AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
automobile industry. Currently it is widely spread within other
industries as well.
With the help of cross-docking, it is possible to transport goods
that allow easy and fast handling, have the same shape and are
sufficiently packaged. By means of a standardized handling
technique, it is possible to flow as quickly as possible from
receipt to the next dispatch, which is why boxes and pallets are
used in handling. It is possible to transport with the help of cross
docking mainly goods with constant demand, or its small
change, it is, for example, drugstores, food, beverages and other
consumer goods, which are intended primarily for retail
(Richnák, 2014e).
In cross-docking, shipments typically spend less than 24 hours in
a cross-dock. The purpose of cross-docking includes reducing
inventory costs, increasing inventory turns, consolidating
transportation, increasing throughput and reducing operation
costs associated with eliminating unnecessary handling and
storage. It also offers a way to increase inventory velocity (Li et
al., 2012). Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) is a collaborative
strategy between a buyer and supplier to optimize the availability
of products at minimal cost. Overall, inventory management cost
plays a significant role in reducing supply chain cost.
Specifically in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector,
inventory–turnover ratio needs to be very high to compete in the
global market. Throughout the supply chain, VMI is used to cut
inventory-related costs and keep inventory levels low. VMI
helps organizations to reduce the inventory-associated costs by
shifting the responsibility of managing and replenishing
inventory to vendors (Singh, 2013). J. Van Belle and P.
Valckenaers and D. Cattrysse (2012) described “as the process
of unloading freight from inbound vehicles and loading these
goods into outbound vehicles, with minimal handling and with
little or no storage in between one of the most popular logistical
strategies.
Dupaľ and Richnák (2017) point out new trends in the sale of
products, such as online shopping or adapting production
according to customer requirements, increasing the share of
logistics in the success or failure of the company. Logistics is the
area in which a company can gain a competitive advantage.
In cross-docking, goods are first classified as per the demand at
the respective destinations and then are reloaded into the
corresponding outbound transport vehicles. This strategy has
several advantages such as reduction in total inventory costs and
lead time, enhanced customer service levels and improvement in
the supplier relationships. Cross-docking centres are dynamic
environments where products arrive, are regrouped, and leave
the same day (Vis and Roodbergen, 2008).
Today, the logistic outsourcing is developing in an industrial
environment marked by a strong commercial uncertainty (Wang
and Yeung and Zhang, 2011). Business Process Outsourcing
(BPO) is a program that has become popular in the past decade.
It involves contracting with external suppliers to perform work
previously done in-house. Much of the motivation has been to
reduce the cost of performing the activity and reducing the
investment in resources to perform the activity internally.
Outsourcing, especially offshore outsourcing, has become one of
the most discussed business activities during the first decade of
the twenty-first century (Crandall and Crandall, 2015).
Stankovský and Cibulka (2011) say that logistics outsourcing is
enhanced especially in fields of acquisition, distribution and
reverse logistics. Acquisition and distribution covers mainly
utilisation of transportation services. The reason is mainly
growth of transportation complexity, only number of businesses
is capable to operate their own fleet and appertaining personnel.
Outsourcing of reverse logistics regards management of waste
management, utilisation of leftover stock, recycling materials
from returned non-functional products and repairs of repairable
non-functional products. Within reverse logistics processes, to a
certain degree, it is also possible to secure entering production
materials, while they take part in roles of acquisition logistics.
By outsourcing logistics activities, companies can achieve
economies of scale and thereby reduce financial risks. The
investment in logistics assets, the example of the platforms,
necessarily requires a considerable amount of agent, which
implies a high financial risk. The reduction in the costs of
logistics outsourcing comes mainly from the best use of capacity
and the best allocation of capital (Kalinzi, 2016).
3 Methodology and data
The main objective of the paper is based on the study of
theoretical knowledge and the implementation of a questionnaire
survey, to determine and analyse the utilisation of selected
technologies and innovations in logistics of automotive
enterprises in Slovakia.
The questionnaire survey was attended by 80 automotive
enterprises operating in Slovakia. Large enterprises in the
automotive industry obtained the largest share of 39.8%.
Medium-sized enterprises dominated in the automotive industry
with a share of 37.2%. Small enterprises were represented with a
share of 23%.
Table 1: Structure enterprises by business size
Business size
Percentage
Small
23%
Medium-sized
37.2%
Large
39.8%
Source: own processing
The objective of the paper was achieved using several research
methods. In the processing and comparison in the theoretical part
of the paper, we used literature search, analysis and synthesis,
induction and deduction, comparison and scientific abstraction.
In the Results and discussion chapter, we used the query, sorting
method and elimination method.
On the basis of the main objective of paper was determined and
tested following hypothesis:
H
0
H
: There is no statistically significant dependence on the level
of significance
α = 0.05 between the use of cross-docking and
the improvement of distribution logistics.
1
: There is a statistically significant dependence on the level of
significance
α = 0.05 between the use of cross-docking and the
improvement of distribution logistics.
Calculated testing characteristics (Chi-square = 11.98) was
compared with 95 percentile
χ
2
– division with (r – 1)
⋅ (s – 1) =
(3 – 1)
⋅ (3 – 1) = 4 degree of freedom χ
2
0,95
Based on the hypothesis testing, we conclude that there is a
statistically significant dependence on the level of significance
α
= 0.05 between the use of cross-docking and the improvement of
distribution logistics, thus accepting the H
(4) = 9.487729.
1
hypothesis and
rejecting the H
0
4 Results and discussion
hypothesis.
From the results of the survey, we would like to point out that
enterprises operating in the automotive industry use new
technologies and innovations in logistics with a share of 82%.
Only 18% of automotive enterprises do not use new technologies
and innovations in logistics. The reasons given were a lack of
funds and a lack of qualified staff. Based on Table 2, we can see
the percentages of the use of new technologies and innovations
in logistics according to the size of automotive enterprises. Large
enterprises use new technologies and innovations in logistics
with a share of 77.8%. Medium-sized enterprises use
technologies and innovations in logistics with a share of 16.6%.
Small enterprises in the automotive industry use technologies
and innovations with a share of 5.6%. New technologies and
innovations in logistics are not used by small enterprises with a
share of 72.6%. Large enterprises do not use technologies and
innovations with only a share of 7.6%.
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