Strategic Supply Chain Management Research Articles

Integration of Emerging Technologies AI and ML into Strategic Supply Chain Planning Processes to Enhance Decision-Making and Agility

Purpose: The aim of this research was to discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and big data analytics as fundamental pillars of strategic supply chain management, for better decision-making, more precise forecasting, and higher supply chain agility. Methodology: The paper reviewed existing literature and industry reports to get an in-depth insight into the modern supply chain planning environment, the problems that it faces, and the efficiency of traditional techniques. It then analyzed the opportunities of utilization of AI, ML and big data analytics as well as the certain technologies or techniques that could be utilized, such as the predictive/prescriptive analytics, digital twins and blockchain. Findings: The study concluded that the traditional supply chain planning processes are becoming more and more out of style and inefficient, taking into account the business environment that are constantly changing, global supply chains, and technological advancements. It emphasized the risks to long-term performance associated to relying too much on the past practices and a call for action for progressive modernization of supply chain planning mechanisms. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The report pointed to innovative ways such as AI, ML, and big data analytics for the integration into the supply chain operations for increasing the productivity, resilience and competitiveness. Moreover, it promoted the increase of budgeting on the talent side in order to obtain an appropriate use of technology and to explore new paths in the market.

Nurturing family business resilience through strategic supply chain management

PurposeThe study aspires to enhance comprehension of the intricate interplay between supply chain management (SCM) and resilience in family businesses, thereby offering valuable insights to managers and policymakers endeavouring to foster resilience in uncertain environments.Design/methodology/approachCommencing from the premise that family businesses (FBs) prioritize the preservation of socio-emotional wealth (SEW) when formulating strategic decisions, this study endeavours to advance understanding of supply chain practices adopted by FBs and their direct impact on resilience during crisis situations or economically challenging periods. Through an exploratory case study of nine FBs, the present research reveals four pivotal strategies in SCM that contribute to their resilience: (i) reorganization of inventory management; (ii) cultivating close relationships with suppliers; (iii) emphasizing product quality and customer retention; and (iv) implementing cost reduction measures to bolster resilience. The aim of the study is to provide an in-depth understanding of the intricate interplay between SCM and resilience in FBs, thereby offering valuable insights to managers and policymakers endeavouring to foster resilience in uncertain environments.FindingsOur approach offers a theoretical framework for SCM aligned with prior research on the interplay between characteristics of family businesses and resilience strategies. Furthermore, this paper illustrates how factors such as the emphasis on high-quality products and services by family businesses contribute to achieving non-economic objectives that owners adopt to reconcile family and business needs, creating intrinsic added value for the company. It reveals various challenges in SCM, including inventory organization changes, supplier closures and the significance of customer retention. Family businesses are implementing product and technology enhancements and leveraging digitization to enhance supply chain processes.Originality/valueThis paper contributes significantly to the field of FBs by highlighting the crucial role of SCM in enhancing business resilience during crises. It empirically examines how the SEW characteristics of FBs influence the reconfiguration of their supply chains to enhance resilience, presenting a theoretical model for this context. Our theoretical framework employs an SEW perspective to elucidate how FBs respond to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting their SCM processes to safeguard their social and emotional legitimacy, organizational visibility and reputation. These adaptations gain particular relevance during crises or turbulent conditions, potentially leading to alterations in how FBs formulate their supply chain strategies and manage supply chain-related processes.

РЕЛЕВАНТНОЕ ЗНАЧЕНИЕ СТРАТЕГИЧЕСКОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ЛОГИСТИКОЙ И ЦЕПЯМИ ПОСТАВОК В РАЗВИТИИ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЙ ЭКОНОМИКИ

