Advantage In Supply Chain Research Articles

Critical Raw Materials, Economic Statecraft and Europe’s Dependence on China

ABSTRACT The People’s Republic of China (PRC) holds a dominant position along wide swaths of critical mineral and technology value chains that are necessary for achieving Europe’s decarbonisation policy goals. Many fear that the PRC will pursue increasingly coercive measures to leverage its supply chain advantage in pursuit of broader geopolitical objectives. Examining three mineral groups in which Beijing has enhanced supply chain restrictions in 2023, namely rare earth elements, gallium and graphite, highlights that the PRC’s priority has long been the pursuit of economic and industrial policy goals rather than a broader diplomatic agenda, though this could change. Arguably, leveraging raw materials is ultimately a weak form of economic statecraft, eliciting effective diversification strategies that in turn weaken a supplier state’s sources of leverage. Europe’s response, while slow to emerge, has been a strategy to reinvest in its own mineral extraction, refining and recycling capacities, on the one hand, and diversify global supply chains by expanding its strategic partnerships, on the other.

Critical success factors of additive manufacturing for higher sustainable competitive advantage in supply chains

The manufacturing economy of a nation has to be competent and sustainable to develop technology, generate employment opportunities, serve customers with innovative products at competitive prices, provide best quality and services, and participate in global trade to boost the world economy. Adoption of new technology is important for firms to remain successful and achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the production and distribution of goods/services. The purpose of this study is to explore the critical success factors (CSFs) affecting the adoption of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in mainstream manufacturing in enhancing supply chain competitiveness and sustainability. As a methodological contribution, this research uses a mixed methods' approach. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) derives five CSFs: 'customized production with speed'; 'sustainable production'; 'flexible manufacturing system (FMS) for complex products'; 'standardization in AM industry'; and 'digital skills & infrastructure’. The Analytical Hierarchic Process (AHP) shows the weights of factors. TOPSIS (Technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution) ranks the four manufacturing enterprises based on EFA factors. Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) establishes the cause-effect relationship among factors. This study finds that 'customized production with speed’ is the most influential causal factor and ‘sustainable production’ the main effect factor. AM adoption helps industrial sectors in advancing with new technologies, advanced materials, and organizational structures so as to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of manufacturing supply chains. It has a great potential to reconfigure supply chain (SC) structures in such a way that sustainable competitive advantage is achieved with less lead time and negligible adverse impact on the environment.

The Most Effective Functioning of Competitive Supply Chain Pricing Based on Social Responsibility Dimensions: A Case Study of Oil Products of Knowledge-Based Companies

In today’s competitive environment, taking the advantage of supply chain which is both effective and efficient is a competitive advantage. An adequate supply chain has a multifaceted structure that focuses on integrating all factors, including pricing. The final product is delivered to customers based on maintaining market values and increasing strategic interactions. Present study aims to present the most effective functioning of competitive supply chain pricing in accordance with aspects of social responsibility. In doing so, we conducted a case study on oil-related products of Iranian knowledge-based companies. A combined analysis with 15 university-level industrial management experts was employed in this study to establish the components (competitive supply chain pricing function) and research propositions (dimensions of social responsibility). Twenty managers of knowledge-based enterprises in the oil field evaluated the components and propositions identified in the form of matrix questions using interpretative rating (IRP). The results showed that the proposition of the ethical dimension is the most effective measure of the social responsibility of knowledge-based companies in the oil field, creating competitive supply chain pricing functions based on value. This result shows that, under the ethical dimension of social responsibility, processes of competitive supply chain pricing are formed in accordance with the customer values and, according to the strategic relationship between the company and the economy with regional and global partners, maintaining values are a critical factor in developing our interactions between pricing factors. Given the results, in the first step for success, knowledge-based companies are recommended to consider the priorities of professional ethics in addition to knowledge in order to be able to gain the trust of customers by understanding their functional nature in the country’s developing economy. In this situation, the pricing process based on the creation of comprehensive values for customers can help to increase the company’s competitive position and make these companies to be at the first level of strategic interactions with companies that use petroleum products.

