The response of the logistics and supply chain industries to two different crises - a Google trends econometric approach

The objective of this study is to enhance the resilience of the coal-to-liquids (CTL) industrial chain and supply chain to withstand increasing shock pressures. There is an urgent need to improve the resilience of the industrial chain and supply chain. This paper identifies 21 resilience-influencing factors from 4 perspectives: absorption capacity, adaptability, recovery capacity, and self-learning capacity; it then constructs an evaluation indicator system. The Interval Type 2 Fuzzy-Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory-Analytic Network Process (IT2F-DEMATEL-ANP) method is adopted to determine the weights of the indicator system, and a resilience evaluation is performed based on the Interval Type 2 Fuzzy-Prospect Theory-Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (IT2F-PT-TOPSIS) method. Furthermore, in the case of the CTL industrial chain and supply chain of China Shenhua Energy Group Ningxia Coal Industry Co., Ltd. (CENC) (Ningxia, China), this study ranks the resilience level from 2018 to 2022 to identify the factors that have contributed to a reduction in resilience and to implement measures to enhance the resilience of the CTL industrial chain and supply chain. The results show that the level of the CTL industrial chain and supply chain resilience was lowest in 2020, while it was highest in 2021. Factors such as the degree of domestication of key technologies, the rationality of the CTL industry layout, and the stability of supply and demand chains are identified as significant determinants of resilience levels. This points the way to enhancing the resilience of the CTL industry and supply chain.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical approach based on the balanced scorecard (BSC) with regard to performance measurement – PM in supply chains for the Industry 4.0 era.Design/methodology/approachThis paper combines the literature of PM and specifically the BSC with the literature related to the dimensions of supply chain in the context of Industry 4.0.FindingsDimensions extracted from the literature based on supply chains within the context of Industry 4.0 showed a strong alignment with the four perspectives of the BSC, which make it suitable to be considered as a performance measurement system (PMS) for supply chains in this new context.Research limitations/implicationsFrom theoretical perspective, this study contributes to the limited literature on PM for supply chains in Industry 4.0 era. The study proposes a supply chain 4.0 Scorecard and strongly support researchers to conduct future empirical researches in order to get a deeper understanding about PM in supply chains in the Industry 4.0 era. As limitations, the theoretical framework proposed needs further empirical research in other to validate it and obtain new insights over the investigation conducted and presented into this paper.Practical implicationsPractitioners can use this study as a guide to develop more effective performance measurement systems – PMSs in their organizations.Originality/valueThis research is unique as it addresses a significant knowledge gap related to PM in supply chains in the Industry 4.0 era. It brings a significant contribution in terms of understanding how to measure performance in supply chains in this new era.

The aim of the work is to analyze the functioning of supply chains in the automotive industry in the conditions of the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. First of all, the theoretical foundations are set, through defining the concept and importance of supply chains, determining the goals of chain management and the difference between traditional and modern supply chains. Then, the economic impact of the crisis in Ukraine on the entire world economy is observed, by analyzing macroeconomic indicators, global consequences, but also the impact on the two main parties in the conflict - the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Finally, the analysis of supply chains in the automotive industry in the period of crisis is approached, through presenting the current situation, defining risks and predicting the future of supply chains in this industry.

As unexpected events such as natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and overseas containment have caused inevitable shocks to the energy industrial chain and supply chain, the current global energy crisis is intensifying, and different countries and regions have adopted different strategies according to the characteristics of their own national resource endowments in order to cope with energy security. Maintaining the security of the coal industrial chain and supply chain is a prerequisite for energy security to be effectively ensured, considering the main position of coal in China’s energy. Therefore, in the face of multiple uncertain risk factors under today’s momentous changes, this paper constructs an industrial coal chain and supply chain resilience evaluation indicator system from the perspective of resilience, based on four representational capabilities of resilience, namely preparedness, absorptive capacity, recovery capacity, and adaptability, in order to profoundly understand and enhance the resilience of the coal industrial chain and supply chain. An integrated method combining Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Prospect Theory and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (Interval Type-2F-PT-TOPSIS) is proposed for evaluating the resilience level of the coal industrial chain and supply chain. In the case of Shaanxi Province in China, it was found that the worst level of resilience of the coal industrial chain and supply chain in Shaanxi Province was in 2018, and the best was in 2021. Finally, based on the evaluation results, recommendations are provided to the key nodes of the industrial chain and supply chain in Shaanxi Province with a view to improving their resilience levels to cope with uncertain risks.

