Title: Evaluation method for node importance in container supply chain network

Authors: Zhihong Tian; Honglu Liu

Addresses: Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, No. 1 Xinghua Avenue (Band Two), Daxing, Beijing 102600 China ' Beijing Jiaotong University, No. 3 Shangyuancun, Haidian, Beijing 100044, China

Abstract: In this paper, a new evaluation model for node importance in container supply chain is proposed. In this evaluation model, there are two important evaluation factors - the strength of node itself and the importance contribution from other nodes. Then, a case of global top 100 ports by container throughput in 2012 from Lloyd's list intelligence is investigated. The empirical research indicates that the distribution of node strength follows a power-law distribution, and the distribution of node degree follows an exponential distribution. We find that different method leads to a different ranking, because each method only reflects one aspect of features of nodes in the network. However, our evaluation method based on the node strength and the influence of neighbour nodes can reflects a more comprehensive evaluation result.

Keywords: node importance; container supply chains; complex networks; network topology; transmission efficiency; supply chain management; SCM; container ports; container throughput; node strength; node degree.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2016.078534

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2016 Vol.22 No.3/4/5, pp.145 - 161

Received: 28 Nov 2015
Accepted: 31 Mar 2016
Published online: 22 Aug 2016 *

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