Stages Of Supply Chain Research Articles

A Fuzzy–Rough MCDM Approach for Selecting Green Suppliers in the Furniture Manufacturing Industry: A Case Study of Eco-Friendly Material Production

Green supplier selection is always one of the most important challenges in all of supply chain management, especially for production companies. The purpose is to have reliable suppliers which can fulfill all requests and be flexible in any supply chain stage. The aim of this paper is to create an adequate and strong MCDM (multicriteria decision making) model for the evaluation and selection of suppliers in a real environment. The main contribution of this study is proposing a novel fuzzy–rough MCDM model containing extension stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) and additive ratio assessment (ARAS) methods with fuzzy–rough numbers (FRN). The integrated FRN SWARA–FRN ARAS model was implemented in a case study of eco-friendly material production. The FRN SWARA method was used to calculate the weights of 10 green criteria, while using FRN ARAS, 6 suppliers were evaluated. The results of the applied model show that supplier S3 received the highest ranking, followed by supplier S2, while supplier S5 performed the poorest. In order to verify the strengths of the developed fuzzy–rough approach, we created a comparative analysis, sensitivity analysis, and dynamic matrix, which confirm the robustness of our model.

Trade drives leakage of life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions from plastics in China over 2010–2021

Trade drives increased life-cycle carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and carbon leakage from plastics, increasing the environmental burden on the supply chain. Therefore, assessing the characteristics and drivers of plastic carbon emissions will help develop emission reduction strategies from a supply chain perspective. In this study, we present a model framework for life-cycle assessment, optimized input-output analysis, and structural decomposition analysis. Specifically, for the first time, we assess the life-cycle CO2 emissions of plastics in China, the world's largest producer and consumer, and consider the input, production, consumption, and income stages of the plastic supply chain. China's plastic CO2 emissions increased by 38.07% from 2010 to 2021 and, under a business-as-usual path, will consume 4.2–5.4% of the global carbon budget by 2050. From a supply chain perspective, each economic sector assumes different responsibilities for emissions at different stages. Despite increasing emissions, China's economic structure has potentially improved the embodied carbon leakage from the intersectoral and international trade in plastics. Furthermore, regarding socioeconomic factors, the levels of final demand (63%) and primary input (61%) dominated the increase in plastic CO2 emissions from 2012 to 2020, and the intensity of emissions was the key to reducing emissions. The novelty of this study is that the model we proposed can solve the data limitations of the global plastics supply chain and focuses for the first time on the input and income stages and their drivers.

Product specifications and business practices as food loss drivers – A case study of a retailer's upstream fruit and vegetable supply chains

The issue of food loss and waste is vital for minimising resource consumption and CO2 emissions. In particular, reducing fruit and vegetable loss and waste would contribute to keeping the food system within planetary boundaries. At the same time, food loss occurrence from primary production up to the store is underestimated and receives relatively little scientific and political attention. This case study focuses on specific food loss drivers, namely retailers' quality standards and business practices. It provides answers to the questions of how and to which extent standards and practices of the large German retailing company Lidl induce food loss in the upstream supply chain of 12 fruit and vegetable crops. To this end, we conducted qualitative interviews with supply chain actors, followed by an online survey with Lidl suppliers from Germany, Italy, and Spain. Our results indicate that, on average, 15% of the total production in the field ready for harvest does not comply with the retailer's product requirements. While most of it is marketed elsewhere, around 6% of the total production become food loss (non-harvest, animal feed, disposal, non-food items) as a direct consequence of these requirements. Retailer-specific pesticide residue limits and calibre (mass and size) followed by shape and sorting requirements are the most relevant product standards inducing food loss. The retailer's business practices such as insufficiently synchronised advertisement campaigns, return deliveries, short-notice quantity call-offs and improvable quantity planning and ordering processes add onto this. Many suppliers do not view the retailer-specific product requirements and practices as drivers of food loss and report low shares of substandard products. However, methodological constraints must be considered, such as potential selection biases, underreporting in questionnaire surveys and the study focus on suppliers rather than upstream primary producers. From this study, concrete recommendations can be drawn for retailers to adjust and handle their product requirements and business practices in order to prevent food loss at upstream supply chain stages.

