Supply Chain Safety Research Articles

Effects of economic drivers on work health and safety in global supply chains: A discussion of the effectiveness of regulatory strategies and their economic contexts

Abstract Outlining the economic significance of the role of global supply chains (GSCs) in the organisation of the global economy, this paper initially presents some indications of health and safety outcomes in low- and middle-income counties (LMICs) where GSCs source much of the production destined for use in advanced economies. It goes on to discuss the operational dynamics of these chains and the corporate priorities that they reflect, which, it argues, do little to improve the poor work health and safety (WHS) outcomes in LMICs. It then examines evidence for the effectiveness of various private and public regulatory strategies that are claimed to bring about improved health and safety practices and outcomes among GSC suppliers in these countries. The paper critically evaluates this evidence and argues that, while there may be some examples of effective strategies and regulatory practices in particular contexts, their overall influence remains limited. It identifies and discusses the principal reasons for these limitations and concludes that the global regulation of conditions of labour – including WHS – at the end of GSCs falls well short of universal best practice and is, more generally, insufficient to counter the economic forces working against the maintenance of adequate standards of worker protection.

Ensuring Food Safety through Effective Supply Chain Management:Challenges and Suggestions

Ensuring food safety is a complex challenge exacerbated by the global nature of modern supply chains. Effective supply chain management plays a crucial role in safeguarding food. This paper explores the concerns of food safety that causes by unethical food supply chain. Case studies from both developed and developing regions illustrate successful initiatives and highlight lessons learned. The role of collaboration among stakeholders—producers, processors, distributors, regulators, and consumers—is emphasized as crucial for effectively managing risks and ensuring compliance with safety standards throughout the supply chain. This essay examines how supply chain issues affect food safety through three case studies: China’s oil scandal mixing edible and chemical oils, the 2022 U.S. peanut butter recall due to salmonella contamination, and antibiotic-contaminated Vietnamese shrimp amid Japan’s nuclear water release. Each case underscores the impact on public health and trust. By examining three current cases, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how ineffective supply chain management can create food safety risks and reduce consumer confidence in the safety and integrity of the food supply chain and suggest possible course of action.

Artificial Intelligence-Powered Risk Assessment in Supply Chain Safety

The increasing complexity and globalization of supply chains necessitate robust risk management strategies to ensure safety and resilience. Traditional risk assessment methods often fall short in dynamically adapting to the rapidly changing conditions and voluminous data inherent in modern supply chains. This study explores the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered risk assessment to address these limitations in the context of Malaysia's supply chain industry. By employing AI technologies such as machine learning, IoT, and predictive analytics, organizations can significantly enhance their risk management capabilities, improving predictive accuracy, real-time monitoring, and overall operational efficiency. Through a qualitative analysis involving in-depth interviews with supply chain managers, AI experts, and technology vendors, the study identifies the strategies employed for AI integration, the perceived effectiveness of these technologies, and the challenges faced in implementation. The findings highlight the importance of robust data governance, the development of explainable AI models, and continuous skill development to overcome barriers related to data quality, model interpretability, and high implementation costs. The study concludes with recommendations for fostering a safer and more resilient logistics environment in Malaysia, emphasizing the need for comprehensive AI adoption frameworks and scalable solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Antimicrobial resistance and genotypic attributes of virulence among Vibrio spp. isolated from Japanese retail seafood

Bacterial diseases caused by Vibrio spp. are a significant impediment to the aquaculture industry owing to difficult-to-treat infections and mortality in farmed animals, affecting socioeconomic development. This study aimed to evaluate the role of Japanese retail seafood in the production of antimicrobial-resistant Vibrio spp. and pathogenic factors. One hundred seafood samples purchased from various retail supermarkets in Hiroshima, Japan, were examined using microbiological, phenotypic, and molecular techniques. One hundred and twenty-eight Vibrio isolates belonging to more than 11 species were identified and characterized. Among the 100 samples, 26 (26 %) tested positive for Vibrio spp. with antimicrobial resistance, while 44 (44 %) were positive for those carrying virulence determinants. Out of 128 isolates, V. alginolyticus was predominant (38 %), followed by V. parahaemolyticus (29 %), V. neocaledonicus (7.0 %), V. cholerae (6.3 %), among others. For virulence gene assessment, only six of the 10 virulence attributes, tlh (34.4 %), VPI (29.7 %), ompW (7.0 %), toxR (5.5 %), hlyA (3.9 %), and ompU (3.1 %), were detected in the isolates. tcpA, ctxA, ctxB, and tdh are absent. Eight V. cholerae isolates of international origin were VPI-positive, seven of which harbored the toxR regulon and other virulence genes. The blaTEM resistance gene was identified in V. alginolyticus (22 isolates). All 46 antimicrobial resistance gene-harboring isolates were phenotypically susceptible to cephalosporins, aztreonam, meropenem, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and ciprofloxacin. Ampicillin resistance was the highest (91.3 %), followed by colistin (30.4 %) and fosfomycin (15.2 %). The multiple-antibiotic resistance index ranged from 0.2 to 0.47, suggesting that some isolates originate from high-risk contamination sources. Our results shed light on the incidence of potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. and highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring to improve food safety in the seafood supply chain. These findings will be useful for developing microbiological risk assessments for retail seafood management.

