Supply Chain Members Research Articles

ANALISIS RANTAI PASOK DAN RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM KETERTELUSURAN KOPI ROBUSTA BERBASIS ANDROID

Robusta coffee is the most widely cultivated coffee commodity in Indonesia. In the East Bolaang Mongondow Regency, the problem at the supplier level is limited market information, which makes the coffee beans' quality inconsistent, impacting the price and product quality image. This research aims to identify supply chain structure models and members, added value, and design a traceability system to support product quality validation. Robusta coffee supply chain participants and their interactions were identified at the Modayag coffee plantation in East Bolaang Mongondow. The data were collected through observations, interviews, and field studies. Supply chain analysis was performed using the Vorst method and the added value was calculated using the Hayami method. The traceability system design follows the system development lifecycle method. The findings indicate that the Robusta coffee supply chain in East Bolaang Mongondow Regency includes farmers, collector traders, processing plants, the retail industry, coffee roasteries, and consumers. Farmers profit from selling perfectly ripe wet coffee beans 42-43%, wet mixed coffee beans (8%), and dry mixed coffee beans 63-71%. A traceability system named Kinton was successfully developed and integrated with the Firebase database to store all information.

Value of blockchain for scope 3 carbon disclosure: The moderating role of data processing technologies

Disclosing carbon emissions in Scope 3 is essential for mitigating pollution and the associated environmental damage, and blockchain can enhance the disclosure. However, the effect of blockchain on Scope 3 carbon disclosure remains unclear due to a lack of empirical evidence. This paper investigates the value of blockchain for Scope 3 carbon disclosure and examines whether this value can be strengthened by integrating data processing technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and big data analytics (BDA). Drawing upon the coordination theory, we posit that blockchain as a recording and tracing technology can improve the coordination among supply chain members on collecting carbon emissions data, thereby facilitating firms' Scope 3 carbon disclosure. Furthermore, data processing technologies enable efficient utilization and management of the collected data, potentially coordinating with blockchain to enhance Scope 3 carbon disclosure. We test these relationships using regression analysis based on a sample of 422 observations for Chinese listed firms during 2021 and 2022. The results show that blockchain adoption is positively associated with a firm's Scope 3 carbon disclosure. In addition, adopting each of the three data processing technologies—AI, cloud computing, and BDA—further strengthens the positive relationship. This study contributes to academic knowledge and evidence on blockchain and sustainable supply chain management with practical suggestions for managing carbon emissions at the supply chain level through the combined adoption of blockchain and data processing technologies.

Sustainable additive manufacturing supply chains with a plithogenic stakeholder analysis: Waste reduction through digital transformation

The Additive Manufacturing (AM) industry is of paramount importance as means of personalized design capabilities by rapid prototyping, using exact amount of required materials avoiding waste, and applying Industry 4.0 technologies with digital transformation ability. The characteristics of AM are regarded as the prerequisites for sustainability in the manufacturing industry. However, there are limited papers discussing the stakeholders and sustainability objectives in a single comprehensive analysis. Hence, the purpose of this research is to identify the degree of each stakeholder to achieve the objective of sustainability in AM supply chain by proposing a novel Plithogenic Fuzzy MACTOR approach. Results reveal that the customers are in triggering position to shape entire AM supply chain as the demand generators. Workforce is a significant player in the AM supply chain by creating the design, manufacturing, marketing, and communicating to provide the collaborations in this business segment. Academia positions here a supportive role to enable the whole supply chain members in terms of delivering technological advancements, training people, and providing the workforce. The AM manufacturers and material / software / printer suppliers are the key players leading to the supply chain by producing the main business products. Thus, a practitioner can interpret its position in the AM supply chain and understand the requirements of sustainability points in detail. Besides, this study provides a theoretical contribution to the literature by extending the MACTOR analysis with Plithogenic sets via including a different uncertainty measure.

