International Suppliers Research Articles

Supplier Communication and Performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi City County,Kenya

The study investigates the relationship between supplier communication and the performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Supplier communication was found to play a pivotal role in the operational efficiency and overall performance of MSMEs, especially in dynamic markets. Despite adopting Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices, many MSMEs continued to experience challenges such as poor record management, unclear expectations, and a lack of timely feedback. These communication issues contributed to delays, misunderstandings, and increased costs, which negatively impacted business growth. The study applied the Communication Accommodation Theory to explain how MSMEs adapted their communication styles in both high-context and low-context cultures. Using a cross-sectional research design, the study collected data from 373 MSMEs under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between supplier communication and performance, with regression analysis showing that supplier communication explained 58.7% of the variance in MSME performance. The findings aligned with previous studies, emphasizing the importance of communication for successful supplier collaboration and supply chain management. The study concluded that frequent, transparent communication with suppliers improved product and service delivery and operational efficiency. Recommendations included investing in technologies that enhance communication and developing policies to support ongoing supplier relationship management. Further research could explore the impact of digital technologies on supplier communication and how communication with international suppliers influences MSME performance.

Sourcing renewable energy components: building resilient supply chains, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers, and enhancing energy security

The transition to renewable energy is essential for mitigating climate change and ensuring long-term energy security. As global demand for renewable energy technologies grows, establishing resilient supply chains becomes crucial. This paper examines strategies to build robust supply chains, reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, and enhance energy security. A major challenge in renewable energy is the dependence on a limited number of international suppliers, which risks supply disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions, or natural disasters. Diversifying suppliers can mitigate these risks by encouraging alternative suppliers and fostering competition (Smith, 2020). Local manufacturing is another critical strategy, promoting supply chain resilience, economic growth, and job creation. Countries like the United States and Germany have incentivized local manufacturing of solar panels and wind turbine components (Jones, 2021), ensuring a steady supply of parts and aligning with broader industrial policies. Maintaining strategic reserves of critical materials, such as rare earth elements and lithium, is essential for buffering against supply disruptions and price volatility, ensuring continuous production of renewable energy technologies (Brown, 2019). Strategic planning and investment in reserves are vital for a comprehensive energy security strategy. Technological innovation enhances supply chain resilience. Advances in materials science, manufacturing processes, and recycling technologies can reduce dependence on scarce materials and improve renewable energy system efficiency. Developing alternative materials for battery storage, for example, can reduce reliance on lithium and cobalt sourced from unstable regions (White, 2022). Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are crucial for advancing the renewable energy sector. By leveraging both sectors' strengths, PPPs can accelerate technology deployment, improve infrastructure, and foster innovation. Successful examples include government-private collaborations on offshore wind farms and smart grid technologies (Green & Associates, 2021). Favorable trade policies facilitate the global exchange of renewable energy technologies and components. Reducing tariffs, streamlining customs, and fostering international cooperation can enhance supply chain efficiency and reliability (Lee, 2020). This study advocates for trade agreements tailored to the renewable energy sector's needs. Integrated energy systems and smart grid technologies optimize renewable energy use and distribution. Advanced monitoring and control systems improve grid stability, reduce energy waste, and enhance renewable source integration (Adams, 2019). Investment in smart grid infrastructure is crucial for a resilient energy strategy. Robust policy frameworks are necessary to support these initiatives. Governments must enact policies providing clear guidance, incentives, and support for resilient renewable energy supply chains, including ambitious renewable energy targets, financial incentives for R&D, and regulatory stability (Martinez, 2021).

COVID-19 impact in sourcing in Global Value Chains

This study explores the impact of COVID-19 on Global Value Chains (GVCs) using the Eurostat dataset, focusing on trade barriers and the difficulty of sourcing raw materials or intermediate goods from local and international suppliers. Using a contingency table grouped by country, we can see how raw material constraints and COVID-19’s GVCs affect many countries. The study uses Chi-square test to determine if these factors have a significant association. The data imply that foreign sourcing presents less challenges for suppliers than domestic sourcing, stressing the need of examining the consumer behaviour under uncertainties to develop GVCs resilience. The findings show a statistically significant link between barriers related to raw material and the effect level of COVID-19 in global value chains across all countries analysed. Suggesting that it is unlikely to have happened by random chance alone, highlighting the importance of addressing trade barriers and adapting to the impact of COVID-19 within global value chains.

