Supply Chain Implications Research Articles

Regional differences in beef cattle trade and movements associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

Context The COVID-19 pandemic caused mandated restrictions on movements and distancing of people with implications for meat supply chains. Despite the COVID restrictions, agricultural activities were permitted to continue as essential services in Australia. However, there were reported shortages of meat on the shelves of supermarkets and a general increase in the price of meat in Australia during the COVID period. Hence, there is a need to establish whether the restrictions affected upstream activities in Australia’s beef supply chain. Aim This study aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and confounding factors including rainfall and export bans on beef cattle trade and movement in Australia. Methods Using annual data on beef cattle sold, purchased, transferred off-farm and transferred onto farms sourced from the database of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, a t-test analysis was conducted to establish the significant changes in cattle movement and trade for the pre-COVID (2014–2019) and COVID (2020–2022) periods. Additionally, a flexible least squares model augmented with a flexible generalised least squares model was used to assess the impact of confounding factors on cattle trade and movement. Key results The results indicate no significant change in the proportion of beef cattle sold nationwide. Tasmania, New South Wales, and Western Australia (WA) recorded significant changes (1.4% increase, 3.6% increase, and 3.8% decrease, respectively) in the proportion of beef cattle purchased. For WA, these changes were localised to changes that occurred in WA Central and Southern Wheat Belt and WA Southwest Coastal regions. Moreover, rainfall did not significantly impact cattle trade but did affect cattle movements. The export ban only significantly impacted beef cattle sold in Queensland. Conclusions Overall, the findings suggest that most regions in Australia did not experience significant changes in farm-level decisions regarding beef cattle movement and trade during the COVID period. Instead, minor adjustments were made to address the demand changes. Implications The findings imply that adopted policies that facilitated the implementation of biosecurity bubbles and the movements of animal transport workers for breeding facilities and abattoirs during the COVID period were effective in normalising farm-level operations.

Implications of changing the base raw material – the case of license plate manufacturing

ABSTRACT License plates to uniquely identify vehicles mainly use aluminum as the base material. Currently, there is no distinction of different use cases of license plates, such as short-time usage for test drive and transportation purposes that do not need such long-lasting materials not only from cost but also from sustainability perspectives. This paper presents a methodology to select the best material for different use cases under the holistic consideration of specifically defined criteria as to material properties, sustainability aspects, and supply chain implications. We show that there are several candidate materials for different use cases that stick out by changing the importance of these numerous criteria. In addition, the paper delves deeper into the sustainability aspect by means of a comprehensive System Dynamics model. We show that a scenario in which the company picks up used license plates by relying on a logistics service provider to get them delivered to an external recycling service provider yields the best results.

Bibliometric Insights into Balancing Efficiency and Security in Urban Supply Chains

This study examines the balance between urban transportation security and supply chain efficiency amid global disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic, attacks on maritime lanes, and geopolitical conflicts. The authors combine bibliometric network analysis and natural language processing (NLP) to review scholarly literature from 2017 to 2023. This approach identifies and visualizes evolving thematic trends. Findings reveal a shift towards integrating advanced technologies, such as blockchain, AI, and IoT, to enhance security without compromising efficiency. This study highlights the significance of integrating urban planning principles and sustainable practices to enhance transportation security and supply chain efficiency within urban environments. Actionable insights for policymakers and supply chain managers emphasize the adoption of integrated, technology-driven security solutions to foster resilient and sustainable supply chains. This research contributes to academic discourse by refining the understanding of evolving priorities in transportation security and supply chain management, offering both theoretical and practical implications for secure and efficient global supply chains.

Electronic Logistic Management Information System in Public Health Facilities and Its Implications for the Medicine Supply Chain in Singida District Council, Tanzania.

The effective management of the medicine supply chain is crucial for ensuring the availability of essential medicines and supplies in public health facilities. This study aimed to determine the utilization of the electronic logistic management information system (e-LMIS) in public health facilities and its implications for the medicine supply chain. A mixed methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, was used. The study included 106 healthcare providers from 35 public health facilities in Singida District. Six key informants were interviewed using a qualitative method. Of the 106 participants, 62.3% said they were somehow competent in e-LMIS utilization. In in-depth interviews, respondents underscored the system's utility for tracking stock levels, procurements, and managing orders. Staff shortages and a lack of customized training were mentioned as major challenges hindering efficiency in managing drug supplies. This study highlighted the positive impact of e-LMIS on various aspects of the medicine supply chain, including the timely submission of orders and enhanced inventory management. Sustained management support and the regular utilization of the e-LMIS system are crucial for building and maintaining competence among healthcare providers, thereby optimizing the medicine supply chain and ultimately improving healthcare delivery.

