Operational framework and decision flow analyses on supply chain resources integration in 4PL

At present, the successful operations of 4PL in practice have gradually demonstrated that it is an effective mode to integrate the complex resources efficiently and flexibly in the supply chain. But there are not an effective theory and a quantitative method to guide the enterprises. To solve this bottleneck in the operational expansion of 4PL in practice and to set up a systemic 4PL integration framework to make decision, in this paper, based on the more detailed literature review, the dominant factors which are most important in the decision process of the supply chain resources integration in 4PL are analyzed at operational level from the perspective of value increment theory and systemic integration principles. Then, based on these dominant factors, a series of relations about 4PL integration are discussed, the 4PL integration operational framework and the integration decision optimization flow for this complex integration are analyzed and then an integration decision optimization flow chart are built to guide the practice. The content discussed in this paper is important basis for in-depth quantitative research of the supply chain resources integration in 4PL.