Demand Forecast Information Sharing in Low-Carbon Supply Chains

In view of the crucial role of consumer data concerning low-carbon preferences, a low-carbon supply chain was established, encompassing one manufacturer and one retailer. Both entities employed technological tools to predict consumer demand. This study assessed the profitability of supply chain participants under two strategies, “make-to-order” and “make-to-stock”, considering scenarios with and without demand forecast sharing information. Furthermore, we investigated how factors such as demand variability, forecast biases from the manufacturer and the retailer, and the forecast correlation coefficient affect the performance of the supply chain and the benefits of sharing information. Our findings indicate that the strategies of supply chain members remain unaffected by the chosen production models and that information sharing proves advantageous for the manufacturer and the retailer. Especially for manufacturers, profits in a “make-to-order” scenario surpass those in a “make-to-stock” scenario. Our numerical analysis showed that profits for the manufacturer and the retailer were consistently higher in scenarios where information was shared than in cases where it was not for “make-to-order” and “make-to-stock” strategies.

Policies for Selecting the Advance Selling Mode in a Supply Chain Considering Network Externalities

ABSTRACTThe marketing strategy of advance selling new products through e‐commerce channels is becoming increasingly popular among merchants and users. In advance selling on e‐commerce platforms, network externalities and the probability of consumer satisfaction with products are important factors affecting consumers' strategic behavior. This study considers network externalities and the probability of consumer satisfaction with products in the advance selling decision‐making problem in the supply chain. Using game theory and prospect theory, three scenario models—advance selling considering network externalities, advance selling without considering network externalities, and nonadvance selling—are designed to construct theoretical models for supply chain decision‐making. The optimal decision‐making problem of supply chain members is discussed. Furthermore, through a comparison of pricing, demand and profits, the impacts of advance selling with or without considering network externalities on the decisions of retailers and manufacturers are analyzed. By comparing the differences in decision‐making between manufacturers and retailers, the feasible area for advance selling under network externalities is obtained. Furthermore, through numerical experiments, the impacts of the strength of network externalities, and the probability of consumer satisfaction with products on the decision‐making of supply chains are analyzed.

The food industry supply chain: Synergy of environmental orientation and collaboration in implementing circularity

AbstractCircularity within supply chains can be realized through the seamless integration of ecological concerns into business strategies, coupled with stakeholder collaboration throughout the supply chain. A study of a supply chain aiming for circularity was conducted in a real setting for a renowned multinational company in the food processing industry to explore how environmental orientation shapes collaborative practices. The model was applied to reveal the significance of the circular practices that supply chain members follow within the case company. The interpretive ranking process (IRP) was further applied to rank the stakeholders in the supply chain of this company. Results reveal that raw material suppliers, farmers, customers, and volunteers occupy a significant position in implementing circularity in this supply chain. It is essential to provide incentives to suppliers in order to encourage them to adopt practices that promote circular supply chains. Simultaneously, local communities need to play an active role in implementing effective waste management practices. This case study underscores the critical imperative of nurturing a pro‐environmental mindset while fostering synergetic collaboration among stakeholders, thereby paving the path towards achieving circularity.

When two chains meet: Optimizing the design of blockchain-enabled supply chain networks

Applications of the blockchain technology are rapidly emerging across sectors. By redefining information flow, blockchain technology promises to instill trust among supply chain members, improve transaction efficiency, thus reshaping the structure and configuration of supply chains. The practical exploratory use of blockchain has shown immense potential in supply chain management. In order to explore the new changes brought by blockchain technology to supply chain network design issues, this study focuses on the supply chain network design problem in the context of blockchain technology. Specifically, we consider a supply chain network comprised of a number of distribution centers (DCs) and retailers. The operation of this physical network is supported by blockchain-based information infrastructure. As the interrelated relationship between these two networks, it is necessary to optimize them simultaneously to improve the profitability and information exchange level. We propose an objective function based on previous studies to maximize the profits of the entire supply chain network, with decision variables including DC locations, retailer assignment, inventory replenishment policy, and blockchain adoption level. At the same time, to characterize the interrelation between the two networks, the demand and certain cost parameters of the model become endogenous depending on the blockchain adoption level, which significantly increases the complexity of the solution algorithm. We reformulate the model and use the polymatroid cutting plane approach to address this issue. We conducted calculations and numerical analysis. The computational results show that the proposed method can solve practically sized problems, and integrating blockchain design reduces the system-wide cost. We discuss managerial insights based on a range of numerical studies and solve a case study using publicly available instance data.