Internet of behaviors: conceptual model, practical and theoretical implications for supply chain and operations management

The Internet of Behaviours (IoB) is a network designed and used for replicating, understanding, predicting, and influencing human behaviour through data analytics. This study aims to advance our understanding of how the IoB will impact supply chain and operations management (SCOM). Based on a combination of the existing IoB frameworks with industrial Metaverse and digital supply chain twins, we propose a framework for IoB in SCOM encompassing management, organisation, and technology dimensions. We conclude that the IoB will impact a multitude of SCOM areas such as supply chain design, demand forecasting, sales and operations planning, distribution and transportation, inventory and production management, sourcing strategy and purchasing, vehicle routeing, supply chain resilience and sustainability. We offer a structured future research agenda pointing to new research questions and topics stemming from IoB-driven real-time visibility, data analytics, and remote control. Methodology of SCOM can also be enriched by the IoB through a combination of artificial intelligence and digital technology with operations research and behavioural operations management.

Developing operational resilience to navigate transportation disruptions: the role and boundaries of efficiency priority

Operational resilience is crucial for navigating the increasing transportation disruption challenges, but building this capability can be expensive and sometimes result in inefficiencies. Meanwhile, firms must prioritize efficiency to remain competitive and profitable. However, it is unclear how and when firms’ pursuit of efficiency priority hinders or helps their resilience to specific disruptions. This research uses the theory of constraints to propose that while efficiency priority limits opportunities for improving operational resilience, buffering and bridging strategies lessen this constraint by enabling firms to align efficiency priority with operational resilience objectives. The study hypothesizes that these strategies positively moderate the negative effect of efficiency priority on operational resilience to transportation disruptions. These arguments are tested on primary data from a sample of 199 firms in Ghana using moderated regression analysis and the Johnson-Neyman technique. The results reveal that efficiency priority is negatively related to the disruption absorption dimension of operational resilience but unrelated to its recoverability dimension. Additionally, the study finds that under low conditions of buffering and bridging strategies, efficiency priority has stronger negative associations with both dimensions of operational resilience. In contrast, these relationships are positive under the high conditions of either strategy. These findings contribute to resolving existing debates on the efficiency-resilience link and have important implications for supply chain and business executives, as discussed in this article.

Customer-driven value creation in the digital economy: Determining the role of customer firms’ digital transformation on supplier performance in China

This study examines how customer firms’ digital transformation affects the performance and value creation of their suppliers in the Chinese context. We use text mining to construct digital transformation indicators for customer firms based on data from Chinese A-share-listed firms from 2011 to 2021. We find that customer firms’ digital transformation has a positive and significant impact on supplier performance, and this effect is robust to various sensitivity tests. We also find that customer firms’ digital transformation influences supplier performance through two mechanisms: demand push and innovation spillover. Moreover, the heterogeneity analysis reveals that the effect of customer firms’ digital transformation on supplier performance varies by different factors, such as geographic distance, customer concentration, ownership type, and industry type. This study contributes to the literature on supply chain value from a customer-driven perspective and provides practical implications for supply chain firms to leverage digital transformation to enhance their performance and competitive advantage.

Challenges to achieving zero hunger by 2030: the impact of armed conflict on global food security with a focus on the Russo-Ukrainian War

Objective: This study examines the impact of armed conflicts, particularly the Russo-Ukrainian War, on achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. The analysis explores how escalating conflicts post-2015 have undermined global efforts toward ending hunger and ensuring food security by 2030. Method: The research employs a qualitative approach, analyzing data on global armed conflicts and food insecurity rates from 2015 to 2023. It particularly focuses on the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War and its implications for global food supply chains. The study integrates reports from the United Nations, various NGOs, and other authoritative sources to assess the broader impacts of armed conflicts on food security. Results: Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, the number of armed conflicts has significantly increased, correlating with heightened global food insecurity. Specifically, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has directly resulted in 1.7 billion people experiencing hunger and 276 million facing severe food insecurity worldwide. This conflict has disrupted agricultural production and global food supply chains, exacerbating the food crisis. Conclusions: The findings highlight the severe challenges that armed conflicts pose to achieving global food security. With less than a decade remaining until the 2030 deadline, it is imperative to intensify diplomatic efforts to mitigate conflicts, thereby safeguarding progress toward Zero Hunger. The study underscores the necessity of integrating peace-building strategies into the broader framework of sustainable development.