Enhancing work safety behavior through supply chain safety management in small and medium sized manufacturing suppliers.

Enhancing work safety behaviors among Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Suppliers (SMMs) is crucial for establishing a more secure and efficient supply chain. Since the foundation of safety lies in positive prevention, it is crucial that SMMs adopt proactive and pro-social work safety behaviors that transcend mere compliance with standard regulations. Present-day diversified supply chain safety management apply varying degrees of pressures on SMMs. The effectiveness of such pressures, as well as their potential to spawn advanced safety behaviors in SMMs, is a matter of investigation. This research investigates the impact of Supply Chain Safety Management Pressure(SCSMP) on the SMMs' Work Safety Behaviors(WSB). A theoretical framework is constructed, grounded in institutional theory and theory of planned behavior, which earmarks three distinct dimensions of SCSMP: Coercive Pressure(CP), Mimetic Pressure(MP), and Normative Pressure(NP). The survey of 265 SMMs facilitated an assessment of the SMMs' Willingness for Responses(WR), which includes their Willingness for Adaptive Responses(WAR) and Willingness for Co-creative Responses(WCR). Subsequently, the resulting WSB entail Safety Compliance Behavior(SCB), Proactive Safety Behavior(PSB), and Pro-social Safety Behavior(PsSB). Among these, SCB is categorized as a basic safety behavior, while PSB and PsSB which emphasize voluntary, active, and cooperative actions, are classified as advanced safety behaviors. Our research findings underscore the substantial influence of the SCSMP in shaping WSB. WR serves as a critical intermediary, connecting external pressures with internal organizational practices. In particular, WCR is instrumental in the formation of advanced safety behavior. The theoretical contribution of this research is manifested in its enhancement of our comprehension regarding the determinants of WSB among SMMs. Furthermore, it addresses the literature gap in elucidating the effectiveness of supply chain safety management and the mechanisms behind the formation of WSB. The practical significance lies in elevating the overall safety standards throughout the supply chain and minimizing safety-related hazards among SMMs.

Research on the Impact of Multi-Agent Information Traceability on Quality and Safety of Agricultural Product Supply Chain Under Blockchain

Research on the Impact of Multi-Agent Information Traceability on Quality and Safety of Agricultural Product Supply Chain Under Blockchain

RAISING PIGS WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS PATH TO SUSTAINABLE SWINE PRODUCTION

The aim of the article is to introduce the issue of pig raising systems without antibiotics on farms aiming to produce high-quality pork sought by consumers. The article presents a pig raising system without antibiotics as one of the ways to achieve sustainability of this production direction on the example of farms in Wielkopolska, taking into account production and economic aspects. The research is exploratory and contributes to further in-depth economic analyses. The analysis of the literature on the subject revealed an existing research gap in this area including, among others: in the field of agricultural economics. The source of factual knowledge was data obtained from the AgroIntegracia Wieprzowina consortium. The research proved that running a pig raising system without antibiotics, although it requires the introduction of specific technological and sanitary regimes, is satisfactory for farms in terms of both production and economic performance, although it requires them to take a holistic approach to production, i.e. oriented towards both animal genetics, animal productivity and overall welfare. The implementation of systems for raising pigs without antibiotics can contribute not only to improving the safety of the pork supply chain, but also to shortening it.

