International Supply Chains Research Articles

Exploring the Internal Supply Chain Management Practices for Tertiary Institutions in Ghana: Evidence from Bolgatanga Technical University

Exploring the Internal Supply Chain Management Practices for Tertiary Institutions in Ghana: Evidence from Bolgatanga Technical University

Reorganisation of the internal storage and distribution logistics in a hospital

This study involved the analysis and improvement of the internal distribution and storage at Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira – Guimarães, a 500-beds general hospital in the north of Portugal. The study evolved around an action-research strategy that comprised five sequential and interconnected phases. Initially, the internal supply chain of the hospital was analysed with a special focus on ward warehouses (WW) and data about the logistics processes of the WW were gathered. Following, a prototype WW to test a set of innovative solutions aimed at dealing with the difficulties identified in the previous phase was developed. The proposed improvements were analysed and then implemented in the WW of a health care department, which lead to a new data collection about the performance of the logistics processes. The implementation of the proposed solutions resulted in a reduction of the time spent collecting, debiting and storing materials of 55% to 66%. It was also possible to reduce the error rate in these processes by 93%. When the proposed solutions are expanded to the whole hospital, in a year, it will be possible to save 4,819 hours in WW logistics processes (that can be dedicated to provide care to patients) and to avoid 115,843 errors.

Industry 4.0 technologies as enablers of sustainability risk management

Motivation: Companies operate in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) business environment, as evidenced by massive collapses in commodity prices, acts of terrorism, cyber security threats, natural disasters, technological failures, and pandemics. Numerous reports indicate that the top risks with the highest probability of occurrence in the next decade include extreme weather events, failure of climate protection measures, and man-made environmental damage (The Global Risk Report 2021 of the World Economic Forum, The World Business Council for Sustainable Development report and many others). The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cover the above challenges and define the agenda for solving them to 2030. The intensification of environmental and social risks reinforces the need to deepen research and explore new ways of managing sustainability risks (SRs). At the same time, businesses are undergoing the technology transformation (Industry 4.0) accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It became necessary to shift some investment to this business area, which also needs to be supported by additional capital. The technology-driven transformation can significantly support companies in managing SRs. Aim: The aim of the study is to diagnose the importance of investments in Industry 4.0 technologies (T4.0) as potential enablers supporting sustainability risk management from the perspective of supply chains. Results: SRs represent one of the critical risk areas of the 21st century. Despite the well-recognized potential of the T4.0 implementation for sustainable supply chain management, the research studies concentrated on their potential role within SR management in international supply chains are limited and fragmented. The diagnosis of the growing importance of T4.0 supporting risk management at strategic and operational levels of business activities implies the recommendation to integrate their use in this area into the technological transformation, and then consistently into planning and financing of development and implementation projects. Companies may attempt to address these challenges through Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.

Application of Internet of Things to Ensure Improved Performance within the Internal Supply Chain Unit of an Organization

With the rapidly changing business world, technology adapted for doing business has also undergone rapid transformation leading to use Internet of Things as an advanced technological innovation required to connect production units to internet devices for smooth production and operation, with enhanced ICT systems and infrastructure. Internet of Things is considered to be an advanced information and communication technology, whose applicability is highly needed to ensure smart performance of organizations in Indonesia. Indonesia, being a developing country, adapting to new ways of doing things, including the use of IoT takes time, hence affecting studies regarding the use of IoT in business units, such as the internal supply chain sector. Thus, there is no much studies from a localized perspective, measuring the importance and using IoT as well as supply chain performance of the country. The present paper applied an organizational capacity theory to establish the Internet of Things impact on varying dimensions of Supply Chain, which included supply chain integration process, organizational performance of supply chain and the capacity to the influence production. The research applied a survey of cross-section on several companies within the Greater Jakarta area as the research approach. Data was obtained from over 161 companies from across Jakarta. Finally, the data was analyzed with the help of the structural equation modelling (SEM-AMOS) for the development of an empirical structural model.

