The car manufacturer (CM) and third party logistics provider (TPLP) relationship in the outbound delivery channel: A qualitative study of the Malaysian automotive industry

i DEDICATION . ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iii TABLE OF CONTENTS . iv LIST OF FIGURES . xvii LIST OF TABLES . xx LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xxii GLOSSARY OF TERMS . xxiii LIST OF PUBLICATIONS ARISING FROM THE THESIS AND INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP . xxv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH . 1 1.0 Introduction . 1 1.1 Research Background and Problem Statement . 1 1.2 Research Gap . 3 1.3 Research Questions (RQ), Aim and Objectives . 8 1.3.1 Research Questions (RQ) . 8 1.3.2 Research Aim . 9 1.3.3 Research Objectives . 9 1.4 Automotive and Logistics Industry in Malaysia . 10 1.5 Research Methodology. 11 v 1.6 Findings, Novelty and Contribution . 16 1.6. 1 Contribution to the Understanding of the CM-TPLP Relationship . 16 1.6. 2 Contribution to Method . 17 1.6. 3 Contribution to Industry and Policy . 18 1.7 Structure of the Thesis . 19 1.8 Conclusion . 20 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND MALAYSIAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY . 21 2.0 Introduction . 21 2.1 Theoretical Underpinning on Supply Chain Management: The Evolution of Physical Distribution to Logistics and to Supply Chain Management . 22 2.2 Supply Chain Relationship (SCR) and Previous Research . 32 2.2.1 How Partnerships Exist in the Relationship . 33 2.2.2 Previous Research on the Supply Chain Relationship (SCR) . 35 2.3 The Third Party Logistics Provider (TPLP) in Supply Chain Activity . 51 2.3.1 Definition of Third Party Logistics Provider (TPLP) . 52 2.3.2 The Importance of Third Party Logistics Providers (TPLPs) in Supply Chain Distribution Activity . 55 2.3.3 Previous Research on Third Party Logistics Providers (TPLPs) . 59 2.4 Logistics Partnerships . 72 2.4. 1 Definition of Logistics Partnership . 72 2.4. 2 Previous Research on Logistics Partnerships . 74 2.4. 3 The Relevant Reference for the Key Factors Investigated in the Study for the Development of the LPS Conceptual Model . 85 2.4. 4 Elements of Transaction Cost Theory (TCT) in the Logistics Partnerships . 90 2.4. 5 Elements of Relationship Marketing Theory in Logistics Partnerships. 91 2.5 Introduction to Malaysia, and its Automotive and Logistics Industry . 94 vi 2.5. 1 Automotive Industry in Malaysia. 95 2.5. 2 The Logistics Industry in Malaysia . 98 2.6 Conclusion . 102 CHAPTER THREE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF THE CM-TPLP RELATIONSHIP . 103 3.0 Introduction . 103 3.1 Constructing the New Model: From Existing Knowledge to a New Concept . 104 3.2 Operational Factors . 108 3.2.1 Logistics Service Performance (LSP) by the TPLP and the Logistics Partnership . 108 3.2.2 Investment and Logistics Partnership . 110 3.2.3 Information Technology Use and Communication in the Logistics Partnership . 111 3.2.4 Information Sharing in Logistics Partnerships . 113 3.3 Relational Factors. 114 3.3.1 Trust in the Logistics Partnership . 115 3.3.2 Commitment in Logistics Partnerships . 116 3.3.3 Power in Logistics Partnerships . 117 3.3.4 Dependency in Logistics Partnerships . 118 3.3.5 Conflict in the Logistics Partnership . 119 3.4 Outcome Dimension. 119 3.4. 1 Long-term Relationship (Renewal of Contract) . 120 3.4. 2 Company Profitability . 121 3.5 Proposed Conceptual Model . 123 3.6 Conclusion . 126