Study on Influencing Factors of Grain Supply Chain Resilience Based on DEMATEL-ISM Method

The essential requirement for the resilience and safety of the food industry supply chain is to achieve independent, controllable, safe, efficient, and sustainable development. Currently, and for a significant period in the future, the food industry supply chain faces several risks, primarily due to increased uncertainties. These risks manifest as the need for optimization in the layout of the food industry, prominent structural shortages, and a lack of full autonomy and control in key links of the industry chain. Such risks can potentially evolve into critical factors that restrict the resilience and security of the food industry supply chain. To effectively address these risks, this paper identifies 12 influencing factors based on four key capabilities of the food supply chain: forecasting ability, response-ability, adaptation ability, and recovery ability. An evaluation index system for the resilience of the food supply chain is constructed, integrating the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) methodologies. Analysis of the interactions between these factors reveals that three factors, including supply chain visibility, are fundamental, seven factors, including the level of agricultural mechanization, are intermediate, and dynamic logistics and flexibility are direct factors. Based on these conclusions, this paper proposes several targeted recommendations to enhance the development of the food supply chain. These recommendations aim to improve the supply chain's resilience and ability to withstand potential risks.

Safety-driven design of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) supply chains: A multi-objective optimization approach

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage supply chains (CCUS) play a pivotal role in achieving sustainability targets but necessitate meticulous risk identification and mitigation measures. Traditional safety assessments often occur post-design, constraining proactive risk management efforts. Hence, there is a pressing need to optimize safety performance during the design stages. To address this challenge, a framework for evaluating and optimizing CCUS supply chain safety performance using inherent safety index system (ISI) is introduced. Recognizing the trade-offs between total cost, environmental impact reduction, and risk mitigation, our approach considers multi-objective optimization to concurrently address these sustainability objectives and generate a Pareto set of solutions. Utilizing the augmented ε-constraint method, we applied this framework to optimize CCUS networks and develop sustainable designs across three key objectives. The method was applied to a CCUS system that includes various CO2 utilization pathways to minimize the total annual cost, CO2 emissions, and safety risks. The resulting Pareto surface illustrates unique network configurations, each representing a distinct trade-off scenario. Through a case study, we optimized a CCUS network to achieve economic, environmental, and safety objectives. The most economically viable design, with a total annual cost of $97 million and a 40 % net carbon reduction, prioritizes CO2 utilization for value-added products, while limiting CO2 sequestration. Conversely, safety-focused designs shift utilization towards safer routes, including CO2 sequestration and algae production. The proposed framework offers a systematic approach to developing sustainable CCUS supply chain designs, balancing economic viability, environmental sustainability, and safety.

Blockchain implementation for food safety in supply chain: A review.

Food safety has emerged as the topmost priority in the current fast-paced food industry era. According to the World Health Organization, around 600 million people, approximately 1 in 10 individuals worldwide, experience illness due to contaminated food consumption, resulting in nearly 0.42 million fatalities annually. The recent development in software and hardware sectors has created opportunities to improve the safety concerns in the food supply chain. The objective of this review is to explain the fundamentals of blockchain and its integration into the supply chain of various food commodities to enhance food safety. This paper presents the analysis of 31 conceptual works, 10 implementation works, 39 case studies, and other investigations in blockchain-based food supply chain from a total of 80 published papers. In this paper, the significance of adapting conceptual ideas into practical applications for effectively tracing food commodities throughout the supply chain has been discussed. This paper also describes the transformative role of blockchain platforms in the food industry, providing a decentralized and transparent ledger to access real-time and immutable records of a product's journey. In addition, both the positive impacts and challenges associated with implementing blockchain technology in the food supply chain have been evaluated. In summary, the blockchain-based food supply chains offer greater transparency, traceability, and trust, ultimately resulting in higher standards of food safety and quality.

In situ growth of curcumin-loaded cellulose composite film for real-time monitoring of food freshness in smart packaging

Visual pH-responsive packaging material is particularly important in food supply chain safety monitoring due to their non-destructive monitoring method and intuitive result. However, it has always been limited by the instability performance of pH-response components and carriers, which further hinders its wide food safety application. To address these challenges, we selected cellulose with remarkable biocompatibility and mechanical properties as the carrier, and high pH-responsive curcumin to develop a smart packaging material (RC/GC composite film) with real-time food safety monitoring. Compared with pure cellulose film, the RC/GC composite film exhibited excellent mechanical properties (4-fold enhancement) and thermal stability (100 °C increasing). Meanwhile, based on the first reported strategy of curcumin in-situ growth during cellulose film formation, the RC/GC composite film exhibited exceptional antioxidant activity (89.2 %), antimicrobial property (91.6 %), and significant pH-responsive sensitivity (within 15 s). This innovative approach offers a new strategy for easy-to-use and effective monitoring of food spoilage in packaging materials.