STRATEGIC PLANNING USING THE TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP MODEL

In a highly competitive global scenario, companies seek new ways to optimize production and implement continuous improvement mechanisms to reduce costs. An essential tool in this context is the Total Cost of Ownership model, applied to the acquisition processes of inputs to determine the costs involved and compare the economic viability between domestic and international suppliers. Given the unstable economic scenario and high exchange rate fluctuations, the possibility of nationalizing production is evaluated. The case study method is adopted, characterized as applied and exploratory research, with the objective of generating knowledge for practical application and solving specific problems. This method combines a literature review with exploratory field analysis. The studied company faces a loss of profitability due to rising import costs, reduced demand, and the loss of purchasing power of the national currency against international suppliers. The increase in costs resulting from exchange rate fluctuations necessitates the search for new supply options, primarily in the domestic market, where exchange rate influence is lower. Thus, the nationalization of inputs becomes crucial in business decisions to minimize costs and maintain competitiveness. The results indicate that the nationalization of production using the Total Cost of Ownership model is viable. This model considers all costs involved in the acquisition of inputs, unlike the traditional acquisition model, which focuses exclusively on the unit price.

Second-party international remote audit in food safety management in the context of post-pandemic developments

This study aims to evaluate the post-pandemic scenario regarding to auditing practices in the food safety management, considering the international food supply chains by means of remote or hybrid protocols auditing, as well as such practices impact in the supplier’s qualification efficiency. A bibliographical review of the published scientific articles about the experience of several countries which conducted research in order to capture the stakeholders’ perception involved in remote audits, as well as comparing with Multiple Study Cases of remote auditing carried out by the author, with a descriptive and qualitative statistics in the last twenty-four months are presented. As a result, one hundred per center remote auditing protocols may be effective as part of the process used by companies to qualify international suppliers of food supply chains by following the principles already set in the best practices identified in academic research.

Navigating supply chain financing and supplier sourcing

This paper shares perspectives on key challenges businesses face when working with international suppliers and how to overcome them. The paper presents real-world examples of companies that have fallen into the trap of using too few suppliers or those that have not done the necessary due diligence before engaging with international suppliers.

Digitalization in logistics for textiles – possible fields of application for the Blockchain technology

The globalized supply chains of textiles and clothes involve multiple parties from different countries. Flows of goods, information and finances are coordinated through logistic processes, but offer potential for optimization in terms of digitalization and transparency. Incidents of the past prove that fundamental human rights standards and occupational safety are not met in global production countries yet. Legal regulations like the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations for the Prevention of Human Rights Violations in Supply Chains (LkSG) shall help to improve the situation since 2023. Especially small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in Germany, to which the law applies indirectly through private-sector contracts from their non-SME consignees, struggle to control their global supply chain, to provide all necessary data and to ensure a traceable, fraud-resistant and manageable flow of information. Hence, the Center Textile Logistics investigated the potential of the Blockchain technology and its application possibilities for textile supply chains. The Blockchain technology offer chances in terms of securing clothing trademarks, proofing that standards of seals and certificates are met, proofing that political and legal regulations are met and in terms of controlling global processes that involve international suppliers and partners. However, the current state of the art of digitalization is often too low to directly apply the Blockchain technology and has to be improved first. The cost-benefit ratio has to be evaluated individually but the Blockchain technology offers great potential to rise transparency, ease communication and critical data exchange along textile supply chains.

Do domestic and external geopolitical risks matter for food availability: implications for global food security

ABSTRACT This paper investigated the influence of geopolitical risk (GPR) on national food availability and distinguished the differentiated effects caused by geopolitical shocks at domestic and international food suppliers. We proposed an external geopolitical risk index (EGPR) to identify a country’s vulnerability to geopolitical turmoil in its food suppliers. Our findings show that country-specific GPR adversely affects domestic production, and EGPR reduces food imports. Furthermore, the food availability of countries with low GDP is more easily susceptible to geopolitical unrest. Overall, this paper offers helpful hints for policymakers worldwide regarding the prevention of food security risks triggered by geopolitical tensions.

