Customer Supplier Research Articles

Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Innovation in Host Countries: Evidence from Countries Along the Belt and Road

Foreign direct investment (FDI) can benefit innovation activity in host countries through spillover channels, such as reverse engineering, demonstration effects, and supplier–customer relationships. Using data from 26 countries along the Belt and Road route (BRCs) and 32 non-BRCs, we identified positive causal effects of the Chinese outward FDI on the innovation capacities in technology-intensive industries of both BRCs and non-BRCs. However, this effect varies depending on the host countries’ economic development levels. The impact of Chinese OFDI on the general innovation performance in host countries is absent. Meanwhile, the implementation of the BRI has on the whole, a negative impact on BRCs’ innovation performance.

Customer concentration and firm risk: The role of outside directors from a major customer

This paper examines the role of customer-affiliated outside directors on suppliers in reducing risk arising from having a major customer. Using a sample of US supplier firms, we find that a positive relationship between having a major customer and supplier risk is weakened with the presence of the major customer's representatives at suppliers' board. We further show that suppliers with customer-affiliated outside directors are more likely to have less conservative financial policies. Our results suggest that customers' board membership at suppliers helps mitigate the business risk due to the tightened supplier–customer relationship and reduced information asymmetry.

Strategi Komunikasi Pemasaran Terintegrasi PT XYZ Tbk. Tahun 2023-2026

PT XYZ Tbk. is a company that operates in the automotive industry as a company that manufactures fasteners for the B2B market. In recent years, in Indonesia and globally, many phenomena have emerged and been created to increase binder product sales. However, during the last six years, PT XYZ Tbk. has not achieved its sales target even though the automotive sales trend is increasing or stable. Based on interviews, observations, and literature studies that have been conducted, it was found that competitors are more aggressive in communicating their brands and are better known. As a result, the company needs help to intensify sales in global markets and its customer suppliers. This research aims to analyze the role of each integrated marketing communication element for the B2B market and create an integrated marketing communication strategy that has a major impact on achieving sales targets and getting customers. In this study, the analysis uses three perspectives, namely: the company, competitors, and customers. The findings in this study indicate that the integrated marketing communication strategy of PT XYZ Tbk. as a B2B marketer must implement strategies that end with a personal approach to customers and the use of print and digital media to spread wider brand awareness.

The signaling effect of supplier's customer network instability on service price: Insights from the container shipping charter market

AbstractIn a service exchange setting, the supply management literature generally assumes, with notable exceptions, the availability of complete information regarding supplier reliability. Highlighting the information asymmetry in supplier evaluation and using signaling theory, we argue that for a focal buyer, a supplier's downstream ego‐network instability, that is, other buyers' turnover in a supplier's network from one period to the next, acts as a signal of supplier unreliability, thereby reducing the price that the buyer pays to the supplier in a service exchange. Furthermore, we suggest that focal buyer–supplier relationship strength and structural equivalence weaken the negative effect of instability because the buyer has a more direct and positive experience with the supplier. Using a dataset of 3263 unique dyads formed by 260 buyers (shipoperators) and 493 suppliers (shipowners) during the 2000–2018 period in the container shipping charter market, we find support for our hypotheses, except for the contingent effect of structural equivalence. Our study contributes to signaling literature and network research by developing a supplier's downstream ego‐network instability as a salient heuristic for a focal buyer's pricing decisions. These findings equip buyer managers who may not accurately foresee supplier service quality in the charter market with a new supplier evaluation tool: a supplier's downstream ego‐network instability.

Capability matching between suppliers and customers in solution co-creation: a process-based model

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine supplier–customer capabilities in solution co-creation and how they are matched from a relational process perspective.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative approach, the authors identified 20 sets of supplier–customer capability matches by conducting in-depth interviews with 34 matched informants and retrieving suppliers’ archival data (project documents and success stories).FindingsThe authors identified 20 capability matching sets (21 supplier and 23 customer capabilities) and developed a process-based model of bilateral capabilities that match at the organizational level in solution co-creation. The authors reveal their match forms (complementarity and compatibility) and offer suggestions for future research.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is qualitative; quantitative studies are required for testing and extending the initial conclusions.Practical implicationsThis study guides the supplier and customer to cultivate different capabilities at different stages of solution co-creation and alerts them to the importance of capability complementarity and compatibility.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to introduce the bilateral perspective into dynamic capability research in the context of solution co-creation. The authors discuss the abilities the supplier and customer must possess at different stages and how they match dynamically. The analysis extends the research on solution-specific capabilities and dynamic matching, offering useful implications for solution co-creation in practice.

