The Singapore-Malaysia transport mode choice, case study of the electronics industry

Abstract

This thesis studies the transport mode choice problem between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur for electronics goods. A decision analysis is made based on a hierarchical tree whose inputs are collected during a field investigation among Singaporean electronics manufacturers, freight forwarders and carriers. Both direct weighting and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methods are used to build the priorities in the hierarchy. The study underlines first the practices of the electronics manufacturer between Singapore and Malaysia to assess their transport needs and, thereafter, to understand the reasons why shippers choose one mode over another. The study presents empirical insights on the characteristics of different modal options on the Singapore a?? Kuala Lumpur route through a survey of freight forwarding companies. On the choice of modes, the results indicate that the most suitable mode for a small consignment of electronicsa?? goods (100 kilogramme shipment) is air freight whereas road transport is best suited for a full container load (FCL) shipments.