An assessment of sustainable supply chain management practices in the upstream pharmaceutical industry of Ghana

PurposeThis study aims to comprehensively assess how digital maturity degree (DMD) impacts sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) performance through the mediating role of SSCM practices in businesses in Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachThe hypotheses were performed using partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with data collected from a survey of over 234 managers having responsibility in the supply chain field in Vietnam. Qualitative data were collected through semistructured interviews with 6 experts to deepen understanding of the relationship between DMD and SSCM.FindingsThe results show the mix-results in the relationship between SSCM practices and SSCM performance dimensions while DMD strongly impacts SSCM practices. Also, this study finds the mediating role of SSCM practices on the relationship between DMD and SSCM performance.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate the role of DMD on SSCM practices and SSCM performance, using empirical evidence. Moreover, the authors integrate both qualitative and quantitative for understanding complex SSCM phenomena. The present study also helps businesses improve their SSCM performance by leveraging SSCM practices and developing their digital technologies in the long-term view.

Purpose This paper seeks to contribute to the understanding of the impact of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices on sustainable performance and the further impact of sustainable performance on food safety assurance in Chinese food firms. The paper also aims to provide a new way to avoid the occurrence of food safety problems from the perspective of SSCM and so help food firms to achieve sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach This paper developed a conceptual model to investigate the impact of food firms SSCM practices on the firm performances while firm performances on food safety assurance. The primary data were collected from 162 Chinese food firms. The research models were tested using structural equation modeling on PLS smart 3.0. Findings The results show that SSCM practices have a positive impact on firm environmental performance and social performances. The environmental and social performance positively related to financial performance. Moreover, the sustainable performance positively affects the food safety assurance. Research limitations/implications Our results suggest that SSCM practices have a positive impact on a firm’s environmental and social performance, which in turn improves financial performance. Moreover, sustainable performance positively affects food safety assurance. Originality/value An SSCM practices model is proposed to empirically evaluate Chinese food firms. The results of this investigation support the hypotheses that SSCM practices are environmentally and socially friendly and are good to business, and the food safety assurance can be promoted by a food firm’s sustainability performance. We carried out a survey and research of SSCM in food industry and gave insights to food safety management.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute significantly to the empirical investigations related to the impact of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on performance in Chinese firms. The paper also aims to theorize and empirically assess a comprehensive SSCM practices and performance model. The model incorporates two aspects of SSCM practices: internal and external management, and analyses the impact on corporate sustainability performance from all dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops a conceptual model to investigate the impact of SSCM practices on the firm performance. Based on the data of 172 Chinese firms, this paper analyzes the impact of SSCM practices on firm economic performance, environmental performance, and social performance for each dimension by using PLS structural equation methods.FindingsThe results show that firm’s internal SSCM practices have a positive impact on firm’s environmental performance and social performance. Moreover, environmental performance and social performance are positively related to economic performance.Originality/valueA comprehensive SSCM practices performance model is proposed and empirically assessed for Chinese firms. The results of this investigation support the hypotheses that SSCM practices are environmentally and socially necessary and are favorable for business. A series of approach and implications of SSCM practices is recommended.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to conceptualize a model for sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) that integrates the antecedents, practices and performance measures of sustainability. It also examines if lean management (LM) and supply management (SM) are antecedents of SSCM.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of literature was undertaken across multiple streams, including operations management, SCM, sustainability, business ethics and performance management. Articles relevant to SSCM published over a span of 31 years (1988–2018) were searched using keywords and specific selection criteria.FindingsFrom the literature, three dependent constructs – motivators of sustainability, LM and SM – and three independent constructs – environmental practices in SCM, social practices in SCM and SSCM performance – are identified and defined. Linkages between these constructs are hypothesized to develop a theoretical framework called the “integrated lean/supply management with sustainability motivators, practices and performance model.”Research limitations/implicationsBuilt on the principles-practices-outcomes framework proposed earlier, this model is comprehensive in its coverage of sustainability antecedents, practices and performance. Further, it covers the SCM triad – the supplier, the focal firm and the customers – as well as the roles they play in sustainability performance.Originality/valueBy identifying LM and SM as additional antecedents of SSCM, this study suggests that sustainability may be realized through LM and SM principles. Further, the proposed model presents a novel integration of literature from diverse domains.

