Industry Supply Chain Research Articles

Enhancing the resilience of supply chains in the fashion apparel industry through intelligent logistics—evidence from China

Enhancing the resilience of supply chains in the fashion apparel industry through intelligent logistics—evidence from China

Implementation of projects for using RDF as a tool for increasing energy and resource efficiency of enterprises

Increased attention to energy and resource efficiency at the country, regional and corporate levels brings to the forefront the issues of using alternative energy sources. In this regard, the attention of scientists and practitioners has turned to solid waste as potential sources of material and energy value, in particular to those components that have low potential to be reused or recycled, but can become a source of alternative fuel. On the other hand, the unused portions of solid waste are threat to the environment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the process of the industrial energy supply chain including the RDF as a part of transition to circular economy. Traditionally, RDF has been used in the cement industry, but, as recent studies show, the transition to alternative fuels brings benefits to enterprises in other industries, as well as to the territories at which they are located. A large array of articles on the use of RDF in various countries and in various industries were studied. To obtain primary data, a pool of experts was formed and their opinions were collected and processed regarding the impact of RDF usage projects on various aspects of enterprise activities. The results show predetermined conditions for implementation of projects for the production and use of RDF. The scientific novelty of the article lies in justification of factors allowing increasing economic, financial, scientific and technological, marketing, social, resource and environmental efficiency of enterprises by including RDF in their energy supply chains.

Vertical spillovers and the energy intensity of European industries

The prior literature has argued that inter-sectoral supply chain links provide an important channel for technology diffusion and productivity spillovers across industries, but whether such vertical spillovers influence industrial energy use has remained unexplored thus far. This study analyzes how the energy intensity of European industries is affected by vertical technology and energy productivity spillovers along the industrial supply chain. The analysis combines international input-output tables, energy use and patent data. Panel data from 2000 to 2014 for 27 industries in 29 countries is analyzed using panel fixed effects and instrumental variable estimation methods. The findings reveal that supply-use links channel significant vertical spillovers that promote a decline in energy intensity in downstream industries. These spillovers appear to be more strongly associated with overall energy intensity changes in upstream industries and, to some degree, with patented green innovations in upstream industries.

Integrating Circular Economy Principles in the Electric Motor Industry: A Comprehensive Framework and Case Study for Sustainable Supply Chain Management

AbstractThis study develops and validates an innovative assessment framework designed to integrate circular economy principles into the operations and supply chain of the electric motor industry. Given the rising demand for electric motors across various sectors, effective end-of-life management has become critical for enhancing sustainability. The primary objective of the proposed framework is to create a holistic approach that improves motor sustainability by addressing all stages of the product life cycle, from material sourcing and production to utilization and end-of-life management. The study employs a case study methodology, focusing on an electric motor company, to validate the framework’s applicability and effectiveness. Key findings reveal that emphasizing motor recovery significantly prolongs product lifecycles, reducing waste and conserving resources. The framework’s adaptability suggests its potential application across various business contexts, though it requires customization to fit specific production, logistics, and resource allocation needs. Recommendations include further research to refine the framework for other industries and the potential for policy changes that support circular economy practices. The article provides practical insights into overcoming barriers to CE adoption, emphasizing the need for strategic management capabilities, policy support, and industry-specific customization. This comprehensive approach not only addresses current sustainability challenges within the electric motor industry but also serves as a model for other sectors seeking to implement circular economy principles.

Shaping sustainable solutions in fashion through design-led strategies, approaches, and practices

Today, growing concerns about the Earth's finite resources and escalating climate challenges have sparked a reassessment of industrial processes. This has led to a call for a more responsible and transparent approach across various sectors. The global conversation prominently revolves around sustainable development to foster diversity within a comprehensive framework to effectively address UNESCO's four pillars of sustainability: Environment, economy, society, and culture. The fashion industry, a highly significant and influential sector, has proven to be invasive due to resource-intensive processes that impact both the environment and the economy. Additionally, the industry's rich cultural content plays a substantial role in shaping social and cultural shifts. In this context, this article focuses on design as a catalyst for reform within the fashion industry's supply and value chain, steering it towards sustainability. The focus is on exploring emerging responsible practices aligned with evolving priorities, aspirations, and lifestyles to foster a systemic approach to sustainability in fashion. The discussion highlights design-led perspectives that support a sustainable transition, underscoring the necessity for a transformative mindset among designers. This involves adopting innovative strategies to promote responsible approaches and practices for contributing to a more sustainable future.

