Council Of Supply Chain Management Professionals Research Articles

Genetic algorithms in supply chain management: A critical analysis of the literature

Genetic algorithms (GAs) are perhaps the oldest and most frequently used search techniques for dealing with complex and intricate real-life problems that are otherwise difficult to solve by the traditional methods. The present article provides an extensive literature review of the application of GA on supply chain management (SCM). SCM consists of several intricate processes and each process is equally important for maintaining a successful supply chain. In this paper, eight processes (where each process has a set of sub-processes) as given by Council of SCM Professionals (CSCMF) are considered. The idea is to review the application of GA on these aspects and to provide the readers a detailed study in this area. The authors have considered more than 220 papers covering a span of nearly two decades for this study. The analysis is shown in detail with the help of graphs and tables. It is expected that such an extensive study will encourage and motivate the fellow researchers working in related area; to identify the gaps and to come up with innovative ideas.

Research on Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Information Platform of Logistics Industry Association Function and Construction

Logistics industry association as a bridge that crosses from the government and enterprises, plays an irreplaceable role. Logistics industry association information platform is the main way to spread information to logistics enterprises. If the information platform construction is insufficient or the function of platform to play is not perfect, will cause great impact to the development of logistics enterprise. In Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei are summarized on the basis of logistics industry association information platform construction , this paper expounds the function of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei information platform of logistics industry association in detail, and lists the function of information platform of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), by comparing with the logistics industry association abroad found that lack of information platform construction of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region logistics industry association. At the end of the paper puts forward several suggestions to strengthen the information construction of logistics industry association.

The SCM Knowledge Supply Chain: Integrating World Views to Advance the Discipline

Supply chain management is a discipline immersed in knowledge creation and dissemination concerning the integration of business processes across functions and among firms. Academics are the producers and distributors in this knowledge supply chain. The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) provides numerous opportunities to integrate functions and processes between academics and practitioners. The Journal of Business Logistics, the CSCMP Educators' Conference, the CSCMP Annual Global Conference, and CSCMP per se, provide the venue for linking academics to practice, bridging the gap between the two groups as part of the same universe of value creation. Being actively involved in all of these makes a researcher more complete, relevant, and rigorous.

Measuring downstream supply chain performance

PurposeDownstream supply chain (DSC) performance metrics provide a standard framework to assess internal performance. DSC performance metrics can also help balance performance tradeoffs among firms. The purpose of this paper is to develop a survey instrument to determine whether observed performance metrics correspond to the literature and to determine if performance metric systems are used to improve inter‐firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe survey instrument used in this study was based on SCOR performance attributes consisting of: delivery reliability, responsiveness, flexibility, costs, and asset management efficiency. The survey was completed by 73 members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) consisting of high‐level managers representing US companies.FindingsOne factor explained the underlying one‐dimensional structure of the surveyed Supply‐chain operations reference (SCOR) model as an internal metrics system but the authors did not find convincing support for the notion that external performance metrics are used to coordinate external, DSC inter‐firm activities.Research limitations/implicationsA larger sample size would have allowed more insight into the inter‐relationships of the performance attribute variables. Moreover, the sampling plan limited generalization beyond US firms.Practical implicationsFirms used a standardized performance metric system and did not “pick” among metrics. In addition, firms used metrics independently of the decision to coordinate DSC activities. Perhaps they first learn to coordinate the internal performance and later extend to DSC members.Originality/valueThe paper describes one of the few empirical studies of the SCOR model in US industry.

RFID critical success factors and system deployment outcomes as mitigated by IT infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration

This study investigates how information technology (IT) infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration moderate the relationships between RFID critical success factors, and operational efficiency and market knowledge creation. Using the online survey method, members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) were contacted and invited to participate in the study. A total of 126 firms responded to the study. The moderated regression method was used to analyse the survey data. All four proposed hypotheses were partially supported in this study. Between the two moderator variables, however, IT infrastructure integration tempered a greater degree of the variance between selected RFID critical success factors (i.e., identify an RFID champion, find the right technology partners, find willing trading partners, integrate RFID with other business applications, find data hosting and outsourcing ASP, conduct ROI analysis, share RFID costs with trading partners) and the dependent variables, operational efficiency and market knowledge creation.

