Efficient Supply Chain Research Articles

Blockchain technology for supply chain provenance: increasing supply chain efficiency and consumer trust

PurposeThis study aims to examine the blockchain landscape in supply chain management by drawing insights from academic and industry literature. It identifies the key drivers, categorizes the products involved and highlights the business values achieved by early adopters of blockchain technology within the supply chain domain. Additionally, it explores fingerprinting techniques to establish a robust connection between physical products and the blockchain ledger.Design/methodology/approachThe authors combined the interpretive sensemaking systematic literature review to offer insights into how organizations interpreted their business challenges and adopted blockchain technology in their specific supply chain context; content analysis (using Leximancer automated text mining software) for concept mapping visualization, facilitating the identification of key themes, trends and relationships, and qualitative thematic analysis (NVivo) for data organization, coding and enhancing the depth and efficiency of analysis.FindingsThe findings highlight the transformative potential of blockchain technology and offer valuable insights into its implementation in optimizing supply chain operations. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of product provenance information to consumers, with blockchain technology offering certainty and increasing customer loyalty toward brands that prioritize transparency.Research limitations/implicationsThis research has several limitations that should be acknowledged. First, there is a possibility that some relevant investigations may have been missed or omitted, which could impact the findings. In addition, the limited availability of literature on blockchain adoption in supply chains may restrict the scope of the conclusions. The evolving nature of blockchain adoption in supply chains also poses a limitation. As the technology is in its infancy, the authors expect that a rapidly emerging body of literature will provide more extensive evidence-based general conclusions in the future. Another limitation is the lack of information contrasting academic and industry research, which could have provided more balanced insights into the technology’s advancement. The authors attributed this limitation to the narrow collaborations between academia and industry in the field of blockchain for supply chain management.Practical implicationsPractitioners recognize the potential of blockchain in addressing industry-specific challenges, such as ensuring transparency and data provenance. Understanding the benefits achieved by early adopters can serve as a starting point for companies considering blockchain adoption. Blockchain technology can verify product origin, enable truthful certifications and comply with established standards, reinforcing trust among stakeholders and customers. Thus, implementing blockchain solutions can enhance brand reputation and consumer confidence by ensuring product authenticity and quality. Based on the results, companies can align their strategies and initiatives with their needs and expectations.Social implicationsIn essence, the integration of blockchain technology within supply chain provenance initiatives not only influences economic aspects but also brings substantial social impacts by reinforcing consumer trust, encouraging sustainable and ethical practices, combating product counterfeiting, empowering stakeholders and contributing to a more responsible, transparent and progressive socioeconomic environment.Originality/valueThis study consolidates current knowledge on blockchain’s capacity and identifies the specific drivers and business values associated with early blockchain adoption in supply chain provenance. Furthermore, it underscores the critical role of product fingerprinting techniques in supporting blockchain for supply chain provenance, facilitating more robust and efficient supply chain operations.

Supply Chain as a Service (SCaaS) in Apparel Industry

Supply Chain as a Service (SCaaS) represents an innovative approach for businesses to outsource various aspects of their supply chain, including manufacturing, procurement, warehousing, quality assurance, and logistics. Within the apparel industry, the supply chain encompasses five key categories: design, textile manufacturing, apparel manufacturing, distribution, and end-user purchase. Due to its consumer-centric nature, the apparel supply chain experiences fluctuating demand, posing challenges for effective management. Small apparel businesses often struggle with planning and implementing efficient supply chain strategies, resulting in significant losses, wasted labor, and missed deadlines. This paper proposes the implementation of SCaaS as a tailored solution for apparel units. The primary aim is to offer comprehensive end-to-end management services, ranging from strategic planning to product delivery. By leveraging SCaaS, companies can optimize their time allocation, focusing on customer interactions and the innovation of new products. This approach streamlines operations, enhances efficiency, and mitigates the risks associated with supply chain management, ultimately enabling apparel businesses to better adapt to market dynamics and meet consumer demands effectively.