P29-011-23 Structural Missingness and Algorithmic Bias in Supply Chain Stage and Food Product Records of Foodborne Disease Outbreaks: The National Outbreak Reporting System, 2009-2019

P29-011-23 Structural Missingness and Algorithmic Bias in Supply Chain Stage and Food Product Records of Foodborne Disease Outbreaks: The National Outbreak Reporting System, 2009-2019

Medicines Wastage and Its Contributing Factors in Public Health Facilities of South Gondar Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia.

In developing countries like Ethiopia, medicines wastage becomes a major healthcare system challenge. However, data that displayed the type, extent, and contributing factors of medicines wastage were limited. A health facility-based explanatory sequential mixed study was conducted from December 2021 to February 2022. One drug and therapeutics committee (DTC) and one store man per health facility, working during the study period were included for their perception of medicines wastage and possible causes. As key informants, 1 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and 1pharmacy head were also included per facility. In total, 80 participants were included in this study. The quantitative data to determine the magnitude of medicine wastage were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The overall medicines wastage in the three consecutive years was 6.3%. The trend over the three years indicated that medicines wastage is 6.5%, 5.9%, and 6.5% in 2011, 2012, and 2013 Ethiopian Fiscal Year (EFY), respectively. The medicine wastage rate has been increasing nearly by 3% between 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. The main sources of wastage of medicines were expiry (99.3%). The perceived reasons for such medicine's wastage were near-expiry medicines (<6 months) being delivered to the health facilities by suppliers, poor communication and coordination with key stakeholders, and the presence of overstocked medicines due to improper forecasting of need in the facilities. There is an excessive rate of medicines wastage which needs immediate mitigation by exchanging nearly expired medicines with other health facilities, communicating with suppliers and even prescribers, using auditable pharmaceutical transactions and services (APTS), providing continuous training, pursuing quality and safetymedicines reuse scheme, implementation of pharmacist waste-reducing activities in all stages of the pharmaceutical supply chain, reducing medication amounts in stock, and through the use of electronic stock management tools.

Prevalence, isolation and identification of histamine forming bacteria in selected stages of supply chain of Yellowfin tuna export industry in Sri Lanka

This study aimed to identify histamine-forming bacteria (HFB) and the sources of introduction of such bacteria to recommend control measures to mitigate histamine formation in yellowfin tuna (YFT). Field samples were collected from multi-day boats that landed at Dikkowita, Negombo, Trincomalee and Dondra fishery harbours. Ice from the fish holds (n=63) and chill transport vehicles (n=63), and swabs from the fish holds (n=63), the boat decks (n=63) and the skin of YFT (n=63) were collected. Fish loin samples (n=15), ice samples (n=36) and swabs from the skin of YFT (n=18), floor (n=18) and chill transport vehicles (n=18) were collected from fish processing plants. Presumptive HFB isolated from Nivens medium and Violet Red Bile Glucose (VRBG) agar were screened for histamine forming ability in Tripticase soy broth (TSB) supplemented with 1.0% L-histidine. HFB isolates were characterized by sequencing approximately 1400 bp of the 16S rDNA. Seven isolates that produced histamine in the range of 3000–4000 ppm in TSB isolated from ice samples, and a swab sample collected from the boat deck, were confirmed as Klebsiella aerogens (n=6) and Morganella morganii (n=1) respectively. Hafnia alvei (n=1), Serratia sp. (n=2), Citrobacter freundii (n=1), Rahnella sp. (n=1) and Aeromonas salmonicida (n=8) were also among the isolated histamine forming bacteria. Pseudomonas sp. (n=24) and Shewanella baltica (n=7), which are known as spoilage bacteria were also isolated and showed weak histamine formation. Hence, it is evident that histamineforming bacteria could be introduced into the fish from ice and contacting surfaces. This necessitates the practice of rigorous cleaning procedures and adaptation of proper postharvest handling procedures to minimize contamination of the fish.

Blockchain-enabled supply chain traceability – How wide? How deep?

