Supply Industry Research Articles

THE DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES OF ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS OPERATION THROUGH THE EXAMPLE OF THE CITY OF DEBRECEN

In this research material, I review the energy policy of the municipality of Debrecen today and its impact on the future. Compliance with the Environmental Protection Programs is important for the municipality of Debrecen, in which a new environmental protection policy was developed for the city in addition to the existing ones. At the end of 2023, the city of Debrecen established the Green Working Group, the task of which is to operate an environment-conscious, climate-friendly and family-friendly environment in addition to the structure and operation of companies settling in Debrecen. Recently, the Green Code was created in the city of Debrecen, which envisages a livable environment for the residents so that economic development goals can also be achieved. In my research, I cover the Civaqua program, green urban mobility, the topic of carbon neutrality, and the development of a green approach in Debrecen city management. Since several well-known foreign companies have settled in Debrecen in the past short period (battery factory and its subcontractor groups, automotive factories, etc.), I think it is appropriate to examine the role of the Debrecen Municipality in remedying the situation. The topics mentioned in my presentation regarding Debrecen are the following: waste collection, water use, climate, industrial water supply, air cleanliness, and the examination of the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air.

Water and Energy Conservation across Provinces and Sectors in China: Based on a Complex Network Perspective

Previous studies on the water–energy nexus mainly focused on the calculation and comparison of resource consumption at the national or regional level, lacking interprovincial sector-sector transfer analysis. In this study, the intensity of water and energy consumption of various sectors in China was calculated, the key nodes and paths of resource networks were identified, and countermeasures for resource conservation were proposed from the new perspective of the “dual saving” and “bidirectional saving” of water and energy. The results showed that the metallurgical industry (Me) in Jiangsu and the chemical industry (Ch) in Hebei and Jiangsu had high node strength in the water and energy network and were key sectors in China with “dual saving” effects of water and energy. The construction industry, Ch, Me in Jiangsu, electricity and hot water production and supply industry in Beijing, and Me in Hebei had high node strength in the water-related energy network and energy-related water network, significantly supporting the “bidirectional saving” effect of water and energy in China. The electrical equipment industry (El) in Jiangsu → El in Zhejiang, El in Zhejiang → El in Shanghai frequently appeared in key paths, which could effectively reduce the resource consumption of the entire network.

Assessing the carbon footprint of the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry of Australia

Purpose This study examines the carbon emissions of Australia’s agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors from a consumption perspective to develop effective policy frameworks. The objective is to identify key supply chains, industries and products contributing to these emissions and provide recommendations for sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach A multiregional input-output lifecycle assessment was conducted using the Australian Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (IELab) platform to disaggregate sectors and enable benchmarking against other economic sectors. Findings In 2018, the “agriculture, forestry, and fishing” sector was responsible for 12.15% of Australia’s carbon footprint. Major contributors included the “electricity, gas, water, and waste” category (26.1%) and the sector’s activities (24.3%). The “transport, postal, and warehousing” sector also contributed 18.4%. Within the industry, the agriculture subsector had the highest impact (71.3%), followed by forestry and logging (15%) and fishing, hunting and trapping (7.6%). Aquaculture and supporting services contributed 6.1%. Research limitations/implications The principal constraint encountered by the present study pertained to the availability of up-to-date data. The latest accessible data for quantifying the carbon footprint within Australia’s agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, utilizing the Input-Output analysis methodology through the Australian Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (IELab) platform, about 2018. Practical implications The findings of this study provide policymakers with detailed insights into the carbon footprints of key sectors, highlighting the contributions from each subsector. This information can be directly used to develop effective emission-reduction policies, with a focus on reducing emissions in utility services, transport and warehousing. Social implications The study, by raising public awareness of the significant role of industrial agricultural methods in Australia’s carbon footprint and emphasizing the importance of renewable energy and sustainable fuels for electricity generation and road transport, underscores the urgent need for action to mitigate climate change. Originality/value This study stands out by not only identifying the most impactful industries but also by providing specific strategies to reduce their emissions. It offers a comprehensive breakdown of specific agricultural activities and outlines mitigation strategies for utility services, agricultural operations and transport, thereby adding a unique perspective to the existing knowledge.