Social Impacts in the Supply Chain of a Cement Industry

Social impacts have been discussed within the mining supply chain. To research the complexity of the mineral supply chain (SC), which involves the sustainability of mineral resources and related products, the paradox perspective is adequate, as it offers an opportunity to deepen the nature of tensions and how to manage them to advance sustainability. The cement industry is part of the mineral industry and is fundamental to the socioeconomic development of countries. This study investigates: How do the social impacts of the process of closing an operation in the mineral SC occur? To answer this question, we investigate the source of such impacts and their relationship with the tensions and paradoxes of sustainability, from the perspective of the local community. A case study was conducted, with interviews, observation, and document analysis. The results present emerging categories of social impact in the post-closure context. The study presents the interaction between social impact and paradoxical tensions, which highlights the power disparity between agents. In addition, it demonstrates the types of tensions that generate social impact between the main actors: the focal company, the supply chain, the government, and the community.

The Resilience of Entrepreneurship in the New Era of the Tourism Supply Chain: A Case Study of the Economic Corridor of Thailand, China, and Laos

ABSTRACT With the pace of global growth in tourism, Thailand, China, and Laos have begun to consider the resilience of entrepreneurship in the tourism supply chain (TSC) industry. Therefore, this study aims to explore and analyze the new tourism supply chain among Thailand, China, and Laos and explore entrepreneurs’ resilience to adapt to new tourism trends. This study used the case and consensual qualitative approaches by conducting thorough observations and in-depth interviews with fifteen stakeholders related to tourism with the phenomenon and perception of the TSC and resilience of entrepreneurs by the narrative supplement of an economic corridor. The result indicated that information flow management benefits customer orientation by sharing information. The input provider needs collaboration to create a tourism experience. Tourism activity and products are focused on developing and adding value. The contribution responds to the different levels and groups of the TSC that are also the basis for new TSC management and addresses effective strategies for entrepreneurs’ resilience in the future, which benefits tourism sustainable development.

AI-Driven Numerical Optimization for Carbon Footprint Reduction and Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Fashion Industry

This study explores how AI-driven optimization can help lower the carbon footprint of the fashion industry's supply chain. By using advanced AI models, the research delves into sustainable strategies across core areas—sourcing, production, logistics, and retail—focusing on reducing emissions, energy use, water consumption, and waste. Techniques like linear programming, genetic algorithms, and reinforcement learning showcase how AI can bring about real, measurable environmental benefits. The findings reveal that these optimized processes boost energy efficiency, save water, and cut down waste, making them valuable tools for sustainable supply chain management. The study wraps up with practical recommendations for adopting AI-based models to help the fashion industry embrace sustainability more effectively.

Analysis of Product Quality and Customer Satisfaction: A Case Study of the Automotive Parts Industry