Supply chain traceability (SCT) has become increasingly important for many reasons, including regulatory compliance, quality assurance, product counterfeiting, sustainability, and customer concerns on the provenance and authenticity of products. The complexity of globally dispersed supply chains is a major challenge for SCT. Blockchain technology's ability to support information sharing in a distributed network and create an immutable and traceable digital record of historical transactions makes it an attractive option for SCT. However, a major challenge persists – defining the scope of a blockchain-enabled SCT solution in terms of the number stages of the supply chain encompassed and the granularity of information captured at each supply chain stage. We analyze multiple cross-industry case studies and conduct an expert executive workshop to identify empirically the motivations and contextual factors influencing the diversity in the scope of traceability targeted by different organizations. We present a new evidence-based framework to define the scope of SCT depending on the motivations for and purpose of traceability. The framework specifies five identification categories and five levels of granularity of information within each category to inform and support decision-making on the types of data to capture across the supply chain for effective and scalable deployment of blockchain-enabled SCT solutions. The study highlights the need for more research examining the optimal level of traceability for different industries and supply chain configurations.

Development of Risk Management Mitigation Plans for the Infant Formula Milk Supply Chain Using an AHP Model

Infant formula milk (IFM) is critical in the diet of many babies and must be of high-quality. Unfortunately, IFM has been a target of adulteration by those attempting to make illegal profits and has suffered from contamination-related issues. This study’s main objective was to identify the most critical risks affecting IFM quality in the supply chain and determine mitigation strategies to improve IFM performance measurement. We developed a model to reduce adulteration and contamination rates in the infant formula milk supply chains (IFMSCs) and maximize safety. The steps to achieve the study’s objectives included: (1) identifying the importance of IFMs for infant nutrition and their risks; (2) establishing mitigation criteria for evaluating IFMSC’s performance to maximize quality; and (3) analyzing each mitigation criterion to maximize IFM safety. Based on pairwise comparisons by professionals in the food supply chain (FSC) of decision-making, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model was used to analyze and prioritize mitigation alternatives. According to the contamination quality risk agent, mitigation alternative (QR.M2) ranked highest. This study’s findings illustrate how vital avoiding risk is when dealing with public health, especially infants’ health, and how IFM must undergo precise testing and quality checks at every supply chain stage to ensure quality.

Environmental Justice Across the Lithium Supply Chain: A Role for Science Diplomacy in the Americas

While climate change mitigation is a global concern that all countries must play a role in curbing, the costs and benefits of various strategies across geographic boundaries must be examined from a full supply chain perspective. In countries such as the United States (US) where the transportation sector is a leading source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, switching from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV) to electric vehicles (EV) has emerged as one strategy to combat climate change. However, these EVs rely on critical minerals in their batteries, which are sourced largely from the global south, where there are not as many environmental and social protection regulations and practices. One such mineral, Lithium is found mostly in the Lithium Triangle (LT) in the South American countries of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. Lithium mining is negatively affecting natural resources and ecologies in the LT, in turn creating challenges for nearby communities including indigenous people in the area. Science diplomacy could strengthen relationships and communication between Northern and Southern American countries and more equitably distribute the social and environmental costs and benefits of lithium extraction and EV sales and operations. This paper explores how science diplomacy can foster the governance processes and scientific inputs needed to support more sustainable and just supply chains. It demonstrates higher benefits at the use stage of the EV supply chain in North America, and higher costs at the raw materials extraction for lithium in the EV supply chain in South America. This paper also calls attention to standards and measures that could be applied to sustainable mining. We document best practices, lessons learned, and gaps in collaborative potential between interdisciplinary and transitional stakeholders to develop definitions, measures, and goals across the entire supply chain of lithium for EV batteries.