Study on the Impact of State Relations on Chinas Industrial Supply Chain Upstream from the Perspective of International Trade: A Case Study of Mineral Resources

As a major global power, Chinas overseas interests are rapidly expanding. Ensuring the security of industrial supply chains has become a critical issue. This paper adopts the perspective of international trade, utilizing the random frontier gravity model, and focuses on the top five mineral products and raw materials exported from China to India according to the 2019 export composition table of the Ministry of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China. Based on export data of these minerals from China to India between 2008 and 2023, this paper analyzes the trends in mineral import and export, studies the correlation between bilateral trade between China and India and changes in Sino-Indian relations, and points out the potential impact of current Sino-Indian relations on Chinas upstream industrial chain. The study finds that for mineral fuels, mineral oils and their products, asphalt, zinc and its products, and steel products, Sino-Indian relations have a relatively minor impact on Chinas imports of such minerals and raw materials from India. However, for steel resources, Sino-Indian relations show a significant positive correlation with their import situation. Based on the current state of Sino-Indian relations, the study will propose relevant recommendations for the production and export of Indian steel and other mineral resources, combined with the needs of Chinas upstream industrial supply chain. This study aims to provide relevant insights and references for safeguarding Chinas strategic mineral resource security.

Evaluation of the possibility of searching for groundwater using electrical resistivity tomography based on the data of numerical modelling in complicated permafrost conditions (the case of the territory in the eastern part of the Republic of Buryatia)

Relevance. Groundwater is the main source of industrial and technical water supply for mining facilities. The geological structure of the studied areas can be complicated by various factors that make it difficult to search for and localize groundwater. In this regard, electrical geophysical prospecting methods are often included in the complex of prospecting and exploration works, before which it is necessary to justify the application of the chosen method for solving the problems by performing numerical modelling. Aim. To substantiate the use of electrical resistivity tomography for the search for groundwater, taking into account complicating factors, including perennially frozen rocks, taliks, and fault zone, by numerical modelling. Objects. Geological environment represented by Quaternary system rocks and permafrost rocks of Cretaceous sediments of the Zazinskaya intermontane area, fault zone, talik zones. Methods. Solution of the direct problem, solution of the inverse problem, ground geophysical surveys using electrical resistivity tomography. Results. Based on the performed numerical modelling, it is shown that the use of electrical resistivity tomography is expedient when searching for groundwater in the area characterized by various factors: permafrost, talik, and a fault zone. Based on the results of solving direct and inverse problems of electrical survey, using field works performed in 2020 in the Eravninsky district of the Republic of Buryatia as an example, it is shown that pole-dipole arrays in electric resistivity survey with electrode distance of 5 m, successfully confirmed by drilling operations, allow us reliably delineate potential zones of water inflow. These zones, characterized by low values of electrical resistivity, in this area, are related to talik zones, which are powered by heat flow from the bowels of the earth.

A graph-factor-based random forest model for assessing and predicting carbon emission patterns - Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration

As China actively fulfills its emissions reduction obligations to meet the Paris climate goals, it is crucial to explore carbon reduction policies at the city level, given the important role and potential of cities in China's emissions reduction efforts. In this study, a comprehensive assessment and prediction of carbon emission patterns in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration was conducted by developing an integrated model that incorporates graph representation learning, factorial analysis, and random forest methods. The main findings are (1) there is significant heterogeneity in carbon emissions across industries and across time and space; (2) carbon clusters can more accurately characterize the flow of carbon emissions than carbon supply chains; (3) the nonmetallic manufacture, electricity supply and transportation industries play a decisive role in carbon emission reduction; and (4) the prediction results show that the carbon emissions of the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration will reach 349.2 million tons in 2021, and will then show a declining trend year by year, dropping to a projected 179.8 million tons in 2035. Based on the above findings, it is recommended that the monitoring of key carbon emission clusters should be strengthened, and the monitoring data should be utilized to establish a cross-city and cross-industry cooperation mechanism for emission reduction. In addition, a clear set of action plans and strategies should be formulated and implemented to ensure that the carbon emission targets for 2035 are realized.

Relationship between civil construction companies and suppliers: comparative analysis with companies in other sectors

Strategic supplier management establishes criteria for the selection, evaluation, and development of suppliers, in addition to the administration of contracts and supplies. This type of management aims to organize all processes involving suppliers, defining criteria to support decision-making in selecting the best partners, considering those who meet pre-established requirements. Furthermore, efficient management provides closer proximity to suppliers, facilitating relationships, fostering collaborative innovation, improving product costs, and increasing the company's competitiveness. The objective of this work is to analyze the relationship of suppliers in the construction industry and compare it with companies from other sectors. To achieve this objective, an applied, quantitative, and exploratory research was developed through field research. Questionnaires were applied to employees of construction companies and companies from other sectors, such as service providers and large industrial sectors, addressing issues related to organizational characteristics and specific axes that determine the relationship, such as trust, long-term relationship, and information sharing between client and supplier. The collected data were subjected to descriptive and exploratory analyses to observe the divergent and similar characteristics between the two groups. The results indicate that construction companies have gaps in the axes of trust, information sharing, and especially in the sphere of long-term relationships compared to companies in other sectors. This indicates the need for improvements in supplier management practices in the construction industry to achieve a competitive performance more aligned with other industrial sectors. The implementation of more robust strategies and the adoption of better practices in supplier management can help overcome these gaps, resulting in a more efficient and collaborative business environment, with mutual benefits for construction companies and their suppliers.