Next to the oil industry, the apparel industries are strongly criticized for their negative impact on the ecosystem. Due to the current global trend, manufacturing industries are expected to consider sustainability issues beyond conventional business goals. In this regard, the study investigates the Ethiopian apparel and textile manufacturing industries’ sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices. A descriptive research design methodology using a cross‐sectional survey was used. Data were collected through self‐administered questionnaires. A simple random sampling technique to decide sample size and a purposive sampling technique to select respondents were employed. A total of 71 participants provided a valid response. The metrics for the survey were developed from different literature, and structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. The results demonstrated that the state of the implementation of SSCM practices by the fashion manufacturing industry in Ethiopia is still in its promising stages. The hypotheses test results showed that SSCM practices positively impact SSCM performance and competitiveness at p values of 0.05, except environmental practices with economic performance. The study provides additional insight into the growing field of literature that examines the relationships among SSCM practices, performance, and competitiveness. The findings offer insight for industrial policymakers to improve sustainability for global competitiveness. The Ethiopian government is making significant efforts to boost the manufacturing sector through the “Let Ethiopia Produce” campaign, and sustainability is among the significant necessities for the global competitiveness of the Ethiopian manufacturing industry.

PurposeRecently, interest in sustainability has grown globally in the heavy vehicle and equipment industry (HVEI). However, this industry's complexity poses a challenge to the implementation of generic sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices. This study aims to identify SSCM's barriers, practices and performance (BPP) indicators in the HVEI context.Design/methodology/approachThe results are derived from case studies of four multinational manufacturers. Within-case and cross-case analyses were conducted to categorise the SSCM BPP indicators that are unique to HVEI supply chains.FindingsThis study's analysis revealed that supply chain cost implications and a deficient information flow between focal firms and supply chain partners are the key barriers to SSCM in the HVEI. This analysis also revealed a set of policies, programmes and procedures that manufacturers have adopted to address SSCM barriers. The most common SSCM performance indicators included eco-portfolio sales to assess economic performance, health and safety indicators for social sustainability and carbon- and energy-related measures for environmental sustainability.Practical implicationsThe insights can help HVEI firms understand and overcome the typical SSCM barriers in their industry and develop, deploy and optimise their SSCM strategies and practices. Managers can use this knowledge to identify appropriate mechanisms with which to accelerate their transition into a sustainable business and effectively measure performance outcomes.Originality/valueThe extant SSCM literature has focused on the light vehicle industry, and it has lacked a concrete examination of HVEI supply chains' sustainability BPP. This study develops a framework that simultaneously analyses SSCM BPP in the HVEI.

Amaç- Çalışmanın amacı Sürdürülebilir Tedarik Zinciri Yönetimi (STZY) uygulamalarını benimsemiş işletmelerde, başarı performansını ölçmeye yönelik bir model önerisi sunmaktır. Yöntem- STZY, sürdürülebilirlik ve işletme performansı, sosyal performans ve finansal performans, sürdürülebilir maliyet yönetimi gibi kavramlar baz alınarak literatür taraması yapılmıştır.Bulgular- Literatür incelendiğinde, STZY’nin, genel olarak, işletmenin çevresel etkiyi azaltmaya yönelik uygulamaları olarak değerlendirildiği görülmektedir. Bunun yanında, STZY ve işletme performansı arasındaki ilişkinin incelendiği birçok çalışmada, finansal performans göstergesi olarak maliyet tasarruflarının kullanıldığı görülmektedir. Ancak, sürdürülebilirlik temelli uygulamaların çok sayıda farklı maliyet unsurunu da ortaya çıkaracak olması birçok çalışmada göz ardı edilmiştir. STZY uygulamalarında maliyet yönetimini ve performans ölçümlerini konu alan çalışmalarının sayısının ise oldukça sınırlı kaldığı görülmektedir.Sonuç- İşletme performansını ölçmede sürdürülebilirlik temelli uygulamaların etkilerini de dikkate almak, uzun vadeli başarı göstergelerinin tanımlanması ve performans ölçümlerinin doğru yapılması adına önem taşımaktadır.

In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in interest from both academic and corporate sectors concerning sustainable supply chain management. The increasing number of published papers focusing on this topic is a signal for this. To contribute further to the development of this field, this paper presents a comprehensive review of the existing literature on the impact of adopting sustainable supply chain management in the agricultural sector in Ethiopia, considering a total of 67 papers published between 2010 and 2023. This literature review aims to examine barriers, internal and external driving forces of the adoption of sustainable supply chain management practices, the impact of adopting sustainable supply chain management practices on the performance and identify constraints and opportunities of sustainable supply chain management practices in Ethiopian agricultural sectors. Focusing on the Ethiopian context, the study provides insights into the link between sustainable supply chain practices and performance outcomes. Additionally, NVIVO, qualitative data analysis software, was utilized to enhance the review process and ensure the systematic literature analysis.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a measurement instrument for sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) critical factors, practices and performance and validate it in the food industry. A literature review was conducted in order to identify pertinent variables and propose relevant measuring items. An email survey was carried out in 423 Greek companies in the food and beverage sector. The questionnaire was sent by e-mail in the Google Forms format and it was requested to be answered by a representative of the company. The collected data was processed using exploratory factor analysis in order to extract the latent constructs of the SSCM critical factors, practices and performance measures. The validity of the proposed instrument was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. The extracted SSCM critical factors are “firm-level sustainability critical factors” and “supply chain sustainability critical factors”. The extracted SSCM practices are “supply chain collaboration” and “supply chain strategic orientation”. The extracted SSCM performance factors are “economic performance”, “social performance” and “environmental performance”. The three developed constructs constitute a measurement instrument that can be used both by practitioners who desire to implement SSCM and by researchers who can apply the proposed scales in other research projects or use them as assessment tools.