Improving Farmers’ Income on Online Agri-Platforms: Evidence from the Field

Problem definition: To improve the welfare of smallholder farmers, multiple countries (e.g., Ethiopia and India) have launched online agri-platforms to transform traditional markets. However, there is still mixed evidence regarding the impact of these platforms and, more generally, how they can be leveraged to enable more efficient agricultural supply chains and markets. This paper describes work conducted in close collaboration with the state government of Karnataka, India, to design, implement, and assess the impact of a new two-stage auction on the state’s online agri-platform, the United Market Platform (UMP). Methodology/results: To ensure implementability and protect farmers’ revenue, the auction design is guided by practical operational considerations, as well as semistructured interviews with a majority of the traders in the field. A new behavioral auction model informed by the field insights is developed to determine when the proposed two-stage auction can generate a higher revenue for farmers than the traditional single-stage, first-price, sealed-bid auction. The new auction mechanism was implemented on the UMP for a major market of lentils in February 2019. By the end of May 2019, commodities worth more than $6 million (USD) had been traded under the new auction. A difference-in-differences analysis demonstrates that the implementation has yielded a significant 3.6% price increase (corresponding to a 55%–94% profit gain) for over 10,000 farmers who traded in the treatment market. Managerial implications: The results from this paper offer tangible lessons on how innovative price discovery mechanisms could be enabled by online agri-platforms in resource-constrained environments. Importantly, the success of these designs critically depends on careful considerations of systemic operational and behavioral factors that affect trades in the physical markets. History: This paper has been accepted as part of the 2023 Manufacturing & Service Operations Management Practice-Based Research Competition. Funding: Financial support from the Tata Center for Technology and Design at MIT and the National Science Foundation [Grant 1452875] is gratefully acknowledged. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0437 .

Strategic Warehouse Location Selection in Business Logistics: A Novel Approach Using IMF SWARA–MARCOS—A Case Study of a Serbian Logistics Service Provider

Business logistics encompasses the intricate planning, seamless implementation, and precise control of the efficient and effective movement and storage of goods, services, and associated information from their origin to their final consumption point. The strategic placement of facilities is intricately intertwined with business logistics, exerting a direct influence on the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of supply chain operations. In the realm of business logistics, decisions regarding the location of facilities, including warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing plants, assume a pivotal role in shaping the overarching logistics strategy. Warehouses, serving as pivotal nodes in the supply chain network, establish crucial links at both local and global markets. They serve as the nexus connecting suppliers and customers across the entire supply chain, thus constituting indispensable elements that significantly impact the overall performance of the supply chain. The optimal location of warehouses is paramount for efficient supply chains, ensuring minimized costs and bigger profits. The decision on warehouse location exerts a profound influence on investment costs, operational expenses, and the distribution strategy of a company, thereby playing a substantial role in elevating customer service levels. Hence, the primary objective of this paper is to propose a novel methodology grounded in the application of the Improved Fuzzy Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA)-Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking according to Compromise Solution (MARCOS) methods for determining warehouse locations tailored to a logistics service provider (LSP) operating in the Serbian market. Through the definition of seven evaluation criteria based on a comprehensive literature review and expert insights, this study aims to assess five potential locations. The findings suggest that the proposed model offers great decision support for effectively addressing challenges akin to the one presented in this study.