Purpose: The automobile parts industry is a technologically and capital-intensive industry with a vast supply chain that influences various related industries. Many Taiwanese automobile parts manufacturers are small to medium-sized enterprises, with a complete industry supply chain. They possess the advantages of small-scale, diversified, and flexible manufacturing, enabling them to compete internationally and potentially enter the supply chains of international car manufacturers. Good product quality is favored by customers, and there is a correlation between product quality and customer satisfaction. The design of product attributes is primarily aimed at meeting customer needs. To outperform competitors, companies can establish additional value in their products to actively please customers and even enhance customer loyalty. This study investigates the differences in demographic variables on product quality and customer satisfaction and analyzes the degree of correlation between the two variables. Research Methodology: This study adopts a questionnaire survey method as the tool for data collection. The questionnaire is designed based on the research objectives, focusing on customer satisfaction, to explore the satisfaction levels of the case company's relevant dimensions among existing customers and compare them with customer expectations, providing recommendations accordingly. The subjects of this study are companies in the automotive parts industry with a capital of over ten million. The questionnaire was distributed from April to May 2022, with a total of 170 questionnaires distributed and 157 collected, resulting in a response rate of 92.35%. Results: The study results indicate significant differences in gender, marital age, education level, and seniority concerning product quality and customer satisfaction, but no significant differences were found in the organizational size of the company. Subsequent Pearson correlation analysis reveals a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.85, indicating a high correlation between product quality and customer satisfaction. This suggests that excellent product quality influences customer satisfaction. Limitations: This study focused on the case of the automotive parts industry to explore the differential analysis of product quality and customer satisfaction. The research results are only applicable to the automotive parts industry. Contribution: The study found a positive correlation between product quality and customer satisfaction. Therefore, the capability to enhance product quality, making products attractive and creating differentiated brand value, is actively pursued by companies as a development goal. The results of this study are consistent with previous research findings. With more streamlined product quality and detailed production history information, consumers' willingness to purchase increases. As consumer purchasing intention rises, so does brand loyalty, leading to increased profitability and surpassing competitors.

Optimization of a sustainable supply chain for medical device industry under uncertainty and COVID-19 pandemic

Optimization of a sustainable supply chain for medical device industry under uncertainty and COVID-19 pandemic

A Nationwide Planning Model for Argon Supply Chains with Coordinated Production and Distribution

In this work, we address a nationwide tactical planning for industrial gas supply chains, particularly argon. The proposed approaches follow as extensions of our previous work (Comp. & Chem. Eng., 161 (2022) 107778) in which a regional argon supply chain problem is addressed; in that work, both production and distribution could be represented in detail. Two different types of deliveries from the Air Separating Units (ASU) to customers, which involve single driver deliveries for short distance trips and sleeper team that require multiple days. The nationwide problem requires simplifications to keep the problem mathematically tractable, primarily the representation of production sites with different tier costs and the aggregation of customers in clusters. The regional problem addressed in our previous work is used as a benchmark case study for benchmarking. We then focus on a real-world problem that represents a nationwide argon supply chain. Despite the size of the models, near optimal solutions could be found in reasonable times. Finally, we highlight important features of the proposed approaches.

Assessment of barriers towards a sustainable and resilient poultry industry supply chain: A developing country viewpoint after COVID-19

The devastating COVID-19 epidemic has highlighted the weaknesses in supply chains (SCs) globally. To ensure smooth production in the current and post-COVID-19 era, the policymakers should focus on establishing a sustainable and resilient supply chain (SC) by reconfiguring their existing SC strategies. This study aims to investigate the difficulties poultry industry (PI) faces in coping with the effects of SC disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic from a developing country viewpoint: Bangladesh. Through literature review and expert opinion, 20 barriers were identified and categorized into five dimensions (i.e., social, environmental, economic, technical, and institutional) related to sustainability and resilience. Pareto analysis was conducted to screen out ‘Vital few’ barriers and later prominence vectors and cause-effect relationships of these barriers was examined through decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach. Results indicate that natural and man- made disasters, quality of chicks, feed and vaccine, inaccurate forecasting, lack of access to technology, and environmental issues are the most significant barriers to achieve sustainability and resiliency. Also, the mitigation strategies to achieve simultaneous sustainability and resiliency in this sector are outlined for managers and practitioners.

Machine Learning-Based Demand and Pricing Optimization for a Resilient Automotive Supply Chain

In the supply chain management of the automotive industry, this paper investigates the use of demand forecasting, supply optimization, and price optimization. Optimizing the supply chain is essential for satisfying changing customer needs, cutting expenses, and increasing revenue. This study aims to improve the accuracy of demand prediction, optimize supplier relationships, and simplify pricing strategies through the use of ML-driven models. To solve the difficulties faced by automakers in a volatile market, the suggested framework combines historical data analysis, market trends, and inventory management strategies. The results help the automotive industry's supply chain systems become more flexible and resilient.

