Supply Chain Management Challenges Research Articles

Will bots take over the supply chain? Revisiting agent-based supply chain automation

Agent-based systems have the capability to fuse information from many distributed sources and create better plans faster. This feature makes agent-based systems naturally suitable to address the challenges in Supply Chain Management (SCM). Although agent-based supply chains systems have been proposed since the early 2000s; industrial uptake of them has been lagging. The reasons quoted include the immaturity of technology, a lack of interoperability with supply chain information systems, and a lack of trust in Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this paper, we revisit the agent-based supply chain and review the state of the art. We find that agent-based technology has matured, and other supporting technologies that are penetrating supply chains; are filling in gaps, leaving the concept applicable to a wider range of functions. For example, the ubiquity of IoT technology helps agents “sense” the state of affairs in a supply chain and opens up new possibilities for automation. Digital ledgers help securely transfer data between third parties, making agent-based information sharing possible, without the need to integrate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Learning functionality in agents enables agents to move beyond automation and towards autonomy. We note this convergence effect through conceptualising an agent-based supply chain framework, reviewing its components, and highlighting research challenges that need to be addressed in moving forward.

Food Supply Chain Disruptions Owing to Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that food supply chains are the most critical component of economic and human activities. It has also created a lot of interest among researchers, practitioners and policymakers to study the significant challenges of the food supply chain caused by the pandemic. Therefore this work wanted to investigate the critical supply chain challenges due to Covid-19 with the help of a systematic literature review of well-established articles published in interdisciplinary journals. The selection of thirty one papers was made through a research protocol that helped select and identify research papers which were coded with the help of qualitative software Atlasti 9.0 to study which supply chain challenge amongst disruption, forecasting and inventory was most prominently studied in the literature. Results of software coding revealed that disruption was coded 170 times whereas forecasting 10 times and inventory 37 times as challenges of food Supply Chain Management (SCM). Therefore, it was concluded that most of the researchers considered disruption as one of the significant food supply chain challenges. Further coding also revealed that lockdown and labour related issues were the primary reasons for food supply chain disruption.

Identifying and Prioritizing Supply Chain Sustainability Indicators for Perishable Products Via Grounded Theory and Fuzzy Hierarchical Analysis Approach

Supply chain coordination from supplier selection stages to customer delivery is among the issues creating the most challenges for supply chain management, especially for short-lived and perishable foodstuffs. The current study aims to identify and rank the factors involved in sustainable supply chain in the dairy industry. In this qualitative research, by reviewing the theoretical literature and surveying specialists and experts, the factors affecting supply chain sustainability and the sustainable supply chain dimensions (i.e., economic, social, and environmental) were identified. The determined factors were then ranked. To this end, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used as a decision-making technique and the targeted snowball sampling method was used for sampling. In the qualitative stage, factors were extracted from open interviews with 15 academic experts active in the field of sustainable development and experts in the dairy industry. The social dimension with a weight of 0.493 was recognized as the most important dimension of the sustainable supply chain according to the researchers and experts in the dairy industry. After that, the economic dimension with a weight of 0.314 was in the second rank, and finally, the environmental dimension with a weight of 0.193 was third in rank.

Application areas and antecedents of automation in logistics and supply chain management: a conceptual framework

ABSTRACT One of the main challenges for modern logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) is the automation of processes along the supply chain. Although research on different automation applications in LSCM exists, LSCM managers lack an overall picture of possible application areas as well as the antecedents influencing the successful implementation of applications. The study applied data triangulation through a systematic literature review of 265 articles and a Nominal Group Technique exercise among 18 LSCM professionals in order to extract automation application areas as well as antecedents of successful automation projects. Through a structured synthesis process building on the Q-methodology a conceptual framework of application areas and antecedents of automation in LSCM is proposed. The framework synthesises ten application areas of automation in LSCM and ten antecedents that influence the efficient implementation and use of automation applications. The study proposes that the impact of technological and informational antecedents is moderated by organisational as well as knowledge-related antecedents, and advances propositions outlining the impact of antecedents on the successful implementation and use of automation applications. The study provides a coherent conceptualisation of automation in LSCM which provides a common basis on which to merge further discussions on automation between research and practice.

