Improve Supply Chain Performance Research Articles

Improving manufacturing supply chain performance: nexus of industrial Internet of Things, blockchain technology and innovativeness

Purpose This paper aims to model the mediating effects of facilitating conditions and innovativeness in the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and blockchain technology (BT) on manufacturing supply chain performance (MSCP). Design/methodology/approach Partial least square structural equation modelling was used to test the goodness of the model fit and hypotheses by using SmartPLS 3.3.3. Data was collected from 464 managers in Pakistan’s automotive industry through a stratified random sampling technique. Findings IIoT, BT, facilitating conditions and innovativeness significantly enhanced the MSCP. Therefore, the mediation between facilitating conditions and innovativeness to IIoT and BT adoption was significant in the MSCP. Practical implications The adoption of digital technology to improve the MSCP can assist companies in reducing the cost of complex procurement, production and distribution processes through secured and efficient operations. Furthermore, organisations must establish a conducive atmosphere that fosters experimentation, collaboration and resource allocation towards technological advancements to capitalise on the advantages of these technologies effectively. Originality/value This study developed a research model integrating IIoT technology, BT, facilitating conditions and innovativeness to determine the MSCP under the resource-based view theory. The outcome of this study could help organisations design a framework to improve supply chain performance by integrating innovativeness.

Analysis of the incorporation of current trends in supply chain management within curricula

ABSTRACT The field of supply chain management is changing rapidly as new practices, concepts, and technologies are regularly implemented in practice to improve supply chain performance. The Association of Supply Chain Management (ASCM) publishes an annual list of the top 10 trends in supply chain management. Academic programmes must keep their curricula current to prepare students adequately to enter this dynamic field. We conducted an international survey of supply chain management academic programmes to determine the extent to which the current trends are covered in their curricula. Results showed that many trends are covered as at least a major topic in one course in most programmes, but some trends are not as pervasive. We provide recommendations for academic programmes looking to incorporate these top trends into their curricula.

Supply chain digitalization and performance improvement: a moderated mediation model

PurposeLeveraging the benefits of supply chain digitalization is a big challenge for many firms. To address this issue, this study aims to use information processing theory to explore the mechanisms between supply chain digitalization and supply chain performance.Design/methodology/approachBased on survey data from 223 Chinese companies, the authors tested the moderated mediation model using the Process program in SPSS.FindingsThe empirical results reveal that supply chain traceability and supply chain agility partially mediate the supply chain digitalization–supply chain performance relationship. More interestingly, the above significant mediation effects show differences across industries. In particular, manufacturing firms rely more on supply chain traceability, whereas supply chain agility contributes more to service firms. Lastly, supply chain dynamism is a significant moderator that enhances the mediation effect of supply chain traceability in the supply chain digitalization–supply chain performance relationship.Originality/valueThis study offers new insights into the growing literature on supply chain digitalization by proposing a new moderated mediation model that demonstrates the relative importance of different mediators. The findings also help managers boost their supply chain performance in the digital era.

SCOR Racetrack to Improve Supply Chain Performance

SCOR Racetrack to Improve Supply Chain Performance

Decision-Making Techniques Based on q-Rung Orthopair Probabilistic Hesitant Fuzzy Information: Application in Supply Chain Financing