Article: Building a Prosperous Future: Unveiling the Benefits of IPEF Supply Chain Agreement (Pillar II)

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is yet to be explored in terms of a new turn in the Indo-Pacific Strategy, and also in terms of benefit to various member countries. The United States (US) launched the IPEF with thirteen initial partners. The IPEF Supply Chain agreement is novel, and through various bodies such as the Supply Chain Council, Labour Rights Advisory Board and Crisis Response Network, seeks to (1) build a collective understanding of supply chain risks; (2) improve crisis coordination and response to supply chain disruption; (3) ensure that workers and businesses, especially Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in the economies of IPEF members, benefit from the resilient, robust and efficient supply chain; (4) ensure a sufficient number of skilled workers in critical sectors and key goods; and (5) create/provide opportunities for technical assistance and capacity building. The IPEF Supply Chain agreement also builds on a partnership model among selected countries based on a shared understanding of the supply chain, associated risk, priority etc. This short article attempts to analyse the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement, labour rights in the supply chain, and a possible shift from the Asia-Pacific to the Indo-Pacific with the regional supply chain and trusted trade partners (friendshoring). The article, among other matters, explores the potential benefits for India. IPEF, Supply Chain, Asia-Pacific, Indo-Pacific, Labour Rights, trusted trade partners, friendshoring

Increasing Farmers' Income in the Agricultural Sector in Central Java

In the agricultural sector of Central Java, this study examines the relationship between supply chain effectiveness, government policies, infrastructure development, and farmers' income. This study investigates the current status of infrastructure accessibility, government regulations, supply chain dynamics, and income sources through quantitative analyses involving 250 farmers. To verify and examine the correlation between the variables, structural equation modelling with partial least squares, or SEM-PLS, was used. Variations in the level of supply chain efficiency, farmers' attitudes towards government policies, infrastructure quality, and income distribution are shown by descriptive statistics. All proposed hypotheses were supported by the structural model, and the measurement model showed excellent levels of validity and reliability. The results of this study highlight the importance of infrastructure, sensible public policies, and efficient supply chains in increasing farmers' income. There is a discussion of practical consequences and suggestions for stakeholders and policymakers, with a focus on the need for focused action to improve the socio-economic conditions of farmers in Central Java. Although the statistical relationship between these variables is strong, farmers and the government are highly interdependent, so the real implications for the government to improve farmers in Central Java include regulation and distribution similar to other big cities.

효율적 및 반응적 공급사슬 구성 제조기업의 제3자 물류기업 선정요인의 우선순위와 가중치 분석

Using AHP, it is to clearly analyze that there is a difference in the importance and weight of the selection criteria factors that should be applied first in the selection of a third-party logistics company depending on the characteristics of the product and supply chain from the viewpoint of Korean manufacturing companies. For this purpose, previous studies that presented factors for selecting third-party logistics companies were reviewed. As a method of integrating the presented selection criteria, 4 items of ‘logistics service’, 3 items of ‘logistics information (IT) system’, 4 items of ‘logistics price (cost)’, 5 selection criteria of 3 items of ‘Corporate Reputation’ and 6 items of ‘Capacity and Infrastructure’ and 20 application items were selected. And using these contents, a survey was conducted on manufacturing companies.
 Survey results As a questionnaire that can be used for AHP analysis, 51 companies in the efficient supply chain group and 35 companies in the reactive supply chain group were collected. The priority and weight of the selection criteria and application items were determined by performing pairwise comparisons on Tier II selection criteria and Tier III application factors, and calculating overlapping weights.
 The priority and importance of the Tier II selection criteria and the Tier III application factors were confirmed, and the weights for the selection criteria and application items that should be applied preferentially were calculated by synthesizing them. In the efficient supply chain group, the importance of stability, service price, image, cost reduction, accuracy, financial stability, and compatibility was high. In the reactive supply chain group, the importance of stability, accuracy, image, service price, information capability, compatibility, and incentives was high. Through these research results, by reflecting the characteristics of product manufacturing and supply chain, selection criteria and application items that should be applied first when manufacturers select third-party logistics companies are clearly presented.