Designing and implementing a resilient immutability mechanism for enhanced supply chain management in E-healthcare systems

Counterfeit drugs pose significant health risks due to their variable efficacy and potential harmful ingredients. To combat this issue, a reliable and secure track-and-trace system is essential for pharmaceutical supply chains. This paper proposes an Immutable and Decentralized Pharma (IDP) model, leveraging blockchain technology to ensure the safe and efficient distribution of medications. The IDP model utilizes smart contracts to record transactions between entities onto a blockchain, enabling end-to-end product tracking and provenance. Experimental results on a polygon blockchain test network demonstrate the feasibility and enhanced security of the IDP model in a collaborative environment. Our solution addresses the challenges of data privacy, openness, and authenticity inherent in centralized track-and-trace systems, providing a promising approach to eliminate counterfeits and guarantee product safety in pharmaceutical supply chains.

Uprising Smart Technology Based Solutions: Food Safety and Traceability in the Cold Supply Chain through Digital Technologies

Uprising Smart Technology Based Solutions: Food Safety and Traceability in the Cold Supply Chain through Digital Technologies

Enhancing Supply Chain Safety and Security: A Novel AI-Assisted Supplier Selection Method

The "Make or Buy” decision and the supplier selection are critical steps for the efficient operation of companies' supply chains. Safety and security are paramount considerations, especially in industries like logistics, where supply chains are vulnerable to external threats and disruptions. In this scientific article, we present a novel Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted supplier selection method that significantly enhances the safety and security of suppliers. During our research project, we have created an expert system and a corresponding knowledge base with the relevant rules to support supply chain decision-makers in selecting logistics service providers for warehousing services. The foundation of the AI-assisted supplier selection method is advanced data analytics and the application of expert systems, enabling companies to evaluate potential suppliers in detail from a safety and security perspective. The applied expert systems can identify potential risks and make predictions about supplier performance in the future. In the turbulent environment of the global supply chain, selecting long-term partners like warehousing services providers is critical for the success of the organization. A wrong supplier selection can hardly be reversed in warehousing services, as the cost of change is usually high. The article demonstrates the practical application of the expert system-assisted supplier selection method in a real-world supply chain environment and thoroughly analyzes the achieved results and advantages. The results show that the expert system-assisted method not only increases supplier safety and security but also contributes to improving the efficiency and sustainability of the supply chain. This article provides valuable guidance and solutions for companies looking to enhance their supplier selection using expert system technologies, thereby increasing the safety and security of their supply chains.

Internet of Things (IoT) and its Utilisation in Marine Logistics

The marine logistics industry is the backbone of global trade, responsible for the transport of more than 90% of goods traded worldwide. However, the industry faces challenges in terms of improving efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring supply chain security and visibility. The Internet of Things (IoT), which refers to a network of physical devices, vehicles, and other objects equipped with sensors, software, and internet connectivity, is emerging as a potential solution to address these issues. This research aims to explore the role and utilization of IoT in improving the performance of the marine logistics industry. The methodology used includes a comprehensive literature review, in-depth interviews with industry experts, and case study analyses of IoT implementations in marine logistics companies. The results revealed several opportunities and benefits from IoT implementation, such as real-time container and cargo tracking, efficient vessel fleet management, route optimization and logistics planning, and improved supply chain security and safety. However, IoT implementation also faces challenges related to data security, interoperability, investment costs, and regulation. This research provides in-depth insights into how IoT can be leveraged to optimize marine logistics operations and improve industry competitiveness, as well as recommended solutions to overcome the challenges faced.

Veterinary Drug Residues in the Food Chain as an Emerging Public Health Threat: Sources, Analytical Methods, Health Impacts, and Preventive Measures.