The influence of COVID-19 on individuals, businesses, and corporations is indisputable. Many markets, particularly financial markets, have been severely shaken and have suffered significant losses. Significant issues have arisen in supply chain networks, particularly in terms of financing. The COVID-19 consequences had a significant effect on supply chain financing (SCF), which is responsible for finance supply chain components and improved supply chain performance. The primary source of supply chain financing is financial providers. Among financial providers, the banking sector is referred to as the primary source of financing. Any hiccup in the banking operational systems can have a massive influence on the financing process. In this study, we attempted to comprehend the key consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic and how to mitigate COVID-19’s impact on Pakistan’s banking industry. For this, three extended hybrid approaches which consists of TOPSIS, VIKOR, and Grey are established to address the uncertainty in supply chain finance under q-rung orthopair probabilistic hesitant fuzzy environment with unknown weight information of decision-making experts as well as the criteria. The study is split into three parts. First, the novel q-rung orthopair probabilistic hesitant fuzzy (qROPHF) entropy measure is established using generalized distance measure under qROPHF information to determine the unknown weights information of the attributes. The second part consists of three decision-making techniques (TOPSIS, VIKOR, and GRA) in the form of algorithm to tackle the uncertain information under qROPHF settings. Last part consists of a real-life case study of supply chain finance in Pakistan to analyze the effects of emergency situation of COVID-19 on Pakistani banks. Therefore, to help the government, we chose the best alternative form list of consider five alternatives (investment, government support, propositions and brands, channels, and digital and markets segments) by using proposed algorithm that minimize the effect of COVID-19 on supply chain finance of Pakistani banks. The results indicate that the proposed techniques are applicable and effective to cope with ambiguous data in decision-making challenges.

Improving Supply Chain Performance of a Start-Up Company: A Case Study of Avakino Limited

Effective supply chain management is critical for the success of a business, ensuring efficient and cost-effective delivery of products and services while minimizing risks and enhancing the customer experience. This paper presents a case study on Avakino Ltd's supply chain management, analyzing its nature, challenges, and proposed recommendations. The study reveals that Avakino Ltd has an agile and global supply chain, sourcing products from low-cost suppliers in Asia and Africa. However, the company faces challenges due to unreliable suppliers, low production capacity, and supply chain inefficiencies, hindering its aim of providing fast and high-quality products to customers. To address these issues, the study proposes a relationship-building strategy between Avakino Ltd and its suppliers, through long-term contracts, improved communication, and developing low production capacity suppliers through sourcing reliable Tier 2 suppliers. Implementing these recommendations can help Avakino Ltd maintain its competitive advantage and achieve its goal of delivering timely, affordable, and high-quality products to its customers.

Green supply chain management, environmental costs and supply chain performance in the hotel industry: the mediating role of supply chain agility and resilience

ABSTRACT Although developing a green supply chain is a topic of growing interest in the hotel industry, research on hospitality green supply chain management (GSCM) is limited. This study investigates the effect of internal and external measures of GSCM on environmental cost reduction, and how environmental cost reduction improves the supply chain performance with the mediating role of agility and resilience of a green supply chain. Data were collected from 370 employees of the top-rated hotels in Tehran, Iran, and analyzed using structural equation modelling in SmartPLS software. The findings revealed that internal and external measures of green supply chain management have a positive and significant effect on the environmental cost reduction of hotels. The reduction in environmental costs directly affected the variables of green supply chain agility, green supply chain resilience and green supply chain performance. The findings also confirmed the mediating role of green supply chain agility and resilience between environmental cost reduction and green supply chain performance. Overall, the study reinforces that addressing environmental measures in the hotel industry could have favourable consequences for hotels to improve supply chain performance.

Does technological innovation matter in the nexus between supply chain resilience and performance of manufacturing firms in a developing economy?

PurposeDespite the economic growth in Ghana, the manufacturing industry faces numerous challenges in their supply chains. The study aims to investigate the mediated-moderated role of supply chain technological innovation (SCTI) in the relationship between supply chain resilience (SCR) and supply chain performance (SCP) of manufacturing firms. By exploring this relationship, the study seeks to provide insights that can help manufacturing firms overcome the challenges they face and improve their overall supply chain performance.Design/methodology/approachThe quantitative research approach and explanatory research design were utilised. A sample of 345 manufacturing firms was drawn from a population of 2495 manufacturing firms in the Accra metropolis. Analysis of this study was performed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM).FindingsIt was revealed that SCTI positively mediates the nexus between SCR and SCP. However, we document that SCTI negatively moderates the nexus. It is instructive to advocate that a mere presence of a more enhanced SCTI is not enough to improve upon SCP of manufacturing firms, but should be a channel through which SCR can improve SCP.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the need for managers of firms to prioritise investment in technological innovation as a means of enhancing SCR and ultimately improving supply chain performance. By understanding the SCTI mediated-moderated relationship between SCR and SCP, supply chain managers, logistics managers, operation managers, as well as procurement managers can develop more effective strategies to optimise their operations. This study provides valuable insights for managers and policymakers in developing and implementing supply chain resilience strategies that take into account the important role of SCTI.Originality/valueThe originality of the study lies in exploring the mediated-moderated effect of technological innovation on the nexus between resilience and performance of supply chains in developing economies, where firms often face unique challenges such as infrastructure limitations, political instability and economic uncertainty. By investigating the interplay of SCTI between SCR and SCP, researchers can develop new insights and strategies to help navigate these challenges and achieve success.