An integrated DEA/GP based approach for designing healthcare supply chains with mixed data: a real world application

PurposeAs supply chain excellence matters, designing an appropriate health-care supply chain is a great consideration to the health-care providers worldwide. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to benchmark several potential health-care supply chains to design an efficient and effective one in the presence of mixed data.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this objective, this research illustrates a hybrid algorithm based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) and goal programming (GP) for designing real-world health-care supply chains with mixed data. A DEA model along with a data aggregation is suggested to evaluate the performance of several potential configurations of the health-care supply chains. As part of the proposed approach, a GP model is conducted for dimensioning the supply chains under assessment by finding the level of the original variables (inputs and outputs) that characterize these supply chains.FindingsThis paper presents an algorithm for modeling health-care supply chains exclusively designed to handle crisp and interval data simultaneously.Research limitations/implicationsThe outcome of this study will assist the health-care decision-makers in comparing their supply chains against peers and dimensioning their resources to achieve a given level of productions.Practical implicationsA real application to design a real-life pharmaceutical supply chain for the public ministry of health in Morocco is given to support the usefulness of the proposed algorithm.Originality/valueThe novelty of this paper comes from the development of a hybrid approach based on DEA and GP to design an appropriate real-life health-care supply chain in the presence of mixed data. This approach definitely contributes to assist health-care decision-makers design an efficient and effective supply chain in today’s competitive word.

Accu Scrap Raw Material Inventorycontrol Using the Min- Max Method

This research investigates the efficacy of implementing the Min-Max method to enhance inventory control performance in a manufacturing setting converting ACCU scrap into tin metal. Focused on two product types, bullion, and ingots, the study aims to optimize inventory policies by determining safety stock, minimum and maximum stock levels, order quantities, and reorder points to mitigate stockouts and overstocks. Results demonstrate a significant improvement, with the Min-Max method enabling a 33% increase in raw material control effectiveness compared to previous methods. This research underscores the potential for the Min-Max approach to provide practical solutions for inventory management challenges in manufacturing, offering valuable insights for industry practitioners and researchers alike. Highlight : The Min-Max method improved inventory management effectiveness by 33%. This approach facilitated the determination of safe stock levels, minimal order quantities, and reorder points. Manufacturers experienced reduced operating expenses while maintaining competitive edge and responsiveness to market dynamics. Keywords: Accu scrap processing, Min-Max method, inventory control, supply chain optimization, resource allocation

The Influence of Online Advertising on Student Preferences towards Smartphone Brands: A Case of the Students at University of Iringa

The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of online advertising on student preferences towards smartphone brands. Specifically, the study intended to examine the influence of social media influencer endorsements, advertisement credibility and electronic word of mouth for the students of University of Iringa. The research employed a quantitative research approach. Cross- sectional design was used to gather data and descriptive design used to analyze and summarize the results to answer the research problem. The targeted population was 5262 students from University of Iringa where a sample size of 98 was drawn out of it. Simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents who are the students of University of Iringa. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics via SPSS version 20 software. The findings highlighted the significant influence of electronic word of mouth and online advertising credibility on student preferences for smartphone brands. However, social media influencer endorsements exhibited a moderate influence. Students displayed a preference for credible and transparent advertising content, valuing their purchasing experiences and relying on peer feedback through electronic word of mouth. Nevertheless, the study also revealed a level of skepticism and limited impact of social media influencer endorsements on student preferences for smartphone brands. This detailed understanding underscores the importance for firms to craft genuine and transparent influencer partnerships, and leveraging credible advertising practices to resonate with student discerning preferences in the competitive smartphone market. While price is one of the significant factors influencing consumer preferences, the study also recommends that manufacturers should prioritize innovation, efficient supply chains, and sustainability for competitive

Redefining agile supply chain practices in the disruptive era: a case study identifying vital dimensions and factors

