Supply Chain Indicators Research Articles

Burning the midnight oil: Transmission of edible oil import tariffs along supply chain in India

Burning the midnight oil: Transmission of edible oil import tariffs along supply chain in India

AI-Enhanced Supply Chain Optimization: A Study of Indian E-Commerce Sector

This paper investigates the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in optimizing supply chains in India's rapidly growing e-commerce sector. AI-powered algorithms such as Machine Learning (ML) and Reinforcement Learning (RL) are increasingly being deployed to enhance supply chain efficiency by predicting demand, optimizing inventory, and improving last-mile delivery. The study analyzes the performance of AI models like Decision Trees, Random Forest, and Deep Q-Networks (DQN) in supply chain management, focusing on real-time decision-making capabilities and cost reduction. Case studies from leading Indian e-commerce companies, including Flipkart and Amazon India, are presented to demonstrate the impact of AI on reducing operational inefficiencies and improving customer satisfaction. The research also explores the challenges of implementing AI in supply chain operations in India, including data integration issues, infrastructure limitations, and workforce adaptation to AI technologies. Finally, the paper discusses future trends in AI-driven supply chain management, such as autonomous vehicles and drone deliveries, which hold immense potential in the Indian context.

Institutional Reforms and Spatial Efficiency in Agricultural Supply Chains in India

This paper reviews the institutional reforms in agricultural commodity markets in India and examines their implications for spatial efficiency in supply chains of the markets. In order to remove inefficiencies in the traditional supply chain, the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act was revised, and a Model APMC Act 2003 was introduced with the provisions for establishing private markets/yards, direct purchase centres, farmers markets for direct sale, contract farming and promotion of public–private partnership in the management and development of agricultural markets. Initiative has been taken to set up a National Agricultural Market as an all-India electronic trading portal to develop a ‘common national market’ for agricultural commodities. The institutional reforms in agricultural marketing system since the early 1990s appear to have contributed towards improving the spatial efficiency in rice and wheat markets. The finding of an increase in the extent of spatial integration of markets after the reforms and the tendency of the prices to move towards a common stochastic trend lend support to the idea of setting up a ‘common national market’ for agricultural commodities. Further reforms in the marketing system with better infrastructure facilities would strengthen market integration and improve efficiency in the supply chains. JEL classification: O13, Q13, Q18.

Analysis of performance of Covid-19 vaccine supply chain in India

PurposeThis study aims to analyse the structure of the Indian vaccine supply chain (SC) during the Covid-19 crisis and explore the underlying challenges at each stage in the network. It also brings out the difference in performance of various constituent states.Design/methodology/approachThis study relied on both primary and secondary data for the analyses. For the primary data, the study gathered experts’ opinions to validate the authors’ inferences. For the secondary data, it relies on government data provided in websites.FindingsBased on the quartile analysis and cluster analysis of the secondary data, the authors find that the constituent states responded differently during the first and second waves. This was due to the differences in SC characteristics attributed to varied demographics and administrative efficiency.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper’s analyses is primarily limited to secondary information and inferences are based on them. The study has important implications for implementing the large-scale vaccination drives by government and constituent states for better coordination and last-mile delivery.Originality/valueThe contribution is unique in studying the performance of constituent states using statistical techniques, with secondary data from authentic sources. It is also unique in combining this observation with validation from experts.

"Constrained Medical Oxygen Supply Chain in India During COVID-19: Red-tapism, the Elephant in the Room?"

Recent disruption of medical oxygen during the second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused nationwide panic. This study attempts to objectively analyze the medical oxygen supply chain in India along the principles of value stream mapping (VSM), identify bottlenecks, and recommend systemic improvements. Process mapping of the medical oxygen supply chain in India was done. Different licenses and approvals, their conditions, compliances, renewals, among others were factored in. All relevant circulars (Government Notices), official orders, amendments, and gazette notifications pertaining to medical oxygen from April 2020 to April 2021 were studied and corroborated with information from Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) official website. Steps of medical oxygen supply chain right from oxygen manufacture to filling, storage, and transport up to the end users; have regulatory bottlenecks. Consequently, flow of materials is sluggish and very poor information flow has aggravated the inherent inefficiencies of the system. Government of India has been loosening regulatory norms at every stage to alleviate the crisis. Regulatory bottlenecks have indirectly fueled the informal sector over the years, which is not under Government's control with difficulty in controlling black-marketing and hoarding. Technology enabled, data-driven regulatory processes with minimum discretionary human interface can make the system more resilient.

Identifying market power of retailers and processors: Evidence from coffee supply chain in India

This paper deals with the dynamics of market power with processors and retailers in the coffee supply chain in India. We develop an imperfect competition model that allows for the potential oligopoly and/or oligopsony power of retailers and processors with respect to adjacent stakeholders in the supply chain. We also empirically determine the presence/absence of market power among processors and retailers in the coffee supply chain in India. This paper highlights the existence of market power with processors in the coffee industry that plays an important role in the imperfect price transmission and should not be ignored when developing regulatory policies.

A Web Application for Drug Traceability in Healthcare System using Blockchain

Abstract: In current situation, we come across various problems in pharmaceutical supply chain in India which can be solved with different ideas. Since a drug’s ownership changes from manufacturer to distributor and then to the pharmacist before reaching the customer . The manufacturers don’t know how their drug is being used. At the same time, consumers don’t know whether the drug has come from the rightful source including inaccurate information, lack of transparency and limited data provenance. It is difficult to detect counterfeits because these drugs pass through different complex distributed networks, thus forming opportunities for counterfeits to enter the authentic supply chain. Most existing track and trace systems are centralized leading to data privacy, transparency and authenticity issues in healthcare supply chains. In this project work, an end-to-end drug tracking system across the pharmaceutical supply chain is built as a Web Application. It attempts to prevent drug counterfeiting, add traceability, security, and visibility to the pharmaceutical supply chain using Blockchain technology and AWS S3 service. The system guarantees data provenance, eliminates the need for intermediaries and provides a secure immutable history of transactions to all stakeholders. We developed a Web application which provides traceability of drug manufacturers and other information to emulate the data tampering scenario. We also create a tampering application to exhibit the false transactions of a node. We perform testing and validation to recover the original data to evaluate it’s effectiveness to enhance traceability within pharmaceutical supply chain.

Ripple effect mitigation capabilities of a hub and spoke distribution network: an empirical analysis of pharmaceutical supply chains in India

In this study, we focus on ripple effect mitigation capability of the Indian pharmaceutical distribution network during disruptions like COVID-19 pandemic. To study the mitigation capabilities, we conduct a multi-layer analysis (network, process, and control levels) using Bayesian network, mathematical optimisation, and discrete event simulation methodologies. This analysis revealed an associative relationship between ripple effect mitigation capabilities and network design characteristics of upstream supply chain entities. Using stochastic optimisation and Lagrangian relaxation, we then find ideal candidates for regional distribution centres at the downstream level. We then integrate these downstream locations with other supply chain entities for building the network optimisation and simulation model to analyse overall performance of the system. We demonstrate utility of our proposed methodology using a case study involving distribution of N95 masks to ‘Jan Aushadhi’ (peoples’ medicines) stores in India during COVID-19 pandemic. We find that supply chain reconfiguration improves service level to 95.7% and reduces order backlogs by 10.7%. We also find that regional distribution centres and backup supply sources provide overall flexibility and improve occupational health and safety. We further investigate alternate mitigation capabilities through fortification of suppliers’ workforce by vaccination. We offer recommendations for policymakers and managers and implications for academic research.

Positive and Negative Impact of COVID-19, An Analysis with Special Reference to Challenges on The Supply Chain in India

Positive and Negative Impact of COVID-19, An Analysis with Special Reference to Challenges on The Supply Chain in India

Knowledge Management for Integration of Agricultural Supply Chain in India

Paper tries to explore the problems faced by Indian agriculture for food security in terms of inadequate infrastructure and highly inefficient supply chain in context of information technology. This paper broadly covers some of important aspects of agriculture supply chain in India-identification of issues at different levels in the supply chain; transformation in the agriculture due to various supply chain interventions; the role of information management in supply chain: and this paper also covers the suggestion to improve efficiency at different levels in supply chain. The paper concludes that information management plays very important role for development and contemporary issue for agriculture.

An exploratory study into manufacturing supply chain vulnerability and its drivers

PurposeManufacturing supply chains (SCs) across the world have become increasingly vulnerable to disruptions due to the increasing fragmentation of business functions and tasks across many firms located within the country and abroad. Despite the numerous instances of SC disruptions being reported in the literature, the study of SC vulnerability lacks adequate conceptual and empirical support. This study aims to address this research gap.Design/methodology/approachThe concept of SC vulnerability was examined considering the outcome and contextual models of vulnerability, which are well established in extant multi-disciplinary vulnerability literature. An exploratory Delphi study was then conducted to understand the extent of vulnerability of various manufacturing SCs in India, drivers of this vulnerability and the key hazards exploiting this vulnerability.FindingsThe study confirms the increasing vulnerability of manufacturing SCs in India. It also highlights the lack of top management commitment to risk mitigation as the key vulnerability driver and frequent changes in government laws and regulations as the key hazard being faced by the manufacturing SCs in India.Originality/valueThis study highlights the utility of outcome and contextual models of vulnerability as conceptual frameworks for understanding SC vulnerability. These conceptual insights along with the key manufacturing SC vulnerability drivers and hazards identified in the study should provide a basis for SC redesign for vulnerability reduction and the selection of SC risk mitigation strategies.

Interplay between Competing and Coexisting Policy Regimens within Supply Chain Configurations

Competing and coexisting policies (CACPs) may arise from the incompatibility of incentives, standards, and regulatory models between a local state and a federal government, or between two government jurisdictions across which supply networks operate. Traditional studies of supply chain dynamics typically explore the impact of policy regimens as standalone instruments. This study explores how the interplay between CACP regimens can affect the supply dynamics between producers, customers, and their intermediaries. We use a supply network configuration lens to assess implications for supply chain actors and system‐level outcomes. Our work is motivated by the federal‐state dissonance in the current dispute between India's farmers and the federal government regarding new laws that impact agricultural supply chains in India. In this case, alternative and coexisting policy interventions, ostensibly aimed at modernizing and transforming production and distribution, can lead to significant supply chain netting and inventory pooling reconfigurations in terms of material, information, and financial flows among Indian agricultural stakeholders, along with inventory repositioning and market creation options. In addition, of significance is the consequent shift in the balance between state/nation and federal/supranational equity and bargaining power, an increasingly relevant context where supply chains operate across a common but multi‐jurisdictional territory, and implications for system‐level outcomes, in this particular case equity, welfare economics, and food security. We conclude by pointing to the implications of CACP regimens, and their interplay, for the broader field of operations management and supply chain research.

Developing environmental collaboration among supply chain partners for sustainable consumption & production: Insights from an auto sector supply chain

This study aims to investigate the role of environmental orientation and environmental collaboration practices in addressing sustainable consumption and production goals in the supply chain. The case study has been conducted using situation–actor–process (SAP) and learning–action–performance (LAP) model to systematically inquire the association between environmental collaboration and sustainable consumption and production goals in an auto sector supply chain. Using the SAP-LAP model, we tried to understand the complexities and interactions among the current situation, involved actors and processes influencing environmental collaboration for attaining sustainable consumption and production for the case study in an automobile firm. The SAP analysis presents a condition of environmental collaboration practices for sustainable consumption and production goal in the automobile supply chain in India. Then, LAP provides the learning followed by the suggested actions that can be taken to improve the performance of environmental collaboration for sustainable consumption and production goal. Therefore, the findings underscore the strategic significance for a firm to collaborate with its suppliers, customers and internal departments to improve performance in the supply chain. We have also developed propositions to underscore the association between environmental orientation, environmental collaboration, and sustainable consumption and production practices. The study will guide practitioners and policymakers to understand the significance of environmental collaboration for accomplishing sustainable consumption and production goal.

Selecting enablers for sustainable PDS supply chain in the Indian context using fuzzy-DEMATEL approach

PurposeThis paper aims to identify, analyze and evaluate the major enablers for the sustainable public distribution system (PDS) supply chain in India in lessening food insecurity by distributing essentials food grains at a subsidized rate.Design/methodology/approachThe major enablers for the sustainable PDS supply chain were explored by conducting the literature survey and discussion with academic and warehouse experts. Then, the fuzzy-DEMATEL (decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory) technique was applied to develop a causal model that analyses the interaction among the identified enablers.FindingsThis study recognizes fifteen enablers through literature survey and experts' opinions. The present work concludes that “proper identification of the PDS beneficiaries” and “willingness and commitment of the top management and policymaker” are the two major enablers for the sustainable PDS supply chain.Research limitations/implicationsThis work would be helpful for profoundly understanding the major enablers, and how they are affecting the entire PDS supply chain. The study would be beneficial for the general people and the entire society straightforwardly by providing suggestions for food security.Originality/valueIdentifying and analyzing the major enablers for the sustainable PDS supply chain helps to visualize the problem more effectively and efficiently. Besides, the causal model explains a comprehensive perspective on the identified enablers.

A Multidisciplinary Approach for Improving Resource Efficiency in the Indian Surimi Supply Chain

With the world population set to approach an estimated 9 billion by 2050, against a background of finite natural resources, we need renewable biological resources for securing healthy food and animal feed to meet the nutritional requirements of the growing population. In this paper, key findings from ReValue Eranet project financed by Norway, India, and Spain are presented. The project aims to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target on food losses reduction, by developing innovative technologies for the surimi industry, namely reducing losses by improved cold chain management and efficient conversion of rest raw materials (RRM) and wash water into value-added protein and oil ingredients for food and feed applications. A multidisciplinary research approach was applied with expertise from supply chain management, life cycle assessment, biotechnology, energy, and process engineering to propose several solutions for improving the overall resource efficiency of the surimi supply chains in India. This paper presents a synthesis of proposed solutions from ReValue project and potential contribution towards SDGs as well as market exploitation strategies.

Analyzing challenges for sustainable supply chain of electric vehicle batteries using a hybrid approach of Delphi and Best-Worst Method

Due to global warming and fast depletion of fossil fuels, the option of battery-operated electric vehicles (EVs) has emerged as one of the most popular alternatives for sustainable transport. In the present study, India is considered as a case country to explore the challenges in sustainable supply chain of electric vehicle batteries. India, being the second most populated country after China and having limited reserves of fossil fuels, has great potential to excel in electric vehicle supply chains. In addition, growth of electric vehicle markets in India is in the emerging phase. With increasing demand for EVs, the industry is facing many challenges for sustainable supply chain of electric vehicle batteries. The lithium-ion battery is a major component of electric vehicles. Many challenges for sustainability of electric vehicle battery supply chains have been extracted through literature review and discussions with industry experts. These challenges may be categorized as operational, technological, economic, environmental and social. Delphi technique is utilized to finalize major challenges for analysis. For further prioritization of these challenges, Best-Worst Method (BWM) is used. Finally, findings of the BWM are validated through an empirical study by collecting responses from 87 respondents. It is observed that ineffective recycling and reuse of batteries, disposal of batteries, and insufficient charging infrastructure are the three most important challenges in EV battery supply chain in India. The findings may be equally relevant in many developing countries having similar technological and infrastructure constraints. It will help policymakers in developing strategies for sustainable transport systems in developing countries.

Analyzing environmental sustainability enablers for an Indian steel manufacturing supply chain

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish the structural relationships between the environmental sustainability enablers (ESEs) for the steel supply chain in India and also to classify them on the basis of driving and dependence power with an objective of achieving enhanced environmental sustainability performance.Design/methodology/approachThe ESEs were identified through extensive literature review and discussion held with experts from the Indian steel industry. The interpretative structural modeling (ISM) approach was applied to an Indian steel supply chain to arrange these 12 ESEs in different hierarchies of the structural framework on the basis of their driver dependence power and also diagraph was developed to classify them.FindingsThe water pollution control system, air pollution control system and soil pollution control system were found to be in the bottom hierarchy of the ISM framework and these enablers were also observed in the driving quadrant of the diagraph. These driving enablers should be given priority for its full-scale development, management and monitoring to sustain and enhance the environmental sustainability in the Indian steel supply chain, whereas top management commitment, environment compliance certification and government regulation and incentives are the antecedents for carrying out the sustainability program.Research limitations/implicationsThe outcomes of the current study are limited to the Indian steel manufacturing company in specific but the results will not change significantly for the steel sectors in India. However, an empirical analysis can be used to explore and validate the structural framework for its acceptability.Practical implicationsThe outcomes from the methodology provide the basis for an Indian steel manufacturing industry to develop the right strategy in their quest for environmental sustainability.Originality/valueAlthough the study on ESEs of various industries was reported in the literature, the comprehensive study to identify the significant ESEs related to the Indian steel supply chain for environmental sustainability in specific have been hardly carried out. The current study will definitely be a valuable addition to environmental sustainability literature in general and steel supply chain environmental sustainability in specific.

Covid-19, disrupted vegetable supply chain and direct marketing: experiences from India

PurposeThis paper examines the impact of the Covid-19 induced lockdown on selected vegetables to confirm if the vegetable supply chain was disrupted during that period. It attempts to see if direct marketing via FPOs/FPCs helped Indian farmers to cope with adverse situations aroused in vegetable marketing.Design/methodology/approachThis study opted for mixed methods research. First, a granular data set comprising daily observation on wholesale price and the market arrival of vegetables were analysed. Descriptive statistics and Kalmogorov-Smirnov test were used to understand the severity of disruptions in the vegetable supply chain in India during the lockdown. Then, qualitative information from different stakeholders engaged in the vegetable marketing was collected through a phone survey and assessed using content analysis to comprehend how FPOs have helped farmer’s during this crisis.FindingsThis paper confirms disruptions in the vegetable supply chain. Quantities of chosen vegetables arriving in the mandis were significantly lower than in the previous year for all phases of lockdown. Consequently, prices were much higher than in 2019–2020 for both the lockdown and subsequent phases unlock. Results further suggest that those farmers who are already in networks of FPOs/FPCs are able to get benefited. It was also observed that direct marketing through institutional supports is being more explored in the regions where FPOs/FPCs already exist.Research limitations/implicationsSince it is an exploratory study involving a small sample, the research results may lack generalisability.Originality/valueThis study provides scope for direct marketing through FPOs/FPCs in improving the food supply chain.

Design of multi-objective sustainable food distribution network in the Indian context with multiple delivery channels

The paper addresses the design of a sustainable multiple-channel fresh food distribution network, which serves three purposes. Firstly, it addresses the changing preferences of consumers for online retailing. Secondly, the model investigates the distribution network of Buy Online Pickup in Store (BOPS) in the context of food supply chain. Thirdly, the model formulates new farming laws passed by the Indian government which allows the farmers to sell their produce as per their choice and removes the constraint of selling in the government regulated Mandis. To address the problem, a multiple-channel multi-objective fresh food distribution network model is developed. The model takes sustainability into consideration by formulating economic (total cost minimization), environmental (emission minimization) and social (delivery time minimization) objectives. A combination of an epsilon constraint and linear programming (LP) metrics method is used to solve the model. The applicability of the model is verified through a case study of a fresh tomato supply chain in India. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate the different distribution strategies. Results show that demand ratio plays an important role in the identification of the optimal design with respect to the three objectives considered.

Evaluating sustainability of the surimi supply chain in India: a life cycle assessment approach

PurposeBeing a primary product for a multitude of processed seafood, the ecological impacts of surimi have been less noted, despite its global supply dominance, especially in India. Life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental sustainability of existing supply chain by comparing it with two other supply chain alternatives. The ecologically understudied and fragmented nature of the existing Indian surimi supply chain necessitates the authors to highlight the significance of supply chain localizations and the reductions obtained in ecological impacts. The current study will show the direction for developing strategy(s) to improve the environmental sustainability in Indian stance.MethodsA cradle-gate approach of LCA is adopted right from fishing to an export market. Different supply chain alternatives such as the current state and two different states with different localizations and downstream alternatives (i.e., Scenario 1 with partial localizations and Scenario 2 with complete localizations) are analyzed to study the impacts. An economic analysis of these scenarios is also carried out to check the competency of the proposed alternatives for economic sustainability.Results and discussionEleven environmental impacts considered for analysis under the existing supply chain scenario denote that the process of fishing has an average environmental impact of 74%. However, the inclusion of downstream operations such as distribution in the LCA analysis reveals a significant share of environmental impact averaging 53% from fishing and 34% from distribution for the 11 environmental indicators considered. A detailed assessment of the various alternatives considered reveals vital improvements for both Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 in human carcinogenic toxicity (8% and 16%), fossil resource scarcity (8% and 20%), and global warming potential (GWP) (6% and 16%), respectively, in comparison to the current state. A carbon footprint assessment of the complete surimi supply chain to an export market (considered in this study) via ship freight denotes reduction in footprint values from 4.67 kg CO2 equivalent/kg (existing state) to 4.43 kg CO2 equivalent/kg (Scenario 1) and 4.06 kg CO2 equivalent/kg (Scenario 2), respectively. The economic analysis reveals maximum fiscal gains of 9.83% and 13.31% in Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 respectively.ConclusionResults highlight that the introduction of supply chain localizations in the Indian surimi scenario can reduce environmental impacts and improve economic savings. Among the assessed alternatives, Scenario 2 is found to be the best sustainable alternative with reduced environmental impacts and improved savings.