Store brand entry with asymmetric cost information

This study conducts a research on the dominated-retailer’s establishment strategy of a store brand in a supply chain, in which the retailer possesses private knowledge of the store brand’s product cost, while the manufacturer is only informed about the distribution of this cost information. The store brand entry with asymmetric information initiates a signaling game between the chain members. Through comparing equilibrium outcomes, we find that the pooling equilibrium consistently prevails as the dominant equilibrium, suggesting that the informed retailer is reluctant to reveal the cost information to her national brand cooperative manufacturer. We also explore the influence of a retailer’s store brand entry on the national-brand manufacturer’s performance. The findings reveal that, with asymmetric cost information, mutually beneficial outcomes for all parties involved can be achieved by the establishment of a store brand. Furthermore, we delve into how the asymmetric cost information affects the performance of the chain members. Surprisingly, our findings demonstrate that asymmetric cost information may be desirable not only for retailer, but also for the less informed manufacturer under specific circumstances. This suggests the possibility of supply chain members reaching a mutual agreement on the structure of asymmetric cost information.

A Study on Remanufacturing Supply Chain Decision-Making Considering Greenness Under Carbon Trading Policy

The aim of this paper is to study the impact of carbon trading system and product greenness on remanufacturing strategy, so a Stackelberg game model is constructed to consider a remanufacturing supply chain consisting of a manufacturer and a third-party remanufacturer under carbon trading policy. Through theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, the relationship between decision variables such as product greenness, price of new products and remanufactured products is analyzed. It is found that: the level of carbon emission reduction is conducive to increase the price of new products and remanufactured products; under certain conditions, a stronger green market demand is conducive to increase the greenness of the products and the profits and prices of the remanufacturing supply chain members; an increase in the investment in green technology will lead to a decrease in the manufacturer's profit and the greenness of the products, and even reduce the price of the products under certain conditions; and under certain conditions, the carbon trading price is effective in regulating the price of new products and the price of the products. Under certain conditions, the carbon trading price can effectively regulate the price of new products and remanufactured products, while the greenness of products will decrease with the increase of carbon trading price.

Managing strategic inventories in a three-echelon supply chain of durable goods

Firms can hold strategic inventory to bargain with their suppliers about wholesale prices. In this paper, we model a three-echelon durable goods supply chain consisting of a supplier, a wholesaler, and a retailer, where the latter two firms can choose to hold strategic inventory. Our major findings are as follows. First, contrary to the literature, our study shows that the retailer's use of strategic inventory benefits all supply chain members, irrespective of whether the wholesaler holds strategic inventory. Second, the strategic inventories of the wholesaler and the retailer suppress each other when the holding cost is low. Otherwise, the retail strategic inventory can stimulate the wholesale strategic inventory. Third, after the retailer employs strategic inventory, introducing wholesale strategic inventory will harm each supply chain member. However, after the wholesaler employs strategic inventory, introducing retail strategic inventory can benefit all members. For the entire supply chain, holding strategic inventory exclusively at the retailer is optimal. Fourth, when product durability is high, the supplier may suffer from the wholesaler's strategic inventory. Additionally, the retailer's strategic inventory can solve the time inconsistency problem associated with durable goods. Finally, we extend our main model to consider multiple retailers and different holding costs. Our analysis confirms the robustness of our major findings and managerial insights.

Power battery modular innovation investment strategies with government subsidy policies

This paper investigates the closed-loop supply chain decisions of battery manufacturers considering innovation investments and different subsidy methods provided by the government. The analysis encompasses four scenarios: whether battery manufacturers engage in innovation investments and whether the government opts for technology R&D subsidies or production subsidies. The study finds that innovation investments by battery manufacturers can enhance the modularization level of batteries. The reward or penalty measures for recycling quality imposed on automobile manufacturers elevate the quality of battery recycling, and also increase the wholesale price of batteries and the retail price of automobiles. After implementing R&D and production subsidies, both the modularization level of batteries and the profits of supply chain members exceed those without subsidies, though these subsidies do not affect the quality of battery recycling. R&D subsidies more effectively promote innovation capacity and product quality among battery manufacturers, whereas production subsidies more significantly boost the profits of both battery manufacturers and automobile manufacturers. Therefore, subsidy measures should be tailored according to different stages of the power battery industry's development. Regardless of whether battery manufacturers invest in innovation or whether the government provides subsidies, collaboration between battery manufacturers and automobile manufacturers is essential to coordinate the closed-loop supply chain. The research findings offer valuable guidance for formulating subsidy policies in the new energy vehicle industry across different periods, and also provide theoretical insights for decision-making behaviors among related enterprises.