How Leagile Strategy and Strategic Partnership Affect Competitive Advantage of Construction Supply Chains

Objective: This study aimed at assessing the moderating influence of strategic partnership on the relationship between leagile strategy and competitive advantage in the supply chains of construction companies in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Methodology: Using a cross-sectional descriptive survey strategy and stratified sampling procedure, a sample size of 323 was obtained. Data from 260 companies were collected vide structured questionnaires and analyzed utilizing descriptive analysis and linear regression. Statistical software for social sciences version 22 was used for data analysis and the hypothesis was also tested. Findings: The results revealed strategic partnership had no moderating influence on the relationship between leagile strategy and competitive advantage. Further, strategic partnership was found to have a direct influence on competitive advantage as an independent variable. Conclusion: It was concluded that leagile strategy and strategic partnership influence the competitive advantage of construction supply chains in Nairobi City County as independent variables. A further conclusion was that there are additional factors attributed to the achievement of competitive advantage in construction supply chains besides leagile strategy and strategic partnership. Implications: The study provides a platform for advancing theory and research in strategic management by showing that leagile strategy and strategic partnership are significant contributing factors to the achievement of competitive advantage in the supply chains of construction companies in Nairobi City County Kenya. It adds to the existing literature, on the aspects which influence Competitive Advantage in the supply chains of Construction Companies. Managers and practitioners find this information useful in providing a comprehensive guide on the achievement of competitive advantages and survival by companies. Policymakers are made aware of ways in which the construction industry could attain competitive advantages and solve the myriad problems using a blend of leagile strategy and strategic partnership among other strategies. The government and construction industry may benefit by utilizing the findings as a basis for reforms to improve the competitiveness of companies in the sector and beyond.

The Effects of Trust and Capability in Supply Chain on Firm Performance through Supply Chain Agility and Collaborative Advantage

Purpose – In this research, an integrated model is proposed to explore the effects of trust, agility, collaborative advantage and capability dimensions on firm performance and how they interact with one another. In some of the research in the literature, the effect of the dimensions that are trust in supply chain, supply chain agility, collaborative advantage in supply chain and supply chain capability on firm performance has been empirically proven. Yet, no research exists in the literature that explains the indirect effects of these dimensions through one another. Consequently, this study aims to close this gap in the extant literature. Design/methodology/approach – Structural equation modelling method was utilised to test the hypotheses of this study. Quantitative data was obtained by means of survey in a five-point Likert scale. Initially, confirmatory faction analyses and reliability analysis were performed respectively to determine the validity and reliability of the scale. The analyses were performed with SPSS and AMOS statistics programs. Findings – As a result of the data analyses and tests of hypotheses conducted in this study, it has been empirically proven that supply chain agility and collaborative advantage in supply chain are indirectly and directly influenced by trust in the supply chain. These results are in accordance with the extant literature. Discussion – Knowing the expectations of the customers is crucial for firms in today's business environment. The reason for this is that firms need to manage external business processes in order not to be affected by uncertainty in customers’ needs. Therefore, the effects of supply chain management on firm performance have begun to be studied more in recent years. In other words, transformation of the agility into the capability or transformation of the trust into the collaborative advantage can help to explain the effects of these dimensions on the firm performance.

An integrated fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy inference system for ranking the solutions to overcome the supply chain knowledge flow barriers

Supply chain (SC) is assumed as a leading operations strategy in both manufacturing and service organisations. Knowledge is recognised as an important source of competitive advantage in SC. However, evidence suggests that there are several SC knowledge flow barriers (SCKFBs) which obstruct knowledge flow in SC. The purpose of this research is to identify SCKFBs and propose solutions to overcome the SCKFBs. The weight of major SCKFBs is calculated by fuzzy Delphi (FD) method and ranking of the solutions of SCKFBs is evaluated using the fuzzy inference system (FIS) method. To overcome SCKFBs, the top rank solutions obtained are visible technologies that offer real-time customer and demand knowledge, building strategic relationships with SC partners and induce mutual trust with SC partners. This study may be one of the first to bring together a large range of SCKFBs on the same platform, and an attempt to give solutions for SCKFBs.

