risks to the continued effects of global crises, Supply Chain Risk Management is an essential resource for those wanting to mitigate risk and ensure supply chain resilience. Offering crucial insight from a management perspective, this updated 4th edition offers new guidance on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, supply-chain bottlenecks and evolving geo-political risks. With new global case studies including disruption to the supply chain due to the Suez Canal blockage and global tensions like the US-China trade war, this edition explores a variety of real-world risks. This book details ongoing threats like climate change, corruption and technological risks while providing crucial detail on how to implement robust systems and safeguard supply chain operations. Combining theoretical and practical learning, Supply Chain Risk Management is essential for those needing to understand risk and how it can be approached.

Effective logistics play a critical role in disaster preparation and response, but how can those working in this field deliver in environments which are often dangerous and unstable? Humanitarian Logistics provides thought-provoking guidance and discussion of the core issues facing practitioners involved in managing the logistics of disaster relief. With insights from academics and practitioners who have worked in these situations, this multi-contributed book offers suggestions for best practice and international perspectives on the nature of the humanitarian logistics challenge. Now in its third edition, Humanitarian Logistics is fully updated and contains new chapters on providing support for complex emergencies, waste management and reverse logistics, the application of value stream analysis and the potential of new technologies such as 3D printing, cash transfer programmes and drones. With a particular focus on pre-disaster preparation and inter-agency cooperation, this book is essential reading for anyone who needs to understand how to respond effectively during a disaster or crisis.