Assessment of causes and consequences of food and agricultural raw material loss and opportunities for its reduction

The article summarizes and systematizes the causes and consequences of food loss and waste. The uncontrolled accumulation and inefficient management of loss and waste is a serious problem of food security in many countries. Moreover, the world annually loses or wastes about a third of food produced while natural resources are inefficiently used. A significant number of definitions and terms in the field of food loss and waste cause international inconsistency in management systems. So, systematization of terms and research methods for food loss and waste has been carried out. The review analyzes the stages of food supply chain, i.e. the production of agricultural raw materials, their collection, processing, transportation and consumption, where the largest loss and waste occur. Furthermore, environmental, social and other problems associated with the accumulation of loss and waste are considered. Prevention of food loss and waste has been shown to be a potential strategy to improve the balance of food supply and demand and is essential for improving food security while reducing environmental impact and providing economic benefits to various participants in the food supply chain. Separately, the actions taken by the Russian Federation in the field of waste management and reduction of food loss are considered. Attention is drawn to the fact that the difficulties in solving these problems are associated with insufficient progress in legislation and low funding of relevant research projects. Possible approaches for simulation and optimization of actions to support specific strategies to reduce loss and waste are considered, taking into account the following factors: improving the management of various inventories; developing a clear strategy for planning and allocating resources; forming the supply chain based on variability (uncertainty) of customer demand and supply. Knowledge comparison and integration, as well as optimization of food supply chain management are essential for development of strategies and decisions about where and how to focus efforts to most effectively ensure the reduction of loss and waste at each stage of food supply chain. The main decisions and practices for FLW prevention and management have been systematized.

Building responsive and resilient supply chains: Lessons from the COVID‐19 disruption

Building responsive and resilient supply chains: Lessons from the <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 disruption

3D Baskı Teknolojisinin Çevre ve Ekonomi Bağlamında Kitlesel Özelleştirme ve Tedarik Zinciri Üzerindeki Yıkıcı Doğası

Today's production paradigm is shaped by mass production, where production processes and tools are standardized, expertise is not taken much into account, and the same products are produced either in batches or massively in small varieties. Production is carried out in factories in certain centers, and the products produced are often distributed all over the world. There is a need for a multi-agent supply chain network and supply chain management with the stages of delivering the products to the final consumer, starting from the pre-production stage. It has become clear that the need for a complex supply chain network by producing products from a single center is no longer economical and environmentally friendly. In recent years, consumers have started to think about the harmful effects of the products they buy. Changing customer needs and demands have also made companies consider the mass customization production model. Recently, three-dimensional printing technologies, also defined as additive manufacturing technology, have emerged as a new production technology. With this disruptive technology, production models and supply chain networks are subject to change and transformation. In this study, the environmental and economic benefits of 3D printing technology are analyzed in the context of mass customization production model and supply chains.

Optimization-Based Selection of Hydrants and Valves Control in Water Distribution Networks for Fire Incidents Management

In England and Wales, water utilities reduce hydraulic pressure to a minimum regulatory threshold in order to reduce leakage and avoid financial penalties. However, utilities are not legally bound to guarantee specific flow rates from fire hydrants, thus posing a risk for firefighting. We formulate a biobjective mixed-integer nonlinear program (MINLP) to simultaneously determine control valve settings and the location of fire hydrants to be utilized in a water distribution network during urban fire incidents. The goal is to provide the required flow rate from the fire hydrants while minimizing 1) the distance of the utilized fire hydrants from the fire location and 2) the impact on customer supply. As the solution is required in real-time, we propose an optimization-based heuristic, which relies on iteratively solving a NLP approximation and relaxation of the MINLP formulation. Furthermore, we assess the quality of the heuristic solutions for the presented study case by calculating global optimality bounds. The proposed heuristic is applied to an operational water distribution network.

