The Critical Factors: An Evaluation of Schedule Reliability in Liner Shipping

Abstract

Abstract � In today’s ever-increasing competitive environment, container shipping plays a significant part in the supply chain. Schedule reliability of shipping lines affect hinterland transport and shippers. Thus service quality of schedule reliability has an important influence on the operational performance of container shipping lines. The main purpose of this study was to analyze and investigate the key influential factors of schedule reliability by using the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process. Results indicated that the most important object is ‘process management in shipping lines’, and that the important criteria were ‘well-arranged time window, ’ ‘transship arrangement, ’ ‘planning the suitable ports, ’ ‘planning the berth and warehouse beforehand, ’ and ‘control and management staff in the terminal’.