Macquarie University says logistics issues need to be considered in a wider context.
Macquarie University has created a forum of academic, policy, and industry professionals that aims to develop innovative solutions to some of the logistics sector’s biggest challenges.
Known as the Transport and Logistics Open Network (TALON), the grouping aims to focus on freight logistics as a multi-disciplinary function.
According to the university, issues in the sector cannot be considered in isolation without further reference to policy areas related to human geography, urban planning, economics, and industrial relations.
“To understand only one aspect of transport and logistics is to run the risk of not seeing the wider picture. To focus solely on policy is to ignore practice; and to focus primarily on systems and modelling is to ignore the vital role politics, values and management play in the movement of freight and people in society,” convener Daryll Hull says.
“Our main interest is in the application of theory to practice. Thus we seek long term relationships with industry stakeholders to undertake applied research.”
TALON’s stated aims are to build an open and inclusive research network across disciplines, to provide a platform for collaborative research projects and knowledge sharing and to engage with industry stakeholders to build solutions to real world problems.
It lists members from Macquarie and other universities and research centres, alongside industry associates from corporate, industry and government organisations.
The network is currently coordinating a project looking into employee engagement in the maritime sector.
It aims to identify key issues in work organisation and job design, and has been funded by port haulage consultancy Svitzer Australia.
It has also coordinated a two-day seminar on first and last mile city logistics for the Australian research and education arm of Volvo.