Logistics supply chain strategies of manufacturing and trading enterprises

Purpose:The aim of the article is to analyse and evaluate the influence of logistics supply chain 5strategies on the results of enterprises implementingthem andcreating asupply chain on the 6example of selected Polish manufacturing and trading enterprises. It presents the theoretical 7aspects of logistics supply chain strategies in contemporary market conditions. Aresearch 8methodology has beendescribed and a brief description of the studied population has been 9made. The results of theresearch concerninglogistics supply chain strategies used inpractice 10bythe surveyed enterprises has beenpresented and an attempt to assess the influenceof logistics 11supply chain strategies on the results of enterprises implementing them and creating asupply 12chainhas been made.13Design/methodology/approach:The article is based on the study of literature and own 14empirical research. The results of author’s own empirical research presented in the article come 15from more extensive studies concerning the analysis of logistics systems and logistics process 16management of Polish manufacturing and trading enterprises in the years 2014-2016 in the 17context of building the competitiveness of enterprises. The research was conducted in 2017 by18face-to-face interviewswith managers responsible for logistics in the surveyed companies using 19a questionnaire. 298 manufacturing and tradingenterprises from north-eastern Poland were 20examined (55.4% from the Warmia-Masuria Province and 44.6% from the Podlasie Province), 21characterized by a diversified competitive position on the market.22Findings:Contemporary manufacturing and trading enterprises can use logistics both as amain 23element to achieve the intended competitive position and as anelement to strengthenthe 24adopted by the company method to achieve the intended competitive position. The conducted 25studiesconfirmed that the implementationof theadequate to the conditions logistics supply 26chain strategy allows the enterprise to increasethe adjustment of operations to requirements 27and expectations of customers, respond properlyto market challenges, achieve theset goals, 28implement innovations, increasesales revenues with the same or betterfinancial liquidity than 29competitors’, reducecosts and reducecapital involvement, and consequently,achievethe 30competitive advantage andintended competitive position of enterprises creating the supply 31chain. The most frequently implemented logistics strategy in the best enterprises was the supply 32chain management strategy. In the majorityof the best enterprises, an emergent logistics 33strategy was implemented, which was in a constant stage of creation and development, and was 34characterized by a quick response to changing customer requirements, environmental 35conditions and competitors’activities. Research limitations/implications:More and more logistics managers manage logistics 1processes on the scale of the enterprise and the entire supply chain. Creating and implementing 2a logistics strategy in the supply chain is a verycomplex process. The article presents only 3selected aspects of logistics supply chain strategies. The issue of logistics supply chain 4strategies requires further, in-depth research.5Practical implications:The article proposes logistics managers of Polish manufacturing and 6trading enterprises practical suggestions for using logistics supply chain strategies to achieve 7the intended competitive advantage.8Originality/value:The article fills a cognitive gap regarding logistics supply chain strategies. 9An extensive review of the literature on logistics supply chain strategies in contemporary 10market conditions has been made. The article also fills an empirical gap. It presents the results 11of studies concerning selected aspects of logistics supply chainstrategies used in practice by 12the surveyed manufacturing and trading enterprises. The research results presented in the article 13can be used by logistics managers of Polish manufacturing and trading enterprises.