Queuing Models for Optimizing Manufacturing and Supply Chain Operations

PurposeThe current research aims to investigate the relationship between supply chain (SC) processes maturity and SC performance in the context of an emerging market (i.e. Morocco). Based on the SCOR model, the authors propose and test a thorough conceptual framework in which information systems moderates the relationship between SC processes maturity and performance. The effects of firm age and size are also taken into account.Design/methodology/approachBased on data collected from 175 top and middle managers using self-administered questionnaires, the authors empirically assessed the conceptual model using a partial least squares (PLS) estimation.FindingsThe study's findings demonstrate that SC processes maturity has a significant effect on SC performance. Second, information systems act as a moderator in the relationship between SC maturity and performance, e.g. the impact of supply chain processes maturity on supply chain performance measures is stronger in the presence of information systems support. Ultimately, firm size and age were found to have no significant impact on supply chain performance.Practical implicationsThe study's findings help SC managers to better understand how SC maturity contributes to SC performance. A firm effectively executing maturity factors in its SC processes is more likely to achieve a better SC performance. The authors also established the key role of information systems in strengthening the impact of SC maturity on performance. SC managers should capitalize on the use of information systems to achieve superior SC performance.Originality/valueThe present research bridges a gap pertaining to the impact of supply chain maturity on SC performance, particularly in emerging markets. It is the first of its kind to investigate the influence of SC maturity on SC performance the context of emerging markets.

Operations in today’s demand chain management framework

Biotechnology companies operate under strict rules that call for perfectly timed connections between their manufacturing and supply chain operations to meet all performance targets and meet customer needs quickly. This chapter examines how companies deliver excellent production results through various methods, such as strategy linking and using lean and agile principles in combination with integrated technology systems. It also discusses ways to manage risks and sustainability goals plus outlines what the future holds for companies. Biotech companies achieve better production results by linking their manufacturing and supply chain processes. This practice reduces production waste while handling upcoming challenges. Both lean and agile systems help us adapt, while technology capabilities like automation, AI blockchain, and digital twins improve our ability to react quickly and see what happens in our supply chain. Biotech companies need to spread their supply sources and have backup plans while securing online systems to keep their business running. Biotech companies take sustainability seriously when they use environmentally friendly production methods and supply chain techniques to lower their impact on the earth. Industry 4.0 and blockchain technology lead the way in forming new production and logistics systems for biotech industries. On top of adopting technology and sustainable methods plus good risk planning, biotech companies build better production systems and safer supply chains to win business in their competitive future.

Measuring the influence of digital twins on the sustainability of manufacturing supply chain: A mediating role of supply chain resilience and performance

Linking supply chain processes’ performance to a company’s financial strategic objectives

Contributors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the complex interrelationships among the key constructs, supply chain orientation (SCO), supply chain integration (SCI) and supply chain performance (SCP) in Indian manufacturing industries. These relationships have been studied using the relational view (RV) and the knowledge-based view (KBV) theoretical perspectives. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual model was derived from the existing body of knowledge in the supply chain domain. The study is based on a sample size of 122 data collected via face-to-face meetings with the Indian manufacturers using well-established scales. The covariance-based structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings In Indian manufacturing and supply chains, SCO has a positive relationship with SCI and SCP. Moreover, the direct impact of SCO on SCP diminishes when SCI is used as a mediating variable. This study also observes positive impact of: i) SCO on SCP, ii) SCI on SCP and iii) discovery of mediating role of SCI on SCP under the theoretical lenses of RV and KBV. Research limitations/implications Cross-sectional survey of manufacturing firms of one country (using one response per firm) calls for validation covering other parts of the world and demands a longitudinal survey. This research will trigger more scholarly, practice and policy debate among researchers studying Indian and emerging economies context. Practical implications The notion of a holistic view of the SC with a focus on improving the customer value can enhance strategic partnerships among the SC partners (i.e. SCI) and overall SCP. Firms should make efforts to include SCI in SC designs to successfully transform SCO into SCP. Originality/value The originality of the research lies in studying the complex interrelationships among key concepts of SC in a unique Indian manufacturing context. The Indian supply chains operate in a set of unique characteristics, which have been detailed out in this paper. This paper not only establishes the mediating role of SCI for overall SCP in emerging economies but also enhances the scholarly knowledge in the SC domain. Most studies report SCO as a single-order construct, measured by scales comprising of only few items. The second-order SCO measures in this study bring credibility to the findings. Additionally, it contributes to both academicians and practitioners alike in the context of an integrated SC in emerging economies.