Роль міжнародних ланцюгів постачання у становленні циркулярної моделі економіки

Key trends in international logistics are highlighted. The essence of the international supply chain in the conditions of the formation of a circular economy model is revealed. The advantages of the circular economy over the linear economy are substantiated. Successful examples of the organization of zero-waste supply chains in the activities of well-known companies according to the principles of sustainable development are presented. The circular economy is proven to be the best alternative in today’s circumstances, as it aims to use products, equipment and infrastructure for longer, thus improving the productivity of these resources. The article argues that a sensible solution is to shift the focus from a linear supply chain to a circular supply chain. Thus, we are talking about a logistics model that focuses on the full life cycle of products. By investing in services such as reverse logistics, IT asset allocation and offering resource recovery and recycling options, we can extend the use of products and therefore reduce the negative impact on the environment. One of the most important steps on the way to the implementation of the circular economy is the reorganization of the international supply network and the transition from a linear supply chain to a circular one. In recent years, organizations have begun to focus on sustainable practices to solve environmental, social and economic problems, forming an approach based on the adaptation of circular economy methods. Circular economy is an economic system aimed at the elimination of waste and continuous use of resources. That is, waste becomes resources. Circular business systems involve reusing, sharing, repairing, renovating, recycling to create a closed loop system, minimizing resource use and waste generation, pollution and carbon emissions. The circular economy aims to use products, equipment and infrastructure for longer, thus improving the productivity of these resources. Waste materials and energy must become input resources for other processes. The introduction of circular economy requirements opens up new opportunities for the development of international supply chains, because it is obvious that products in the circular economy no longer conform to the traditional linear model. Through circular supply chains, it is possible not only to reduce the production of waste, but also to achieve self-sustaining production systems in which materials are returned to the production cycle. Such supply chains apply to both the manufacturing and service sectors. Therefore, the circular economy is increasingly recognized as a better alternative to the dominant linear economic model. Circular Supply Chain Management, which integrates circular economy philosophy into supply chain management, offers a new and compelling perspective for the field of sustainable business development. Accordingly, interest in research is growing.

The Concept of Customs Logistics

Along with the increasing pace of globalization, the volume of passenger and cargo movement between countries is steadily increasing. International supply chain in modern business activities includes not only the planning of shipment of goods, but much attention is paid to cargo clearance procedures. The growing role of customs authorities has become particularly striking in the face of the international transport collapse caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. If not for timely and correct action, the economic losses caused by the crisis would be much greater than what we are facing today. Modern business processes are widely related to the transfer of services and goods between countries. Logistics includes a specific group of activities. One part of them includes process supervision. Customs authorities control the movement of goods, vehicles and people across the economic border. What tariff and non-tariff control mechanisms are used to determine the amount of goods and taxes that have the right to enter the country. These factors accelerated the formation of new directions of logistics. Keywords: international shipping, supply chain, customs logistics, customs clearance procedures.

Environmental and Qualitative Monitoring of a Transoceanic Intermodal Transport of Melons

To supply the off-season melon market, Europe imports from distant markets in other countries, mainly Brazil. Cold transportation takes at least 15–20 days, thus increasing the risk of quality losses. Moreover, product deliveries, especially in international markets, can result in supply chain inefficiencies that negatively affect carbon footprint and expected freshness. Implementing quality sensors and advanced cold chain management could help to reduce these problems. The objective of this work was to monitor a real transoceanic intermodal transport of melons (Brazil to Spain), through the implementation of multi-distributed environmental sensors (15 ibuttons loggers) to evaluate the remaining shelf-life (RSHL) of melons at destination. The sensors’ location within the cargo reached a maximum variability range of 4 °C. Using digital sensors to track temperature variations, it was verified that in different locations in the container, the melon RSHL at the end of the journey, was nine days and 19 h in colder spots, while in the hottest spot, the RSHL was reduced to five days and 22 h. This fact has substantial implications for improved tracking of temperature to maintain fruit quality for market, potentially reducing waste, and contributing to higher profit margins for international food supply chains.

