Int. J. Shipping and Transport Logistics, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2013 31
Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Performance evaluation of tracking and tracing for
logistics operations
A.H.M. Shamsuzzoha*, Mikael Ehrs,
Richard Addo-Tenkorang, Duy Nguyen and
Petri T. Helo
Department of Production,
University of Vaasa,
P.O. Box 700, FI-65101, Finland
E-mail: ahsh@uwasa.fi
E-mail: michael.ehrs@uwasa.fi
E-mail: richard.addo-tenkorang@uwasa.fi
E-mail: duy.phuong@wapice.com
E-mail: phelo@uwasa.fi
*Corresponding author
Abstract: Today’s complex logistics and supply chain management demands
the continuous monitoring and managing of ever increasing shipment chains.
This motivates the need for goods-centric tracking and tracing of logistics
items, which ensures the opportunity to increase visibility and control in
different logistics operations of a company. Recent technological developments
enable manufacturing companies to trace and track goods over their entire life
cycle and manage supply chain operations across organisational boundaries.
The available auto-ID technologies such as barcodes, QR (quick response)
codes, RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, etc., are widely used for
monitoring the material flow in the logistics chain. However, a gap exists in
evaluating performance and feasibility before implementing such technologies
in respect to logistics and supply chain tracking and tracing network. Based on
this research gap, this paper presents a methodology to measure the
performance evaluation of available tracking and tracing technologies. An
experimental set up was established and conducted with the objective of
measuring the performances of the tracking technologies and tools. This
research study would be a supportive roadmap for manufacturing companies
before implementing suitable tracking and tracing technologies and tools in
future everyday business operations.
Keywords: logistics tracking and tracing; auto-ID technologies; supply chain
management; performance management; tracking and tracing tools.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Shamsuzzoha, A.H.M.,
Ehrs, M., Addo-Tenkorang, R., Nguyen, D. and Helo, P.T. (2013)
‘Performance evaluation of tracking and tracing for logistics operations’, Int. J.
Shipping and Transport Logistics, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp.31–54.
Biographical notes: A.H.M. Shamsuzzoha has been working as a
Post-doctoral Researcher in the Department of Production, University of Vaasa,
Finland, since September 2011. He received his PhD in Industrial Management
from the University of Vaasa, Finland in 2010. He received his Master of
Science (Mechanical Engineering) from the University of Strathclyde,
Glasgow, UK. Currently his research activities are devoted to the integration of