Reflection on applied academic research, based on interviews with international suppliers in the logistics sector

The university-enterprise relationship assumes that universities (higher education institutions) must develop strategies and actions that stimulate research and development to strengthen the growth of their actors and contribute to enterprises the sum of knowledge that supports the solution of their problems. Interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity are fundamental criteria for solving real problems in a comprehensive way. The literature shows that applied research in universities does not assume these considerations to develop its work and does not allow it to offer integral solutions to the company, a task that real sector suppliers do. Taking as a review case the logistics discipline and the way it is adopted by solution providers, we comment, based on the empirical experience in international meeting places of suppliers and entrepreneurs, aspects that distinguish the exchange of information between companies, aspects of interest, these practices could be replicable, so that in the academy, these practices could be replicable, so that in the academy, research groups adopt similar processes seeking an approach to problem solving as adopted by suppliers in the real sector, their work structure and the development of integral solutions to the industry, assuming first of all interdisciplinary work mechanisms with a holistic approach to support, Research groups adopt similar processes seeking an approach to problem solving as adopted by suppliers in the real sector, their work structure and the development of integral solutions to industry, assuming primarily interdisciplinary work mechanisms with a holistic approach that support the development of the mandate that universities must develop in their relationship within the triple hélix.

Challenges in the Receiving and Inspection of Supplies & Equipment in an International Organization in West Africa

The warehouse operation has enabled physical inspection activities, including receiving and inspection of materials and equipment. It has been found that there are certain challenges faced by inspectors during the receiving and inspection of materials. The warehouse custodian has performed the physical inspection, but not all cross-checking activities are accurate. Therefore, receiving and inspection are crucial to the delivery process, and distinct approaches must be implemented to deal with internal and external clients, including international and local suppliers. To effectively deal with these challenges, a process for entry document processing must be established. This process should include harmonizing the purchase order's terms and supporting it with the delivery note, packing list, invoice, bill of lading, and airway/waybill provided by the supplier. This will ensure that the material's quantity, quality, and specifications are accurately documented. A total of 14 responses were collected among managers and supervisors of receiving and inspection unit through interviews and survey questionnaires in the seven geographical locations of Mali, West Africa. The independent variables, namely (PI) physical inspection, (HOV) handover, and (DOC) documentation, significantly impact the dependent variable.

Follow the Boots: A Case Study of Design and Global Value Chains

Abstract As manufacturing has become globally fragmented, so too has the work of design. Complex supply chains conceal sources of creativity and innovation, posing new challenges for researching design history. There is little understanding of how the globalization of manufacturing in the late-twentieth and early-twenty-first centuries has affected design practice or how design authorship might be identified in mass-produced objects. This case study follows a pair of steel-toed boots named Vanessa from concept through design, development, and production, moving from Canada to Italy, Mexico, and beyond. It maps components, equipment, and expertise, making it possible to trace sources and relationships of design. Analysis reveals how the boots reflect shifts in global trade and the concentration of knowledge and resources in new locations. It also shows how the globalization of production has influenced the role of the product designer who acts as intermediary within transnational networks, combining predesigned components and practices from around the world. The manufacturer, Mellow Walk, has experienced the transition from a regional manufacturing economy to one that is globally integrated. The company was founded in the 1990s when most Canadian footwear factories had closed due to global competition. It is unique as the last fully integrated footwear factory in Ontario, meaning that management, design, production, sales, and shipping happen under one roof. Mellow Walk nevertheless depends on international suppliers and, in this sense, represents many other footwear brands around the world.

Exploring Digitalization within the Tourism Supply Chain Network

Purpose: Digitalisation among SMMEs has been slow due to the constraints such as a lack of infrastructure, networks, technologies, and related skills to fast-track digital transition. These binding constraints make it harder for Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in developing countries to undertake this digital transition. The purpose of this study is to explore the state of digitalisation within the Tourism Supply Chain Network (TSCN) among SMMEs in Gauteng.
 Design/ Methodology/ Approach: An ethnographic qualitative methodology was adopted to have a better understanding of the complexity and idiosyncrasies of digitalisation within the TSCN among the SMMEs in Gauteng where interviews were conducted from twelve participants until saturation.
 Findings: The results revealed that apart from the lack of digital skills (data analytics software and video editing technology) and limited understanding of knowledge management especially for the legal systems within the supply network among the selected SMMEs remains a challenge.
 Practical Implication: Formulating integrated business ventures and approaching big projects as consortiums not as individual small micro entities is critical for more purpose-driven tourism networks, especially for emerging businesses. SMMEs hardly work with other businesses in the area to develop sustainable networks; hence, there is a need for an effective travel and tourism data Management Company connecting both international and domestic suppliers for effective and efficient service to the businesses and the customers.
 Paper type: Research paper

Caught off guard and beaten: The Ukraine war and food security in the Middle East.