Quality Evaluation of Fair-Trade Cocoa Beans from Different Origins Using Portable Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)

Determining cocoa bean quality is crucial for many players in the international supply chain. However, actual methods rely on a cut test protocol, which is limited by its subjective nature, or on time-consuming, expensive and destructive wet-chemistry laboratory procedures. In this context, the application of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, particularly with the recent developments of portable NIR spectrometers, may represent a valuable solution for providing a cocoa beans' quality profile, in a rapid, non-destructive, and reliable way. Monitored parameters in this work were dry matter (DM), ash, shell, fat, protein, total polyphenols, fermentation index (FI), titratable acidity (TA) and pH. Different chemometric analyses were performed on the spectral data and calibration models were developed using modified partial least squares regression. Prediction equations were validated using a fivefold cross-validation and a comparison between the different prediction performances for the portable and benchtop NIR spectrometers was provided. The NIRS benchtop instrument provided better performance of quantification considering the whole than the portable device, showing excellent prediction capability in protein and DM quantification. On the other hand, the NIRS portable device, although showing lower but valuable performance of prediction, can represent an appealing alternative to benchtop instruments for food business operators, being applicable in the field.

The European Union Response Against Covid-19 Pandemic on Maritime Transport

The European Union joint maritime policy is a wide approach of all European Union policies linked with the sea. This policy is based upon the idea that by coordinating all activities linked with oceans, sea and coasts, the European Union would benefit higher rates of yields by its maritime space with a smaller mass of impact on environment. The joint maritime policy aims at strengthening the so-called ‘blue economy’, which includes all the economic maritime activities. The maritime transport plays a fundamental role and will continue to do so at world and European trade. In economic terms 77 percent of European foreign trade and 35 percent of that between European Union countries happen through the sea. This is the key reason because the maritime transport represents a core part in the international supply chain. Even with the decline of this activity in maritime sector due to Covid-19 Pandemic, a significant increase is foreseen in the next 10 years. To face challenges of Pandemic, the European Union took few measures that are linked with the health security, repatriation and maritime traveling ways of passengers and other persons on the boards. This article seeks to analyze the response that European Union and its institutions have provided to the situation through recommendations and regulations to normalize an important sector for the future of the Union.
 
 Received: 26 September 2022 / Accepted: 29 November 2022 / Published: 20 December 2022

Modelling the impact of disease outbreaks on the international crude oil supply chain using Random Forest regression

PurposeThe crude oil supply chain (COSC) is one of the most complex and largest supply chains in the world. It is easily vulnerable to extreme events. Recently, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (often known as COVID-19) pandemic created a massive imbalance between supply and demand which caused significant price fluctuations. The purpose of this study is to explore the influential factors affecting the international COSC in terms of consumption, production and price. Furthermore, it develops a model to predict the international crude oil price during disease outbreaks using Random Forest (RF) regression.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A qualitative study is conducted using a literature review to explore the influential factors on COSC. All the data are extracted from Web sources. In addition to COVID-19, four other diseases are considered to optimize the accuracy of predictive results. A principal component analysis is deployed to reduce the number of variables. A forecasting model is developed using RF regression.FindingsThe findings of the qualitative analysis characterize the factors that influence international COSC. The findings of quantitative analysis emphasize that production and consumption have a higher contribution to the variance of the data set. Also, this study found that the impact caused to crude oil price varies with the region. Most importantly, the model introduced using the RF technique provides a high predictive ability in short horizons such as infectious diseases. This study delivers future directions and insights to researchers and practitioners to expand the study further.Originality/valueThis is one of the few available pieces of research which uses the RF method in the context of crude oil price forecasting. Additionally, this study examines international COSC in the events of emergencies, specifically disease outbreaks using machine learning techniques.