The construction industry is a highly labor-intensive industry with a low degree of automation and digitization. However, as in the manufacturing industry, a 'new order' is emerging for the way the construction industry works today. This study aims to present the transformation of construction supply chains (CSCs) in Industry 4.0 by considering each supply chain stage separately, where the main purpose is to determine the criteria for the integration of the CSC with the Industry 4.0 perspective. A literature review and a Delphi study were conducted, and thirteen criteria are proposed to show the integration of Industry 4.0 aspects and CSC stages. Furthermore, one of the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, the Best-Worst method, is used to prioritize the criteria for guiding future implications during the transformation of construction supply chains. Among the six CSC stages, the design stage is the most important from the Industry 4.0 perspective. In addition, client collaboration by ICT (BIM) during the design phase is the most important sub-factors’ overall rank. Although there is a limited number of studies on the CSC, there are no empirical studies addressing the current digital age approach. As a result, there is a significant gap in the construction literature, and a thorough assessment of the building supply chain in an Industry 4.0 setting is lacking. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to illustrate the transformation of CSCs in Construction 4.0 by looking at each supply chain stage separately.

With the continuous promotion of digital transformation of logistics and supply chain in the automotive manufacturing industry, the demand for new technologies is increasing day by day. This article empirically analyzes the impact of digital transformation of logistics and supply chain in the automotive manufacturing industry on the adoption of blockchain technology, based on research data from domestic automakers and third-party automotive logistics companies. The research results found that the digital transformation of logistics and supply chain in the automotive manufacturing industry has promoted employees' adoption of blockchain technology as a whole. The impact of digital transformation of logistics and supply chain in the automotive manufacturing industry on the adoption of blockchain technology varies in different application scenarios. The research results will help promote the innovative application of blockchain technology in the digital transformation of logistics and supply chain in the automotive manufacturing industry, providing new paths and opportunities for industrial upgrading and transformation.

An active debate has centered on the importance of manufacturing for driving innovation in the U.S. economy. This paper proposes an alternative framework that focuses on the role of suppliers of goods and services (the “supply chain economy”) in national performance. Using the 2002 Benchmark Input- Output Accounts, we introduce a new industry categorization that separates supply chain (SC) industries (i.e., those that sell their goods and services primarily to businesses or government) from business-to-consumer (B2C) industries (i.e., those that sell primarily to consumers). We find that the supply chain economy is a distinct and large segment of the economy, with a mix of manufacturers and more importantly service providers. Supply chain industries, especially “traded” services (i.e., those that are sold across regions, like software), have higher average wages than B2C industries. The supply chain economy also has a much larger intensity of STEM jobs and generates the majority of patents. While STEM jobs are most prevalent among suppliers of traded services, patents are concentrated primarily in manufacturing suppliers. We also find that employment in the economy has been evolving from manufacturing into different types of services for the period under examination (1998–2013): SC traded services (with the highest STEM intensity and wages) experienced high growth in employment and wages; and B2C local services (with the lowest STEM intensity and wages) experienced high growth in employment but a decline in wages. Overall, our findings suggest that the subcategory of supply chain traded services is particularly important to innovation and the economy.

Purpose: The paper presents an analysis of supply chain concepts and research on the industry supply chain. The aim of the paper was to present the industry supply chain for the heavy industry. Approach/Methodology/Design: The literature analysis conducted emerged supply chain concepts on theoretical grounds, which enabled the development of a supply chain concept dedicated to the heavy industry. The research methodology was also based on a 2016-2019 analysis of the heavy industry industry, an interview and a literature analysis of previously known supply chain concepts. The study group consists of nine business entities. Findings: The main conclusion of the article is that industrial supply chains operate without spatial constraints and use every possible mode of transport, depending on demand. The flow of goods is strongly dependent on energy prices, raw material prices and labour costs. Skilful stock control is an important factor. Practical Implications: It is safe to say that supply chains have existed since the beginning of entrepreneurship. The article helps to understand this phenomenon, as well as shows a practical look at a specific area of research through an extended research sample from heavy industry. A certain limitation may be that the industry is too dynamically changing. Consequently, the study of supply chain flows requires continuous improvement. Originality/Value: The analysis of the heavy industry sector enabled the development of interdependencies between the entities involved in the flow of goods. The article provides a basis for improving supply chains in the heavy industry sector.