The Ukraine war has led to a severe global food crisis due to complex supply disruptions and price increases of agricultural inputs. Countries of the Middle East have been directly affected because of their high dependence on food imports from Russia and Ukraine. Furthermore, this food crisis comes at times of high baseline vulnerability due to the compound impacts of COVID-19, repeated food shocks, and weakened states due to political-economic difficulties. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the food-related vulnerability of Middle Eastern countries in the wake of the Ukraine war. It contextualizes the varying impacts of this crisis in the region, and highlights country-level response strategies. The analysis shows a concerning and deepened crisis in the case of highly exposed and politically fragile countries with weakened food sectors; e.g., Lebanon, Sudan, and Yemen. Political-economic instabilities, limited domestic agriculture, and the lack of reliable grain reserves have aggravated the current food crisis in some countries. At the same time, indigenous short-term responses related to regional aid and cooperation have emerged, particularly in the Gulf countries, which have witnessed soaring revenues from higher energy prices. Alongside more regional frameworks for collaboration on food security, future action to mitigate such food crises should include the strengthening of local sustainable agriculture, storage capacities, and grain procurement strategies from international suppliers.

Which variables predict the internationalization type of academic spin-offs?

This study aims to find out which variables predict the internationalization type of academic spin-offs. This topic has not yet received any attention in academic spin-offs’ internationalization literature. We use a sample of Spanish spin-offs, with four dependent variables reflecting internationalization types and a large selection of independent variables reflecting various domains considered in the extant literature. Logistic regression is applied to outline marginal effects and prediction accuracies. The results show that academic spin-offs which are oriented towards international markets from the beginning of their activities and constantly pursue new international opportunities are more likely to internationalize fast and remain international for a longer time period than other firms. Being the first to introduce product or process innovations and co-operating with international government institutions, competitors, customers, and/or suppliers is also relatively useful for such internationalizers. The study also demonstrates that predicting if an academic spin-off will become a less active internationalizer results in a higher accuracy than forecasting if it will become a born global. Moreover, predicting if a firm will internationalize later results in a higher accuracy than forecasting if this will happen during the first three years since the spin-off’s foundation.

Red de valor de los comerciantes del mercado del mar de Zapopan, Jalisco, México

Given the growing importance of the fishing and aquaculture sector (in 2021 the activity generated approximately 300,000 directjobs and 2 million indirect jobs) and the high demand for fish and shellfish, the value network was identified (The value networkallows analyzing to the economic and non-economic actors that participate) of the merchants of the sea market of Zapopan, Jalisco,whose purpose was to identify the leading company, as well as carry out an analysis of the parts of the network, recognize themembers and roles of each one of her. The methodological process consisted of in-depth interviews with important actors withinthe network, as well as the application of the mystery shopper technique within the sea market and self-service stores, in order toobtain information, data, which were later, captured, processed and analyzed. The results indicate the existence of an interesting andcomplex regional and national articulation, due to the number of intermediaries (at least four and up to seven) that touch the productand that have a utility. Eight types of well-defined local clients and from 14 states of the country were determined and classified.The national supply such as sea fishermen, riverside fishermen, estuary fishermen, fish farmers, etc... provide gutted, scaleless andfrozen fish or shellfish. For its part, the international supply supplies seafood or fish fillets, nuguets, in boxes or marquetas by kilos,with a quality certificate, traceability, prepared with some fine herbs or styles and vacuum packed, whose origin is: Vietnam, China,Indonesia. Finally, the degree of duplicity that international suppliers have (for the seafood market and self-service stores) must beconsidered, since in a decade the roles can be reversed and they are left out of the market.

An Empirical Study on the Impact of China's E-commerce Development on Export Trade

At home and abroad, this paper will concentrate on the perspective of the development of electronic commerce and the export trade development, draw lessons from advanced literature at home and abroad, and analyzes its limitations, establishing electronic commerce the influence mechanism of our country foreign trade export, and to our country's current e-commerce and the development of our country foreign trade status and the existing problems are studied. Finally, according to China's current policy and e-commerce market environment, put forward the strategy and suggestions to further expand e-commerce activities.China's e-commerce activities do have an important impact on China's export, and with the improvement of China's e-commerce level, the growth of trade volume will play a positive role in promoting China's export. Through the development of e-commerce activities, can significantly improve the export of a country's foreign trade, thus promoting the country's international trade. E-commerce can reduce international trade barriers between suppliers and the national consumers, through the logistics, information flow and cash flow, greatly reduces the country's purchase cost, reduce the cost of international suppliers, simplify the international market, improve the international suppliers and cooperation between countries, to produce more trade opportunities, promote the export of international trade.