Embedding attributes towards the supply chain performance measurement

Dependency on the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model is inadequate in the context of sustainability, environment, and other multiple factors along with the changes in the market dynamics. As a result, performance evaluation through a holistic approach in the manufacturing industry is not comprehensive. Therefore, a Supply Chain Performance Measurement (SCPM) is required to assess the supply chain's effectiveness. This research formulates Integrated Supply Chain Performance Measurement (ISCPM) model through the supply chain performance attributes in the outlook of input-process-output considering the BSC and the SCOR model at three decisions levels with an application of quantitative techniques to bring synergic effect to all stakeholder issues. A gap analysis was performed through systematic literature reviews. The integrated supply chain performance measurement model incorporates ten supply chain performance measurement attributes supplier relationship management (SRM), internal supply chain management (ISCM), and customer relationship management (CRM). The model was then tested from the various sectors in the manufacturing industry of Bangladesh, through a simple random sampling. The ISCPM model furnishes stakeholders of the manufacturing supply chain with the appropriate strategies to review and appraise their performance toward fulfillment of the ultimate goals. This model is suggested to be implemented in manufacturing industries to improve their operational performance. The study contributes to academia developing the ISCPM model with ten performance measurement attributes that enrich the literature on SCPM. It also contributes to the industry for practitioners by bringing synergy into the framework and performance measurement attributes which eventually upgrade the prosperity of the manufacturing industry and eventually the society.

Where does the wood come from? A physical accounting model to trace the origin of wood-based products

In today's globalized world wood-based products are often imported from countries other than those where the wood was grown. Bilateral trade statistics are thus only of limited help for getting a better understanding of how production-related environmental impacts are caused by consumption elsewhere. This study presents a novel physical accounting model that allows flows of wood-based products to be traced along international supply chains, therefore making it possible to consistently relate the consumption of wood-based products to the origin of roundwood. In comparison to previous studies, the proposed method covers entire supply chains, including finished wood and paper products, such as furniture and printed matter, and also accounts for flows of processing residues and recovered paper. The main results of the accounting model are detailed country-by-country matrices indicating the locations of origin of the products consumed in a given nation. For instance, it is revealed that out of the finished wood products consumed in the USA in 2018, 75.6% originated domestically, 10.7% from neighbouring Canada and the remaining 13.7% from other countries. Potential applications and extensions of the presented approach are also discussed.

A Network DEA Approach for Performance Evaluation of Safety Supervision and Rescue Capability in the Port Waters of Changjiang MSA

In recent years, the global economic situation and the development of the international shipping industry have been deeply affected by COVID-19. Since 2021, China has gradually recovered its international shipping supply chain industry with the help of government policy support, and its GDP has grown by 8.1% year by year. Under this favorable macroeconomic background, the Yangtze River waterway transportation, with its good waterway conditions, has led to the continuous increase in transportation demands. However, while pursuing rapid economic growth, ensuring the navigation safety and rescue of ships in the waterway has been one of the key issues of concern for maritime divisions along the Yangtze River. Therefore, combined with the network date envelopment data (DEA) model, this study intends to construct a new set of performance evaluation models in line with their safety supervision and rescue capability based on the daily work characteristics of the Changjiang Maritime Safety Administration (MSA). The occurrence of disasters in their port areas has been taken into consideration as the key undesirable variable. This study hopes to screen out worthy pacesetter representatives, and further suggests more targeted improvement options for inefficient maritime authorities to facilitate more effective safety supervision in the future.

Using Time Series Analysis Forecast Post-Covid-19 Period Deep Sea Freight Transportation Index

This paper is a study to predict the trend of the Deep Sea Freight Transportation Index after the end of COVID-19 using ETS modeling in the context of the abnormal increase in the Deep Sea Freight Transportation Index due to the COVID-19 epidemic using time series analysis. The purpose of the study is to help international supply chain practitioners and shipping companies to make risk assessments in advance at the decision-making level. In the methodology section, the primary dataset used is the US Deep Sea Freight Transportation Index and the secondary dataset is the WTI Crude Oil Index. The forecast result is that the U.S. Deep Sea Freight Transportation Index will remain high for the next two years, and the WTI Crude Oil Index supports the accuracy of this forecast in its forecast plot based on its correlation with the Deep Sea Freight Transportation Index. Therefore, this study suggests that international supply chain operators and shipping operators should respond to the continued high ocean shipping costs in the next two years to avoid inventory risk and profit decline.