Veterinary medications are necessary for both contemporary animal husbandry and food production, but their residues can linger in foods obtained from animals and pose a dangerous human risk. In this review, we aim to highlight the sources, occurrence, human exposure pathways, and human health effects of drug residues in food-animal products. Following the usage of veterinary medications, pharmacologically active compounds known as drug residues can be found in food, the environment, or animals. They can cause major health concerns to people, including antibiotic resistance development, the development of cancer, teratogenic effects, hypersensitivity, and disruption of normal intestinal flora. Drug residues in animal products can originate from variety of sources, including water or food contamination, extra-label drug use, and ignoring drug withdrawal periods. This review also examines how humans can be exposed to drug residues through drinking water, food, air, and dust, and discusses various analytical techniques for identifying these residues in food. Furthermore, we suggest some potential solutions to prevent or reduce drug residues in animal products and human exposure pathways, such as implementing withdrawal periods, monitoring programs, education campaigns, and new technologies that are crucial for safeguarding public health. This review underscores the urgency of addressing veterinary drug residues as a significant and emerging public health threat, calling for collaborative efforts from researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions that ensure the safety of the global food supply chain.

Development and validation of a HPLC method simultaneously assisted with diode array and evaporative light scattering detection for the quantification of clinical mAb infusion bags in hospital pharmacy

To secure the supply chain of the monoclonal antibody (mAb) standardized infusion bags, a reversed phase (RP) HPLC analytical method assisted with a diode array detector (DAD) and an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) was implemented in the pharmacy department of the university hospital center of Besançon (UHCB). For a well-defined batch, the concordance between the two detections evaluated using the Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) (Lin’s CCC = 0.9858) and a Bland–Altman plot was excellent. The analytical quantification of the different dose-banded (DB) of the infusion bags prepared in advance were achieved using this new reversed HPLC-DAD/ELSD analytical method in less than 4 min. For a same batch of mAbs, DAD generated nearly uniform response and showed a slightly superior accuracy than did ELSD. Their agreement in terms of calculated dose is excellent. In the event of a breakdown of one of the two detectors, this allowed the mAb infusion bags to continue to be monitored and thus improved the drug supply chain safety. As well our optimized method was able to monitor degradation mAbs created by accidental stress during the time period of stockage.

The challenge of improving work health and safety in global supply chains: Institutions and evidence of effectiveness

The challenge of improving work health and safety in global supply chains: Institutions and evidence of effectiveness

Identification & Evaluation of Distribution Risk in Food Supply Chain in Zomato

The rapid growth of the food delivery industry has transformed the way consumers access food, with platforms like Zomato playing a pivotal role in facilitating this change. However, this growth has also brought forth various challenges, particularly in ensuring the efficiency and safety of the food supply chain. Distribution risks, encompassing factors such as delays, quality issues, and disruptions, pose significant threats to the smooth flow of food from suppliers to consumers. This research project aims to identify and evaluate distribution risks in the food supply chain of Zomato, shedding light on potential vulnerabilities and proposing strategies for mitigation.

Research of blockchain-embedded agricultural quality credit regulation influencing factors

PurposeThe credit of agricultural product quality and safety reflects the ability of the main actors involved in the supply chain to provide reliable agricultural products to consumers. To fundamentally solve the problem of agricultural product quality and safety, it is worth studying how to make the credit awareness and integrity self-discipline of the supply chain agriculture-related subjects strengthened and the role and value of credit supervision given full play. Starting from the application of blockchain in the agricultural product supply chain, this paper aims to investigate the main factors affecting the credit regulation of agricultural product quality.Design/methodology/approachUsing the DEMATEL-ISM (decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory–interpretative structural modeling) method, we analyze the credit influencing factors of agricultural quality and safety empowered by blockchain technology, find the causal relationship between the crucial influencing factors and deeply explore the hierarchical transmission relationship between the influencing factors. Then, the path analysis in structural equation modeling is utilized to verify and measure the significance and effect value of the transmission relationship among the crucial influencing factors of credit regulation.FindingsThe results show that the quality and safety credit regulation of agricultural products is influenced by a combination of direct and deep influencing factors. Long-term stable cooperative relationship, Quality and safety credit evaluation, Supply chain risk control ability, Quality and safety testing, Constraints of the smart contract are the main influence path of blockchain embedded in agricultural product supply chain quality and safety credit supervision.Originality/valueCredit supervision is an important means to improve the ability and level of social governance and standardize the market order. From the perspective of blockchain embedded in the agricultural supply chain, the regulatory body is transformed from the product body to the supply chain body. Take the credit supervision of supply chain subjects as the basis of agricultural product quality supervision. With the help of blockchain technology to improve the effectiveness of agricultural product quality and safety credit supervision, credit supervision is used to constrain and incentivize the behavior of agricultural subjects.