Mapping the occurrence of Eustrongylides spp. in fish species caught from six lakes in Central Italy (Tuscany and Latium regions): Implications for local fishery supply chains

In the present study, in order to expand the knowledge on the distribution of parasites of the genus Eustrongylides in never investigated Italian lacustrine areas of Tuscany and Latium, fish specimens from four Tuscan lakes (Bilancino, Chiusi, Montedoglio and San Cipriano) and two Latium lakes (Bolsena and Bracciano) were collected and analyzed. The parasitological analysis, consisting of a visual inspection followed by a chloro-peptic digestion, was performed on 1650 specimens belonging to 17 species: European perch (Perca fluviatilis), Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), Pike-perch (Sander lucioperca), Largemouth black bass (Micropterus salmoides), Pike (Esox lucius), Big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri), Tench (Tinca), European Whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus), Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), Chub (Squalius cephalus), Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), Common bleak (Alburnus alborella), South European roach (Sarmarutilus rubilio), South European nase (Protochondrostoma genei), Italian riffle dace (Telestes muticellus), Goldfish (Carassius auratus), and Freshwater bream (Abramis brama). Eustrongylides spp. larvae were only found in one specimen of European perch caught in Bracciano Lake and purchased from a local fishmonger (P = 3.3%; MI = 1; MA = 0.03). The only isolated Eustrongylides spp. larva was submitted to molecular analysis of the ITS gene region and identified as E. excisus. This finding adds Bracciano Lake to the list of the several Italian lakes in which nematodes belonging to this genus have been reported. Even if the observed prevalence is currently low, the presence of the parasite in this local freshwater fish supply chain requires FBOs to adopt risk management measures to prevent contaminated products from reaching final consumer. Moreover, future investigations will show if the parasite expands in these areas.

Circular economy: Implications for supply chains and logistics management

Circular economy: Implications for supply chains and logistics management

Exploring the Challenges of Industry 4.0 Adoption in the FMCG Sector: Implications for Resilient Supply Chain in Emerging Economy

Background: Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chains are experiencing various challenges due to the interactions between consumers and decision-makers during physical distribution, manufacturing, wholesale and retail. One possible strategy to address these challenges for smoothing the supply chain (SC) and logistics operations is to adopt Industry 4.0 (I4.0) based technologies in the FMCG business processes. In this regard, digitalization and automation of the FMCG supply chain can be strengthened by the alluring properties of I4.0 technologies. Methods: This study identified nine significant challenges through a literature review and expert validation. Later, the challenges were evaluated using a novel multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) framework, the Bayesian best worst method (BWM). Results: The findings indicated that “requirement for substantial investment and resources”, “incompatible technological infrastructure” and “poorly structured value chain” are the most significant challenges to implementing I4.0 in the FMCG industry. Conclusions: The study is expected to significantly contribute to improving the FMCG supply chain’s resilience, sustainability, visibility, traceability and responsiveness. Additionally, the research can provide industrial practitioners valuable insights into implementing I4.0 in FMCG and similar sectors and thus promote SC sustainability and resilience in those industries.

Decentralized production concepts for bio-based polymers - implications for supply chains, costs, and the carbon footprint

This paper presents a multi-dimensional evaluation of decentralized production networks based on modular production plants. The main objective of this evaluation is to examine the effects of different degrees of decentralization in production networks of the chemical industry. Using the production of a biopolymer as an example, the study includes strategic supply chain planning by agent-based simulations, economic evaluation by calculation of net present values and environmental assessment by calculation of carbon footprints. By allowing for dynamic reconfiguration of the decentralized networks over time, it is shown that mobile, modular plant concepts are beneficial to reduce supply chain expenses. Transportation efforts resulting from strategic supply chain planning are reduced by 40 % with increasing degree of decentralization. The profitability of the decentralized networks is dominated by the costs for the production processes themselves as capital and operational expenditures allocate to >50 % of the total costs. Product prices of 3000 to 5500 €2020 per ton are necessary to reach profitability of the decentralized production networks. Regarding the environmental assessment, the carbon footprint of the supply chain accounts for <3 % of the total emissions, which are dominated by the provision of process heat that accounts for 46 to 68 % of the total emissions. Carbon footprint of the decentral production networks can be significantly reduced by a systematic electrification of 90 % of the process heat demand.