The presented article is actualized by the current state of the logistics sphere of activity, because logistics activities occupy a significant share of the GNP of countries, and this share is steadily growing. Transformational processes in supply chains in the context of most spheres of the national economy, both regional and federal scales, dictate the need to strengthen the role of strategic logistics management in order to ensure sustainable development of the economy, in general. The direct success of business in the regions largely depends on ensuring effective integration between business units. Through effective and efficient logistics activities it is possible to achieve higher customer value, creating both a value advantage and a productivity advantage, and through the work done in this area, businesses can take another step forward compared to their competitors in the sectors in which they do business. This article considers the theoretical aspects of strategic logistics and supply chain management in the current economic environment. The paper reflects some aspects of the effectiveness of the use of information technology in logistics, by the example of using RFID-identification technology. The authors conclude by applying different analysis methodologies that supply chain management acts as a system of business process management tools from raw material suppliers to end users, in which products, services and information are provided, increasing the added value for customers and other partners. Based on this the author's definition of the investigated scientific category is presented and relevant conclusions and inferences are made.

The role of absorptive capacity and big data analytics in strategic purchasing and supply chain management decisions

Big data analytics (BDA) is widely used in sales, marketing, distribution, and finance; however, its implementation in supply chain management, specifically in purchasing and supply management (PSM), has been slow and uneven. This study investigates the impact of BDA on strategic PSM decisions and how it interacts with a company's absorptive capacity. We conducted a survey of 222 purchasing and supply chain managers in international companies across various industries. Using structural equation modeling, we found that the exploration, assimilation, and transformation capabilities of purchasing departments are crucial in facilitating the use of BDA for strategic decision-making in PSM. Companies that excel in BDA in the PSM space are better equipped to capitalize on new and existing knowledge sources, which improves their performance. However, only businesses with the right resources can fully leverage BDA for high-level strategic decision-making; when BDA is applied to operational PSM activities, the desired effects may not be achieved.

Supply Chain Performance in the Wooden Furniture Industry: The Effect of Institutional Pressures and Supply Chain Integration in a Developing Country Context

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between institutional pressures, supply chain integration and supply chain performance in the wooden furniture industry. Cross-sectional survey data collected from 86 registered wooden furniture firms in Uganda were analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling. The study revealed that institutional pressures are positively and significantly related with supply chain performance and that supply chain integration plays a partial mediating role in the institutional pressures-supply chain performance relationship. Further, our component level analysis of institutional pressures reveals that whereas coercive pressure has a discernible positive influence on both supply chain integration and supply chain performance, mimetic pressure does not, while normative pressure positively influences only supply chain integration. These results underline the need to understand the role of individual components of institutional pressures and integration requirements in strategic supply chain management practice in order to boost supply chain performance of the wooden furniture firms.

Hedging the bet on digital transformation in strategic supply chain management: a theoretical integration and an empirical test

PurposeThis study conceptualizes the digital transformation (DT) strategy in a supply chain context, identifies its drivers from intra- and inter-organizational perspectives and examines the effect of the DT strategy on the strategic agility and financial performance of Chinese manufacturing firms.Design/methodology/approachThe authors constructed a theoretical model by synthesizing the diffusion of innovation and organizational information processing theory (OIPT) and provided a set of hypotheses. The authors empirically tested the arguments using partial least squares structural equation modeling using data from a sample of 200 manufacturing firms in China.FindingsThe findings indicate that while supply chain connectivity positively affects DT adoption and DT routinization, data analytics capability and organizational learning positively influence DT adoption but not DT routinization. The mediation analysis also shows that DT strategy has significant direct effects on financial performance and a stronger indirect influence on financial performance via improved strategic agility.Research limitations/implicationsThis study responds to repeated calls for a new understanding of supply chain DT strategy. In addition, the study offers important contributions to the literature by identifying the potential discord between the existing DT strategy and the supply chain context and proposes a new framework that provides essential theoretical underpinnings.Originality/valueThis study enriches the literature by conceptualizing and validating the dimensions, driving factors and performance implications of DT strategy in strategic supply chain management.