Green supply chain nuances in East Malaysian construction industry

The antecedent influence of technology innovation, regulatory regimes and stakeholders’ pressure on green supply chain management have been investigated disparately, with mixed results. This study aimed to explore the potential and specific effects of these selection pressure among sampled construction organizations in Sarawak Malaysia using the Triple Embeddedness Framework as an underpinning theory. Using a self-report online survey instrument, we sampled 350 contractors in Sarawak, and 114 responses were received after repeated reminders. However, after removing seven incomplete responses, only 107 usable surveys were considered for data analysis, denoting a response rate of 30.6%. Data screening was then carried out using SPSS version 23, while SmartPLS version 3.2 was used to assess the measurement and structural models. The findings suggest that regulatory pressure and technology orientation positively relate to the contractors’ green supply chain management. There is also a significant mediation of technology orientation in customer, regulatory pressure and green supply chain management relationships. This study contributes to the construction project supply chain body of knowledge by channelling the Triple Embeddedness Framework toward green supply chain management by providing empirical grounds from the hypothesized relationships. Stakeholders’ unification is also suggested for sustainable upstream and downstream integration.

Game theory system optimization in a supplier-customer transport network

The development of modern IT technologies and resources, offer in many economic-industrial applications, efficient solutions for planning and managing of specific activities. New research directions in the field of management and optimization of supply-customer (SC) systems are defined and evaluated. The paper proposes a management model based on a causal graph structure, which expresses the connection and interdependence between the two entities involved in the specific activities of the field, the suppliers of goods and services and the consumers of these goods and products. Information related to production and storage capacity, up-to-date requirements for customer needs, delivery planning, production and consumption dynamics are considered. The transport between the actors involved in the system is an important component with weight in the costs of supply-sale activities. The optimal solution for the supply-customer transport system is proposed based on different strategies of game theory.

Revolutionizing Retail: Machine Learning Applications for Enhanced Customer Experience and Operational Efficiency

In today's highly competitive retail landscape, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance customer experience while optimizing operational efficiency. This paper explores the transformative potential of machine learning (ML) applications in addressing this dual challenge. Leveraging diverse datasets encompassing customer behaviours, inventory management, and supply chain operations, our research employs state-of-the-art ML algorithms to develop predictive models and personalized recommendation systems. Our methodology demonstrates the ability of ML to analyze vast amounts of data in real-time, leading to precise demand forecasting, dynamic pricing strategies, and tailored customer experiences. Through a comprehensive evaluation, we reveal significant improvements in revenue generation and cost reduction. Moreover, the discussion highlights the ethical considerations and challenges associated with ML adoption in retail. In conclusion, this study underscores the pivotal role of machine learning in redefining the retail landscape, offering a competitive edge through data-driven insights, and ultimately revolutionizing the industry.

МИГРАЦИЯ ДАННЫХ В КОНТЕКСТЕ ERP-СИСТЕМ

At the heart of every ERP is a single database that allows employees of the organization to rely on the same consistent set of information. Data migration is an important component of ERPs upgrade, implementation and integration projects. At the same time, the migration scenario can be complex and lengthy, require a large amount of resources and high competencies of the management staff. Underestimating the required time and effort can lead to a significant increase in costs and delay in the commissioning of the ERP. The accuracy and completeness of the transmitted data is also of great importance, since many aspects of the business – customer satisfaction, decision-making, supply chain and relationships with partners – will depend on the quality of the data. Despite this, the complexity of data migration scenarios is traditionally underestimated. In most existing studies, data migration is considered mainly from the technical side. Aspects related to the conceptual content of data migration, its relationship with business processes and company management, as well as the specific role of data migration in projects of updating, implementing and integrating ERPs, remain insufficiently developed. The aim of the study. The aim of this study is to supplement theoretical ideas about the content, diversity, problems and strategies of data migration in the context of ERPs. Materials and methods. The article summarizes and systematizes the types, stages of the project, key strategies and the most significant problems of data migration. For the purposes of this study, the material from 23 sources on a similar topic was reviewed, revised and supplemented. Results. The paper describes classifications of types of data migration, provides examples related to ERP. The stages of the data migration project are described in detail and supplemented. The comparison of two key data migration strategies is given, their advantages and disadvantages are highlighted, recommendations for the application of a particular strategy are formed. The main problems of data migration in the context of ERPs, the consequences of these problems for the entire migration project are considered. Conclusion. The results obtained suggest that data migration is a complex and time-consuming process that requires serious competencies from management and performers. The migration strategy should be developed in an effective way and take into account all the variety of influencing factors.