Coordination contract design for a two‐echelon supply chain considering risk aversion and yield uncertainties

AbstractThis study establishes a two‐echelon supply chain (SC) wherein the supplier and the manufacturer suffer from yield uncertainty, and the supplier has a risk‐averse attitude. The SC members’ optimal input quantity and order quantity are investigated. On this basis, the revenue‐sharing and subsidy contracts are introduced to achieve SC coordination. The findings indicate that the two contracts are valid on SC coordination, and there exists a one‐to‐one relationship between these two contracts. Moreover, the two contracts can achieve the same utility allocation between the SC members under specific conditions. Overall, our findings help the SC members develop more efficient cooperation mechanisms.

Social media usage and sustainable performance in manufacturing supply chains: exploring dynamic capabilities

Due to the global impact of COVID-19, businesses and supply chains worldwide have been disrupted, leading to challenges for manufacturing firms and customers. Social media usage (SMU) is a vital and valuable tool that builds customer-centric supply chains by effectively communicating large volumes of valuable data. This study examines the influence of social media usage on the development of dynamic capabilities, including supply chain sensing capabilities (SCSC), knowledge sharing capability (KSC), and social capital (SC), which are crucial for constructing agile and resilient supply chains that can effectively respond to dynamic and turbulent environments, ultimately enhancing sustainable business performance. To assess the proposed investigation model, data was gathered through a structured questionnaire administered to supply chain members currently engaged with manufacturing firms. The evaluation of the proposed hypotheses is carried out through the application of structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of this study offer empirical evidence supporting the proposition that SMU within manufacturing firms promotes the development of sensing capabilities, knowledge-sharing capability, and social capital. Furthermore, this study tests the moderation role of environmental dynamism in the relationship between social media use and sustainable business performance. This underscores the pivotal role played by SMU in facilitating the adaptation and responsiveness of the supply chain to dynamic and uncertain environments, thereby contributing to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of organizations.

Decision making and benefit analysis of closed-loop remanufacturing supply chain considering government subsidies

Remanufacturing closed-loop supply chain can effectively deal with the deterioration of environmental resources and the limited supply of resources as a part of circular economy. Government subsidies are an important factor to promote its development. In this paper, we consider a two-stage remanufacturing closed-loop supply chain, where the retailer is responsible for recycling, and the manufacturer will innovate in remanufacturing technology based on the extended producer responsibility system. The study constructs a Stackelberg game model with the manufacturer as a leader, and compares the different impacts of the two subsidy strategies on supply chain decisions (i.e., subsidies for investment in remanufacturing technology innovation and subsidies for the cost of remanufactured products). Numerical analyses are conducted to visualize the effects of subsidies on the decision-making of closed-loop supply chain members, environmental benefits, and social welfare. The findings indicate that when the level of subsidy is low, government subsidies for investment in remanufacturing technology innovation can accelerate the upgrading of remanufacturing technology, leading to higher environmental benefits and social welfare compared to subsidising the cost of remanufactured products. The results show that when the level of subsidy is high, government subsidies for remanufactured product costs, while yielding greater environmental benefits and social welfare compared to subsidies for investment in remanufacturing technology innovation, have a lesser impact on the advancement of remanufacturing technology.