Mediation approach of knowledge management process towards supply chain performance under green technology: an empirical analysis

PurposeEmployee knowledge is an essential contributor to managing supply chain ambiguities and supply improvement. The current research examined green technology (GT) implementation and knowledge management (KM) processes toward knowledge worker supply performance (KWSP). The present study postulates that GT implementation's positive impacts on the KM process and KM process lead to improved KWSP based on employee knowledge contribution.Design/methodology/approachTo accomplish the research objective, the data were taken from those production houses that are utilizing GT. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed in Zhengzhou city, and feedback was received (343). The feedback data were studied through partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). fsQCA is used to analyze improving the multiple configurational paths of KWSP.FindingsThe study revealed that GT implementation is positively associated with the KM process, and KM processes substantially influence the improvement of KWSP. The consequence of fsQCA demonstrated that various combinations improve supply chain performance. The study combines certain dimensions of GT implementation with the KM process, revealing that supply chain performance improved based on knowledge sharing in manufacturing firms.Research limitations/implicationsThis study guides decision-makers and academics on using the knowledge process associated with GT to improve supply chain performance. Moreover, future researchers should use information technology in supply houses and compare the result with the literature to generalize the results better.Originality/valueThe asymmetric technique assists in differentiating the connections that are not directly investigated by the traditional symmetric method. The study covers and identifies various approaches that can be used in manufacturing firms to improve the supply chain process and employee satisfaction. The study combines the two techniques to understand supply performance based on knowledge sharing in manufacturing firms.

The emergence of data sharing along complex supply chains

PurposeTo improve supply chain performance, companies are now exploring new pathways including industry-wide data sharing initiatives along complex supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate research in this field by describing the benefits, obstacles and the governance required for supply chain data sharing initiatives.Design/methodology/approachBased on publicly available information complemented by interviews with practitioners, the authors describe how companies are establishing ambitious data sharing infrastructure and initiatives along their supply chains.FindingsThe authors describe how data sharing along supply chains is becoming increasingly important for many companies and how the automotive sector is working towards establishing a digital infrastructure for data sharing that could support a wide range of use cases. The article emphasises the importance of studying the governance of data ecosystems using new theoretical approaches. Finally, the authors suggest three areas for future research on data ecosystems, including their governance, the learning dynamics that will drive their adoption and their relationship with broader system-level changes.Originality/valueThis paper is the first, to the authors’ knowledge, that depicts how industry-wide data-sharing initiatives are expected to have an impact on supply chain performance. The authors highlight factors that affect the development and implementation of these initiatives along supply chains.

