An Effects Analysis of Logistics Collaboration: The Case of Pharmaceutical Supplies in Seoul

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The work is interesting. It addresses an important issue.
Presents the limitations of the method used. A conception of the isotropic space characteristic of engineering. The distribution and density of consumers in the territory is the same in all places. The needs of consumers are identical.
The real world does not work this way. This problem makes it difficult to apply the study to other areas, with different cities and different consumers.
In the discussion space, more emphasis must be placed on these aspects.
The maps do not contain cartographic scale and it is essential.

Author Response

Authors: We would like to thank the reviewer for your insightful and constructive comments. We carefully read your comments and provide a point-by-point response to each comment to address your concerns. We hope the revised article satisfies your comments accordingly.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Thank you for the opportunity to review this interesting article which analysis all sustainable benefits of logistics collaboration. This is an important area which has already been evaluated (albeit separately, for each sustainable pillar) in many papers by many authors. The paper, therefore, does not have great soundness, but it is significant ans also novelty to some extent.

Introduction: 

While I think the article has merit, it would be improved by upgrading an introduction section. The ‘background’ to the problem is explained but the the motivation within the introduction can be better articulated. Why should a reader care about this work? Why this is an important issue that need to be solved?

Moreover, the importance of the paper and contribution of the paper are also weaknesses of the paper. Please explain the managerial and other importance and implications for practice.

The earlier research that your research is based on and which you extend can also be added in the introduction section.

Literature review:

This section appears to cover past studies fairly effectively. It may be worth presenting a table highlighting what has been done previously so it is clear where the ‘gap’ is that this model seeks to fill.

Methodology: 

This looks like an effectively presented section – the strength of this paper. Environmental elements are completely covered, what about financial and social elements? Are there any gaps (elements) that has not yet been covered and for what reasons? Why the elements (travel time, accidents..) were selected and on which criteria were selected?

Conclusion:

Which stakeholders can use the methodology? 

Author Response

Authors: We would like to thank the reviewer for your favorable and insightful comments. We carefully read your comments and provide a point-by-point response to each comment to address your concerns. We hope the revised article satisfies your comments accordingly.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The manuscript is well written and interesting. Just some suggestions which could improve clarity i) since in the introduction the problem of VMT management is mentioned, some use cases ( for instance in Europe e.g. Italy and France, but not only) would improve the comprehensiveness of the following literature review. ii) r.56 - a definition of collaborative/non collaborative freight distribution is needed iii) r.112 - what is the "similar population" term meaning? iv) r.114 - why pharmaceutical supply is here introduced? Some explanations to introduce the relevance of this type of supply is needed, vedere v) r.132 - since delivery time is so short, how are the parcels delivered to the customers? Are customers shops or people? vi) r. 140 on - in describing route patterns, it seems that differences in the road network and or land use are not contemplated, how come? vii) r. 171 - clarify "Heterogeneity" viii) r. 295 - traffic accident unit cost seems very low ix) Figure 6b - how environmental savings are specifically calculated? Would it be possible to include an application in real environment for section 4?

Author Response

Authors: We would like to thank the reviewer for your insightful and constructive comments. We carefully read your comments and provide a point-by-point response to each comment to address your concerns. We hope the revised article satisfies your comments accordingly.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx