Supply Chain In China Research Articles

An Improved Shapley Value Method for a Green Supply Chain Income Distribution Mechanism

Low-carbon development and environmental remediation are key factors for green resource-based supply chains in China. With this aim in mind, by applying game theory under uncertain market demand, this paper incorporates low-carbon development and environmental remediation into a resource-based supply chain coordination model for decentralized and centralized markets. The results show that a centralized market can lead to improvement in total profit. Furthermore, based on an improved Shapley value method, a theoretical model for the centralized market income distribution mechanism is developed that incorporates three corrective risk factors, ecological investment, and technological level. Finally, a numerical analysis is conducted using a MATLAB simulation to obtain intuitive results, which, in turn, show the validity of incentive income distribution mechanisms for green supply chain development in China.

Integrated operation path of the tourism products supply chain in China: Online intelligentization

In China, smart tourism has been promoted by technological innovation. Technological progress makes new changes in the supply chain of tourism products. It is of great significance to explore the optimal path of the Tourism Products Supply Chain (TPSC) in the Internet era. Tourism node organization, tourism flow, tourism logistics, tourism products information flow and capital flow are the basic integrated elements of the TPSC. Tourism flow is the ultimate destination of the TPSC. The development of information technology in China provides the conditions for the optimization of the TPSC. Based on the integration of information technology, the intelligent integration path of the TPSC is constructed. The intelligent integration of TPSC is realized by tourism e–commerce platform as a tourism products integrator. Thus, the supply of lean tourism service can be effectively matched the tourism demand. The sustainability of the TPSC is ensured through intelligent integration, transmission, and operation path. By optimizing the expected returns, the probability of selecting the intelligent TPSC by tourists and related enterprises is greatly increased.

Cooperative behavior between companies and contract farmers in Chinese agricultural supply chains

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships between relationship commitment, cooperative behavior and alliance performance in agricultural supply chains. By investigating dyadic relationships between companies and their contract farmers (hereafter denoted by C+F), this study aims to investigate how relationship commitment influences cooperative behavior and how such behavior further influences alliance performance in C+F agricultural supply chains in China.Design/methodology/approachBased on data collected from 202 companies and 462 farmers in China, this study uses the structural equation modeling approach to test the conceptual model and related hypotheses.FindingsFor both companies and contract farmers, normative relationship commitment is a necessity for economically and socially cooperative behavior (i.e. specific investment and communication, respectively), while instrumental relationship commitment has no relationship with specific investment. Only socially cooperative behavior (communication) can improve alliance performance, while economically cooperative behavior (specific investment) has no relationship with alliance performance. For companies, instrumental relationship commitment reduces communication, but specific investment increases communication. For farmers, both instrumental relationship commitment and specific investment have no relationship with communication.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on supply chain management by adopting a bilateral perspective and examining relationships among relationship commitment, cooperative behavior and alliance performance in the C+F context. It provides agricultural companies and contract farmers with valuable guidance to use relationship commitment and cooperative behavior to improve alliance performance in agricultural supply chains in China.

The temporal variation of SO2 emissions embodied in Chinese supply chains, 2002–2012

Whilst attention is increasingly being focused on embodied pollutant emissions along supply chains in China, relatively little attention has been paid to dynamic changes in this process. This study utilized environmental extended input-output analysis (EEIOA) and structural path analysis (SPA) to investigate the dynamic variation of the SO2 emissions embodied in 28 economic sectors in Chinese supply chains during 2002–2012. The main conclusions are summarized as follows: (1) The dominant SO2 emission sectors differed under production and consumption perspectives. Electricity and heat production dominated SO2 emissions from the point of view of production, while construction contributed most from the consumption perspective. (2) The embodied SO2 emissions tended to change from the path (staring from consumption side to production side): “Services→Services→Power” in 2002 to the path: “Construction and Manufacturing→Metal and Nonmetal→Power” in 2012. (3) Metal-driven emissions raised dramatically from 15% in 2002 to 22% in 2012, due to increasing demand for metal products in construction and manufacturing activities. (4) Power generation was found to result in the greatest volume of production-based emissions, a burden it tended to transfer to upstream sectors in 2012. Controlling construction activities and cutting down end-of-pipe discharges in the process of power generation represent the most radical interventions in reducing Chinese SO2 emissions. This study shed light on changes in SO2 emissions in the supply chain, providing a range of policy implications from both production and consumption perspectives.

Modernisation of dairy farms: the case of Nestlé’s Dairy Farming Institute in China

Subject area Operations and Logistics. Study level/applicability Senior undergraduate students and postgraduate students specialising in agricultural economics/agribusiness/supply chain management and can also be used for executive training for supply chain managers and corporate social responsibility (CSR) managers of food companies. Case overview This case presents an industry leading company – Nestlé’s sustainable initiative in its dairy supply chain in China. The case begins with the background of China’s dairy industry, followed by an introduction of the case company. The case then moves on to the comparison of Nestlé’s fresh milk supply chain operation before and after 2008 and different approaches to help the dairy suppliers’ transformation. The focus is on Nestlé’s innovative industry collaboration platform, the Dairy Farming Institute. Expected learning outcomes This case allows students to explore the following theoretical frameworks: sustainable supply chain management; supply chain leadership, supply chain learning and supply chain structure. By analysing this case, students should be able to gain an understanding of how multinational corporations (MNCs) play a supply chain leadership role in supply chain learning of sustainable supply chain initiatives. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 9: Operations and Logistics.

Determinants of the competitive advantage of dairy supply chains: Evidence from the Chinese dairy industry

In this study, we use an evidence-based approach to examine the factors that determine the competitive advantage of dairy supply chains using evidence from the Chinese dairy industry. We focus on the quality assurance of dairy products, which is considered one of the fundamental influential factors. We investigate interrelationships among the identified determinants, which include dairy production behavior, dairy cow culture model, government regulations, corporate social responsibility, and quality assurance, and examine how these determinants influence the competitive advantage of dairy supply chains. We employ the structural equation modeling approach in which grouped observable variables that represent the identified determinants are extrapolated from primary data collected through a questionnaire survey. Our key findings show that by mediating the effects of dairy production behavior and the dairy cow culture model, government regulation and corporate social responsibility significantly affect the quality assurance of dairy products. In turn, dairy production behavior and the dairy cow culture model significantly affect the competitive advantage of the dairy supply chain via the fully mediated effects of the quality assurance of dairy products. Specifically, the dairy cow culture model helps ensure the safety and quality of milk supply, allowing core dairy firms to control product quality throughout the dairy supply chain. Our empirical study shows that the identified determinants interact to assure the quality of dairy products and enhance the competitive advantage of the dairy supply chain in China.

Research on the Optimization of After-Sales Parts Supply Chain Management Based on Supplier Management—Taking SAIC General Motors After-Sales Parts as an Example

Nowadays auto parts industry supply chain management is becoming a boom-ing industry which is full of opportunities and challenges. As a network node of supply chain, the reasonable optimization of the supplier not only affects the after-sales parts operating costs, operating performance, competitive strategy and the future development, but also affect the entire supply chain logistics cost, logistics strategy and competition strategy. Supply chain management re-search for Supplier management can effectively guide the auto parts manufacturers of the business environment, foster strengths and circumvent weaknesses, assess the situation, seize the moment, and gather more intense market competition in the future always maintain their advantage. Therefore, deeply studying the related theory of automobile after-sales spare parts supply chain, combined with the status quo and development trend of the automobile and accessories market in China, then optimization the basic model and operation strategy of automobile customer service parts supply chain in China, has a very important practical significance. Based on the customer service parts supply chain of SAIC General Motors, we analyze the operation characteristics and the status quo of this company; analyze the existing problems in the supply chain of the company’s after-sales parts. Firstly due to the historical reasons, and the lack of overall concept of the supply chain, supplier order delivery rate is low, information feedback is not timely, inventory pressure is high, and supply chain management system is imperfect. Secondly the incomplete information and inaccurate predictions lead to unreasonable warehouse storage; inventory turnover rate is low. Finally, the market demand and the information are not shared caused low company’s accessories sales and high proportion of transport costs. In the aspect of optimization design, firstly we analysis and improve reasonable management of suppliers, inventory structure, major items of operating costs and existing problems in SAIC General Motors. In the optimization design, we firstly analyse reasonable management of suppliers in order to reduce costs and in a timely manner to meet the market demand; Then the information integration of the parts system can scientifically synthesize information to reasonably predict sales volume, satisfy inventory optimization and strengthen cooperation with suppliers; Finally, adjust the structure of spare parts inventory according to the contact with the supplies; improve the company’s inventory turnover rate, to make the whole supply chain inventory structure more reasonable accessories, so as to reduce the company’s operating costs, improve customer satisfaction rate and satisfaction.

Carbon Footprint Assessment of a Large-Scale Pig Production System in Northern China: A Case Study

Abstract. China raises 50% of global live pigs. However, few studies on the carbon footprint (CF) of large-scale pig production based on China’s actual production conditions have been carried out. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) and actual production data of a typical large-scale pig farm in northern China were used to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or CF associated with the whole process of pig production, including feed production (crop planting, feed processing, and transportation), enteric fermentation, manure management, and energy consumption. The results showed a CF of 3.39 kg CO2-eq per kg of live market pig and relative contributions of 55%, 28%, 13%, and 4% to the total CF by feed production, manure management, farm energy consumption, and enteric fermentation, respectively. Crop planting accounted for 66% of the feed production CF, while feed processing and transportation accounted for the remaining 34%. Long-distance transport of semi-raw feed materials caused by planting-feeding separation and over-fertilization in feed crop planting were two main reasons for the largest contribution of GHG emissions from feed production to the total CF. The CF from nitrogen fertilizer application accounted for 33% to 44% of crop planting and contributed to 16% of the total CF. The CF from the transport of feed ingredients accounted for 17% of the total CF. If the amount of nitrogen fertilizer used for producing the main feed ingredients is reduced from 209 kg hm-2 (for corn) and 216 kg hm-2 (for wheat) to 140 kg hm-2 (corn) and 180 kg hm-2 (wheat), the total CF would be reduced by 7%. If the transport distance for feed materials decreased from 325 to 493 km to 30 km, along with reducing the number of empty vehicles for transport, the total CF would be reduced by 18%. The combined CF mitigation potential for over-fertilization and transport distance is 26%. In addition, the use of pit storage, anaerobic digestion, and lagoon for manure management can reduce GHG emissions from manure management by 76% as compared to the traditional practice of pit storage and lagoon. This case study reveals the impact of planting-feeding separation and over-fertilization on the CF of the pig supply chain in China. The manure management practice of pit storage, anaerobic digestion, and lagoon is much more conductive to reducing the CF as compared to the traditional practice of pit storage and lagoon. Keywords: Greenhouse gas, Life cycle assessment, Mitigation, Pig.

Molecular epidemiology and antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes of salmonellae from food supply chains in China

Salmonella is an important zoonotic agent and a vehicle for antibiotic resistance genes. Here, 294 isolates from humans and food-producing animals were subjected to serotyping, multilocus sequence typing, and assessment of phenotypic (15 antibiotics) and genotypic (32 resistance genes) antimicrobial resistance. Twenty-two serotypes and 35 sequence types (STs) were identified, the most common STs being ST11, including S. Enteritidis from chickens and humans; ST17, including S. Indiana from chickens; and ST40, including S. Derby from pigs and humans. Antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and genotypes exhibited ST- and serovar-specific features. ST11, clonal complex (CC) 19, ST40, and ST155 were moderately multidrug-resistant (MDR) clones, most of the isolates of which were resistant to between 3 and 6 antibiotics. Isolates of a super-MDR clone, ST17, demonstrated resistance against 9 to 14 antimicrobials, in particular, ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefotaxime, cefepime, cefoperazone, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin. Consistent with this, ST17 (S. Indiana) was associated with a gene cluster comprising blaCTX-M (and/or blaOXA-1-like together with blaTEM-1-like), sul1, aacC4, aac(6)-1b, floR, and dfrA17, while the moderately-MDR clones (ST11, S. Enteritidis) were more closely linked to the blaTEM-1-like gene. The similar genetic clones isolated from animals and humans indicate a common ancestor, and implicate animals as a major salmonellae source. Antibiotic abuse in animal production appears to be the origin of MDR and super-MDR isolates, the latter being closely associated with the β-lactamase genes blaCTX-M, blaOXA-1-like, and blaTEM-1-like. Carried by chickens, ST17 (S. Indiana) is an emerging super-MDR clone whose associated resistance genes are expanding to other ST clones and serotypes being transmitted to animals and humans.