Reliable design of urban surface-underground integrated logistics system network with stochastic demand and social-environmental concern

Transforming urban goods movement from roads to underground is an emerging concept to improve supply chain performance and alleviate overcrowded environments. Existing literature merely discussed the underground logistics system (ULS) network design problem within a simplified boundary, whereas several critical system features (e.g., stochastic freight demand and co-modality) were omitted. To bridge the knowledge gaps, this paper proposes a reliable modeling approach to solve an urban surface-underground integrated logistics network (USUIL) design problem with a holistic consideration of cost-benefit objectives, road-ULS modal split, and demand uncertainties. To begin with, we introduce a city-wide hub-and-spoke USUIL network structure with a two-tier parallel distribution process. Five major external benefits of underground goods movement are formulated using real-world data. Next, a deterministic model is developed to optimize the network decisions including hub-satellite location-allocation, deployment of tunnels and pipelines, logistics service assignment, and flow routing. Then, to deal with the influences of case-wise demand uncertainties, the model is reformulated into a reliable one by incorporating the ideas of solution robustness and stochastic equivalents. A two-stage heuristic-based optimization tool that hybridizes the adaptive immune genetic algorithm, plant growth simulation algorithm, and Clarke-Wright saving algorithm was proposed to solve the problem. Finally, numerical experiments are conducted on the Beijing city case to validate the proposed method, and the best network schemes obtained from different models and scenarios are compared. Results show that a greater robust control factor in our model helps the network to lower the integrated freight transport cost while improving the social-environmental benefit at the expense of deploying more facilities. The reliable model performs well in balancing the conservativeness (i.e., less capacity insufficiency risk) and optimality (i.e., less cost due to redundant facilities) of the USUIL network design when faced with diverse demand cases.

Investigating the quality of the relationship, supply risk mitigation on medium and large-sized manufacturing firms' supply chain performance in the developing countries: the moderating effect of supplier involvement

PurposeDue to the current volatile environment and fierce competition, manufacturing firms (MFs) must improve their performance to survive. In this regard, checking and monitoring the suppliers' risk should significantly improve the performance of MFs. In addition, a relation based on not being an opportunist, confidence and reliance are influential factors in reducing the supplier defaults on his/her supply obligations and improving supply chain performance (SCP). Besides, the moderator function of supplier involvement (SI) in the relationship between quality of the relationship (QoR) and supply risk mitigation (SRM) is undeniable.Design/methodology/approachBased on the survey of 148 samples from small to large-sized MFs in Jordan, Turkey and Egypt, empirical evidence has been conducted to support a majority of the authors’ hypotheses. This paper provides a theoretical review of buyer–supplier relationships and supply risk. Hypotheses were tested by using structural equation modeling (SEM)/Smart PLS-4.FindingsAccording to the results, confidence and reliance have statistically significant and positive impacts on SRM, resulting in better SCP. Moreover, the findings show that SI positively affects and moderates the relationship between confidence (C) and SRM, while it has no statistically significant influence on the relationship between reliance (R) and SRM.Practical implicationsThis study provides necessary material for managers and decision-makers in MFs to confirm the importance and understanding of the QoR in building relationships and business dealings with partners in the SC, in addition to limiting and mitigating the risks of an interruption in supply in particular. Therefore, building a high-quality relationship as a practice based on trust and reliability with suppliers positively affects the performance of the SCs of MFs.Originality/valueThis research paper offers empirical evidence for using QoR within SRM resources of MFs' context for enhancing their supply chain performance. This study is one of few studies that examine the QoR and SRM that contribute to enhancing SCP in MFs in developing countries, which also can serve as a reference for many SC managers and practitioners.

Trust-supply chain performance relationships: unraveling the mediating role of transaction cost attributes in agribusiness SMEs

The mediation effect of transaction cost attributes on the trust-supply chain performance relationships has remained largely under-explored. Particularly, little is known about the mediating role of information sharing, uncertainty and transaction frequency on the trust-supply chain performance relationships in the agri-food sector. Based on the transaction cost theory, this study used logistic regression to investigate the mediating role of transaction cost attributes on the trust-supply chain performance relationships. Data were collected from 396 agribusiness small and medium-sized enterprises, i.e., farmers (n = 203) and traders (n = 193) in Northern Uganda. Analysis was performed using logistic regression in SPSS version 23 and Amos version 23. The results show that, while trust positively influences supply chain performance, information sharing is the only transaction cost attribute that mediates the relationship between trust and supply chain performance. Agribusiness managers, therefore, need to not only renew the effort of sharing accurate and timely information regarding the market's demand for specific volumes and quality of agricultural products and market trends and storage facilities but also utilize the information to become competitive and improve supply chain performance.