LEVERAGING MACHINE LEARNING FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS: A CASE STUDY OF SUPPLY CHAIN OPTIMIZATION IN A LOGISTICS COMPANY

The field of Machine Learning (ML) has gained prominence as a powerful tool that has the capacity to greatly impact various aspects of business operations, decision-making processes, and overall organizational effectiveness. Machine learning algorithms and techniques play a crucial role in enabling the extraction of valuable insights from large volumes of data, thereby improving operational efficiency and informing the development of strategic decisions within business contexts. Machine learning (ML) is widely utilized in the business sector for a range of purposes, including predictive analytics, customer relationship management (CRM), fraud detection, and supply chain optimization. The implementation of machine learning (ML) poses a number of obstacles, including issues related to data integrity and reprocessing, the ability to interpret models, and ethical implications. The utilization of machine learning (ML) holds promise for generating substantial insights, optimizing operational processes, and improving decision-making in the realm of business. Consequently, this has the potential to facilitate growth, enhance operational efficiency, and increase customer satisfaction.

LEVERAGING MACHINE LEARNING FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS: A CASE STUDY OF SUPPLY CHAIN OPTIMIZATION IN A LOGISTICS COMPANY

The field of Machine Learning (ML) has gained prominence as a powerful tool that has the capacity to greatly impact various aspects of business operations, decision-making processes, and overall organizational effectiveness. Machine learning algorithms and techniques play a crucial role in enabling the extraction of valuable insights from large volumes of data, thereby improving operational efficiency and informing the development of strategic decisions within business contexts. Machine learning (ML) is widely utilized in the business sector for a range of purposes, including predictive analytics, customer relationship management (CRM), fraud detection, and supply chain optimization. The implementation of machine learning (ML) poses a number of obstacles, including issues related to data integrity and reprocessing, the ability to interpret models, and ethical implications. The utilization of machine learning (ML) holds promise for generating substantial insights, optimizing operational processes, and improving decision-making in the realm of business. Consequently, this has the potential to facilitate growth, enhance operational efficiency, and increase customer satisfaction.

Multimodal Fuzzy Downstream Petroleum Supply Chain: A Novel Pentagonal Fuzzy Optimization

The petroleum industry has a complex, inflexible and challenging supply chain (SC) that impacts both the national economy as well as people’s daily lives with a range of services, including transportation, heating, electricity, lubricants, as well as chemicals and petrochemicals. In the petroleum industry, supply chain management presents several challenges, especially in the logistics sector, that are not found in other industries. In addition, logistical challenges contribute significantly to the cost of oil. Uncertainty regarding customer demand and supply significantly affects SC networks. Hence, SC flexibility can be maintained by addressing uncertainty. On the other hand, in the real world, decision-making challenges are often ambiguous or vague. In some cases, measurements are incorrect owing to measurement errors, instrument faults, etc., which lead to a pentagonal fuzzy number (PFN) which is the extension of a fuzzy number. Therefore, it is necessary to develop quantitative models to optimize logistics operations and supply chain networks. This study proposed a linear programming model under an uncertain environment. The model minimizes the cost along the refineries, depots, multimode transport and demand nodes. Further developed pentagonal fuzzy optimization, an alternative approach is developed to solve the downstream supply chain using the mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to obtain a feasible solution to the fuzzy transportation cost problem. In this model, the coefficient of the transportation costs and parameters is assumed to be a pentagonal fuzzy number. Furthermore, defuzzification is performed using an accuracy function. To validate the model and technique and feasibility solution, an illustrative example of the oil and gas SC is considered, providing improved results compared with existing techniques and demonstrating its ability to benefit petroleum companies is the objective of this study.

The Proposition of Using Dimpled Surface Vibratory Conveyors in Confectionery Industries for Product Movement

The confectionery business in the overall food and beverage sector has been gaining popularity and growing at an exponential rate, with many new companies entering the market to embrace the untapped market and supply customers with higher quality products like gum, chocolate, chilling plates, candy, gummy candy, enrobers, etc. One of the significant challenges faced by all the companies in this sector is to manage the movement of the product, whether bulk or packaged, from one part of the production line to the other effectively and efficiently. Various companies traditionally rely on conveying systems procured from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) or designing them in-house to fulfill this requirement. The capital investment in these conveying systems was kept to a minimum in the past as they were not considered critical to day-to-day operations. However, there has been a shift in the business strategy, and nowadays, companies do extensive research and allocate significant capital to deploy an effective and efficient conveying system to support their production. In this theoretical study, we explore different available conveying technologies used in confectionery companies and their challenges in dayto-day operations. We also review a new and upcoming technology of using a vibratory conveying system with a dimpled surface texture of the conveyor itself to support gentle handling of the product and how it is advantageous over the traditional conveying system. This study aims to aid confectionery companies in identifying and selecting the most effective and efficient conveying solution for their production lines to move products within the facility