Methodology for the Development of Production Systems in the Automotive Industry

The goal of this research was creation and validation of a methodology for the development of production systems of suppliers of the automotive industry. The theoretical starting points analyze the available literary sources and point to the insufficient treatment of the issue by a comprehensive industry standard representing a gap in the current state of knowledge. The practical part of the research is divided into two stages. The subject of the first stage is the standardization of the methodology through a structured scientific procedure in intensive cooperation with a panel of experts. The subject of the second stage is testing the methodology on authentic projects of the application sector using case studies. The results of the testing showed that in all projects managed using the proposed methodology there was an increase in performance compared to projects managed in a traditional way. The successful confrontation of the proposed solution with reality (practice) is underlined by the confrontation with the current state of knowledge (theory). The practical benefits of the research are the possibility of implementing the methodology into the pedagogical process at training workplaces and, above all, its application into engineering practice to develop new production systems of suppliers of the automotive industry.

Efficiency evaluation of intellectual capital for value creation: a case study of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan

PurposeThis study constructs an efficiency evaluation framework for assessing the human, structural and relational capital in the semiconductor industry of Taiwan. Furthermore, we analyze whether there are significant differences in efficiency across different levels concerning the industry supply chain (upstream, midstream and downstream), employee service tenure, capital scale and company establishment years.Design/methodology/approachThis study focuses on Taiwanese semiconductor companies, utilizing data sourced from the Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ) Database for the period spanning 2017 to 2021, encompassing a total of five years. Due to the nondisclosure of intangible asset values by all companies, an effort was made to ensure a comparable baseline by excluding companies with incomplete or missing data. Finally, empirical analysis was conducted on a sample of 64 companies using the dynamic network data envelopment analysis method.Findings(1) Overall efficiency demonstrates structural capital as the most prominent, followed by relational capital, while human capital shows relatively poorer efficiency. (2) To enhance the efficiency of intellectual capital, priority should be given to improving the efficiency of outputs related to intellectual property rights such as patents. (3) The midstream segment exhibits the best efficiency in both structural and relational capital. (4) Companies with longer employee service tenures exhibit superior efficiency in human capital in the long run. (5) Companies with extended establishment years and larger capital scales demonstrate superior efficiency in both human and structural capital.Originality/valueReflecting on past literature, scholars have primarily focused on the relationship between intellectual capital and firm efficiency, often emphasizing the overall efficiency of intellectual capital. However, within organizations, human capital, structural capital, and relational capital are interrelated. This study, for the first time, assesses the efficiency of these three components within an organization. The research addresses the challenges in analyzing the efficiency of intellectual capital and introduces a highly contemporary approach – dynamic network data envelopment analysis (DNDEA). Using the semiconductor industry in Taiwan as a case study, this paper conducts empirical analysis in a captivating and worthy industry. Therefore, the ideas presented in this paper are original.

A dynamic two-phased approach for planning downstream oil supply chain network under uncertainty

This paper introduces an innovative approach for designing a downstream oil supply chain network under uncertain conditions, aiming to bridge existing gaps in tactical decision-making and day-to-day operational management. In the initial phase, the focus lies on tactical and operational decisions related to network planning, while the second phase emphasizes real-time transshipment decisions for daily operations. This two-phased strategy proves to be adaptable and proficient in effectively handling uncertainties. Applying the mixed possibilistic-flexible programming and a rolling horizon approach, we enhance the overall performance of the oil supply chain network. To validate the efficacy of our proposed method, we conduct a comprehensive case study utilizing a database sourced from governmental agencies, specifically tailored to the Iranian oil supply chain. Our results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach in addressing uncertainties, including demand fluctuations and network costs. Furthermore, the methodology exhibits potential for broader applications in other supply chain systems and industries grappling with similar challenges.