EVALUATION OF THE AUTOMOBILE CHIP CRISIS IN THE CONTEXT OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT

The automotive industry is a rapidly evolving sector that relies heavily on technological advancements. Chip technologies are essential for various automotive systems, including control mechanisms and infotainment systems. In this context, the chip crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in the supply chain and the industry's dependance on chip supplies. The primary issue of the crisis is the bottleneck facing automakers, which negatively impacts production processes and sales due to chip shortages. The purpose of this study is to analyze the chip crisis in the automotive industry and its implications for crisis management. The crisis arises from a shortage of chips in the supply chain, which has adverse effects on automakers. This research highlights the significance of this particular crisis by examining its impact on crisis management practices. It evaluates the causes, effects, and management strategies of the crisis from a crisis management perspective. The scale of this issue demonstrates that chip supply challenges affect not only the automotive industry but also other sectors. This study emphasizes the importance of supply chain and crisis management practices in the automotive industry by analyzing the causes, effects, and management strategies of the crisis. It concludes that companies, especially in the automotive sector, need to adopt more proactive approaches in response to such crises.

Research on the contribution of technological innovation efficiency and internal structure optimization of charging pile industry: A case study of China

In the context of resource scarcity and environmental protection, the new energy industry has garnered significant attention from various sectors. The charging pile (CP) industry, a crucial component of the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry's supply chain, requires improvements in both quantity and quality. This study examined the technological innovation efficiency (TIE) of the CP industry, considering two levels: pure technical efficiency (PTE) and scale efficiency (SE), and explored methods to optimize its internal structure. By combining the grey correlation analysis (GCA) method with the generalized data envelopment analysis (GDEA) model, a reliable evaluation indicator system was established. Empirical findings revealed that the PTE of technological innovation in the CP industry exhibited an upward trend from 2019 to 2022, achieving a GDEA-effective state. However, the SE of technological innovation shows a downward trend, indicating non-GDEA effectiveness. The contribution of CP companies to the PTE of technological innovation has shown a persistent and accelerating decline, while their contribution to SE, once negative, gradually shifts toward a positive influence. Consequently, the internal technological innovation structure of the CP industry necessitates optimization and adjustment to attain balance. This study provides recommendations from the perspectives of both the government and companies.

Circular supply chain for smart production in Industry 4.0

Sustainable practices in industrial engineering are not just ideal but necessary. The push for Circular Supply Chain (CSC) in Industry 4.0 has become increasingly vital. Motivated by this, this study proposed the UNISONE framework, integrated with advanced smart production technologies grounded in CSC principles. The proposed framework resulted in enhanced operational efficiency and a sustainable production system that significantly minimizes waste. The research was validated through an empirical study within a bearing factory, successfully demonstrating the framework’s efficacy and creating value within the CSC paradigm. Key findings include the impact of different signal-to-noise ratios on model performance, with peak test accuracy at a noise ratio of 0.6, and the best results of 85.32 % accuracy achieved by combining sparse and noise reduction autoencoder techniques in generative artificial intelligence. This study underscores the framework’s potential to address industrial engineering challenges and promote scalable, efficient, and eco-conscious manufacturing, benefiting both the environment and the economy.

Can cross-border e-commerce development improve supply chain efficiency? Empirical evidence from China

ABSTRACT Cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) is becoming critical for a strong supply chain. Using data from Chinese listed firms and a difference-in-difference (DID) model, this paper examines the impact of CBEC development on supply chain efficiency from the perspective of enterprise inventory. CBEC significantly reduces enterprises’ non-finished goods inventory and improves supply chain efficiency. The mechanism tests reveal three ways in which CBEC optimizes enterprises’ inventory and enhances supply chain efficiency: improving the performance of upstream-facing sourcing, increasing the efficiency of enterprises’ product transformation, and optimizing downstream-facing demand coordination. The heterogeneous results suggest that CBEC has a greater impact on the supply chain efficiency of firms with high operational volatility and capital intensity and low digitization levels. Further, the effect of CBEC on the reduction of non-finished goods inventory is more significant in regions with weak infrastructure development and location endowment. This study provides empirical evidence for the emerging development topic of new international trade patterns empowering industrial supply chains.