Connecting supermarkets and farms: the role of intermediaries in Walmart China's fresh produce supply chains

AbstractThis paper identifies and describes the recent emergence of a new class of private sector intermediaries in fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) supermarket supply chains in China. These intermediaries play key roles that determine the ways in which farm households participate in and the benefits they derive from new retail-led market opportunities associated with the supermarket sector's shift from FFV procurement through wholesale markets towards more direct contracting with farm communities. This paper provides a comprehensive description of 198 FFV supply chain intermediaries working with Walmart China in 2014, including their historical background, infrastructure investments, downstream marketing and upstream sourcing. We find that these actors play an increasingly critical role in the organization of land, labor and production through contracts. Our study provides critical insights for understanding both the trends in vertical coordination of China's developing agricultural sector and the pace of the country's agricultural modernization. Walmart is a leading international supermarket chain with a growing presence in China, and evidence suggests that their supply chain strategies are similar to other large supermarkets in the region. Results are also relevant to understanding current challenges in China related to food safety and quality, a top priority in recent years.

Designing coordination contract for biofuel supply chain in China

To ensure the sustainable supply of agricultural feedstock for biofuel production and improve the performance of biofuel supply chain, coordination along the biofuel supply chain in a random yield environment is studied. Three types of coordination contract are examined, namely, an over-production risk-sharing contract (OPC), an under-production risk-sharing contract (UPC), and a mixed contract (MC) with an asymmetric Nash bargaining model. Though an OPC and a UPC can correct the farmers’ over-production and under-production behavior, the expected increase in profit may not be realized by the biofuel producer or the farmers. The MC is feasible because it achieves an efficient supply chain, where supply chain optimization as well as the interests of all individual actors are respected simultaneously. The proposed contracts are tested with data from the cassava-based biofuel industry in China. The findings help practitioners and policy makers understand when and how to implement coordination contracts to achieve the sustainable supply of agricultural feedstock for biofuel production and supply chain Pareto improvement as well.

Novel Role of Rural Official Organization in the Biomass-Based Power Supply Chain in China: A Combined Game Theory and Agent-Based Simulation Approach

Developing biomass-based power generation is helpful for China to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and to release the targets of carbon emission peak. The decentralized farming method leads to Chinese farmers’ weak willingness to collect and sell crop residues to biomass-based power plants. The purpose of this paper is to solve the issue by proposing a novel biomass feedstock supply model with China’s rural official organization—villagers’ committee, which has great influence on villagers’ decision making. Introducing it into the biomass-based power supply chain is beneficial to motivating farmers’ supplying enthusiasm. A combined game theory and agent-based simulation approach is applied to study the effectiveness of this new supply model. Multiple simulation scenarios are built to study impacts of different simulation parameters, and results show that farmers tend to supply more biomass material for electricity production in the proposed villagers’ committee model, compared with the two conventional supply models, direct-deal and broker models. The supply model incorporating the rural official organization can ensure the feedstock sufficiency for plants. A proper model design depends on the feed-in tariff subsidy for biomass-based electricity, feedstock shipping distance, performance appraisal system of the villagers’ committee, as well as farmers’ utility weights on net income and public service improvement.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Salmonella enterica isolates throughout an integrated broiler supply chain in China.