Impact of the US Indo-Pacific Strategy on China-India Economic Cooperation

India has grown to be a significant component of the US Indo-Pacific strategic layout in South Asia because of its unique geographic location, political and economic power, and other factors. Through collaborative efforts within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), the US and India have fostered project cooperation by aligning policy dispositions to address shared interests and contain China. Analysis of the economic and trade interactions between China and India suggests a declining trend in their cooperation from many perspective. In a strategic move, India opted out of the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2019 to prioritize economic and trade relations in accordance with its strategic objectives. In addition, India got supports and advancements in high-tech industries through the US Indo-Pacific strategy, consequently reducing collaboration with China in this sector. Furthermore, the US and India have taken measures to diversify supply chains and explore alternative trade routes, steering away from China and promoting regional industrial transfers. This shift has prompted India to intensify its focus on developing high-tech industries to lessen its dependence on China's industrial chain supply. These initiatives have also contributed to the formation of an internal trade network within the IPEF, disrupting traditional trade exchanges between China and India. However, the economic cooperation between the US and India falls short of reaching its full potential because of differences in national interests, history, culture, and other factors. Consequently, the impact of China-India economic relations is not catastrophic, even in the face of heightened US trade restrictions on China that have compelled India to make strategic decisions.

Analysis of The Core Industry Determination of Cassava-Based Industrial Clusters Development in Jember Regency

The cassava-based industry is an industry that processes cassava into various processed products. Development of cassava-based industry in Jember Regency can be carried out through a cluster approach. The cluster approach is a geographic concentration of interrelated and collaborating companies, involving suppliers of goods, service providers, core industries, related industries, and institutions. This research aims to determine the potential core industry of cassava-based industrial cluster development in Jember Regency. Analysis of the core industry of cassava-based industrial cluster development in Jember Regency was carried out using the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) method. The research stages start from analysis, hierarchical structure, and AHP method to obtain core industry priorities. The research results show that the type of cassava-based industry that has the highest alternative weight is the tape industry with a weight of 0.415. The tape industry is the core industry with the most potential because in terms of 6 criteria, namely: the number of industries, market reach, production capacity, raw material potential, government policy, and access to investor funding, the tape industry has the highest weight. Based on this, the tape industry was chosen to be the core industry of cassava-based industrial cluster development in Jember Regency.

Efficiency analysis of China's urban water supply utilities using a dynamic multiactivity network DEA model

Urban water scarcity and severe consumption challenges are crucial for improving performance in the urban water supply industry. Urban Water Supply Utilities (UWSUs) perform the primary task of providing tap water to city residents, and regulators use benchmarks to monitor UWSU operations. To assess the efficiency of UWSUs in detail, this study introduces a dynamic two-stage network data envelopment analysis (DEA) model with shared inputs and shared carryover. This model decomposes UWSU operations into water production (WP) and water distribution (WD) subprocesses. By combining dynamic features with network DEA, the study extends the static network DEA to a more general case for evaluating UWSU efficiency. The study sample includes 246 UWSUs from 24 provinces in China over the period 2016–2018. The analysis covers overall efficiency, period efficiency, subprocess efficiency, and regional disparities among the sampled water utilities. The findings indicate that the average efficiency of the UWSUs was 0.643 during 2016–2018, with slightly lower efficiency in the WP subprocess. UWSUs in the eastern provinces outperformed those in the central and western provinces, which require significant improvements. To enhance the performance of China's water supply sector, accelerated market competition and infrastructure improvements are necessary.

Effectiveness of Facility Management in Achieving Carbon Neutrality in the Green Building Industry Supply Chain

Effectiveness of Facility Management in Achieving Carbon Neutrality in the Green Building Industry Supply Chain

A systems perspective on the approach to industrial chain and supply chain ecology

A systems perspective on the approach to industrial chain and supply chain ecology

Modelling Technical Capacity of Industrial Machines Suppliers’ Selection Post Engineering and Economic Considerations

After considering engineering, economics, and supply due-date strategic decisions as the death knell for the selection of industrial machinery suppliers, the technical capability of the suppliers is one of the strategic decisions for consideration. To achieve this, necessary attributes of this strategic decision were identified in this study. These attributes include the quality of mechanics used, quality of staff used, level of research work done, level of quality control, and quality of companies patronizing the vendor. They were modelled and integrated (logic) for decision-making and then evaluated using a case study of procuring a Cocoa Liquor Press for extracting butter from the cocoa liquor using three vendors V1, V2, and V3 that passed the three strategic decision death knells. The overall performance indices of all three vendors as per their strength on the considered strategic decision (technical quality of the supplier) are 1.71, 1.66, and 1.63 which are 43.2%, 33.25%, and 32.6% respectively by percentage. While their weaknesses are 3.28, 3.34, and 3.37 which are 65.6%, 66.8%, and 67.2%. Vendor one (V1) having a performance index of 1.71 strength and 3.28 weakness (43.2% strength and 65.8% weakness) post engineering and economic consideration death-knell was found to be best suitable and was selected.