Fabrizex: creating a technology platform for global supply chains

Subject area Supply Chain Management, Technology, Procurement, Supply Chain Finance Learning outcomes The key learning objectives are as follows: to gain critical insights into e-commerce supply chains of fashion garments; understand the importance of digitization to manage the risks due to supply chain disruptions; evaluate the role of digitization to improve supply chain performance; understand the importance of supply chain finance in maintaining a healthy buyer–supplier relationship; and appreciate the role of supply chain digitization to transform a regional supply chain into a global supply chain. Case overview/synopsis This case highlights the challenges faced by fashion garments industry due to fragmented nature of their supply chains, where the manufacturing base was in the east and most of the consumers in the west. Digitization can create a bridge to integrate these supply chains to drive out their inefficiency, fragility and vulnerability to disruptions. Complexity academic level The case could be discussed in 90 min of an Operations Management, Supply Chain Management and Technology Management class at MBA or Executive MBA level. Supplementary Material Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 9: Operations and Logistics.

Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning in Supply Chain 4.0: A Literature Review

Owing to the development of the technologies of Industry 4.0, recent years have witnessed the emergence of a new concept of supply chain management, namely Supply Chain 4.0 (SC 4.0). Huge investments in information technology have enabled manufacturers to trace the intangible flow of information, but instruments are required to take advantage of the available data sources: big data analytics (BDA) and machine learning (ML) represent important tools for this task. Use of advanced technologies can improve supply chain performances and support reaching strategic goals, but their implementation is challenging in supply chain management. The aim of this study was to understand the main benefits, challenges, and areas of application of BDA and ML in SC 4.0 as well as to understand the BDA and ML techniques most commonly used in the field, with a particular focus on nonparametric techniques. To this end, we carried out a literature review. From our analysis, we identified three main gaps, namely, the need for appropriate analytical tools to manage challenging data configurations; the need for a more reliable link with practice; the need for instruments to select the most suitable BDA or ML techniques. As a solution, we suggest and comment on two viable solutions: nonparametric statistics, and sentiment analysis and clustering.

An integrated Industry 4.0-Sustainable Lean Six Sigma framework to improve supply chain performance: a decision support study from COVID-19 lessons

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic era has severely hampered the economy over the globe. However, the manufacturing organizations across all the countries have struggled heavily, as they were among the least who worked on online mode. The organizations are adopting various innovative quality methodologies to improve their performance. In this regard, they are adopting the Sustainable Lean Six Sigma (SLSS) concept and Industry 4.0 technologies to develop products at a faster rate. The use of Industry 4.0 technologies may reduce material movement and supply chain disruptions with the help of smart intelligent systems. There is a strong synergy between SLSS and Industry 4.0 technologies, resulting in an integrated approach for adoption. This study aims to develop a framework that practitioners can use to adopt Industry 4.0-SLSS practices effectively.Design/methodology/approachThis study portrays 31 Industry 4.0-SLSS practices and 22 performance metrics identified through a literature review to improve the manufacturing supply chain performance. To compute the weights of these practices, the Robust Best–Worst Method (RBWM) is used. The Pythagorean fuzzy combined compromise solution (PF-CoCoSo) method is used to rank performance metrics.FindingsAccording to the RBWM results, “Process Development Practices (PDP)” are first among the major criteria, followed by “Organizational Management Practices (OMP)” at second, “Technology Adoption Practices (TAP)” at third, “Strategy Management Practices (SMP)” at fourth and “Executive Management Practices (EMP)” at fifth, whereas the PF-CoCoSo method resulted in the performance metric “On time product delivery” ranking first.Research limitations/implicationsThe identified practices have the potential to significantly improve the performance of the manufacturing supply chain. Practices that encourage a sustainable manufacturing supply chain and the usage of emerging technology will benefit organizational effectiveness. Managers can assess performance using prioritized performance metrics.Originality/valueDuring the COVID-19 pandemic era, this is one of the unique attempts to provide a framework to improve the manufacturing supply chain performance. This study integrates and identifies Industry 4.0-SLSS practices and performance metrics for enhancing overall performance.