Thematic analysis of circular economy practices across closed-loop supply chains: An institutional theory perspective

A circular economy (CE) presents an alternative solution to the scarcity of natural resources and environmental concerns. Institutional pressures motivate adopting and developing CE practices in various supply chain stages (SC), and successful implementation across the SC is challenging and risky. The situation is more complicated in the closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) structure. This study explores CE practices at different SC stages and the impact of their implementation on CLSC performance. This study uses a mapping tool for decision-making: SIPOC (suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, customers). We adapt and rename this tool as “circular SIPOC” based on the feed-forward and feedback flow of the complete material across different CLSC tiers. A circular SIPOC chart, coupled with institutional theory, is used to identify CE techniques from the three manufacturing CLSCs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), supported by thematic analysis. The findings indicate two unique and standard practice classifications in SCs. They further show that traditional practices are easy to implement, while individual practices have medium to great difficulty in implementation and related SC performance. This study's contribution is the detailed list of CE-based practices in three CLSCs and the criticality of their implementation. Following the institutional theory, government institutions may use the findings of this study to put coercive, normative, and mimetic pressure on organizations, encouraging the adoption of these CE practices and helping bring the CE a step closer.

What is the water footprint of EU food consumption? A comparison of water footprint assessment methods

Food consumption is responsible for most global water consumption and associated environmental consequences. Therefore, quantifying and monitoring the water footprint (WF) of food consumption patterns is relevant to support policymaking toward sustainable diets. Although multiple WF approaches are available, such as Water Footprint Assessment (WFA) and the model AWARE (Available Water Remaining) for supply chains analysis, the latest is considered the reference after following an international consultation process. This research aims to develop a comparative methodological approach between the volumetric blue water footprint assessment (WFA), a pressure method, and the scarcity-weighted WF AWARE model as an impact method to evaluate the WF of EU27 food consumption. Due to limited blue WFA data availability, two scopes were considered: an “aligned scope” (cradle to farm gate) comparing both methods and a “full supply chain scope” (cradle to grave) only possible with AWARE. In the aligned scope, almonds and cashew have the largest pressure and impact in both methods (per kg of product). EU food consumption has a WF pressure under an “aligned scope” of ≈54 m3/capita/year and an impact of ≈3525 m3 eq/capita/year. When considering the "full supply chain", WF impact due to EU food consumption increases by 30% (compared with the "aligned scope"), with wine and chocolate at the top of the ranking. Integration of WFA data within the LCA inventory could be explored when WFA data also covers indirect WF of background processes and other supply chain stages.

A Guide to Employ Hyperspectral Imaging for Assessing Wheat Quality at Different Stages of Supply Chain in Australia: A Review

A Guide to Employ Hyperspectral Imaging for Assessing Wheat Quality at Different Stages of Supply Chain in Australia: A Review

Modified FMEA using machine learning for food supply chain

Food waste has been a major issue in the food supply chain in recent years. Many FMEA methods have been developed to identify supply chain failures, but the problem remains the same. This paper describes a modified FMEA that can identify the most serious problem in seconds. One of the major issues with FMEA is its subjectivity. The value of the FMEA for the same failure in the supply chain changes as the person changes. A machine-learning model is created in order to eliminate subjectivity. To train the data, the deep neural networks approach, which is part of the machine-learning model, is used. A secondary data source is used for this. According to the findings, RPN values for the selected food supply chain stages of harvesting, handling & storage, processing & packaging, and distribution & retail are roughly the same in both conventional and modified FMEA methods. To predict RPN values at periodic time intervals, the conventional method requires human intervention. However, in the modified FMEA method, the programme automatically updates and predicts the RPN values. The continuous training of the model with periodic time allows the algorithm to accurately predict the RPN values for any new failure mode that occurs in the supply chain.

The Adoption of Robotic Process Automation Considering Financial Aspects in Beef Supply Chains: An Approach towards Sustainability