Purpose This paper aims to uncover the key enablers of an agile supply chain in the manufacturing sector amidst disruptions such as pandemics, trade wars and cross-border challenges. The study aims to assess the applicability of existing literature to manufacturing and identify additional industry-specific enablers contributing to the field of supply chain management. Design/methodology/approach The research methodology is comprehensively described, detailing the utilization of extent literature and semistructured interviews with mid- and top-level executives in a supply chain. The authors ensure the robustness of the data collection process and results interpretation. Findings The study identifies six essential dimensions of an agile supply chain: information availability, design robustness, external resource planning, quickness and speed, public policy influencing skills and cash flow management. The study provides valuable insights for industry professionals to develop agile supply chains capable of responding to disruptions in a rapidly changing world. Research limitations/implications This study is limited by its focus on the manufacturing sector, and future research may explore the applicability of these findings to other industries. By focusing on these essential dimensions identified in the study, managers can develop strategies to improve the agility and responsiveness of their supply chains. In addition, further research may investigate how these enablers may vary in different regions or contexts. Practical implications The COVID-19 pandemic has forced executives to reconsider their sourcing strategies and reduce dependence on suppliers from specific geographies. To ensure business continuity, companies should assess the risk associated with their suppliers and develop a business continuity plan that includes multisourcing their strategic materials. Digital transformation will revolutionize the supply chain industry, allowing for end-to-end visibility, real time insights and seamless integration of business and processes. Companies should also focus on creating a collaborative workforce ecosystem that prioritizes worker health and well-being. Maintaining trust with stakeholders is crucial, and firms must revisit their relationship management strategies. Finally, to maintain business leadership and competitiveness during volatile periods, the product portfolio needs to be diversified and marketing and sales teams must work in tandem with product teams to position new products accordingly. Social implications This work contributes substantially to the literature on supply chain agility (SCA) by adding several new factors. The findings result in a more efficient and cost-effective supply chain during a stable situation and high service levels in a volatile situation. A less complex methodology for understanding SCA provides factors with a more straightforward method for identifying well-springs of related drivers. First, the study contributes to reestablish the factors such as quickness, responsiveness, competency, flexibility, proactiveness, collaboration and partnership, customer focus, velocity and speed, visibility, robustness, cost-effectiveness, alertness accessibility to information and decisiveness as applicable factors for SCA. Second, the study suggests a few more factors, such as liquidity management, Vendors’ economic assessment and economic diversity, that are the study’s unique contributions in extending the enablers of SCA. Finally, public policy influencing skills, local administration connects and maintaining capable vendors are the areas that were never considered essential for SCA. These factors have emerged as a vital operational factor during the lockdown, and academicians may consider these factors in the future to assess their applicability. Originality/value This study provides new insights for decision-makers looking to enhance the resilience and agility of their supply chains. The identification of unique enablers specific to the manufacturing industry contributes to the existing body of literature on agile supply chains in the face of disruptions.

Leveraging Technology Integration in Kenya's Food & Beverage Industry for Competitiveness.

Leveraging Technology Integration in Kenya's Food & Beverage Industry for Competitiveness.

Owards Energy Efficiency in Integrated Inventory Supply Chain Models: A Review

Amidst the sustainability concerns of the industrial sector to fulfil the increase in customer demands, this study emphasizes on the characteristics of integrated inventory supply chains that is closely related to energy efficiency. Environmental and economic perspectives must be given equal consideration to ensure a competitive supply chain (SC). In response to global calls for sustainable energy and lower carbon emissions, the Malaysian government currently provides tax exemptions and allowances for the provision of green technology services and the acquisition of green technology assets. Furthermore, as sources of electricity are highly variable, efficient SC activities can feasibly minimise the cost of energy. Therefore, multiple studies have integrated the green concepts in SCs to develop energy efficient integrated inventory SC models. This present review examined 42 articles that assessed the environmental impact of integrated inventory SC models with a focus on energy efficiency and energy-related issues. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to identify gaps in the existing literature and offer directions for future studies. The articles were categorised according to the SC dimensions of an integrated inventory model; such as categories of SC participants, structures, processes, and decision-making variables. Of the reviewed articles, only 35% examined energy efficiency or energy-related issues in integrated inventory models. Therefore, future studies should examine the energy efficiency or energy-related issues that integrated inventory SCs face.