An Ordinary Least Squares Approach Measuring the Impact of Factors Affecting the Underground Economy of Bangladesh and Their Implications in the Context of the Country’s Supply Chain

The underground economy, also known as the shadow, informal, or unobserved economy, operates beyond government oversight, encompassing legal and illegal activities. Its substantial size, estimated at 36.4% of Asia's GDP, prompts examination of its determinants and policy implications. This study focuses on Bangladesh, aiming to identify factors influencing the underground economy. Using data from 2000 to 2020, the study employs Ordinary Least Squares analysis with variables including inflation, unemployment, internet users, GDP growth, tax revenue, economic freedom index, and population growth. Findings reveal that the size of underground economy of the country has significant positive relationships with inflation, internet users and tax revenue. Implications for Bangladesh's supply chain include inflation driving up costs, internet users affecting online commerce, and tax revenue influencing formalization efforts. Policymakers and stakeholders can use these insights to promote transparency and reduce the underground economy's adverse impacts.

A framework for integrating supply chain, environmental, and social justice factors during early stationary battery research

The transition to a decarbonized economy will drive dramatically higher demand for energy storage, along with technological diversification. To avoid mistakes of the past, the supply chain implications and environmental and social justice (ESJ) impacts of new battery technologies should be considered early during technological development. We propose herein a systematic framework for analyzing these impacts for new stationary battery technologies and illustrate the framework with a case study. The goal is to promote future development of technologies with secure supply chains and favorable ESJ profiles to avoid expensive corrective actions after substantial resources have been invested. This framework should be a useful tool for public and private researchers and sponsors who want to ensure that supply chain and ESJ concerns are considered and integrated as part of decision making throughout the research and development process.

ANALYZING HISTORICAL TRADE DYNAMICS AND CONTEMPORARY IMPACTS OF EMERGING MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES ON INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE AND U.S. STRATEGY

This research paper explores the relationship between historical trade dynamics, emerging materials technologies, and their contemporary impacts on international trade. Through a series of case studies and comprehensive analyses, the paper highlights how innovation in materials science has historically shaped trade patterns, industries, and economies. It investigates the role of innovation ecosystems, research collaboration, and intellectual property rights in influencing trade dynamics. Furthermore, the paper discusses the effects of emerging materials technologies on various sectors, including manufacturing, electronics, renewable energy, healthcare, and more. It examines the case of the United States, its policies, initiatives, challenges, and successes in adopting these technologies. The paper forecasts future trends in emerging materials technologies, emphasizing their implications for international trade relationships and supply chains. It addresses challenges such as regulatory frameworks, ethical considerations, and geopolitical factors that may impact the diffusion of these technologies globally. The paper concludes by stressing the significance of understanding historical trade dynamics and contemporary impacts. It suggests implications for officials, industry stakeholders, and future research directions. Ultimately, it underscores the critical role of emerging materials technologies in shaping the trade landscape, fostering economic growth, and contributing to sustainable development in an interconnected world.&#x0D; Keywords: Historical Trade Dynamics, Emerging Materials Technologies, International Trade, Innovation Ecosystems, Research Collaboration, Intellectual Property Rights, Industry Sectors.

Strength in numbers: collaborative procurement and competitiveness of craft breweries

PurposeThis article aims to investigate collaborative procurement as a sourcing strategy amongst competing small enterprises in an effort to reduce their material supply costs through increased efficiencies, bargaining power and economies of scale.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach is applied to a network of breweries that are regionally clustered. Interview data from producers, suppliers and industry experts is inductively interpreted to understand the viability, organisational impact and benefits/limitations of joint procurement activities.FindingsThe craft brewing industry follows a market place strategy of differentiation to achieve competitive advantage. This has supply chain implications that promote raw material diversity, which is in conflict with standardisation – a necessary factor for collective buying. Competition impacts information sharing and governance mechanism, while the structural factors of size asymmetry along and across the supply chain influence returns. These issues impact the potential economic benefits of collaborative procurement.Research limitations/implicationsThe research propositions have been developed in a specific industry but are generalisable to other companies with a differentiation strategy, especially in the consumer packaged goods sector.Practical implicationsEnabling conditions and constraints are captured in a framework and capability matrix, which can be used by practitioners to assess industry and product feasibility for collaborative procurement.Originality/valuePrevious studies of collaborative procurement have been in the public sector amongst large organisations. This work focusses on coopetition in the context of small businesses to identify the viability and cost-benefit of this strategy.