Freight Flow Assignment in the Intermodal Logistics Network

Intermodal logistics networks have received increased attention from researchers in recent decades. The growing importance of strategic supply chain management in light of issues such as road congestion, environmental concerns, and traffic safety is forcing firms to revise traditional freight transportation. As a result, the study of intermodal logistic service development has become urgent for multiple branches of science. This work is focused on the mathematical model of the freight flow assignment problem under auction equilibrium. We formulate this model as a non-linear optimization problem and show that its solution corresponds to the equilibrium assignment pattern in an intermodal logistics network. The developed model can be applied for long-term planning and management since its basic assumption is that in the long run, the activities carried out by shippers are in equilibrium. The findings of the paper contribute to the theory of transportation and can give fresh managerial insights for engineers.

Influence of Strategic Supply Chain Management Practices on Performance of Cereal Businesses in Dagahaley Camp Market, Kenya

Purpose: The cereal supply chain within the wholesale and retail trade has been recognized to be below the market demand expectations. The cereals supply chain in Kenya has been dealing with serious issues of poor supplier management for a long time, with instances of malpractice reported, owing to distrust and commitment in the relationship, which has influenced the performance of cereal businesses. With this in focus, this research study was conducted to analyze the Influence of Strategic supply chain management Practices on Performance of Cereal businesses in Dagahaley camp market, Kenya.
 Methodology: A descriptive research design was adopted to assist achieve the study's objectives. The study sample size was 111 registered traders engaged in Distribution, retail and wholesale cereals trade from the Dagahaley market. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Textual analysis was used to analyze qualitative data, while quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Cronbach alpha test with a coefficient of 0.7 was used to ascertain and test the reliability of the data collection instrument.
 Results: The results indicated that Supply chain structure, Inventory control policy, and environment uncertainty had a positive and statistically significant effect on performance of cereals supply chain in Dagahaley market, directly affecting the performance of the cereals Businesses in Dagahaley market.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study therefore recommends that cereal businesses should continually implement the inventory control policies established in Dagahaley Market in order to cushion against excess/stock outs.

The “Semiconductor Crisis” as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Impacts on the Automotive Industry and Its Supply Chains

In the first half of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic led to a drastic slump in the automotive industry, which was replaced by a surprisingly rapid growth in demand in the fall of 2020, and consequently led to the current shortages in microelectronic products. The prospect of an equally rapid economic recovery in the automotive industry is still threatened by supply bottlenecks for raw materials and key components, foremost for semiconductors. The so-called ‘semiconductor crises’ show exemplarily the overlapping of short-term supply chain disruptions with long-term structural features of the semiconductor industry. The combination of both is preventing that the supply situation in the automotive industry will improve quickly. First in this paper, the reasons for and respective effects of the crisis on the automotive industry are investigated by a quantitative market analysis. Second, specific strategic measures and options of automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and suppliers in Germany to cope with the situation and increase resilience in future supply chains are described by the means of qualitative expert interviews. By that, the paper helps in understanding the actual situation in the automotive industry, on the one hand, and contributes to the field of strategic supply chain and risk management with a focus on practical implications on the other hand. The results aim to support political stakeholders as well as small and medium sized enterprises to prepare themselves for future developments in the automotive market and changes in manufacturer–supplier relationships due to the transformation to new powertrain technologies and digitization.

Inventory Optimization Model Design with Machine Learning Approach in Feed Mill Company

This article aims to address the impacts that companies can have with the application of machine learning to carry out their demand forecasts, knowing that a more accurate demand forecast improves the performance of companies, making them more competitive. The methodology used was a literature review through descriptive, qualitative and with bibliographical surveys in International Journal from 2010 – 2022 by different authors. Findings show that the references prove that demand forecasting with the use of machine learning brings many benefits to organizations, for example, since the results are more accurate, there is better inventory management, consequently customer satisfaction for having the product at the right time and place. Further, this article concludes and suggests that the use of machine learning is able to identify variables that affect the demands, with this it makes a forecast closer to reality and helps managers to make more accurate decisions, improving strategic planning and supply chain management. of company supplies.