Сучасні тенденції менеджменту ресторанного бізнесу

Abstract. Introduction. The restaurant industry is one of the most competitive businesses in the world. To succeed in an industry where competition is high and profit margins are low, you need to manage your restaurant business effectively. It consists of interrelated variables of both internal and external environment. They are characterized by the complexity of connections, the rapid change of information, and the mobility of factors. The restaurant industry is a complex branch of the economy that has its own specific features. This means that the management of restaurant establishments should be based on taking into account both the peculiarities of the restaurant industry and the characteristics of the environment in which the restaurant business operates. In turn, the solution to this problem is possible thanks to taking into account modern trends in the management of restaurant establishments, understanding its essence, principles, approaches, and technologies of modern management science. A dialectical method of cognition, a comprehensive approach to the study of economic phenomena, and a systemic vision of management issues were used for the theoretical and methodological justification of the main provisions of the study. They made it possible to formulate scientific results and provide practical recommendations. Purpose. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the theoretical provisions of the essence of restaurant management, to identify trends in its development, and to develop practical proposals for effective management in the restaurant business. Results. The author justified the concept of management in the restaurant industry. The need for a practical approach to the management of restaurant business establishments has been proven. The main areas of restaurant business management are highlighted, including personnel management, kitchen management, business reputation management, service management,customer relationship management and customer experience management, marketing management, financial management, supply management, technical and technological service management. The main trends in the development of management in the restaurant industry have been formed, which are based on modern aspects of the functioning of the industry, taking into account world experience. Practical proposals for implementation of management in restaurants have been developed. Conclusions. The author proved that management in the restaurant industry is a specific type of activity that is carried out in order to achieve goals in this business through the effective use of all resources. It should be based on modern trends in the development of the restaurant business and its features, taking into account the significant influence of external factors.

Production network: Application in China

AbstractBased on the input–output table and the supplier–customer data disclosed by the listed companies in China, this paper builds China's production network on both industry level and firm level. We describe the characteristics of such network using various network indexes and obtain the following results: first, China's production network on industry level is featured by “small world” and “sparsity,” and continues to become sparser. The existence of hub‐like sectors makes the influence of sectoral shocks on macro fluctuations increasingly important. Second, China's production network on firm level has three types of structures: horizontal, ring, and star. Automobile and pharmaceutical industries show obvious intra‐industry network cluster features. This paper aims to deepen the understanding of production network on both macro and micro levels, and provide a basis for future study on the propagation of external shocks in production networks.

Supply chain management as a competitive advantage for grocery small and medium-sized enterprises in Mahikeng, South Africa

Background: The adoption of supply chain management (SCM) strategy in the last four decades has transformed enterprises, prompting them to take a more customer-centric approach in their operations. Addressing the customer’s needs through coordinated SC networks is a competitive advantage for enterprises. The purpose of this study was to explore SCM as a competitive advantage for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), specifically grocery stores in Mahikeng, South Africa.Research objectives: The investigation sought to explore the role of supply chain collaboration in enhancing constant flow of products for business continuity and cost-saving for SMEs from third-party logistics (3PL) transport optimisation, and it was discovered that the practice of reverse logistics by SMEs recovered value and reduced waste.Research methodology: A qualitative research method with descriptive design and a nonprobability sampling strategy was followed to conduct the study. The recorded interviews were transcribed, translated, coded and analysed via thematic data analysis to determine the outcome of the study.Results: The study established that SCM improved cost-effectiveness through cost-saving on shared (3PL) transportation between SMEs and improved efficiency through enhanced supplier–customer relationships by maintaining continuous flow of products and services. The optimisation of transportation, continuous flow of products and services and recovery of value through reverse logistics reduced waste and increased efficiency, which enhanced competitiveness and sustainability of the retailers.Conclusion: It is apparent that enterprises that streamlined operations through SCM also reduced waste, thereby enhancing competitiveness and sustainability. The findings indicated that owners and managers will understand the benefits of adopting SCM strategies.