Research on the robustness of interdependent supply networks with tunable parameters

A supply network is considered robust when it can maintain operations and connectedness despite disruptions, and building robust supply networks is one of the challenges in supply chain management. Typically, a supply network is an interdependent supply network (ISN) which consists of an undirected cyber-layer network and a directed physical-layer network. The cascading failure in an ISN can be caused by over-load and loss-dependency failures simultaneously, called hybrid cascading failure (HCF), which is limitedly studied in previous studies. In addition, ISNs are usually characterized by some tunable parameters such as the number of nodes, the number of inter-links, interconnecting patterns, and scaling exponents. However, a generic model that can generate ISNs with all of the aforementioned parameters is not proposed, and hence how these parameters affect the robustness of ISNs when considering HCF is still not clear. Therefore, in this paper, we first propose an ISN model to generate ISNs with the aforementioned tunable parameters, and then study how these parameters affect the robustness of the generated ISNs against random and targeted disruptions when considering HCF. The simulation results mainly show that: (i) an ISN is very vulnerable to disruptions in most cases, and removing a small number of nodes can make it collapse; (ii) the behavior of an ISN is very complex when considering HCF; and (iii) the robustness of an ISN can undergo first- and second-order phase transitions under proper parameters. Our work may be helpful for developing HCF-mitigating strategies and building robust supply networks.

SÜRDÜRÜLEBİLİR TEDARİK ZİNCİRİ YÖNETİMİ: KURAMSAL BİR DEĞERLENDİRME

Management of supply chains is critical in today's global business environment. Sustainability is among the most important factors in business activities and supply chain management. The integration of supply chain management with the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental and social) has led to the emergence of sustainable supply chain management. Sustainable supply chain management is the management of supply chain operations, resources, information and funds to maximize social welfare and supply chain profitability while minimizing environmental impacts. Today, businesses are increasingly held responsible for the environmental, social and economic consequences resulting from their internal operations and the operations of their suppliers. Sustainable supply chain management is not just for businesses to survive; it also answers questions about what needs to be done to develop and succeed in the long term. This study focuses on establishing a broad theoretical framework on sustainable supply chain management. In addition, the study aims to help top management decisions in businesses by mentioning the sustainability strategies and practices of supply chain management, the advantages and challenges of sustainable supply chain management.

The effect of supply chain management challenges on research and development projects using Fuzzy DEMATEL and TOPSIS approach

Abstract Purpose: This paper aimed to identify, classify and prioritize supply chain management challenges for research-development projects in the R&D organization. Research Methodology: Based on previous literature and interview with related experts, the initial challenges of SCM for research-development projects in Iran organization were extracted. Thereafter, the identified challenges were finalized, classified, and prioritized. For this purpose, a semi-interview and questionnaire were designed, applied, and then analyzed using some statistical methods. Validation of the results was done through several interviews. Finally, the necessary modifications were made to the factors of environmental sustainability associated with the COVID-19 crisis. Results: In this study, the challenges of SCM for research-development projects in Iran organization were divided into six categories: cultural, motivational, contextual, process, infrastructural, and capabilities. Thereafter, suggested solutions were presented which describe how the challenges of SCM in research-development projects may be removed progressively. Limitations: This research is only described in project-based organizations. The study was limited to construction projects in different cities of Iran. Contribution: The prioritized challenges of SCM are a guideline for managers or decision-makers of R&D projects which will enable them, resolve challenges or improve on decision making. It also serves as a useful base for researchers to expand further research concerning the challenges of SCM in other research-development organizations. This study may present high value for researchers in the SCM field for research-development projects. Also, this study presents several solutions for the improvement of challenges considering the level of their importance to SCM.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON MANUFACTURING MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSME) IN LUSAKA: A CASE OF MANDEVU AND KALINGALINGA MARKETS