A total of 1145 samples were collected from chicken breeder farms, hatcheries, broiler farms, a slaughterhouse and retail refrigerated chicken stores in an integrated broiler supply chain in Guangdong Province, China, in 2013. One-hundred and two Salmonella enterica strains were isolated and subjected to serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, virulence profile determination and molecular subtyping by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The contamination rates in samples from breeder farms, hatcheries, broiler farms, the slaughterhouse and retail stores were 1·46%, 4·31%, 7·00%, 62·86% and 54·67%, respectively. The isolated strains of S. enterica belonged to 10 serotypes; most of them were S. Weltevreden (46·08%, 47/102) and S. Agona (18·63%, 19/102). Isolates were frequently resistant to streptomycin (38·2%), tetracycline (36·3%), sulfisoxazole (35·3%) and gentamicin (34·3%); 31·4% of isolates were multidrug resistant. The isolates were screened for 10 virulence factors. The Salmonella pathogenicity island genes avrA, ssaQ, mgtC, siiD, and sopB and the fimbrial gene bcfC were present in 100% of the strains. PFGE genotyping of the 102 S. enterica isolates yielded 24 PFGE types at an 85% similarity threshold. The PFGE patterns show that the genotypes of S. enterica in the production chain are very diverse, but some strains have 100% similarity in different parts of the production chain, which indicates that some S. enterica persist throughout the broiler supply chain.

Study of behavior incentive mechanism of energy conservation and emission reduction for China freshwater live fish supply chain

Purpose: The purpose of this paper investigates the subject behavior of Energy conservation and emission reduction (ECER) based on structured classification of the organization types of FLF supply chain, and explores reasonable behavior incentive mechanism for ECER of FLF supply chain in China. Design/methodology/approach: This paper classifies the organization subjects of FLF supply chain, and different characteristics of organization subjects are compared in detail. ECER behavior incentive mechanism modeling of FLF supply chain is explored by taking advantage of principal-agent model in view of asymmetry information. Incentives issue of different operating subjects is discussed as enlightenment of the model. Findings: Three types of the organization subjects of FLF supply chain in China have been identified as: loose organization, semi-compact organization and compact organization.Subjects of different types have different abilities to conduct ECER work. Government needs to propose differentiation polices of incentive compensation for different operating subjects, widen the gap of differentiated subsidies/rewards for different investment levels on ECER conducted by different operating subjects of FLF supply chain. Research limitations/implications: It will take long-term unremitting efforts to achieve the target of ECER work for FLF supply chain in China, the dynamic issues and simulation modeling on behavior incentive mechanism of ECER should be developed in future research. Practical implications: Clear understanding of structured classification of the organization subject types of FLF supply chain and the behavior incentive mechanism for ECER, will help government to improve the ECER work in an efficient and effective way. Originality/value: Research to behavior incentive mechanism of ECER has important theoretical value and practical significance. This paper contributes to distinguish three types of operating subjects of FLF supply chain in China, put forward the behavior incentive mechanism of ECER to support the government to improve the ECER work scientifically.

A multi-regional structural path analysis of the energy supply chain in China's construction industry

The construction industry in China exerts significant environmental impacts and uses considerable resources because of rapid urbanization. This study conducted a structural path analysis (SPA) based on the multi-regional input–output table to quantify environmental impact transmission in the entire supply chain. Results indicated that the direct resource input (the first stage) along with on-site construction (the zeroth stage) consumed the highest amount of energy in the supply chain and accounted for approximately 50% of total energy consumption. Regional analysis showed that energy consumption in the construction industry at the provincial level was self-sufficient. Sectoral analysis demonstrated that the direct inputs from the sectors of “manufacture of non-metallic mineral products” and “smelting and pressing of metals” generated the most important energy flows, whereas the sectors of “production and distribution of electric power and heat power” and “extraction of petroleum and natural gas” significantly but indirectly influenced energy use. Sensitivity analysis exhibited that the system boundary of SPA could be narrowed down into the first two upstream stages that contained nearly 50% of energy flow information or expanded toward the first five upstream stages that represented 80% of total energy consumption.

