Dear readers!
The third edition of Journal of «Logistics and Supply Chain Management» (LSCM) is notable in several respects.
Firstly, I am a new Chief Editor of the Journal. And, first of all, I want to express my gratitude to Professor of National Research University Higher School of Economics Valentina Vladimirovna Dybskaya for the tremendous work she has done for over 10 years as the permanent Chief Editor since 2004: the Journal is acknowledged as one of the best academic and analytical periodicals in logistics and supply chain management (SCM) in Russia. Recognition of the academic value of the journal was the fact that in 2008 it was included in the list of Journals for publications of papers prepared by candidates of Ph.D. and doctoral degrees receipt recommended by Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) of Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Undoubtedly, the Journal has its own face publishing works of both representatives of the research sector, and university teachers as well as the best practitioners in the field of logistics and SCM.
Secondly, the team of Academic Editorial Advisory Board of our Journal has been radically changed. Together with recognized authorities in the field of logistics in Russia, among which Professors V.V. Dybskaya, O.D. Protsenko, V.I. Sergeev, V.S. Lukinskiy, E.I. Zaitsev, renowned foreign scientists get involved in the Board, such as Professor Dr.John Gattorna (Australia) – one of the most famous experts in SCM, author of many popular books in the world in this field of knowledge, leading professor of logistics and SCM in several universities in Germany – a country which reaches a first place in the world in the rating of LPI by World Bank in 2014. As well, these are Professor Dr. Frank Straube (Technical University in Berlin), Professor Dr. Gebhard Hafer (bbw University of Applied Sciences in Berlin), Professor Dr. Ralf Elbert (Technical University in Darmstadt), Professor Dr. Alen McKinnon (the Kuhn Logistics University in Hamburg). Our friend and colleague from Poland also agreed to participate in the Advisory Board – Dr. Stanislaw Krzyzaniak, Scientific Deputy Director for Research of Institute of Logistics and Warehousing in Poznan (Poland).
Change of the Academic Editorial Advisory Board Team is connected not only with the need to integrate researches of Russian scientists and specialists with foreign colleagues in the context of the publications of their findings, but with the main purpose of the Journal in the current year which is to enter into «Scopus», the global science citation database. Having achieved the posed purpose will certainly raise the international status of the Journal and allow foreign readers better acquainted with the results of Russian scientists in the field of logistics and SCM.
The subject of this issue is mainly associated with the object and process modeling in logistics and SCM in the process of analyzing, controlling, designing logistic systems and reengineering business processes in supply chain in order to increase their effectiveness. Range of issues, tools and methods related to simulation in logistics and SCM is quite broad.
It should be noted following main applications of modeling tools to the theory and methodology of logistics and SCM:
■ decision optimization in corporate logistics;
■ problems of logistics controlling in companies, issues with cross-functional and inter-organizational logistics coordination;
■ integrated planning of supply chains;
■ theoretical problems of inventory management;
■ economic and mathematical modeling of logistics systems and supply chains;
■ modeling and optimization of supply chain network structure;
■ modeling and optimization of parameters of logistics business processes in supply chains;
■ logistics risk management in supply chains;
■ management of financial resources in supply chains, etc.
Application of simulation methods in order to solve above mentioned problems is largely explained not only by the necessity to formalize statement of academic research problems in logistics and SCM, but also by the fundamental impossibility to solve a specific problem and to provide its information support without simulation model. Problems of logistics solutions optimization are generally associated with multicriteria problem, stochastic nature of environmental factors, risks and uncertainties of most parameters. Therefore, more and more we see the use of numerical (simulation) modeling.
In particular, the article of Anna Kovalchuk «Dynamic modeling in the logistics impact on the ROE assessing» uses means of simulation study. The paper covers issues related to the definition of logistics contribution in the company performance, thus it helps to allocate limited resources more clearly and to evaluate the correlation between logistics and corporate strategies.
Traditionally, the Journal pays greater attention to the modeling tools of inventory management in supply chains. The classical model of optimal order size (EOQ) proposed by Wilson, which is used with ages, still attracts attention of researchers. Thus, paper of scientists from St. Petersburg, N.I. Vorobyova, V.S. Lukinskiy, V.V. Lukinskiy, proposes application of morphological approach of rational systems research as a missing modified model of EOQ. The authors develop a set of modified models of optimal order size, taking into account simultaneous delivery of diversified products, distribution of responsibilities among the participants of logistics chain, presence of added value in sales price when storage costs are calculating, and various options to account storage costs.
The representative of Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics, A.I. Konikova, dedicates his work to the problem of extending the functionality of ABC / XYZ – analysis when parameters of inventory management are simulated and matrix of product mix is composed.
Article of our German colleagues, Professor F. Straube and Master K. Dyurach from the Technical University in Berlin, is devoted to formulation of process model in order to develop relations between 3PL-provider and industrial company in the case of China.
Modeling topic is closely adjacent to issues of logistics service management and controlling in logistics and SCM, reflected in the works of experts from National Research University Higher School of Economics: in the article prepared by A.V. Ivanova and analytical survey made by Professor V.I. Sergeyev, respectively.
From other papers published in the third issue of the Journal it is worth noting an article of S.Y. Yeliseyev and A.A. Shatokhin from Moscow State University of Railway Engineering which is dedicated to logistics insourcing in managing rail car fleet carriers.
In conclusion I can not dwell on the problem of training qualified personnel in logistics and SCM. Admission in Universities to profile «Logistics and Supply Chain Management» is coming soon. Today not so many Higher Educational Institutions are training Bachelors and Masters in this profile; however the leading among them is of course National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE).
Today logisticians with diplomas who also have knowledge in SCM are critical resource for many Russian companies. Given into account that offer of qualified logisticians in Russian labor market is now extremely limited, it is very important to implement enhanced training and retraining programs of graduates in such a leading organization of supplementary education in the field of logistics and SCM in Russia as International Center of Training (ICT) in Logistics in National Research University Higher School of Economics. It is important to note that content of disciplines that form the knowledge and skills of SCM in MBA and retraining programs offered by ICT is significantly expanded: strategic direction of logistics defines current requirements to qualifications of specialist in this area who should know advanced methods of decision-making technologies in logistics and SCM.