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the state of supply chain management within MSME’s in Zambia by investigating the Supply Chain Management (SCM) practices, its benefits and challenges using some selected manufacturing micro, small-medium enterprises in Mandevu and Kalingalinga markets of Lusaka.
 Methodology: The study used descriptive research design and chose questionnaire as the tool for data collection. Purposive sampling technique was employed to obtain information from both the management and staff of the MSMEs. One hundred (100) questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. The obtained data were then analysed using the descriptive method.
 Results: The study found out that the manufacturing MSME sector appreciates good supply chain management practices, but does not practise it. The study discovered that the sector has not established long term relationships with its customers and suppliers. The sector was found to face several challenges which threaten its long term growth and survival, the most worrying challenges being the lack of financial resources, failure to practice continuous quality improvement, low integration of process technologies and forecasting challenges. The study also revealed that when implemented SCM practices deliver a number of benefits to the MSMEs. For example, increased response to the customer, cost-cutting on service delivery, improved information sharing and improved capacity to offer after-sale services. It is evident that MSMEs would perform well if supply chain management activities are improved. This, however, can be accomplished, if the MSMEs engage in strategic partnerships, customer relationship, high level of information sharing, information quality, as well as continuous quality improvement.
 Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study could be replicated in other industry sectors of the economy and also in other developing countries to help build on the body of knowledge.

Supply Chain Management and Logistics Big Data Challenges in Bulgaria

Abstract The article focuses on the challenges of applying big data approaches to logistics and supply chain management in Bulgaria, while also presenting the challenges, opportunities and problems from a broader perspective. This includes a review of big data in logistics and its subsystems in relation to integration and transformation processes, as well as the role of big data and the relevant technologies in supply chain management. The research framework for the study of Bulgarian companies focuses on their experiences, both positive and negative, with big data. Data was collected using an electronic questionnaire. The respondents were from small, medium-sized and large companies alike. The results demonstrate and explain the companies’ experiences with big data and the level of application thereof. The findings showed that the main areas for the use of big data are order processing, communication processes, reporting systems, inventory management and vehicle database management.

How is supply chain 4.0 tackling the supply chain challenges in the retail sector?

Purpose – Due to the competitive nature of the market, the last couple of decades have witnessed several retailers struggle to meet up with their supply chain responsibilities. But with the increasing advancement of technologies, a breakthrough has emanated through the emergence of Supply Chain 4.0. This involves the adoption of the Internet of Things, the use of big data, advanced analytics and the application of advanced robotics in supply chain management. This paper provides an overview of how digital supply chain 4.0 can be used to tackle the traditional supply chain management challenges in the retail sector. Design/methodology/approach – The approach adopts the form of a literature review on the core concepts of supply chain management, its challenges and supply chain 4.0. Findings – To tackle the challenges of the supply chain, retailers are encouraged to focus on shifting from the traditional supply chain approach to a more digital-based approach of Supply Chain 4.0. Research limitations – The scope of this paper is restricted to a cross-section of the literature related to this topic. Therefore, it does not comprehensively cover the literature, but a selection of some related works. Originality/value – This study reviews a sample of the existing and latest literature in the area of supply chain management. This presents a meaningful basis for practical guidance for the management of the retailing companies.

The effect of customer concentration on supplier sustainable growth: evidence from China

ABSTRACT Due to the worldwide pandemic and ‘Stay at Home’ order, many firms have experienced challenges for supply chain management. As the key parts of supply chain management, customer concentration may have a detrimental or beneficial effect on supplier sustainable growth. Using a large sample of listed firms in China, we explore the effect of customer concentration on supplier sustainable growth. This study documents that customer concentration is negatively related to supplier sustainable growth and the adverse effect is salient when a supplier is not under government protection. Further analyses demonstrate that the results are robust to alternative measures and controlling for endogeneity problems. Finally, the path analysis shows that the adverse effect is partially driven by lowering innovation and increasing administration costs in supplier firms, suggesting that innovation and administration costs play a mediating role in the relationship between customer concentration and supplier sustainable growth.