Enhancement of Supply Chain Control Tower to Reduce Inventory Parts of Heavy Equipment at PT XYZ

Introduction: As a leading heavy equipment distributor in Indonesia, PT XYZ is very concerned about after-sales service as an advantage compared to competitors. Keeping the service level based on target was accompanied by a decrease in working capital as one of the goals of PT. XYZ was establishing a tower in its supply chain concept. This research was conducted at PT. XYZ owns the largest market share of heavy equipment in Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to analyze the increase in the supply chain control tower in reducing the inventory of heavy equipment spare parts at PT. XYZ. Method: This research uses mixed methods, a stage of research combining two types of research methodologies, namely qualitative and quantitative. Result: The analysis results at SCOR level 1 show that all strategic metrics are below the set targets. So that at SCOR level 2, an in-depth analysis is carried out with Geographic maps and Thread diagrams that show potential problems in Enable Process (sE2), Plan Source (sP2) and Delivery (sD1) activities. Finally, the results of SCOR level 3 analysis using a fishbone diagram reveal that the root cause of the problem is a leak in internal company supply chain management. We recommend the enhancement of the supply chain control tower at PT XYZ. Conclusion: This Research primarily aims to evaluate the element supply chain control tower at PT XYZ as a stocked business product with SCOR Model 12.0. The result shows that the performance of the Supply Chain Control Tower in Tower Tanjung Area (TAD) does not achieve the target.

Public Management of Employment at the Level of Territorial Communities in the Context of Ensuring the Development of Rural Areas

United territorial communities were formed by voluntary unification of adjacent territorial communities of villages, towns, and cities. The availability, working conditions, and the level and quality of life of the population of rural communities significantly affect the development possibilities of rural areas. Problematic issues are the growth of unemployment, the demographic crisis, the intensive outflow of young people from the countryside, etc. The primary issue for anti-crisis public administration in rural areas (at the level of rural territorial communities and rural districts) is ensuring employment and self-employment of the population, increasing the level of labor income of the rural population. The low capacity of the labor market in rural territorial communities determines the need for the population to find work outside their place of residence and, in this connection, the presence of significant financial costs. The introduction of new types of activities and areas of employment for residents of the rural community must meet the needs of the market and be economically feasible, because otherwise public policy measures to support such types of employment will have a short-term nature and insignificant results. The tools of the public employment policy are: unemployment benefits, insurance of the population against job loss; assistance in professional training and retraining of personnel, conducting advanced training courses, organization and regulation of labor exchanges, public employment services; regulation of the wage level, regularization of the dismissal of employees; subsidies and benefits from tax accounting for entrepreneurs, regarding the creation of new and preservation of old jobs. Public management of employment at the level of the territorial community should be aimed at ensuring the possibility of effective economic activity of the residents of the community. At the same time, they should receive sufficient financial support to motivate work. This requires: creation of procurement points with a wide range of products with the participation of territorial communities; combining them into a procurement network; active cooperation with public administration bodies; networks of procurement points to international supply chains; ensuring their access to foreign food markets.

Leveraging supply chain disruption orientation for resilience: the roles of supply chain risk management practices and analytics capability

PurposeBuilding on the information processing perspective, the authors propose that both internal and external supply chain risk management (SCRM) practices play essential roles in mediating supply chain disruption orientation (SCDO) to exercise an influence on resilience. The authors also put forward analytics capability as an important moderator in the above-mediated relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected 170 match-paired questionnaires from Chinese firms to test our model. The authors further interviewed some managers to supplement key quantitative results.FindingsFirst, SCDO positively affects resilience via internal and external SCRM practices. Second, the mediating effects of internal and external SCRM practices are stronger when analytics capability is higher. Third, analytics capability positively moderates the positive effect of SCDO on SCRM practices. Meanwhile, it does not moderate the positive effect of SCRM practices on resilience.Research limitations/implicationsOur study contributes to SCRM-related and IT-related literature by considering the content, mediating mechanisms (i.e. internal and external SCRM practices) and boundary conditions (i.e. data analytic capability) of SCDO in shaping resilience in the digital supply chain.Practical implicationsOur study helps remind managers that firms build disruption orientation, develop different SCRM practices and leverage analytics capability to improve resilience amid unexpected and unplanned disruptions.Originality/valueOur study sheds light on the roles of both internal and external SCRM practices. Furthermore, this research helps explain how SCDO motivates resilience through SCRM practices, particularly for those firms that have higher analytics capability.