Novel Materials and Processes for Miniaturization in Semiconductor Packaging

The semiconductor industry is undergoing a significant transformation away from conventional methods of shrinking devices and reducing costs. Chip designers are actively exploring new technological avenues to improve cost-effectiveness while integrating more features into the silicon footprint. One promising strategy is Heterogeneous Integration (HI), which employs advanced packaging techniques to integrate independently designed and manufactured components using the most suitable process technology. However, the adoption of HI brings about design and security challenges. To facilitate HI, it is crucial to advance research and development in advanced packaging.The existing research highlights potential security threats in the advanced packaging supply chain, particularly due to the offshore presence of most Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facilities/vendors. Addressing the growing demand for semiconductors and ensuring a secure semiconductor supply chain have prompted significant efforts from the United States (US) government to relocate semiconductor fabrication facilities onshore. However, enhancing US-based advanced packaging capabilities is essential to fully realize the vision of establishing a secure, efficient, and resilient semiconductor supply chain. Our endeavor was driven by the need to identify potential bottlenecks and vulnerabilities in the US-based advanced packaging supply chain.

Novel Materials and Processes for Miniaturization in Semiconductor Packaging

The semiconductor industry is undergoing a significant transformation away from conventional methods of shrinking devices and reducing costs. Chip designers are actively exploring new technological avenues to improve cost-effectiveness while integrating more features into the silicon footprint. One promising strategy is Heterogeneous Integration (HI), which employs advanced packaging techniques to integrate independently designed and manufactured components using the most suitable process technology. However, the adoption of HI brings about design and security challenges. To facilitate HI, it is crucial to advance research and development in advanced packaging.The existing research highlights potential security threats in the advanced packaging supply chain, particularly due to the offshore presence of most Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facilities/vendors. Addressing the growing demand for semiconductors and ensuring a secure semiconductor supply chain have prompted significant efforts from the United States (US) government to relocate semiconductor fabrication facilities onshore. However, enhancing US-based advanced packaging capabilities is essential to fully realize the vision of establishing a secure, efficient, and resilient semiconductor supply chain. Our endeavor was driven by the need to identify potential bottlenecks and vulnerabilities in the US-based advanced packaging supply chain.

Re(I)novation of Supply Chain Management for the Improvement of Business Performance in Shallot Commodities

The poor condition of the Shallot Commodity Supply Chain can be observed from the fluctuations from upstream to downstream, due to the dynamic changes in the demand and supply quantities up to the distribution channel amounts. The (Re)innovation of Shallot Supply Chain Management is an innovation from the aspects of Partnership, Contractual Agreements, Transaction Systems, and Government Support. The objective of this research is to analyze the shallot supply chain model using the Food Supply Chain Framework (FSCN) approach. The method used is qualitative descriptive research, describing the behavior of the actors in the supply chain. This research was conducted from August 2022 to January 2023, using primary data collected through in-depth interviews with 152 respondents, shallot farmers in 5 regencies in Central Java. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling. The results of the study on the business performance of shallot commodities in forming an efficient supply chain management require criteria to improve partnerships, indicating that its marketing performance is already running well. Shallot commodity business actors are engaged in partnerships to monitor and evaluate marketing effectiveness periodically. This research has successfully enhanced the capabilities of the resources of the supply chain actors, making them more efficient and effective in transforming the agricultural sector.

Contract farming: a comparison of production and marketing contracts as sourcing strategies in the fast food restaurant industry

ABSTRACT The study sought to determine the most effective type of contract for sourcing broiler chickens from poultry farmers in Zimbabwe. Contract farming is used as a form of supplier development by restaurant businesses to source broiler chickens through either production or marketing contracts. However, it is yet to be evaluated whether supplier performances improve under production or marketing contracts. A sample of 50 chickens from production contract farmers and 50 from marketing contract farmers were assessed, summing to an effective sample size of 100 broiler chickens. Data was analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Results indicated that there are statistically significant differences between supplier performance metrics on the basis of the type of contracts farmers operated under. The poultry mortality rate was higher under marketing contracts than under production contracts. On-time delivery rate was higher under production contracts than under marketing contracts, while there were no statistically significant differences in the pre-slaughter weight of chickens between marketing and production contracts. The study therefore recommended that restaurant businesses as agro-processing firms stand to have effective and efficient supply chain management performance if they source their broiler chickens through production contracts rather than marketing contracts.