The evaluation of the supply chain management challenges South African fashion designers experience in the retail clothing environment

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the challenges South African fashion designers experienced when managing their supply chain network in the retail clothing industry. In today’s complex markets, the susceptibility of the supply chain is viewed as an ongoing issue for several industries and it is no different for fashion designers. As a result, in the past, the visibility of South African fashion designers in the retail environment appeared to be minimal, due to a number of challenges. This paper is based on qualitative research that made use of in-depth semi-structured interviews with a total of twenty-four participants, with the sample divided into five groups representing different industry professionals. Semi-structured interviews allowed the participants to answer the questions unreservedly based on their own personal and professional experiences. The findings revealed that South African fashion designers in the retail industry experienced a number of supply chain challenges such as cash flow and funding, fabric, challenges associated with cutting, making and trimming (CMT) companies, skills and knowledge, fashion designer’s business acumen, market access and location, human skilled resources, garment and production quality, fragmentation, costing, marketing, competition, and other isolated challenges that were mentioned by a few participants. The practical implications of this paper include the need for responsible stakeholders to put in place mechanisms to reduce the supply-chain-management challenges South African fashion designers are facing in the retail clothing industry. As a result, close proximity supply chain networks that could support effective communication amongst members of the supply chain are recommended.

Case Article—Suncrest AgriBusiness Company: Exploiting the Flexibility of Backup Capacity

The primary objective of the case study is to help students understand, model, and solve capacity planning problems (i) when the production yield is uncertain and (ii) if the yield of first production is low, the product can be produced a second time. The dimension of random yield emphasizes supply chain management challenges beyond the traditional newsvendor problem, which has a nice closed-form solution. The dimension of operational flexibility underscores the importance of modeling skills, such as influence diagrams, that can be used to brainstorm, model, and solve new problems. Extensive use of the case in graduate supply chain management courses shows that in the absence of a mathematical model, students systematically deviate from optimal capacity usage. Usually, the presence of backup flexibility reduces first-period production. However, students’ responses often suggest cutting first production too much. When it is available, students consistently overuse the flexibility of second-period production. Overall, students believed the case was challenging and that it provides a valuable learning experience.

Sustainability of supply chains in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2) pandemic: lessons and trends

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to address the prioritisation and focus of supply chain managers subsequent to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)/severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the great lockdown of 2020.Design/methodology/approachIn this article, concepts and trends on resilient and sustainable supply chains are systematized. Main trends in sustainability of supply chains in the wake of COVID-19 are presented.FindingsGuidelines on building smarter and more resilient supply chains are provided and future tendencies, which includes the increase of a sustainable consumption perspective, are highlighted.Originality/valueThis is a conceptual article blended with a practical approach aiming to propose guidelines for managers and scholars on how to address supply chain management challenges after the coronavirus pandemic.

Designing a stochastic multi-objective simulation-based optimization model for sales and operations planning in built-to-order environment with uncertain distant outsourcing

To this day, sales & operations planning (S&OP) remains one of the most critical challenges of supply chain management in terms of improving customers’ experience level and managing supply chain costs. Nowadays the synchronization of sales essentials and industrial restrictions in an uncertain environment is critical for all global companies facing complexity in supply chain networks and operations systems. Sales and supply chain structures in build-to-order industries generally have cross-functional and conflicting objects that are not easily comparable. The current research is an extension of an innovative S&OP model within a more dynamically complex system in terms of demands uncertainty and unreliability of backup supplies. The promoted model is utilized for more efficient management and integration of industrial restrictions and sales essentials in global supply chain networks in terms of demand and supply coordination and responsiveness toward customers’ needs. Accordingly, this research has applied a simulation-based optimization approach to balance the trade-off between logistics cost and customers’ experience level as the main objectives. Two classes of strategies are offered for handling parts’ replenishment and flexibility to the sales structure. Initially, the proposed model evaluates two main inventory strategies’ performances. Thereafter, the optimized values of flexibility degree and safety stock fraction for corresponding inventory strategies are calculated by using a multi-objective simulation-optimization method. The investigation begins with an overall assessment of the system's performance. Furthermore, it details the alterations among the strategies’ key performance indicators (KPIs) as system parameters’ function.