Preparing logistics for the age of volatility

Worldwide logistics activities have been growing again in 2010: The 22nd ‘‘Annual State of Logistics Report’’ for the United States, issued by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and Penske Logistics in June of this year, says that US national logistics expenditures were $1.21 trillion, up about 10.4% from the recession year 2009. This figure, however, is still about $180 bill below the 2007 level—the peak year so far, since reporting started. In October, the Nuernberg Fraunhofer SCS institute, German ‘‘Bundesvereinigung Logistik (BVL)’’ and DVV Media will publish their annual report on the logistics markets of Europe: The figure for Germany’s national logistics spending will be at about €210 bill. (i.e., about $250 bill at an assumed ‘‘real’’ exchange rate of $1,20/€). This is 5% above the recession year level of 2009. The corresponding figures for the ‘‘EU 29’’ (i.e., the consolidated logistics expenditures of the 27 current members of the European Community, plus Norway and Switzerland) will be €995 bill., about $1.19 trillion, respectively. Until just two, three months ago, most observers shared the expectation that 2011 will be the second year of a strong recovery from the 2008/2009 recession in most countries and logistics markets. Logistics activity and spending levels for the full year 2011 would reach or even exceed pre-recession volumes. But now, at the end of the third quarter of 2011, anxieties regarding the European ‘‘debt’’ crisis, US concerns of a ‘‘second dip’’ in jobs and business activity, and continuing unrest in the Middle East, seem to turn expectations about the growth of logistics sharply downward, again. When the McKinsey consulting company extended a ‘‘welcome to a volatile world’’ on the title of a recent study, this may have been more than a catchy reference to the ups and downs of the 2008 to 2010 period, which the logistics industries experienced—like many other sectors of the economy. The figures and expectations quoted above may mean that logistics should prepare for a long period of volatility with respect to the quantitative and qualitative demands the industry and the field will have to meet. They suggest the possibility of an end to unlimited growth prospects for logistics, at least as we understood it in the past. To continue to be relevant to the decision makers and business actors, the community of logistics researchers may have to add the management of ‘‘volatility’’ to their set of high-priority issues—beyond supply chain collaboration and security, and beyond sustainability, which dominated the agendas during the past decade. One obvious response may be to review and reconsider academic contributions to issues of disruptive change, of flexibility and ‘‘meta-stability’’, which were made during past periods of heightened environmental turbulence and uncertainty: What might be the consequence of considering ‘‘organizational tents instead of organizational palaces’’ to the architects of big, global logistics organizations? ... of ‘‘loose coupled’’ instead of tightly, end-to-end integrated supply chains? ... of ‘‘systems adaptability’’ as a substitute to forecasting the unknowable? We think that logistics research can be enriched in many academically demanding and practically relevant ways, if we accept the challenge of an upcoming age of volatility. As editors of this journal, we invite authors P. Klaus (&) University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Nuremberg, Germany e-mail: Peter.Klaus@wiso.uni-erlangen.de

Demand chain collaboration and operational performance: role of IT analytic capability and environmental uncertainty

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to enhance the extant understanding of the IT‐collaboration relationship. The study aims to test the robustness of the relationships among the concepts of IT analytic capability, demand chain collaboration and operational performance besides investigating the interaction effects of environmental uncertainty variables on the IT‐collaboration relationship.Design/methodology/approachData for testing the hypothesized relationships in the conceptual model were collected through a survey of managers in manufacturing firms from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) membership directory. The survey sample included 152 responses accounting for a response rate of 28 percent.FindingsFindings suggest that while IT analytic capability associates positively with collaboration, the technological turbulence dimension of uncertainty enhances the above relationship. Market turbulence, however, was not found to have a significant moderating impact on the IT analytic capability‐collaboration relationship. The findings further support the link between collaboration and better operational performance.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the study focused on a specific IT capability – IT analytic capability – firms utilize other IT resources such as database systems and e‐commerce. These IT capabilities need to be investigated as well since they could bring different functionalities and influences. Besides, a richer understanding of the interacting variables could be obtained by incorporating a broadened set of contextual variables.Practical implicationsDeploying advanced IT analytic capabilities in firms facilitates collaborative endeavors among supply chain partners and ultimately results in operational improvements. However, managers should also understand that the IT capability‐collaboration link is contingent upon technological turbulence: firms operating in highly uncertain technological environments can best leverage IT analytic capabilities to improve collaboration and enhance performance.Originality/valueMuch of the evidence on the performance impact of specific IT capabilities in supply chains is still anecdotal and extant empirical research is insufficient to suggest an unambiguous performance linkage. A critical shortcoming in extant IT and SCM literature is research on the interaction effects of environmental uncertainty variables on the IT‐collaboration relationship. The study addresses these issues.

Pursuing organisational learning using absorptive capacity capabilities and the role of IT Infrastructure in RFID system initiatives: a cluster analysis study

This study looks at firms' perceptions of the importance of absorptive capacity attributes in the deployment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in a supply chain and their relationships with the firms' intentions to pursue supply chain process integration and Information Technology (IT) infrastructure support. Data for this pilot research study were collected using a survey questionnaire administered online to members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Both the proposed hypotheses were supported in this study using the cluster data analysis procedure. The level of intention to cultivate absorptive capacity attributes, indeed, is positively associated with the level of intention to deploy both IT infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration.