How Far Goods Travel: Global Transport and Supply Chains from 1965–2020

This paper considers the evolution of global transportation usage over the past half century and its implications for supply chains. Transportation usage has more than doubled as costs decreased by a third. Participation of emerging economies in world trade and longer-distance trade between countries contribute to this usage increase, thereby encouraging longer supply chains. We discuss technological advances over this period, and their interactions with endogenous responses from transportation costs and supply chain linkages. Supply chains involving more countries and longer distances are reflective of reliable and efficient transportat ion, but are also more exposed to disruptions, highlighting the importance of considering the interconnectedness of transportation and supply chains in policymaking and future work.

National Resource Control in Latin America: Shifting Dynamics of Lithium and Mineral Reserves amidst Rising Commodity Prices

Latin America has become a prominent producer of lithium, a crucial metal for electric vehicle batteries and clean energy technologies. The region possesses a significant share of the world’s lithium reserves, attracting attention from global stakeholders. However, governments in Latin America are asserting greater control over the mineral’s industry. Chile plans to establish a state-owned enterprise for lithium production, potentially requiring private companies to form joint ventures with the government. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Chile are engaged in discussions regarding the creation of a lithium OPEC-like organization aimed at controlling global prices. Bolivia already exercises near-complete control over its lithium industry. These developments reflect a trend of increased government control over strategic mineral resources with implications for the global supply chain of lithium and clean energy transitions.

Digitization policy design and implementation in the logistics and supply chain sector during the time of Covid-19

PurposeThe border closure and lockdowns due to Covid-19 pandemic resulted in partial closure of many industrial and commercial complexes, halted the performance of key strategic sectors such as logistics and supply chains, and thus disrupted the global value chains and the economy. The authors argue, however, that the pursuit of survival has driven companies to innovate and use digitization to overcome the negative consequences of the pandemic. More specifically, in this paper the authors aim to assess the success and challenges faced by companies in digitization policy design, adoption and implementation and their effects on firms’ operation, outputs and customer base during Covid-19.Design/methodology/approachSixty-one samples of the companies surveyed between 10 January and 30 April 2021 were analyzed, using the Krushkal–Wallis test and Independent-Samples Mann–Whitney U test to identify the relationships between variables including operation, overall output, customer base, digitization policy, technology use and implementation costs of new technologies.FindingsResults revealed a positive impact of digitization on the operation and overall outputs, while no effect was observed on the customer base. Analysis also showed that only 1.8% of companies were able to fully implement digitization, and that the cost of technology prevented most companies from using emerging technology or implementing their digitization policy.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the research has practical implications, it is not without flaws. For instance, the outcome of technology varies as per geographic area and people. The study was conducted in the Sultanate of Oman, a developing country in the Middle East region; therefore, it is difficult to generalize the outcomes suited to developed countries. The developed countries usually have a population quite used to the advanced technologies so some of the issues raised in the study might not work in the logistics and supply chain sectors of the developed countries. Such countries need separate studies.Practical implicationsThe findings will have implications for both supply chain companies as well as the technology providers. The supply chain companies will invest in technology infrastructure and add technology as an important component in their business models. The technology providers will consider the costs of implementation and adoption issues of technology in the supply chain companies.Originality/valueTo the best of authors' knowledge, no work has been produced on logistics and supply chain companies considering the technological sustainability during the time of Covid-19. The study will improve understanding of the digitization policy design, adoption and implementation and their effects on logistics and supply chain companies’ performance.

Hierarchic change system dynamics supply chain model: impact of demand information sharing on holding cost and downstream project completion

The interrelationships between system components are critical to improving the performance of a complex supply chain system. Thus, any improvement or development can be carried out systemically and comprehensively. The complexity of coordination grows as the number of echelons in a supply chain increases. In practice, coordination becomes more difficult to implement in a supply chain with more echelons. Through demand information sharing, this research attempts to figure out how coordination can have implications for complex multi-echelon supply chains with a modeling approach. The Aggregate Andesite Stone Supply Chain is used as an empirical model with four echelons. Changes in dimensions and values per ton of product in each echelon displacement add complexity. Total holding cost is not the only consideration. The timely completion of projects downstream is also a priority. So the system's behavior that runs and changes over time also needs to be observed. To accommodate this complexity, a system dynamics modeling approach is used. This modeling technique could capture fluctuations in volatile conditions that change in time sequences. The pattern of model behavior shows that demand information sharing in the andesite aggregate supply chain is faint, and the "bullwhip effect" occurs. The demand information sharing can eliminate this effect, reduce up to 73.5 % of total supply chain holding costs, and increase the percentage of project completion on time downstream of the supply chain. These results provide a scientific and practical understanding that although there are many obstacles, demand information sharing can significantly improve performance in multi-echelon complex supply chains and be worthwhile applied