Supply chain risk management (SCRM) process: an analysis in the aerospace industry

PurposeThe study analysed the aerospace industry, a traditionally important sector for the topic of risk management, from three complementary perspectives: the supply chain risks present in the sector, the mitigation strategies adopted to face them, and the characteristics (dimensions) observed in the SCRM process of aerospace companies.Design/methodology/approachThe research employed a quali–quantitative method: a survey was carried out, followed by interviews with professionals from companies belonging to different tiers of aerospace supply chains. Interviews helped to interpret the survey data and understand in more detail risk management in aerospace companies.FindingsThe study presents a panorama of the aerospace industry in terms of risk management. The sector’s turbulent environment is described as well as the strategies to prevent, minimise or postpone the impact of supply chain risks. In particular, ten dimensions that have been identified in the SCRM process of aerospace firms are discussed. These characteristics influence the objectives of this process and are related to resources, roles and responsibilities, incentives, development of competences and skills, scope (internal and external) and approaches to integrate decisions and actions in the context of the supply chain.Originality/valueArticles that address the SCRM process usually focus on the process steps, whereas this study investigated dimensions that transcend these steps but whose discussion in the literature is still fragmented. It also analysed a reference sector for the topic from a broader perspective than others available in the literature (supply chain risks, mitigation strategies and characteristics of the SCRM process). Supply chain members with relationships with each other were investigated, a desirable approach for SCRM but still under-explored. The study also answers calls for industry-specific studies and research on emerging countries.

Dynamic game research of food agricultural products supply chain based on blockchain traceability technology

PurposeFood quality and safety issues have always been imperative topics discussed by people. The anti-tampering of blockchain technology and the transparency of information make it possible to improve food traceability and safety quality. How to effectively apply blockchain traceability technology to food safety has great research significance for improving food safety and consumer quality trust.Design/methodology/approachThe paper aims to analyze the differences in product quality levels and market participants’ profits before and after the use of blockchain-driven traceability technology in the food agricultural product supply chain (SC) in the dynamic game frameworks of supplier-led and retailer-led modes, respectively, and explores the willingness, social welfare and consumer surplus of each member of the agricultural product SC to participate in the blockchain. Besides, We investigate the SC performance improvement with the mechanism of central centralized decision-making and revenue-sharing contract, compared to the SC performance in dynamic games.FindingsThe results are obtained as follow: The adoption of blockchain traceability technology can help improve the quality of food agricultural products, consumer surplus and social welfare, but the application and popularization of technology is hindered by traceability technology installment costs. Compared with the supplier leadership model, retailer-led food quality level, customer surplus and social welfare are higher.Research limitations/implicationsHow to effectively apply blockchain traceability technology to food safety has great research significance for improving food safety and consumer quality trust.Practical implicationsFood quality and safety issues have always been hot topics discussed by people. The anti-tampering of blockchain technology and the transparency of information make it possible to improve food traceability and safety quality.Social implicationsThe research results enrich the theories related to food safety and quality, and provide a valuable reference for food enterprises involved in the decision-making exploration of blockchain technology.Originality/valueBased on the characteristics of blockchain technology, the demand function is adjusted and the product loss risk of channel members is transferred through a Stackelberg game SC composed of agricultural products suppliers and retailers.Highlights:•We introduce two features of blockchain: quality trust and product information tracking.•The willingness of each member of the supply chain to use blockchain for product traceability was explored.•The overall traceability effect of the retailer-led blockchain is better than that of the manufacturer-led blockchain.•The cost of blockchain technology is a barrier to its adoption.•Blockchain brings higher consumer surplus and social welfare.

How does environmental policy affect operations and supply chain management: A literature review

Governments in many countries actively carry out various policies to tackle pollution problems sourced from operations and supply chain activities, aiming at reducing adverse environmental impact and promoting sustainable development. This study provides a comprehensive and well-structured review of research on operations and supply chain management within the context of environmental policy. Specifically, this study meticulously identifies 137 papers and presents the descriptive results of a bibliometric analysis on these papers. Afterwards, using a well-defined framework encompassing three types of policies and various levels of operational and supply chain management, the identified papers are further classified. For each classification, content analyses are conducted accordingly, delving into the diverse concerns and contributions of the reviewed papers from the perspectives of pricing, production planning, inventory and technology management, coordination and competition, recycling and remanufacturing activities, transportation decisions, and network design. Three aspects of sustainability performance are also considered in the analyses. Finally, this study provides future research directions from seven perspectives: research methodology, forms of regulation, dynamic games, types of contracts, sustainable target management, green behavior of supply chain members, and investment constraints. These insights in turn inform the development of policies and decision-making processes related to environmental sustainability.