Sustainable beef production is a global challenge in present times. This research paper aims to investigate the financial risks and barriers in the adoption of robotic process automation (RPA), which has emerged as a strategic catalyst for achieving sustainability in the beef sector. Beef manufacturers constantly strive to achieve sustainability and a competitive advantage in order to gain enhanced beef productivity at low operational costs. There is a gap in the research, as there is a lack of knowledge about the financial aspects, barriers, and challenges influencing the RPA adoption process in the beef supply chain. To bridge this gap, secondary research is used to extract statistical data and information relevant to the RPA adoption process in beef supply chains, considering financial aspects. This study utilises a simulation method adopting a process model created in previous research and analyses different scenarios based on financial parameters using values or variables in Simul8 software. The scenario analysis allows for the identification of financial risks in the adoption of RPA and evaluates the simulation results from a sustainability perspective. The scenario analysis highlights the financial risks and barriers in the adoption of RPA in beef supply chains through process simulation, using financial parameters as a basis. KPI values, income statements, and carbon emission reports are generated to evaluate the main bottlenecks at various beef supply chain stages, thus allowing business users to conduct a thorough cost analysis. Successful adoption of RPA can lead to reduced supply chain complexity, thus improving financial and operational efficiency, which results in increased beef productivity, quality, and shelf life. This study is extremely important as it assesses scenarios from a sustainability perspective and contributes to academic knowledge and professional practice. It provides a process model to support the financial and ethical decision-making of managers or stakeholders, while helping the beef sector adopt RPA with greater ease. The process model can be adopted or modified according to the financial circumstances and individual requirements of business users. Furthermore, it provides decision-makers with the knowledge to eliminate or prevent financial barriers, thus advancing and accelerating the adoption of RPA. Robust adoption of RPA assists beef supply chains in gaining higher productivity at reduced costs, thus creating sustainable value.

Digitalization of Fresh Chestnut Fruit Supply Chain through RFID: Evidence, Benefits and Managerial Implications

This study provides evidence of supply chain (SC) management based on the digitalization of a fresh fruit-supply chain (i.e., chestnuts) using a radio-frequency identification technology (RFID). This research adopted the value-chain operation reference (VCOR) to assess the implications, issues, and benefits of the SC digitalization, and to explore how RFID can be configured regarding the VCOR blocks. Within this framework, the SC stages, processes, and operations were assessed using a tailored performance measurement system (PMS) including a set of metrics tracked, quantified, and evaluated alongside a monitoring field campaign. The results indicated that: (i) the benefits deriving from the RFID are constrained by specific organizational procedures adopted in operations management; (ii) the PMS Indicators of the centralized warehouse, balancing the inventory between the processing line and the distribution channels, presented the most significant improvements across the whole SC.

Sustainability performance measurement in the food supply chain: Trade-offs, institutional pressures, and contextual factors

This study investigates the trade-offs that firms face in measuring their sustainability performance at different stages of the food supply chain as a result of institutional pressures. We analyzed eight firms in the Italian organic wine supply chain to map the sustainability performance measurement (SPM) indicators adopted along the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability. We then examine how SPM is influenced by institutional pressures and the resulting trade-offs in three supply chain stages: winery, distributor, and retailer. Our findings indicate a prevalence of normative pressures from the market and from other stages in the supply chain in terms of SPM prioritization caused by institutional pressures (i.e., isomorphic) and contingent on other factors, such as the firm's size and culture. In particular, SPM trade-offs vary according to the supply chain stage, whereby wineries prioritize the environmental and economic dimensions, distributors—the economic dimension, and retailers—the social dimension. SPM adoption is also motivated by the firm's commitment to the environment and connection with the local region, over and above the perceived institutional pressures.

Food Waste to Energy through Innovative Coupling of CHP and Heat Pump

This paper presents the conceptual design of a technological solution for the efficient conversion of food waste into heat and power. The distribution and composition of food loss and waste at different stages of the food supply chain in Slovenia and their potential for biogas production were determined. It was found that more than 50% of food waste comes from households. Therefore, a small plant was designed to convert food waste into biogas, which was innovatively coupled with a combined heat and power (CHP) unit and a heat pump. This doubles the amount of heat generated compared to conventional cogeneration. Based on the capacity of a micro commercial CHP unit, 3330 households (about 8000 residents) would supply food waste. The heat generated could replace 5% of the natural gas used for domestic water heating. The payback period would be 7.2 years at a heat price of about 80 EUR/MWh, however, for municipalities with more than 40,000 inhabitants the payback period would be reduced to less than 3 years. The cost price of the heat generated by this system would be about 25 EUR/MWh, taking into account the government subsidy for the operation of the CHP unit.