Cooperative strategies for sustainability in a decentralized supply chain with competing suppliers

In today's global market, organizations increasingly recognize that they must address the issue of sustainability in their operations. In addition, the decision-making processes surrounding sustainable supply chain management are raising a wide range of theories and claims about how best to address the issue. In this study, mathematical modeling is used to analyze managerial decision-making in terms of improving sustainability in a decentralized supply chain with two competing suppliers. Firstly, the concept of managerial decision-making for competing suppliers is introduced. Next, the mechanism used in the selection of cooperative strategies is described, and the decisions related to demand, energy efficiency and profits are analyzed in different scenarios of cooperative strategy combinations. Also, lump sum transfer contracts are designed for supply chain coordination. An experimental test of an automobile supply chain in China illustrates the impacts of competition intensity on profits, the energy efficiency of environmentally friendly products and consumer surplus. The analysis indicates that the sustainability of the supply chain can be efficiently enhanced through cooperative strategies and parameter adjustments, while tradeoffs should be made by the policy maker before any cooperative strategy combination is advocated. This study extends and complements existing literature with regard to how it is possible to improve sustainability in a competitive environment through cooperative supply chain strategies and parameter adjustments, i.e. enhancing the price of environmentally friendly products, lowering the supplier's share of instinct demand potential and lowering the manufacturer's fixed cost related to energy efficiency.

Carbon emissions embodied in demand–supply chains in China

Using the multi-regional input–output model (MRIO), the paper distinguishes the carbon emissions embodied in commodities for domestic final consumption (CBEs, consumption-based emissions) and those for export (EBEs, export-based emissions), and then calculates carbon emissions embodied in the demand–supply chains for consumption and export based on technical coefficients matrix of the MRIO for one country. Taking China as an example, we provide a dynamic analysis of CBEs, EBEs, and carbon emissions embodied in consumption and export demand–supply chains at the sub-national level based on the MRIO tables for 1997 and 2007. The results show that, in China, the transferred carbon emissions embodied in demand–supply chains driven by consumption and export both showed rapid growth during 1997–2007. And the net transferred carbon emissions embodied in the demand–supply chains showed an increasing trend as well. Less developed regions with abundant fossil fuels tend to net flow out carbon emissions.

Possibility of Inventory Pooling in China’s public hospital and appraisal about its performance

Aiming to problems of high drug shortage possibility and rupture of liquidity caused by serious liquidity occupied in drug supply chain of public hospitals in China, this paper discusses effectiveness about application of Inventory Pooling theory in this section. Employing Vensim software of system dynamic, the paper establishes 2 simulation models of whole process from drug demand to supply involved by patients, hospitals, distributors and manufacturers in traditional mode and the Pooling mode respectively. By quantitative comparison and analysis, it is proved that Inventory Pooling could be an effective method to improve performance of drug supply chain in China, especially in cutting down shortage possibility and reducing liquidity occupied.

Study on Innovation Strategies of China Petroleum Supply Chain Optimization

With China's sustained and rapid development of economy and industrial modernization and urbanization process continues to advance, the greater demand for oil and other energy and foundation. Due to lack of oil production, China's oil imports rose steadily in recent years, the import dependence continues to expand, coupled with the frequent fluctuation of the oil price, the oil supply chain in China has huge potential safety problems. Therefore, the optimization of existing oil supply chain network system, and give full play to the role of market allocation of resources, is one of the effective ways to solve the shortage of petroleum resources. This article first elaborated the petroleum status of supply chain optimization problem, points out the problems in present research. Further research on the strategic petroleum reserve value, and constructed and put forward suggestions for perfecting China's petroleum reserve system. The purpose is to enrich the petroleum supply chain optimization strategy, further improve the supply chain management of our country actual oil.

Information communication technology and sustainable food supply chain: a resource-based analysis

Increasing population leads to growing food demand. However, the competition for land, water, and energy puts pressure on the food supply chain system. Therefore, developing a sustainable food supply chain (SFSC) is emerging as a strategic imperative for the Chinese food industry. There are three aspects of sustainability, which need to be considered: social, environmental, and economic. This research focuses on how information and communication technologies can be used to improve sustainable food supply chains in China. This paper draws on resource-based theories, which describe the kinds of ICT resources and capabilities that are likely to enable one firm to outperform a competing firm in relation to some given process. The empirical research is based on 89 responses from a survey with Chinese food retailers' manager, the regression analysis are used. The findings suggest that ICT resources are moderated by inter-firm coordination to influence the SFSC performance.