Lessons From ITER Magnet Experience on the Need for an Improved Nuclear Quality Approach for Magnets in Future Fusion Reactors

Now that ITER magnets are nearing procurement completion, with many of them on site and being installed, there is growing interest in the next step to a tokamak fusion reactor. A big question in this next step will be the safety and reliability of the magnet system. Even before operation we have many lessons to be applied in the next step. ITER magnets are not largely safety-important components and have been produced without the appointment of an Authorised Notified Body(ANB), by the Safety Regulator. In future fusion reactors, reliability and reparability will have a higher importance than pure functionality, and construction cannot be approached with an R&D mentality. Methods and techniques for implementing quality assurance in ITER superconducting magnets started with design control, then extended to manufacturing quality control in procurement including control verification and methods for acceptance tests. Use of on-line tools such as a manufacturing database to provide the quality traceability during procurement control and non-conformities database applied to ensure conformity to fulfil the requirements over the ITER international suppliers. As a staged project, currently ITER is facing the installation process control including component identification and tracing, tool proofing, qualification of installation, inspection and test. Next will be the control of commissioning activities and verification functions until the hand over of superconducting magnets for operation. There has been remarkable progress from the ITER programme on developing and applying quality assurance, with many lessons learned. However, the examples given by incidents such as occurred in LHC, JT60-SA and ITER CS module test would not be acceptable for a nuclear reactor. We need now to review our approach to give a firm footing for DEMO QA/QC.

The contribution of drug import to the cost of tuberculosis treatment: A cost analysis of longer, shorter, and short drug regimens for Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan.

Tuberculosis (TB) programs depend on a continuous supply of large amounts of high-quality TB drugs. When TB programs procure TB drugs from international suppliers, such as the Global Drug Facility, they can incur import costs for international transport, customs clearance, and national transport. We assessed the drug costs and import costs of 18 longer (≥18 months), 10 shorter (9-12 months), and 8 short (≤6 months) drug regimens for drug-sensitive (DS) and multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB treatment. Costs per regimen were estimated by multiplying recommended drug amounts with 2021 Global Drug Facility prices and drug import costs of a TB program in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. The standard short-course treatment of DS-TB requires taking 730 fixed-dose combination tablets, which weigh 0.79 kg and cause an import cost of $4.19 (9.8% of the regimen's drug cost of $43). A new 4-month DS-TB regimen requires taking 1358 tablets, which weigh 1.1 kg and cause an import cost of $6.07 (2.6% of the regimen's drug cost of $233). MDR-TB regimens that last between 24 weeks and 20 months involve 546-9368 tablets and injections. The drugs for these MDR-TB regimens were estimated to weigh 0.42-96 kg and cause an import cost of $2.26-507 per drug regimen (0.29-11% of a regimen's drug cost of $360-15,028). In a multivariable regression analysis, an additional treatment month increased the import cost of a drug regimen by $5.45 (95% CI: 1.65 to 9.26). Use of an injectable antibiotic in a regimen increased the import cost by $133 (95% CI: 47 to 219). The variable and potentially sizable import costs of TB regimens can affect the financial needs of TB programs. Drug regimens that are shorter and all-oral tend to reduce import costs compared to longer regimens and regimens including an injectable drug.

A biofuel supply chain design considering sustainability, uncertainty, and international suppliers and markets

A biofuel supply chain design considering sustainability, uncertainty, and international suppliers and markets

The Impact of Monetary Benefits in a Pandemic Situation—Navigating Changes in Customer Loyalty through Negative Switching Barriers in the Hotel Industry

The present study examines the impact of monetary benefits on hotel loyalty programs in a pandemic situation, and the relationship between monetary benefits and multidimensional loyalty aspects. Since 2020, international hotel suppliers have focused on monetary investments and promotions through hotel loyalty programs that have seen extraordinary results in the Korean market. Feedback from the market raises questions as to whether these results are caused by true loyalty or economic sensitivity caused by a recession. Thus, it is necessary to investigate this phenomenon from a relationship perspective. In this research, negative switching barrier facets were given a moderating role with multidimensional loyalty factors consisting of attitudinal loyalty, behavioral loyalty, and composite loyalty. A quantitative method was used, in which consumers in Korea were surveyed via an online questionnaire. In total, 494 responses from consumers were analyzed. Notably, negative switching barriers were found to have a negative moderating effect on the relationship between monetary benefits and attitudinal loyalty. This result implies that although the customer is economically sensitive during a recession, monetary benefits and the market situation can cause fatigue that potentially produces obstacles to long-term relationships with the customer. The results of this study highlight the hotel suppliers involved in monetary competition during a pandemic situation and the need to develop solid long-term relationships through customer loyalty strategies.