Investigation of the Factors That Contribute to Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Losses in the Australian Fresh Food Supply Chain

Fruit and vegetables (FV) are the major source of bioactive compounds for human beings. FV supply chains are complex and sensitive due to various features, including the seasonality of products, variations in demand, and short shelf-lives. The amount of waste in FV supply chains is significant compared with other supply chains as 44% of fresh FV produced globally are wasted in the food chain. This large amount of waste has a significant impact on the economy, food security, available natural resources, and the environment. To reduce food losses in the fresh food supply chain (FFSC), the root causes of waste must be first identified. While a number of researchers have investigated food losses in Australia, most only consider a specific stage in the supply chain and multiple stages in the FFSC are often overlooked. Additionally, the impact of advanced storage technologies, packing, handling, and transport on food losses should be investigated. Furthermore, supply chain practices are changing in response to uncertainties, such as the pandemic and climate changes, which also need to be captured. This research aims to identify the key factors contributing to fresh fruit and vegetable losses through a comprehensive empirical study. Primary data were collected through a well-designed questionnaire-based survey targeting major stakeholders in the FFSC, including farmers, distributors, and retailers in Australia. The survey investigates current postharvest practices and the effects of these practices on food losses. The main factors influencing food losses were identified and the options to reduce these losses were outlined. The results showed that losses mostly occurred at the farm level, and picking practices and preharvest conditions largely contributed to FV losses. The results highlight the need for proper training and education for workers involved in harvesting and handling fresh produce.

Assessment of causes and consequences of food and agricultural raw material loss and opportunities for its reduction

The article summarizes and systematizes the causes and consequences of food loss and waste. The uncontrolled accumulation and inefficient management of loss and waste is a serious problem of food security in many countries. Moreover, the world annually loses or wastes about a third of food produced while natural resources are inefficiently used. A significant number of definitions and terms in the field of food loss and waste cause international inconsistency in management systems. So, systematization of terms and research methods for food loss and waste has been carried out. The review analyzes the stages of food supply chain, i.e. the production of agricultural raw materials, their collection, processing, transportation and consumption, where the largest loss and waste occur. Furthermore, environmental, social and other problems associated with the accumulation of loss and waste are considered. Prevention of food loss and waste has been shown to be a potential strategy to improve the balance of food supply and demand and is essential for improving food security while reducing environmental impact and providing economic benefits to various participants in the food supply chain. Separately, the actions taken by the Russian Federation in the field of waste management and reduction of food loss are considered. Attention is drawn to the fact that the difficulties in solving these problems are associated with insufficient progress in legislation and low funding of relevant research projects. Possible approaches for simulation and optimization of actions to support specific strategies to reduce loss and waste are considered, taking into account the following factors: improving the management of various inventories; developing a clear strategy for planning and allocating resources; forming the supply chain based on variability (uncertainty) of customer demand and supply. Knowledge comparison and integration, as well as optimization of food supply chain management are essential for development of strategies and decisions about where and how to focus efforts to most effectively ensure the reduction of loss and waste at each stage of food supply chain. The main decisions and practices for FLW prevention and management have been systematized.

Conceptualisation of an Ecodesign Framework for Sustainable Food Product Development across the Supply Chain

As the world population grows, the pressure to intensify an unsustainable food production system increases. At the same time, one-third of all the food produced is lost or wasted along the value chains. Therefore, it is crucial to develop methods to increase food production while decreasing resource usage and minimising the environmental impact. Ecodesign concepts have already been implemented in various sectors, reducing the environmental impact of products. However, published work has yet to analyse the potential of ecodesign for food production across the value chain. This review assesses the existing literature on ecodesign principles and proposes a conceptual framework of strategies to be applied to current food chains, addressing the challenges posed by current agrifood systems. We suggest that the relevant ecodesign principles fall into three main categories depending on the supply chain stage: “design for sustainable sourcing (DfSS)”, “design for optimised resource use (DfORU)”, and “design for end-of-life optimisation (DfEO).” Applying this framework across the supply chain could significantly reduce the environmental impact of food production and indirectly contribute to dietary change.