From Data to Design

This paper explores the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) in the automotive and supplier industries, with a particular focus on the use of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems to streamline information retrieval from technical documentation. The research, part of the CoLab4DigiTwin project, investigates how digital twins supported by smart services can enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and reduce the reliance on manual data searches. We developed a pipeline utilizing a RAG architecture which uses a vector database for efficient data management and fast access to relevant information, eliminating the need for expensive computational resources. The performance of various open-source LLMs, which are finetuned on German, was evaluated, focusing on readability, clarity, and accuracy. The results show decent performance of the system without the need for model fine-tuning. Future research will aim to refine these processes and extend the applicability of RAG systems, highlighting the potential of Large Language Models to transform industrial data interaction.

Development of a condition monitoring of heat exchangers for corrosion progress and coolant condition

The transport sector, and thus also rail transport, needs to be completely decarbonised by 2050 at the latest. Considering the long service life of rail vehicles, this goal means enormous innovation and growth potential for the vehicle and supplier industry of railway technology in the coming years. This contribution presents the first results of an R&D project to reduce the total cost of ownership of passenger and freight rail vehicles. The reduced life cycle costs can be achieved over the operating life, among other things, with condition monitoring approaches for critical components of cooling systems to enable diagnosis-based maintenance. Based on guided elastic waves, an integrated system is being developed to analyse the depth and position of corrosion damage to heat exchangers in rail vehicles. This method is to be supplemented by a refractive index sensor integrated in the coolant circuit which can be used to derive influences of the coolant condition on corrosion. First, an acoustic measuring technique was put into operation. Suitable piezoelectric transducers were selected and test measurements, including the introduction of artificial damages, along different paths on a representative heat exchanger were carried out and evaluated. Measurement signals can be received over different distances, and a monitoring of larger areas of the heat exchanger seems possible. For the development of the monitoring of the coolant, plasmonically active sensor substrates with a gold nanostructure were produced and installed in a measuring flow cell. In laboratory tests, concentrations of water-coolant mixtures could be distinguished with the refractive index sensor. In the future, the refractive index sensing will be carried out by means of bypass flow measurement. Since the coolant is pumped in a circuit, the sensor system can be attached to one of the inlet/outlet lines.

SUPPLIER SELECTION CRITERIA OF RESTAURANT: A CROSS-INDUSTRY LITERATURE REVIEW

Previous studies have extensively explored supplier selection criteria; however, there has been a notable scarcity of in-depth investigations into the specific criteria for selecting suppliers in the restaurant industry. Thus, this research commences with an overview of supplier selection criteria, followed by a comprehensive review of criteria employed across diverse industries. Through this review, this study identify and distill five key criteria uniquely suited for restaurants: Finance, Technology, Product Quality, Cost, and Service of Supplier. These criteria are subsequently subjected to thorough analysis. This study ultimately contributes novel insights into supplier selection within the restaurant sector, providing the industry with robust decision-making support and practical guidance.

Supplier–buyer (in)congruence in environmental management accounting for sustainable development in the context of Japan

AbstractThis study provides a comprehensive perspective on the integration of Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) in translating environmental management strategies into corporate outcomes, both at the firm and supply chain levels. Grounded in legitimacy theory and agency theory, we introduce a conceptual framework to comprehensively investigate the impact of EMA implementation on corporate environmental performance (CEP) and corporate financial performance (CFP). Additionally, by considering the dynamics of supplier–buyer relationships, this research delves into the influence of supplier–buyer alignment in EMA on corporate performance, encompassing CEP and CFP within a supply network. To collect empirical data, we partnered with two prominent information firms in Japan, Toyo Keizai Inc. and., Nikkei Inc and gathered EMA data from chief financial officers of publicly listed companies spanning multiple industries in Japan. We manually paired these public firms with their business partners, including industry buyers and suppliers, to establish focal firm‐business partner pairs. Our findings indicate a positive correlation between the extent of EMA implementation and both CEP and CFP. Furthermore, we observe that board gender diversity enhances the relationship between EMA implementation and CFP, while it exerts no influence on the connection between EMA implementation and CEP. Lastly, our study reveals that supplier–buyer congruence in EMA implementation yields positive effects on the performance of focal firms operating within a supply chain network.