PurposeWhile there is a rich body of risk management literature and while there have been valuable theoretical advancements on the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on risks, this paper aims to posit that at least four more advancements are needed.Design/methodology/approachThe co-author from Rolls Royce (RR) illustrates the risks experienced and risk management approaches taken in its manufacturing and supply chain operations both in the earlier stages of the pandemic as well as after the first year of the pandemic.FindingsThe COVID-19 pandemic offers a unique risk scenario that is beyond the scope of most existing risk management literature. The impact of the pandemic is very multi-faceted, not location specific but very global and experienced throughout the entire supply chain, across industries and over a much extended timeline with multiple time horizons. In manufacturing operations, there have been major instances of supply chain heroism in the first year of the pandemic and there is a lot more work ahead.Originality/valueThe authors' co-created paper enriches the perspective on COVID-19 research in manufacturing and supply chain operations by pointing at empirical opportunities, the need for more inter disciplinary research and the need to consider multiple time horizons.

Supply chain environmental risks are pivotal situational factors that significantly influence the intricate relationship between a business’s supply chain agility, supply chain resilience, and its ultimate supply chain performance. This study aims to explore the interplay between supply chain agility, supply chain resilience, and supply chain performance, while also investigating the moderating effect of supply chain environmental risks. Data analysis was conducted using hierarchical regression based on a questionnaire survey involving 416 companies in Taiwan’s manufacturing supply chain. The findings reveal several key insights. Firstly, supply chain agility has a positive influence on supply chain resilience, highlighting the importance of a flexible and responsive supply chain to handle challenges effectively. Secondly, supply chain resilience plays a vital role in determining supply chain performance, underscoring its significance in maintaining operational efficiency and effectiveness. Furthermore, the study identifies that supply chain environmental risks can act as a positive moderator in the relationship between supply chain agility and supply chain resilience. In other words, when faced with environmental risks, companies with higher supply chain agility can leverage this capability to reinforce their supply chain resilience, leading to improved supply chain performance. Additionally, the results shed light on the mediating role of supply chain resilience between supply chain agility and supply chain performance. This suggests that a resilient supply chain acts as an intermediary mechanism through which the positive effects of supply chain agility translate into enhanced overall performance. Given the uncertain and turbulent market environment today, these findings emphasize the importance of adopting supply chain agility and supply chain resilience as indispensable business strategies. Therefore, enterprise leaders and managers should proactively implement measures to enhance these aspects of their supply chain to effectively navigate and overcome environmental risks, ultimately driving supply chain performance.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse the influence of operations and processes on performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya.
 Methodology: In this study, descriptive and cross-sectional research designs were used. According to the directory, there are 461 large-sized registered members. In order to sample 160 large industrial companies from the entire population, this study used Cochran's formula. Data was gathered using a standardized questionnaire, and both qualitative and quantitative analysis were performed on it. Both a descriptive and an inferential data analysis were used in this investigation. Tables, graphs, and pie charts were used to present the analysed data.
 Results: The findings of the study revealed that the relationship between operations and processes and performance was significant at 5% level of significance. The model summary in the hypothesis testing revealed that the R2 for the model was 0.305. This is to imply that 30.5% of the variations in performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya are as a result of operations and processes. The p-value for the variable was 0.000 which is less than the standard P-value of 0.05. This is to mean that operations and processes had a significant influence on the performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya. To this end, we therefore, reject the null hypothesis that there is no significant relationship between operations and processes and performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya.
 Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: While the existing Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) Model used in this study was validated, the study recommends that the policy makers and management of manufacturing firms should come up with policies and legislations that cover the concept of supply chain operations and processes as an essential driver to the performance of the manufacturing sector in the country. The policy makers hold a major role in determining how key sectors such as the manufacturing sector are run. The regulators and the legislators formulate policies and guidelines that guide on how manufacturing firms should carry out their operations including supply chain processes. The study also recommended that manufacturing firms policy makers should develop a policy and regulatory framework to accelerate effective implementation supply chain processes and operations to enhance their performance.