Birleşik Krallık'ta tedarik zinciri kesintilerine tanıklık eden stratejik satın almadaki en iyi uygulamalara ilişkin bir araştırma

This study aims to identify best practices in strategic procurement to alleviate the impact of supply chain disruptions around the world. The UK and similar countries rely significantly on global procurement, and the disruptions caused by events like the COVID-19 outbreak and Brexit have severe impacts. The study is conducted in two phases, including a literature review and actual research with an apt methodology. The primary findings of this research are the identification of best practices and looking at the procurement function as a strategic function integrated with supply chain management to make supply chain resilient organizations. This study contributes to the expanding literature concentrating on evaluating the best practices for a sourcing organization to become supply chain resilient during significant supply chain disruptions.

Performance Evaluation of Retail Warehouses: A Combined MCDM Approach Using G-BWM and RATMI

Background: The retail sector has experienced significant growth in recent years, necessitating efficient supply chain management and sustainable logistics practices. Evaluating the performance of retail warehouses is crucial for meeting customer expectations and enhancing operational efficiency. Methods: This study employed a combined multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach, using the group best–worst method (G-BWM) for weighting criteria and ranking the alternatives based on the trace-to-median index (RATMI) for warehouse ranking. The performance criteria were cost, quality, time, productivity, and safety. Data were collected from four mega retail warehouses in the western region of Saudi Arabia for evaluation and analysis. Results: The evaluation of retail warehouse performance using the MCDM approach provided valuable insights for decision-makers and warehouse experts. The criteria weights were determined using the G-BWM, and the RATMI enabled the ranking of the warehouses based on their weighted performance scores. The results highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each warehouse, facilitating strategic planning, resource allocation, and operational improvements. Conclusions: This study presents a novel combined MCDM performance evaluation approach for retail warehouses. The study has implications for effective decision-making processes, resource allocation, and operational efficiency. Furthermore, it serves as a foundation for future research, exploring additional dimensions of warehouse performance and enabling sustainable logistics within the broader supply chain context.

A New Adoption Intention Model of Drone Application in Food Delivery Services in Malaysia: A Conceptual Paper

The current Industrial Revolution era seems to enforce new ways of implementing online food delivery services, one of which is the use of drone delivery. One of the problems is that the existing food delivery services use human riders which are prone to accidents, for example about 1600 death cases were reported in 2020 involving p-hailing (food and parcel) riders. Also, the use of drones is needed to help victims of natural disasters such as floods, typhoons, and landslides. Malaysia has commenced the trial use of drone food delivery to tackle these problems. Particularly, consumers’ behavioral intentions to use drone food delivery services have been laid low with complex aviation rules and regulations. Hence, the main objective of this study is to examine the predictors of adoption intention in drone food delivery among food delivery providers and consumers in Malaysia. The research methods used are qualitative and quantitative research designs. The quantitative data will be collected using an online survey and will be analyzed using structural equation modeling (SMART PLS). For qualitative technique, the telephone interviews with 15 food delivery service providers and drone collaborators will be conducted and analyzed using verbatim analysis. The expected output is a new adoption intention model of drone food delivery services, one Master student (by research), two publications, and one IP. The result will be significant to the nation in terms of increasing the adoption of delivery drones hence increasing automation in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0). This research also improves the economy and societal benefit through efficient supply chain and transportation of services in urban and affected areas such as the spread of diseases or natural disasters, i.e., floods and landslides.