Evaluating logistics performance: methodological issues, evidences from the field and some policy proposals from the Italian case

The goal of the paper is to assess the level of logistics and transportation performance (efficiency/effectiveness) of a selected number of production-logistics chains that are considered to be relevant for the Italian economy. Following a critical review of the literature on logistics performance assessment, the paper applies an original methodology to map logistics activities and processes and defines a set of performance metrics in the logistics and transportation field. Afterwards, data collection is performed by means of a panel of companies in which representative firms of the mechanical, 'white', textile and apparel, shoe-making, furniture and metallurgy sectors are selected. Results show some relevant correlations between the degree of leadership (e.g., market power) of companies in their respective sectors and the degree of efficiency and effectiveness of their logistics systems.