Decision-making in closed-loop supply chains: Effects of government subsidies and risk aversion

Closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) play a crucial role in promoting sustainable resource management, yet their implementation faces challenges in balancing economic viability with environmental goals. While existing research has explored various aspects of CLSC operations, the interplay between government subsidies and risk-averse behavior of supply chain members remains understudied, particularly in systems involving third-party recyclers. This gap hinders the development of effective policies and management strategies for sustainable CLSCs. Herein, we employ a Stackelberg game-theoretic model to investigate decision-making processes in CLSCs under four distinct subsidy scenarios, incorporating risk aversion through mean-variance utility functions. Our results reveal that subsidy effectiveness significantly depends on remanufacturing costs and risk attitudes of supply chain participants. When remanufacturing costs are high, subsidizing third-party recyclers yields superior environmental and economic outcomes, whereas manufacturer subsidies prove more effective when these costs are low. Moreover, we identify critical thresholds in subsidy levels and risk aversion that alter decision-making patterns. These findings provide a framework for designing targeted subsidy policies and risk management strategies in CLSCs, advancing the field of sustainable supply chain management by offering nuanced insights into the complex dynamics between government interventions, risk preferences, and CLSC performance.

The evolution of two‐stage production and order equilibrium in a random yield supply chain with demand information updating

AbstractThe mismatch between production, order, and demand seriously affects supply chain performance. However, most research focus on the mismatch between the retailer's order and customer's demand, which ignores the influence of the supplier's random yield on supply chain members' decision‐making. This paper investigates a two‐stage optimization problem within a two‐echelon supply chain, featuring a supplier with random yield and a retailer updating demand information in real‐time. Faced with a long production lead time, the retailer can either place advance orders at the production season's onset (first‐stage advance order) or opt for instant orders at the beginning of the sales season (second‐stage instant order). To ensure timely order fulfillment, the supplier initially employs a cost‐effective regular production mode with random yield during the production season. If yields are insufficient during sales, a pricier emergency production mode with guaranteed output becomes available. Utilizing a dynamic programming approach, we formulate the two‐stage optimization problem to derive optimal production and order decisions. Our analysis uncovers how realized random yield and stochastic market signals influence emergency production and instant order quantities in the second stage. We compare expected profits in scenarios with perfect and imperfect market signals, probing the members' preferences regarding order strategies. An intriguing finding emerges: as instant wholesale prices rising, the supplier's preferred order strategy diverges from the retailer. By strategic adjustments to the instant wholesale price, we demonstrate the potential for unanimous agreement on preferred order strategies among supply chain members — a quality enhancing the chain's flexibility and performance. Moreover, we extend the model to hybrid order strategies and identify conditions for unanimous preference among the three strategies. To bolster our theoretical findings, we provide numerical examples, lending practical support to our study.

Coordination of a socially responsible two-stage supply chain under random yield and demand

This study integrates corporate social responsibility (CSR) and channel coordination in a supply chain (SC) under random yield and random demand. In the SC, a supplier with random yield determines wholesale price and production input, and a producer with CSR decides order quantity and CSR investment facing CSR-related random demand. For centralized SCs with and without CSR, we prove the unimodality of the expected profits of the SCs for generic random yield and demand, and show the uniqueness of optimal ratio of order quantity to production input quantity. We disclose that the optimal expected profit of the SC with CSR is larger than that of the SC without CSR, and the profit difference increases with CSR effort and expected yield. We also find that the optimal CSR investment increases with the expected yield. Subsequently, the Nash equilibrium solutions of decentralized SCs under wholesale price and revenue-sharing contracts are analyzed. Next, we present a revenue and CSR sharing contract to realize channel coordination and win-win of SC members and related stakeholders. Lastly, we verify theoretical statements of centralized and decentralized SCs versus three numerical examples, and present managerial insights for the effect of yield uncertainty and CSR effort.