Responsible shipping for sustainable development: Adoption and performance value

Responsible shipping is attracting increasing attention in shipping industry, but a systematic analysis of its concept is scanty. Different stakeholders ranging from shippers and carriers to government and non-government associations have expressed worries and expectations about responsible consumption and production in shipping industry. This paper aims to advance the knowledge by exploring the adoption and performance value of responsible shipping practices. Using the concept analysis approach, we first construct a two-folder conceptual framework with strategic folder and practical folder considering the dual-role of shipping industry in servicing trade activities of the global economy. Accordingly, we carry out a two-way interpretation of responsible shipping in economic, environmental, social performance dimensions as well as supporting measures in resources and technological aspects at the strategic folder, and five processes (design, operations, management, governance, finance) at the practical folder. To examine the adoption and performance value of responsible shipping, we develop propositions concerning its implementation elements as well as the favorable conditions for adoption and the performance value. The framework provides insights to guide managers in shipping industry to design, plan, and implement responsible practices to meet the escalating public expectations for shipping operations in servicing international trade and global supply chain activities.

Can U.S. multi-state climate mitigation agreements work? A perspective from embedded emission flows

Subnational and non-governmental actors are expected to provide important contributions to broader climate actions. A consistent and accurate quantification of their GHG emissions is an important prerequisite for the success of such efforts. However, emissions embodied in domestic and international supply chains, that can undermine the effectiveness of climate agreements, add challenges to the quantification of emissions originating from theconsumption of goods and services produced elsewhere. We examine emission transfers between the states that have joined the U.S. Climate Alliance (USCA) and others. Our results show that states pledging to curb emissions consistent with the Paris Agreement were responsible for approximately 40% of total U.S. territorial GHG emissions. However, when accounting for transferred emissions through international and interstate supply chains of the products they consume, the share of Alliance states increased to 52.4% of the national total GHG emissions. The consumption-based emissions for some Alliance states, such as Massachusetts and New York, could be more than 1.5 times higher than their production-based emissions. Our detailed sectoral analysis highlights the challenges facing such agreements to extend cooperation in the future for larger joint benefit given the potential for carbon leakage from member states implementing stricter environmental policies that could lead to higher emissions from non-member states. It is critical for these arrangements to pay close attention to transferred emissions.

The impact of internal and external green supply chain management activities on performance improvement: evidence from the automobile industry

Although the significance of green supply chain management activities on corporation sustainable development has been highlighted in the literature, the potential inter-dependencies between these activities and corporation performance have not been investigated by considering cooperation moderation. The purpose of this research is to examine internal and external Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) activity on automobile performance: Environmental performance, operational performance, positive economic performance, and negative economic performance. Using survey data from foreign-owned company A with 117 manufacturing firms and domestic company B with 94 manufacturing firms, a significant relationship between GSCM and corporation performance has been found. For foreign-owned automobile companies, internal organizational activity has the greatest influence on operational performance, and promotes corporate value and corporation with outside. However, for domestic automobile companies with the advanced green concept, Eco-design exerts the biggest effect on environmental performance, and also brought a negative economic impact on corporate performance. Moreover, although both corporate social responsibility (CSR) and creating shared value (CSV) promotion could influence the corporation with consumers and suppliers, CSV promotion has a more positive influence on cooperation with consumers than that CSR. These findings have important implications for designing GSCM strategic plans for the automotive industry in developing countries.