Improving supplier performance and strategic sourcing decisions by integrating jobshop scheduling, inventory management and agile new product development

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to improve supplier performance and strategic sourcing decisions by integrating jobshop scheduling, inventory management and agile new product development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizations have struggled a lot to maintain the supplier performance and strategic sourcing decisions in the organizational benefit. However, in this context, the organization’s agile new product development (ANPD) process must be aligned with this requirement by maintaining the inventory and jobshop scheduling. As a result, identifying ANPD indicators, performance metrics and developing a structural framework to guide practitioners at various stages for smooth adoption is essential to improve the overall performance.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review is conducted to identify jobshop scheduling, inventory management and ANPD indicators along with the performance metrics, and the hierarchical structure is developed with the help of expert opinion. The modified stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) and weighted aggregated sum product assurance (WASPAS) techniques, along with expert judgement, are used in this study to calculate the weights of the indicators and the ranking of the performance metrics.FindingsAs per the weight computation by SWARA method, the strategy indicators have the highest relative weight, followed by the product design indicators, management indicators, technical indicators, supply chain indicators and organization culture indicators. According to the ranking of performance metrics obtained through WASPAS, the “frequency of new product development is at the top”, followed by “advances in product design and development” and “estimated versus actual time to market”.Research limitations/implicationsIt is believed that the framework developed will help industrial practitioners to plan effectively to improve supplier performance. The indicators identified may guide the ANPD penetration, and performance metrics may be useful for evaluation and comparison.Practical implicationsThe outcomes of the present study will be extremely beneficial for the industry practitioners to improve the supplier performance. The indicators identified may guide the ANPD penetration, and performance metrics may be useful for evaluation and comparison.Originality/valueA unique combination of modified SWARA–WASPAS technique has been used in this study which would be beneficial for organizations willing to adopt the jobshop scheduling and inventory management and ANPD for improving supply chain performance.

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

Supply Chain Performance Improvement Strategy in the Packaging Industry

The purpose of this study is to determine what factors affect the performance of supply chain management for companies to take the right policy regarding the implementation of an effective system, in this study uses liquid literature and using Mendeley, for the factors that influence significantly Distribution, Warehousing Management Systems. In this study, many reviewed several articles on the topic of the dependent variable and this research can be used as a reference for future research in manufacturing companies. The result that can be seen is that the warehouse management system plays a very important role in supporting the performance of supply chain management in the company. This study does not use population and sample because it is a qualitative literature review.

A Systematic Review of Responsible Sourcing in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Sectors of the UK

In recent years, responsible sourcing and procurement (including green supply chain management) across the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sectors have become notable contributors to sustainable construction strategies. This study aims to provide a systematic review of responsible sourcing literature across the AEC sectors of the UK to identify a suite of opportunities and obstacles to adopting ethical and environmentally supportive practices and to highlight avenues for further investigation. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) review process was adopted to identify, screen, and select (n = 80) articles (from 2000–2020) for review. Analysis of these articles identified the most frequently reported opportunities: (i) stakeholder value (40%); (ii) improved supply chain performance (39%); and (iii) competitive advantage (30%). The most frequently reported obstacles relating to the uptake of responsible sourcing are the following: (i) cost (44%); (ii) industry constraints (28%); and (iii) lack of frameworks/information and lack of awareness (25%). Given the industry importance of these themes, it is proposed that there is a necessity to explore and unravel the perceptions of industry experts about these issues so as to clarify the progress and possibilities for more widely adopting responsible sourcing across the AEC sector and, moreover, for clarifying their contribution towards achieving national and international sustainability targets (e.g., UN Sustainable Development Goals).