PurposeThe article examines the supply chain (SC) in a food industry in Bulgaria. The relations between suppliers and the degree of integration of the activities along with the SC will be studied by building forms of partnerships with suppliers and the areas of cooperation they work in. The relevance of the topic is determined by the increasing pressure exerted by the consumers in terms of quality and safety, caused by the scandals with food products, the regulations concerning the traceability along the SC and providing safety and quality. The purpose of the study, in the present paper, is the theoretical and applied aspects of collaboration along the SC and the use of modern information systems and technologies in the food industry in Bulgaria.Design/methodology/approachThe objectives of the study, in the present paper, are the theoretical and applied aspects of collaboration along the SC and the use of modern information systems and technologies in the food industry in Bulgaria. The subjects of this study are the enterprises of the food industry in Bulgaria. The number of companies surveyed is 93. Small and medium-sized enterprises generate 48.7% of the turnover in the industry and 63% of the employment in the sector. A research survey with structured questionnaire was conducted in the period 2018–2019. The interrelations in the SC are underdeveloped and there is a low degree of integration between the participants in the food industry in Bulgaria. The implementation of information and communications technology (ICT) and blockchains in the SC in the food industry in Bulgaria is at a low level.FindingsThe subjects of this study are the enterprises of the food industry in Bulgaria. The number of companies surveyed is 93. Small and medium-sized enterprises generate 48.7% of the turnover in the industry and 63% of the employment in the sector. The sectors which are traditionally included in the food industry are as follows: flour milling, milk processing, meat processing, canning industry and production of dried and canned fruit, vegetables and seeds, fishery, production of sugar and confectionery, chocolate and desserts and production of spices. The present research study does not focus on production of drinks, mineral water bottles and production of alcoholic drinks, as well as production of tea and coffee, bread and bakery products. A research survey with structured questionnaire was conducted in the period 2018–2019. The questions included in the questionnaire helped to study general indicators for the evaluation of the degree of cooperation and the implementation of modern ICT in organizations in the food industry. The first part of the questionnaire included questions related to the general information about organizations, which determines the form of ownership, the existence of foreign participation in the enterprise, the number of settlements where the activity is carried out and geographic distribution of sales in the country and abroad. These questions are important to frame a general characteristic of the studied enterprises.Research limitations/implicationsThe study had few limitations, which in turn suggest avenues for further research. This study does not include the production of beverages, mineral water bottles and the production of alcoholic beverages as well as tea and coffee production. With regard to the subject of the study, the article focuses mainly on relations between suppliers and the degree of integration of the activities along the SC, which will be studied by building forms of partnerships with suppliers and the areas of cooperation they work in, while remaining outside the scope of the study themes and challenges in making SCs environmentally sustainable. Although a large amount of data were analyzed, there exists an opportunity to widen this study significantly. The possibilities of omnichannels along the SC in the food chain will be explored first as well as the possibilities for building an omnichannel strategy in the food supply chain.Practical implicationsThis study provides insights to manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and managers of the food industry for supply chain management (SCM) and for connections and cooperation with suppliers and partners. The research study provides clarity about the degree of integration in the management of SC and the opportunities for development of the cooperation between the SC participants.Originality/valueThis study reveals for the first time the SC in the food industry in Bulgaria and provides directions for development. This study shows the degree of SCM integration as well as the opportunities for developing cooperation between the actors in the chain.

Blockchains are attracting the attention of stakeholders in many industrial domains, including the logistics and supply chain industries. Blockchain technology can effectively contribute in recording every single asset throughout its flow on the supply chain, contribute in tracking orders, receipts, and payments, while track digital assets such as warranties and licenses in a unified and transparent way. The paper provides, through its methodology, a detailed analysis of the blockchain fit in the supply chain industry. It defines the specific elements of blockchain that affect supply chain such as scalability, performance, consensus mechanism, privacy considerations, location proof and cost, and details on the impact that blockchains will have in disrupting the supply chain industry. Discussing the tradeoff between consensus cost, throughput and validation time it proceeds with a suggested high-level architectural approach, and concludes as a result with a discussion on changes needed and challenges faced for an in-vivo deployment of blockchains in the supply chain industry. While the technological features of modern blockchains can effectively facilitate supply chain uses cases, the various challenges that still remain, bring in front of us a wide set of needed changes and further research efforts for achieving a global, production level blockchain for the supply chain industry.

The logistics and supply chain industry forms the backbone of global business and ensures the smooth movement of goods and services. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 set off a chain reaction that profoundly affected these critical operations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the multifaceted impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the logistics and supply chain industry. It aims to explore the challenges faced by supply chain professionals, the strategies organizations use to mitigate disruptions and the resulting changes in industry dynamics. Methods: The research uses a mixed method approach that includes both quantitative and qualitative data collection. Quantitative data is collected from a survey of companies in the logistics and supply chain industry. Qualitative data is collected from interviews with experts in the field. Findings: The pandemic has exposed a series of challenges that have spread throughout the supply chain. Disruptions included factory shutdowns, transportation restrictions, erratic demand patterns, and labour shortages. Organizations are responding by rapidly adopting digital technology, where real-time monitoring, predictive analytics and automation play a central role in improving supply chain visibility, sustainability and risk management. Conclusions: The study concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the logistics and supply chain industry. The pandemic has brought many challenges to companies, but it has also brought innovations and new ways of working. Research shows that the logistics and supply chain industry is in transition, and companies that adapt to the new reality will be better off in the long run. KEYWORDS: COVID-19, Logistics, supply chain, demand, distribution

