Distribution planning in third party logistics systems and analyzing the problems Turkish firms face

ABSTRACT Logistics is the process of transportation, warehousing, material handling, dutying, packaging, labeling and inventory management while delivering the product from the manufacturer to the end user. Nowadays firms prefer to outsource the non-core business activities to companies expert in their fields. When a company outsources its logistics activities to an expert firm, the firm is called the third part logistics firm. In this work, the new trend third party logistics and consequently the problems the Turkish firms face have been examined, analysed and as a result some solutions have been presented. Finally a vehicle routing application has been examined as an operational problem. After the introduction, in the second chapter, logistics and suply chain concepts have been examined. In the third chapter logistics management and logistic activities were described. Information about new technologies and supply chain management softwares have been given. In the following chapter third party logistics and outsourcing have been defined. In the fifth chapter, distribution planning activities have been examined in detail including warehouse and stock management, distribution requirements planning, transportation and shipping planning. In the next chapter third party logistics concept in Turkey and the results of the survey that has been about the problems firms faced have been analysed in detail and solutions have been offered. In the final chapter, vehicle routing problem examined in detail and a computer aided vehicle routing application has been given. Keywords: logistics, supply chain, third party, distribution, transportation, vehicle routing XI