How assessment and cooperation practices influence suppliers’ adoption of sustainable supply chain practices: An inter-organizational learning perspective

The study explores the impact of ecological supply chain management practices such as Green Supply Chain, environmental and operational management practices of organizational performance in Ghana. The organizational performance was measured based upon three parameters constituting Sustainable Environmental Performance (SENP), Sustainable Economic Performance (SECP), and Competitiveness (COMP). Exogenous factors included the constructs of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices and the single-item construct voluntary adoption of SSCM practices, while endogenous variables included the three aspects of firm performance. The relationship between sustainable management practices and organizational performance was ascertained using Structural Equation Modeling. A few significant results are presented as follows; (1) Environmental Management Practices (EMP) results in enhanced Sustainable Environmental Performance (SENP) and Sustainable Economic Performance (SECP); (2) Organizational Performance has a strong correlation with SECP and COMP; (3) SECP has a substantial and favorable relationship with both competitiveness and sustainable environmental performance, as well as sustainable economic performance. The positive relationship between SSCM practices and firm performance demonstrates that continual sustainable management principles eventually improve community capacity. This ultimately results in an organization’s competitiveness. Additionally, the managerial implications of the results are addressed.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating effect of food safety level on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices and firm performance of the core firm of the food industry in China and we used data from 372 companies in the Chinese food supply chain for our research. Key informants evaluate their companies based on SSCM practices. The results were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results show that SSCM practices are very important for the food firms, since they can improve the food safety level and further enhance the firms' economic, environmental, and social performances. The authors also found out that the food safety mediates the relationship between SSCM practices and environmental and social performance, and that if a food firm wants to make SSCM practices impact on the economic performance, it must pay attention to the responsibility for food safety in the internal SSCM practices. A comprehensive SSCM practices and firm performance model done empirically in food firms is proposed in conjunction with the mediating role of food safety level in this paper to provide new ideas and management methods for Chinese food firms to develop more effective food safety management.

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of adopting sustainable Supply Chain Management practices on the performance of public sector organizations in Zambia. The study was anchored on three objectives: To identify the main drivers of adopting sustainable supply chain management practices in public sector organizations in Zambia, to establish sustainable supply chain management practices adopted by public sector organizations in Zambia and to determine the challenges of implementing sustainability in public sector supply chains in Zambia. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive (qualitative) survey design to assess the impact of adopting sustainable Supply Chain Management practices on the performance of public sector organizations. The population comprised of fifty (50) Zambia Air Force personnel from Procurement, Operations and Finance departments. Survey questionnaire and in-depth interviews were used for data collection. Data was analysed using Excel and thematic analysis was used were data from questionnaires and interviews was summarized, edited, coded, tabulated and analyzed. Findings: The study concluded that leadership is a significant factor in Sustainable supply chain management practices being implemented by public sector organizations, and if senior managers are supportive of sustainability and incorporate Sustainable supply chain management practices into planning, strategies and goal setting, then the purchasing team will implement Sustainable supply chain management practices. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study recommended that Zambia Air Force should make use of identified main drivers of adopting sustainable supply chain management practices, continuously improve sustainable supply chain management practices and should endeavor to overcome the challenges of implementing sustainability in its supply chains.

Development and validation of a scale for measuring Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices and performance

In recent years, both businesses and academia have started to recognize sustainability as a crucial aspect of gaining a competitive advantage in the supply chain.This study aims to assess the effects of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on textile sectors' sustainability performance.It also assesses how supply chain ambidexterity mediates the connection between SSCM, from a triple bottom line (TBL) standpoint, and firm sustainability performance outcomes.Using the resource-based view and stakeholder theories, the study employed 240 survey responses from firms operating in textile industry in Pakistan and the validity and reliability of the data were confirmed, and the hypotheses were evaluated, using PLS-SEM.The findings show that SSCM practices have a major favorable influence on Sustainability Performance (SP) and Supply Chain Ambidexterity (SCA).Furthermore, in Pakistan's textile industry, SCA acts as a mediator in the relationship between SSCM and Sustainability Performance.Through an analysis of the fundamental factors and connections that lead to the development of the intricate connection between SSCM practices from a triple bottom line viewpoint and a company's sustainability performance, this research contributes to the current literature on SSCM and SCA, especially in the context of Pakistan's textile industry, by identifying the mediation effect of SCA on SSCM and SP.