Impact of strategic control and supply chain management on recycled plastic additive manufacturing

Climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions is the most important issue in the world, threatening our lives. Studies reveal that most emissions are caused by transportation (29%), manufacturing (23%), and irregular population distribution across the world. This study suggests the localization of recycling and manufacturing plastic parts and components by additive manufacturing. Localization will decrease transportation, resulting in reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions. However, the method may not be sufficient because local additive manufacturing means less reliance on supply chains and higher dependence on the workforce in rural areas. Factors such as the workforce in rural areas, multientity authorities, and policy are important to the realization of sustainable manufacturing. In this study, a novel strategic control model is proposed to focus on human-centric approaches. The strategic control model proposes methods to connect strategic planning with demography and the workforce and to apply control metrics to relocate overcrowded populations to rural areas. The strategic control model realizes localization through workforce allocation and home-based manufacturing. It streamlines the integration between recycling, manufacturing, and distribution. As a result, decreased reliance on the supply chain reduces transportation, energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and cost. It also creates job opportunities and mitigates societal issues.

Predicting SMEs performance through green supply chain practices: a mediation model link of business process performance

PurposeBecause of the emergence of technological development, firms (i.e. small and medium enterprises (SMEs)) adopt innovative cost-reduction strategies to improve their processes. Therefore, the adoption of green supply chain practices (GSCP) is critical for SMEs to enhance their business process performance (BPP). This paper aims to investigate how GSCP directly and indirectly (via BPP) influences firm manufacturing performance using the resource-based view as a theoretical base. This research also pursues to examine the mediation mechanism of BPP in the linkage between GSCP and SMEs performance in manufacturing SMEs.Design/methodology/approachUsing the survey method, the authors recruited 407 textile SMEs executives and validated the proposed model and relationships in AMOS.FindingsThe outcomes confirm that GSCPs are positively related to BPP and SME performance, and BPP significantly mediates the association between GSCP and SME performance.Practical implicationsThe outcomes help SME executives to minimize operational costs, save time and reduce wastage by implementing GSCP in their manufacturing processes. SME executives can improve their internal business processes for attaining the best firm performance.Social implicationsThis research provides a healthy workplace to employees by improving business processes performance, enhancing brand image, increasing employee morale and decreasing production wastage.Originality/valueThis research theoretically and empirically contributes to explore the impact of GSCP on textile SME performance, which was unexplored in strategic green supply chain and performance management literature. Furthermore, this is the first study that explores the mediation mechanism of BPP between GSCP and SMEs performance.

Data-Driven Process System Engineering–Contributions to its consolidation following the path laid down by George Stephanopoulos

The number and diversity of Process Analytics applications is growing fast, impacting areas ranging from process operations to strategic planning or supply chain management. However, this field has not reached yet a maturity level characterized by a stable, organized and consolidated body of knowledge for handling the main classes of problems that need to be faced. Data-Driven Process Systems Engineering and Process Analytics only recently received wider recognition, becoming a regular presence in journals and conferences. As a tribute to the groundbreaking Process Analytics contributions of George Stephanopoulos, namely through his academic tree, to which we are proud to belong, this article aims to contribute to the systematization and consolidation of this field in the broad PSE scope, starting from a fundamental understanding of the key challenges facing it, and constructing from them a workflow that can flexibly be adapted to handle different problems, aimed at supporting value creation through good decision-making. In this path, we base our foresight and conceptual framework on the authors’ experience, as well as on contributions from other researchers that, across the world, have been collectively pushing forward Data-Driven Process Systems Engineering.

Non-Conventional Strategic Supply Chain Management towards Halal Perspective

The implementations of halal concept into supply chain management have received great attention due to the increasing demand for halal products. It is necessary for manufacturers to establish firm’s strategic orientation includes supply chain orientation and market orientation to sustain firm competitiveness in emerging halal market. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a systematic literature review to identify the state of the art of the halal studies in supply chain area. The review protocol was involving 249 research articles. Based on a review of previous studies, this paper improves the existing framework of the halal supply chain by incorporating strategic orientation and halal’s firm performance. Therefore, this paper contributes the strategic approach to preserving the integrity of halal while sustain the firm performance.

