TQM implementation in 3PL organisations vs organisations with in-house logistics department: A literature review

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an exploratory literature review investigating the similarities and differences in TQM implementation between 3PL organisations and organisations with an in-house logistics function. Design/methodology/approach – The authors collected all relevant papers covering both types of organisations implementing TQM worldwide in a time period from 1991 until today. The aim was to identify key papers and analyse its contents based on the quality of services provided by these two types of organisations. Findings – The survey contains information about the forces that encourage managers to implement quality practices in the logistics function, the reasons that impeded the implementation of such a quality programme, the qualitymethods being used and also the level of their satisfaction with the current qualitymanagement in logistics. Research limitations/implications – This paper only mentioned the principal papers that have been published globally from 1991 – today. Originality/value – The present study is one of the few that reviewed literature from the year 1991 – today in order to provide a comparison of quality management practices between 3PLs and in-house Logistics organisations.