Status, Challenges and Prospects of Policies Related to the Green Economy

Amidst the backdrop of globalization, the international community has increasingly focused on green economy policies, recognizing them as crucial instruments for advancing sustainable development. With the green and low-carbon transformation of the global industrial chain supply chain, the green economy and trade have become an important symbol for measuring the trade competitiveness of a country or region. Green economy policies are not only related to the process of global environmental governance but also have a direct impact on the green transformation of countries’ economic landscapes and the reshaping of international competitiveness. Amid escalating environmental challenges, the concern over leveraging green economic policies to foster harmonious economic and environmental development has emerged as a significant matter for governmental and international entities. This paper will focus on analyzing the relevant theories of the green economy, the status of its development, and the challenges it is currently facing. By analyzing the different cases of developed and developing countries in promoting the development of a green economy, we will take an in-depth look at the bottlenecks in the development of a green economy and the prospects for its future development, and reveal the specific challenges faced by different countries, as well as the innovative strategies they have adopted in promoting environmental sustainability and economic growth.

Sustainability performance assessment of sago industry supply chain using a multi-criteria adaptive fuzzy inference model

Background Sustainable supply chains are more competitive than conventional supply chains. Supply chain sustainability performance needs to be carried out to determine sustainability under current conditions and to design appropriate strategies to increase sustainability. This study aims to design a sustainability performance assessment model for the sago agro-industry supply chain and identify critical indicators for sustainability improvement. Methods The Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) evaluates sustainability on three levels: economic, social, and environmental. The Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is then used to aggregate the overall sustainability performance. The cosine amplitude method (CAM) was used to analyze key indicators. This study assessed the sustainability performance on industrial- and small-medium-scale sago agro-industry. Results The results show that the supply chain sustainability performance on the industrial scale is 44.25, while it is 48.81 for the small-medium scale with the same status, almost sustainable. Key indicators for improving sago agro-industry supply chain sustainability performance include profit distribution among supply chain actors, institutional support for supply chains, waste utilization (reuse & recycle), and the availability of waste management facilities. The implication of this research for managers regards assessing the current status of sustainability performance and key indicators as a reference for formulating sustainability strategies and practices. Implication The sago agro-industry sustainability performance evaluation methodology uses industry-relevant metrics to assess supply chain sustainability, promoting collaboration among stakeholders and assisting in the creation of sustainable strategies. Conclusions The results of the study will enable supply chain actors to understand the key indicators for improving sustainability performance in the sago agro-industry supply chain, especially in Meranti Islands Regency, Riau Province. The proposed model can be applied to other agro-industries by adjusting the indicators used and assessing data availability and suitability for the research object.

Phytochemical profiling and biological evaluation of the residues from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) inflorescences trimming: Focus on water extract

The study focused on investigating the phytochemical composition and bio-pharmacological properties of a water extract obtained from industrial hemp by-products, after trimming female inflorescences of Cannabis sativa L., cultivar Kompolti. The extract was found to be rich in phenolic compounds, particularly gallic acid, catechin, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and benzoic acid. It also contained significant amounts of cannabidiolic acid and cannabigerolic acid as the main terpenophenols. To assess the biological potential of the extract, various ecotoxicological assays were conducted. The extract did not show significant phytotoxic effects on seedling germination in the allelopathic assay. In the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality test, the LC50 value was 1.726 mg/mL, and in the Daphnia magna test, the extract showed no cardiotoxicity effects at the same concentration; thus, confirming its biocompatibility with these eukaryotic organisms. Additionally, the extract did not induce cytotoxicity in the murine C2C12 cell line till to the concentration of 1000 μg/mL. In isolated mouse prostate specimens, the extract (10–1000 μg/mL) also prevented LPS-induced gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β. Furthermore, the extract exhibited inhibitory effects on the growth of pathogenic bacterial, fungal, and dermatophyte species commonly associated with prostatitis. These results suggest that the residual powder from female inflorescence trimming can be considered an innovative plant material from the industrial hemp supply chain that deserves to be valorised in terms of recycling and upcycling; thus, reducing the environmental impact of the by-products and also opening the way for innovative health-promoting agents.