The inverted U-shaped relationship between the network profile and the competitive advantage of supply chains

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the author aims to explore if there is a curvilinear relationship between the network rent, generated as a combination of the relational performance of two dyads and the network profile of the triadic supply chains. Second, the author seek to recognize the ideal network profile, consisting of the properties at the node and relationship level, that provides the highest network rents, and thus enables to increase the competitive advantage of supply chains.Design/methodology/approachThe paper opted for an exploratory study using a survey of triads forming supply chains. In order to reveal the capability of yielding the network rent in the examined triads, multiple regression analysis with interaction effects was employed. Having confirmed the existence of supernormal profit, the author investigated the relationship between the network rent and the network index. Finally, a cluster analysis was conducted to compare the network profile in the group of triads generating higher network rents with the cluster yielding relatively lower network rents.FindingsThe obtained findings show that a combination of the relational performance of two dyads contributes to generating the network rent, and thus ensures a more favorable competitive position of supply chains. The results of the study also indicate that there is a significant curvilinear, inverted U-shaped relationship between the network profile and the competitive advantage of triadic supply chains. In addition, the following network properties appear to be particularly important for yielding higher network rents: network centrality, betweenness, network density and network size.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the theory by testing if the network rent can be yielded as a combination of the relational performance of two dyads in the triadic supply chains. The research also indicates that there is a curvilinear relationship between the network rent and the network profile of examined supply chains. Moreover, the study also addresses the link between the network profile, consisting of the multiple network properties simultaneously, in relation to the competitive advantage of supply chains.

Triple-A and competitive advantage in supply chains: Empirical research in developed countries

Based on his own experience in a number of companies, Lee (2004) posits that the Triple-A (agility, adaptability and alignment) is essential for supply chain (SC) management to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage (CA). However, there is a lack of empirical research that analyzes the Triple-A SC and its impacts on CA. The objective of the present work is to address this omission and to provide empirical evidence on this topic using a multiple-informant, international sample from eight developed countries. A consistent partial least squares structural equation model (PLSc) is used on data for 151 manufacturing plants in three industrial sectors to determine whether agility, alignment and adaptability have individual and/or joint effects on achieving a CA in SCs. In relation to the individual effects, different CAs are achieved by each of the Triple-A variables. SC adaptability has been shown to have a significant positive relationship with all the dimensions of CA. SC alignment affects most of these dimensions, but SC agility only affects financial CA and flexibility CA. This research does, however, confirm the positive relationship for the joint effect of the Triple-A SC variables and CA. The effects are significant on all the CA measures except quality. Important implications can be drawn for managers by showing how SC levers can be set to improve performance indicators.

Contracting mechanism with imperfect information in a two-level supply chain

This article investigates a two-level supply chain consisting of a single manufacturer and a retailer. The retailer’s ordering patterns are highly influenced by his risk preferences. We discuss ordering policies when the manufacturer has limited demand information and propose a production-commitment contract, which mitigates double marginalization under imperfect information. Demand distribution is private information of the retailer and the manufacturer only assumes an educated guess about the mean and variance. Production-commitment contract is an attractive option for make-to-stock scenarios where quantity is confirmed after the demand is realized. We show that lack of information may not have an adverse effect. We also prove analytically that informational advantage may not necessarily be a supply chain advantage and also provide numerical insights for a win-win situation.

Impact of Information Exchange and Supply Chain Integration on Supply Chain Performance

Supply chain integration is widely used by both practitioners and researchers, because of an essential role to enhance competitive advantage in supply chain. Organizational competences, such as relational competence(RC) and information technology (IT) competence, have been recognized as influencing factors to promote supply chain integration (SCI) for obtaining supply chain performance. In this paper, we intend to extend the stream of research in supply chain management (SCM) by systematically identifying the antecedents and consequences of supply chain integration between supply chain partners. We empirically tested the research model using data collected from senior managers of 122 manufacturing firms in South Korea. The results indicate that relational competence and IT competence in supply chain are positively related to supply chain integration. Information exchange is directly related to supply chain performance, Also, it has the positive impact between organizational competences and supply chain performance through its positive effect on supply chain integration. Our results provide strong support for the notion of information exchange and supply chain integration to enhance supply chain performance. Implications for future research and practice are offered.