An assessment of supply chain managers' trust in online auctions

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to empirically test the levels of trust supply chain managers exhibit regarding online auctions. The study seeks to test the hypotheses that supply chain managers with higher levels of trust in online auctions would exhibit more familiarity with online auctions, more positive relationships with suppliers, stronger focus on cost management, a stronger focus on revenue enhancement, and greater levels of participation.Design/methodology/approachA review of the extant literature provided the basis for the development of an online pilot study that was e‐mailed to 100 supply chain managers. The results of the pilot study were used to develop an online survey instrument that was e‐mailed to 2,313 current members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and the Institute of Supply Management. A total of 213 usable questionnaires were returned, resulting in a 9.2 percent response rate.FindingsThe data were analyzed via t‐test, MANOVA and ANOVA. The study indicated that online auction users exhibit high levels of trust in online auctions. The study also found that those with higher levels of familiarity with online auctions, with stronger positive relationships with online auction suppliers, and with stronger focus on cost management also exhibited higher levels of trust in online auctions. Contrary to expectations study findings indicate that higher levels of perceived firm profitability and of online auction participation do not lead to increased levels of trust in online auctions.Practical implicationsThe study provides a number of important implications. First, it is important for supply chain managers to recognize the important role that trust continues to play in business relationships. Supply chain managers are advised to be cognizant of the fact that some suppliers may be reluctant to participate in online auctions because they fear participation might damage customer relationships that they have spent years cultivating. Finally, supply chain managers are advised to consider the use of online auctions in order to achieve cost management objectives.Originality/valueThe research makes an important contribution to the literature because it seeks to assess supply chain managers' level of trust in online auctions and how this impacts on the extent to which they participate in this exchange mechanism. An equally important contribution provided by the research is that it focuses on the level of trust in online auctions in general, whereas the preponderance of past research has focused on reverse or price descending auctions only.

Moderated Multiple Regression of Absorptive Capacity Attributes and Deployment Outcomes

In this study, the author examines organizations’ perceptions of the importance of absorptive capacity attributes in the deployment of radio frequency identification (RFID) in a supply chain and their relationships with operational efficiency and market knowledge creation as moderated by information technology infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire administered online to members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Four proposed hypotheses were partially supported in this study. Both variables, IT infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration, moderate the relationships between three predictor variables, business process modularity, standard electronic business interfaces, and breadth of information exchange and the two dependent variables examined in this study, operational efficiency and market knowledge creation to a considerable extent. This study has clear implications for how decision makers affecting their firm’s supply chains should make a business case for robust IT elements that support both IT infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration.

Anticipated IT infrastructure and supply chain integration capabilities for RFID and their associated deployment outcomes

This study looks at the perceived ability of components of IT infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration to predict specific radio frequency identification (RFID) system deployment outcomes—exploration, exploitation, operational efficiency, and market knowledge creation. Data for this pilot research study was collected using a survey questionnaire administered online to members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). It was hypothesized that data consistency and cross-functional application integration, both elements constituting IT infrastructure integration, and information flow integration, physical flow integration, and financial flow integration, all elements constituting supply chain process integration would be positively associated with and predict the four RFID system outcomes. Multiple regression results show partial support for all four proposed hypotheses. Cross-functional application integration and financial flow integration predicted exploration, while data consistency and physical flow integration predicted exploitation. Data consistency and cross-functional application integration, on the other hand, predicted both operational efficiency and market knowledge creation. Supply chain managers planning to deploy RFID systems are alerted to the criticality of these IT infrastructure issues as they brace for a likely widespread implementation of RFID in supply chains they participate in.

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO LOGISTICS, MARKETING, PRODUCTION, AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

The renaming of the Council of Logistics Management (CLM) to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) ushered in some interesting definitional dialogue and debate within the practitioner and academic communities. Inherent in emerging definitions is the notion that SCM encompasses activities traditionally considered aspects of production, logistics, marketing, and operations management. Defining SCM in such a broad scope (i.e., a “within” and “across” functions perspective), while considered by many scholars as the true representation of the essence of SCM, creates confusion regarding the appropriate organizational level within a business that is best suited for managerial decision making regarding the phenomenon. This paper contributes to the emerging SCM dialogue by highlighting the functional spaces (the “within” function perspective), relationships, and conceptual overlaps (the “across” functions perspective) between marketing, logistics, production, operations, and supply chain management. By comparing and contrasting the literature‐based conceptual boundaries of each discipline, a framework is proposed that more clearly captures the essence of the SCM decision making sphere. Managerial insights and future research implications are presented.

Working toward a seamless supply chain: an exploratory analysis of the impact of supply chain on company performance

This paper explores the role that several supply chain dimensions play in achieving overall firm performance. Measures suggested in prior studies were factor analyzed for convergent and discriminant validity and then used in a regression model. This study uses data from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) member firms, with top level supply chain managers as informants. The results suggest that of the three dimensions tested, two are significant contributors to firm profitability, including customer service and business process usage. Relationship confidence was not found to significantly impact overall firm performance.

A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR SUPPLY CHAIN ORIENTED LOGISTICS

The Council of Logistics Management's (CLM) name change to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) has intensified discussions regarding the difference between supply chain management and logistics. This paper merges broadly accepted paradigms from strategic management and marketing to introduce a theoretically consistent framework that differentiates supply chain management from logistics while highlighting the complementary relationship. Supply chain management is portrayed as a firm or SBU level phenomena while logistics is expressed as a competency within supply chain management possessing both strategic and structural capabilities focused exclusively on managing the move/store activities used to fulfill customer orders. Research propositions regarding the interfaces and nature of logistics within a strategic supply chain orientation are drawn to guide thought and development in the discipline.