PurposeThis study aims to explore how green supply chain management (GSCM) strategies can be effectively implemented for business supply chain operations, relationship management and product design to gain green competitive advantages.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory in-depth case study was conducted with one of the largest Chinese electronics manufacturers that is considered a leading GSCM adopter in the industry, to understand how the company adopts green supply chain practices across its multiple product lines.FindingsThe findings show that businesses can build different green focuses across GSCM elements of green operation, green relationship management and green product design to form diverse hybrid strategic solutions. They include green control, lean, leagile, agile and clean innovation while taking consideration of supply chain type and product lifespan. A taxonomy of four key GSCM strategic combinations is proposed based on the findings. The strategies align with green demand and supply chain characteristics balancing a series of business competitive objectives in terms of reducing pollution and waste, improving green cost efficiency, enhancing green demand innovation and building green service effectiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThis study lends insight into the strategic alignment relationships between product supply chain types and approaches to GSCM.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can support industry practitioners in formulating aligned GSCM strategies based on product types to achieve optimal results.Social implicationsOptimised green supply chain design, operations and relationship management incorporating product attributes can help further minimise negative impacts of business activities on the environment.Originality/valueThis research provides a systematic understanding of how product supply chain types can influence GSCM strategy formulation. It gives a holistic picture of how hybrid choices of strategies with green supply chain operations, relationship management and product design can be formulated based on product and supply chain characteristics.

While the extended warranty services bring profits to the supply chain, they also have adverse unfair aversions in the game process of retailers or manufacturers, and affect supply chain stability and performance. With the consideration of vertical fairness concerns, a supply chain decision model that provides extended warranty services by manufacturers or retailers and considers the other party's fairness concerns is established, which is used to analyze the relationship between the vertical fairness concerns and supply chain performance (supply chain profit and supply chain equity concerns). Simulation experiments show that: under the two situations, manufacturers provide extended warranty services and consider retailers' fairness concerns and retailers provide extended warranty services and consider manufacturers' fairness concerns, the vertical fairness concern coefficient has an important impact on the decision of product wholesale price, retail price, and extension services price, as well as supply chain profit and supply chain fairness concern utility; in turn, supply chain companies can develop corresponding extended service strategies based on supply chain profit and supply chain performance optimization, and make a vertical equity concern strategy for providing extended warranty services based on expected supply chain profit or supply chain performance.

PurposeExploring ways to acquire, sustain and improve competitive positions in supply chains through information sharing, supply chain visibility, collaboration and agility have been essential for scholars and practitioners. Basing on the relational view, resource based view and the extended resource based view, this study assesses the critical role of information sharing in supply chains through emphasizing its effect on supply chain visibility, collaboration, agility and supply chain performance. Particularly, the study proposes that information sharing, supply chain visibility, collaboration and agility collectively have crucial direct and indirect influences on supply chain performance which lead to superior gains, competitiveness and flexibility.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a survey research design, a quantitative approach and partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in making data analysis and interpretations due to its suitability for predictive research models.FindingsThe results indicate information sharing positively and significantly influenced supply chain visibility, collaboration, agility and performance. Supply chain visibility presented significant effects on collaboration, agility and performance, while supply chain collaboration and agility had significant impact on supply chain performance. The study findings connote that information sharing is key to enhancing competitive gains and superior supply chain performance.Originality/valueThe study is among the few to probe on how information sharing as a variable interacts with supply chain visibility, collaboration, agility and performance. Although, information sharing has received a lot of attention in supply chains, this study is among the first to capture the study variables in a single model and thus, exposes the vital need for information sharing in improving supply chain performance seeing that it ensured significant and robust impacts on the study variables.