This article discusses challenges to the supply chain in today's steel industry. In the steel industry, the supply chain, apart from actual production, is an extremely complex task, requiring the consideration of numerous factors and objectives. Sharply fluctuating demand, raw materials supply and uncertain prices produce a negative impact on steel production. At the same time, the supply chain of the steel industry has to consider multiple objectives and multiple stages of steel production and supply chain simultaneously in a global market. It requires an optimised supply chain alternative by extending visibility of demand based on economy and market, raw material supply based on transportation, and suppliers and their price. This article is concerned with certain factors of the supply chain in the steel industry; it discusses the challenges to the supply chain in the steel industry, and proposes certain ways to achieve an optimised supply chain and win-win path in visibility across all participants, from steel producers to customer demand. Finally, some results are summarised.

Accounting for indirect carbon emissions embodied in different stages of the supply chain is increasingly important as supply chains become more and more globalised. Embodied emissions are greater when the supply chains of economic sectors are longer, when goods/services that are created in one sector demand significant input from another sectors and when several industries are involved in the supply chain. Simply monitoring and disclosing indirect emissions might not be adequate if the goals of carbon reduction policies are to be met. The paper presents first an overview of relevant literature on carbon accounting within supply chains. It examines the relevance of using hybrid input-output analysis to reveal the indirect impacts in the supply chains of different economic sectors. The paper presents the empirical research with the example of China, a country where goods are often produced to meet the demands of consumers in developed countries. Long supply chain industries and key indirect emission sources which are responsible for a significant proportion of total emissions are identified. A time-series analysis is presented in which the embodied emissions in exported products are analysed from 1995. Results confirm that the use of input-output models is especially relevant for accounting for indirect impacts in long supply chain industries. Corporations in these economic sectors are strongly advised to monitor and keep track of their indirect emissions.

PurposeThe auto industry in the USA is facing tremendous challenges – plunging demands due to economic downturn, the gloomy trend in technology development, and fierce global competition. This article aims to examine the challenges of supply chain management and to propose a triple‐C (cease‐control‐combine) remedy for the North American auto industry's supply chain management.Design/methodology/approachThe authors applied management theories, collected information from managers at different levels of the auto industry's supply chain management, and developed a novel theoretical model of sustainability in supply chain management for the auto industry.FindingsIt is argued that outsourcing to low cost countries – the current supply chain strategy – is not only unsustainable but also irresponsible for the auto industry and society. A triple‐C (cease‐control‐combine) remedy is proposed for the auto industry's supply chain management.Practical implicationsThe proposed triple‐C strategy will save the auto industry money in R&D investment, reduce quality cost and inventory waste, help the industry go through the volatile economy, and achieve sustainable development. With close relationships and strong supports from suppliers, the industry can speed up technology development, introduce new gas efficiency models quickly, and become less dependent on gas price. Finally, the triple‐C strategy will help the industry keep jobs and generate new jobs in the USA. These activities lead to public support and restored corporate image.Originality/valueThe current business environment is analyzed, problems of current supply chain strategy discussed, and a new supply chain strategy remedy for the North American auto industry proposed.

Background: The objective of this qualitative research was to explore the impact of certain predefined factors on the sustainability of supply chains in Industry 5.0. The sustainability of supply chains was assessed by considering six factors from the existing literature: circular logistics, Industry 5.0 technologies, intellectual level and learning, logistics innovation, sustainable supply chain practices, and the managerial strategy of the company. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted based on an interview guide with 14 participants who serve as managers and executives in supply chain management in Morocco. The interviews were transcribed, followed by lexical and thematic analysis using QSR NVivo 15 software. Results: The results showed that all the factors studied play a major role in achieving sustainable supply chain management. The testimonies of all participants highlighted the crucial role that Industry 5.0 technologies play in achieving the sustainability of supply chains, while combining them with the other factors studied. Consequently, these results made it possible to validate and confirm the six factors previously identified from the existing literature, while retaining them for potential future quantitative studies. Conclusions: To meet the dimensions of sustainability, it is recommended to focus on the most impactful factors in maintaining a sustainable supply chain and on all the possible interactions between these factors. Indeed, this study represents, on the one hand, an invitation for supply chain managers to pay greater attention to factors related to sustainability, and on the other hand, an initial pathway for future research that may subsequently highlight the interactions between factors leading to sustainability. This could help propose applicable models for supply chain managers, enabling them to adopt more effective strategies and identify the most feasible combinations of factors to achieve sustainable logistics.