HUMAN RESOURCE AND SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGY TO IMPROVE COMPANY PERFORMANCE THROUGH ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITY IN PT POS INDONESIA

Growing services companies caused a tighten business competition in market for shipping goods and document packages. Providing best service strategy and also presenting a variety of innovative services for delivering goods and document attract many consumers. The research has a goal to test whether there is an influence between strategic human resource management (SHRM), strategic supply chain management (SCM) through company capabilities on improving performance of Indonesian Postal Companies in Bekasi area. The research was conducted at Head Office of PT Pos Indonesia Bekasi City. Questionnaires of each variables distributed in form of questions that represent dimensions with a total sample of 156 respondents. To analyze data used SEM with help of AMOS software. Finally, following research results were obtained: (1) implementation of SHRM has a positive and significant effect on organizational capability; (2) implementation of SCM strategies has a positive and significant effect on organization capability; (3) implementation of SHRM has a positive and significant effect on SCM strategy; (4) organizational capability has a positive and significant effect on company performance; (5) implementation of SCM strategy has a positive and significant effect on performance through organizational capabilities and (6) level of implementation of SHRM has a positive and significant effect on company performance through organizational capabilities. From results of study, it is suggested that organizations focus more on developing organizational capabilities, especially through strategic HRM as business partner and SCM strategy.

Measuring knowledge management in supplier development: A knowledge chain perspective

Knowledge management has been extensively studied in various fields such as strategic management, project management, and supply chain management. As a result, numerous measurements have been developed to measure knowledge management processes, strategies, capabilities, or activities. However, a review of existing measurement instruments from 17 studies demonstrates that those instruments vary greatly in the number of measurement items, ranging from 1 to 59, and that none of them, with one exception, covers all the nine distinct classes of knowledge management activities identified by the knowledge chain theory. This study aims at using the knowledge chain theory to measure knowledge management activities in supply chain management. As a starting point, our instrument begins with the nine classes of knowledge chain activities, including knowledge acquisition, selection, generation, assimilation, emission, measurement, control, coordination, and leadership. This new instrument is tested via an online survey of 156 supply chain professionals in the United States. Evidence of construct validity and reliability is provided by both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Both theoretical and practical contributions are also discussed.

Implementing Strategic Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Despite increasing business interest in sustainability in general and in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), the ability to increase suppliers’ ecological and social performance is generally insufficient for many companies. In this study, we outline an implementation process model for sustainable supply chain management. We do so by synthesizing insights from a review of the sustainable supply chain management and organizational learning literature and a case study with a company aspiring to become a global leader in sustainable lighting. By combining these insights, we find that successful implementation of sustainable supply chain management requires sustainability to be anchored in a company’s vision and integrated into all functions. We also argue that organizational learning, especially learning with external stakeholders such as suppliers, an operational definition of socioecological sustainability among stakeholders, and procedural support for the cocreation of strategic plans for change are vital for achieving a truly sustainable supply chain. This definition and cocreation allow for attention to be directed toward strategic ecological and social practices, along with the joint handling of tradeoffs and economic considerations among stakeholders. As we build a foundation for an SSCM implementation process model, we use a science-based framework for strategic sustainable development. We call for more action-based research to uncover the complex nature of sustainable supply chain management, as there are unique challenges and dynamic relationships in every supply chain.

Complexity, continuity, and strategic management of buyer–supplier relationships from a network perspective