In today’s world competition, companies are always in search for new ways to improve the performance of their supply chain, and gather knowledge and skills to reduce time, improve quality and increase productivity. In recent years, Mongolian construction companies started to recognize the importance of supply chain. But there is a limited research and literature on the way how to successfully manage and measure the supply chain performance in Mongolia. The thesis addresses the theory and practice of factors affecting on supply chain performance on the sample of Mongolian construction companies. The study tries to define which factors influence on supply chain performance and which one has the most critical impact in the case construction companies. This study utilized 71 valid responses from 200 surveyed companies in the multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate that supply chain relationship significantly mediates information technology with supply chain performance, whereas environmental uncertainty negatively effects the performance. In addition, the results demonstrate that the supply chain relationship factor is the most critical predictor of supply chain performance. Hence, companies should control the supply chain and gain experience from their mistakes on every stage of supply chain process, and utilize the knowledge in the next phase. The answers of suggested research questions are as follows. The first research question was with which factors can the performance of the supply chain in the construction companies be measured? The results show that information technology, supply chain relationship, environmental uncertainty have positive impact on supply chain performance. The second question was with which factors are most effective in influencing supply chain performance. The results reveals that the most critical factor influencing supply chain performance in Mongolia is supply chain relationship. Since there was no formal information about supply chain performance in Mongolia, this study gives considerable information about supply chain performance in Mongolian companies. Also, it contributed to the limited research on supply chain system in Mongolia and tries to develop a framework for the relationship between affected factors and supply chain performance in case of Mongolian companies. Consequently, it provides insight for experts who would invest in supply chain systems. The result of this study pointed out critical factors for supply chain performance that claim more consideration from managers and engineers to implement supply chain performance successfully. The results of this paper reveal that companies should start the planning stage with a plan detailing the supply chain from it indicators that needed to evaluate success. Without clarifying supply chain desired it companies would not be aware that whether they implementing successfully or not. Without clear indicators and adequate parameters, it is impossible to measure supply chain. Supply chain relationship is proved that it has the strongest influence on supply chain performance. This result asserts the assessment of existing supply chain relationship is required for reaping supply chain performance. Assessments of existing supply chain relationship includes assessing whether the company has supply relation team, building stronger relationships will bring extra security because collaboration with customers and suppliers demonstrates understanding, concern and the desire to work with them over the longer term. Supply chain practitioners continue to press managers to form closer, longer-term relationships between customers and fewer suppliers as the only response to increasing market sophistication and globalization.

The global food supply chain plays an essential role in economic development while addressing environmental and social issues in its business system. However, this complex network is exposed to various risk factors related to sustainability that can disrupt the supply chain performance. CV. XYZ is a food manufacturer that produces jackfruit chips in Indonesia. During the supply chain process, this company needs to manage the various risks across the supplier, manufacturer, and retailer stages. By identifying and evaluating risks at each stage, mitigation and improvement strategies can be proposed. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the supply chain risk mitigation and performance improvement strategies for maintaining supply chain stability and performance. House of Risk (HOR) was applied to analyze the mitigation strategies, while SWOT with analytical networking process (ANP) or analytical hierarchy process (AHP)/ (i.e., SWOT-ANP/AHP method)was used for analyzing performance improvement strategies by considering the weight of each factor. The result shows that twelve mitigation strategies are needed to mitigate the fourteen risk agents that focus on improving production activities and human resources. Moreover, eleven strategies have been proposed to improve sustainable supply chain performance in the future, focusing more on marketing activities and enhancing human resource capabilities.