Supply chain and logistics controller – two promising professions for supporting transparency in supply chain management

PurposeThis paper aims to identify the occupational profiles of a logistics and a supply chain (SC) controller, both promising SC professions, examining the required competences and tasks undertaken while taking into account current trends in supply chain management and its wider dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a content analysis based on job advertisements for the position of logistics controller and SC controller. The collected material allowed the construction of an occupational competence mix model in the style of Cheetham and Chivers for the logistics and SC controller, and the identification of the level of competence of both professions, using the model proposed by Czapla. In addition, the analysis of the data was supplemented by use of the Anova test and a radar chart.FindingsThe SC and logistics controllers have a high degree of similarity in both the meta and core competences areas. Similarities also occur in the case of the analysed groups of tasks undertaken by these professions. Tasks in the areas of “definition” and “maintaining” prevail. The SC controller and the logistics controller are considered “engaged inspirers” because they have reached this level of professional competence. Both these professions can ensure an effective, sustainable and transparent SC through direct cooperation with the SC manager and/or logistics manager.Research limitations/implicationsThis study uses a content analysis based on job advertisements addressed to the German market. These job advertisements are standardized, and therefore, provide only a general outline of the competences and tasks of the SC and logistics controllers.Practical implicationsThe study provides information to practitioners by identifying the competences and tasks assigned to the SC and logistics controllers that are needed to improve the efficiency and transparency of the SC and its management. The research is an incentive for people involved in education to adapt changes in curricula in the business (accounting, controlling and logistics) and engineering (related to logistics) fields of study by creating courses based on SC controlling or/and logistics controlling.Originality/valueThe study shows the current, necessary changes for SC professionals (e.g. the appointment of a SC controller and/or logistics controller) resulting from changes in business and the challenges for SC management (e.g. transparency and sustainability).

Assessing the Impact of Relational Governance on the Supply Chain Performances of Manufacturing Firms in Ghana

Over the years, there have been many challenges in supply chain management across the globe especially in the developing countries. There were challenges of quality control, risk management, finding right distributors to handle distribution, fragmented markets and many others. The most challenging issue in the supply chain management is the unpleasant relationship between the firms and their partners leading to many inconsistencies, uncertainties and losses in their operations and transactions leading to the assessment of both the direct and indirect impact of relational governance on supply chain performance of the manufacturing firms in Ghana. The study sought to assess the impact relational governance has directly and indirectly on supply chain performance. Data were collected and gathered through a survey questionnaire responded by 147 manufacturing firms in Ghana. The structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesis and also validate the results. Findings indicate that the relational governance has a positive effect on supply chain performance and at the same time has an indirect effect on supply chain performance through both information sharing and quality of information. The study provides a hard evidence that the higher levels of information sharing and quality of information can lead to enhanced effect of relational governance on supply chain performance. Keywords - Relational Governance, Information Sharing, Quality of Information, Supply Chain Performance, Manufacturing Firms. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-12-01 Publication date: April 30 th 2020

Importance and Challenges of Green Supply Chain Management in Healthcare

This research is related to the importance of the Green Supply Chain Management within in Healthcare sector. Further, the challenges related to it are also discussed. Green building operations are necessary not only for the population but for the environment as well. Awareness related to it is increasing especially in the area of the supply chain management areas. Efficient Supply chain management is necessary within the healthcare sector. Social & economic benefits are generated through green supply chain management. Supply chain management plays a significant role in waste management. Communication & government challenges are considered to be some of the challenges of the Green Supply Chain Management within in Healthcare sector.

The Role of Supply Chain Management in Healthcare Service Quality

Healthcare organizations in sub-Saharan Africa are facing many supply chain management challenges that can be addressed through effective operational and management decisions. The objective of this article is to investigate supply chain management in healthcare service quality in developing countries, particularly in Ethiopia. The primary method was used to collect data from 384 managers and procurement officers from private healthcare sectors to identify the quality and dimensions of healthcare services. The results of our study show that the combination of the timely delivery of health care products, specification, the standard of healthcare product suppliers, and after-sales services in private health sectors in Ethiopia is associated with the quality of healthcare. The scope of this article is focused on the hiring of proper human resources and highly skilled professionals in the supply chain departments to improve the quality of supply chain healthcare services. As a practical contribution, this article may help healthcare supply chain managers and organizations to do their jobs better or build some competitive advantage by addressing the issues and difficulties related to individual healthcare managers, organizations, and their partners.

Smart Supply Chain Management Issues and Challenges

Smart Supply Chain Management Issues and Challenges