PURPOSE: Current research seeks to create an economic model that connects strategic management and network theory. However, most theoretical models do not provide empirical evidence of network relationships’ real structure and attributes. The purpose of the paper is to explore the relation between enterprise characteristics and the characteristics of buyer–supplier relationships in supply chain networks. We are specifically interested in business relationships in networks with respect to the various enterprises’ sizes and sectors of industry. The subject of our research was characteristics, such as network relationship complexity, continuity of relationships, and strategic management in networks. The paper summarizes the results of an empirical study on buyer-supplier networks and accentuates the importance of developing and fostering business collaboration for strategic management. METHODOLOGY: We conducted the questionnaire research in 2016–2019 on 360 enterprises from the Czech Republic. We selected the research sample based on the non-probability purposive sampling method. The members of the research team collected data from an online survey and personal visits to enterprises. The statistical analysis of hypotheses is based on the frequency of managers’ answers. To evaluate results, a two-proportion Z-Test is used for comparing different categories of enterprises according to their enterprise size or prevailing sector of the industry. FINDINGS: The main results show that the differences between enterprises involved in the buyer–supplier structures lie mainly in their size. The survey did not identify differences between industry sectors. The findings show that the complexity of networks in the Czech Republic is not high in terms of the number of suppliers or involvement in many supply networks. The continuity of relationships with partners in buyer–supplier networks is relatively long-term oriented. Long-term partnerships reflect the higher quality of relationships and support future integration. However, large enterprises prefer to build contracts for shorter or longer periods. An overall decentralization strategy characterizes the strategic management of buyer–supplier networks. This finding means dividing competencies such as planning, managing, sourcing, decision-making, transporting (delivering) among more enterprises. IMPLICATIONS FOR THEORY AND PRACTICE: The paper provides an insight into understanding how the buyer–supplier network functions. The theory’s implication builds on the connection of supply chain management and strategic management from the network perspective. Supply chain management is viewed as a part of strategic management, and the synthesis of both research areas opens an innovative view to business theory. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: The paper’s principal value is the connection between contemporary ideas of strategic management and supply chain management. The synthesis of supply chain management and network approach enhances strategic management theory.

Construct of Social Capital on Perceived Decision Making Effectiveness in Strategic Supply Chain Decisions: With Special Reference to Selected Apparel Sector International Entities in Sri Lanka

Strategic supply chain management is one of the key business functions in almost every manufacturing organization. The research expecting to explore the relationship between social capital and the perceived effectiveness of strategic supply chain decisions in Sri Lankan apparel sector organizations. With respect to the positivism paradox research has been organized in line with the deductive approach. Further survey strategy through a pre-tested questionnaire has been imbedded with the sample of 122 participants from the apparel sector supply chain professionals, which is regulated by Krejcie & Morgan. This study can be recognized as a validation of the past studies within the Sri Lankan context. The statistical analysis depicts an existence of a direct positive linkage between perceived effectiveness and individual decision maker’s social capital which approves the existing literature in the Western context. The study has contributed to the knowledge domain of strategic management, supply chain management, and organizational behavior by identifying the factors and how they influence strategic decision making.

Exploring Environmental Supply Chain Innovation in M&A

Organisations are challenged with executing innovation for sustainable development within the context of their operations and value networks—networks which are increasingly fuelled by mergers and acquisitions (M&As), and which accounted for USD 4 trillion in global deal value in 2019. While outcomes from M&As may produce mixed results, merger synergies fundamentally change the environmental, social and governance (ESG) footprint of an organisation and its product-supply chain. These compounding challenges of innovation for sustainability and ESG product-supply chain due diligence are not adequately explored in the operations management literature or practically considered during M&As. In this article, we consider those factors that determine “how innovative is the deal?” and explore how environmental supply chain innovation for sustainability might inform M&As. A case study approach is adopted, drawing upon an exemplar deal within the global food product-supply chain for ingredient production, where high M&A deal-interest and ESG sustainability considerations exist. The theoretical lens is the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm. A deal analysis framework, integrating key concepts from strategic environmental supply chain management and the M&A process literature, is defined. These findings suggest that product design and technology selection factors represent sources of M&A value creation when exploring an innovation for sustainability deal thesis. The implication for firms with ambitious environmental agendas or motives is that the M&A process needs to be reconfigured, such that product design and technology selection, currently secondary factors, are considered primary drivers. Together, these drivers form substantive strategic considerations and new merger motives of both theoretical and practical relevance, informing a new perspective of operations sustainability targeted M&A.