Supplier selection for competitive advantage in supply chain: an integrated fuzzy analytic hierarchy process using simulation approach

In today's global competitive scenario, supplier selection in the supply chain is very crucial for a competitive advantage in the manufacturing sector in India. The study presents an integrated approach for selection of the appropriate supplier to addressing the issues like innovation, after sale services and pricing. The paper proposed to solve the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) problem that combines the fuzzy preference programming (FPP) method to derive a crisp priority vector straightforward way from a set of fuzzy judgments by using simulation. This paper focused on the real situation, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. The effectiveness of the model is discussed through a case conducted for Indian-based electrical manufacturing (ABC) company. For the preparation of their products, the company procures raw materials from different suppliers. Merely, a question arises which supplier is the best for the company.

Using organisational theories to further our understanding of socially sustainable supply chains

Purpose– This paper aims to use organisational theories to frame research questions examining how to embed social sustainability in supply chain management (SCM) by focusing on fair trade.Design/methodology/approach– Drawing on previous organisational theory review papers in SCM, institutional theory and the extended resource-based view have been used as theoretical lenses to develop research questions for further studies.Findings– The authors developed seven research questions that enable and encourage the further examination of the factors impacting fair trade supply chains, as well as identify approaches to improve social sustainability in SCM practice.Social implications– As the aim of fair trade is to rebalance inequities inherent in North–South trading relationships, further work in this area has the potential for positive economic, environmental and social impact.Originality/value– The paper discusses two key themes: whether fair trade is changing SCM practices, and whether fair trade is a source of competitive advantage in supply chains. Using established theory to develop research questions encourages further examination of this important topic.

A theory of the competing supply chain: Alternatives for development

Development of a coherent methodology for supply chain vs. supply chain competition remains elusive in literature in terms of purpose, approaches and theoretical foundations. The purpose of this paper is to identify suitable theories of competition from which supply chain vs. supply chain competition may be further developed. Paper explores literature on competition theories, competition and its correlates and also considers the dichotomy between competitiveness and competition in relation to achievement of a competitive advantage in supply chains. An argument is made for the identification and development of theory that reflects the multidimensional, process-based and emergent properties of supply chains. Three competition theories from which supply chain vs. supply chain competition may begin to be conceptualized and possibly operationalized are identified. A chronological conceptualization of competition, competitiveness and competitive advantage, which is intuitive to the realization of competitive advantage in inter-supply chain competition, is also proposed.

A Study on the Development Strategy of China’s Clothing Industry at the After-Quota Age

Textile clothing is an important backbone industry in China. China is the No.1 in the production and export of clothing in the world. Its gross clothing export accounts for one fourth total global clothing trade. After a period of development, the general industrial structure is composed of the fashionable dress industry, the clothing-processing industry, and the clothing industry. In 2005, the quota for textile products was canceled for the first time. The quota system that has restricted the export of textile clothing products for a long period retreated from the history forever. World textile clothing industry enters a brand-new age. The development trend of China’s clothing industry will focus on: scale, information, brand, and fashion. Confronting with favorable and unfavorable factors, we should hold five countermeasures: brand development strategy, technique talent strategy, total costs superiority strategy, supply chain advantage strategy, and standard qualification strategy.

Capturing and sharing knowledge in supply chains in the maritime transport sector: critical issues

Modern businesses in the maritime transport industry are interfacing with a dynamic, increasingly complex, information-driven world. Information and knowledge are increasingly the intangible assets on which business sustainability and growth are founded. Knowledge is a dynamic, social resource. Trading networks are significant communities of practice. To create new knowledge from these, firms utilize learning contexts. In these learning contexts, participants interact and identify, capture and share new information. The learning context needs to facilitate the prevalence of these processes. The role and significance of the context to the capture and sharing of business learning and lifelong learning is considered in this paper. It investigates critical issues in the management of this learning context to enhance competitive advantage in supply chains and networks. Given the current and potential future skills shortages in the industry, key policy implications, such as the integration of work experience into the learning cycle, encouraging lifelong learning and the provision of dual sector pathways are outlined.