Supply Chain Functions Research Articles

Scrutinizing the Manifestation of Relational Norms: A Study of Terminal Operating Company-Liner Shipping Agency Relations

Port relations with port users are essential for overall supply chain functioning, as the roles assigned to ports grow every day. While port supply chain transactions are generally conducted using contractual governance mechanisms, ports need to develop relational norms to keep their relations with port users at a high level, helping the ports realize their desired performance levels. This study aims to show the role of relational norms through the classification of domains they are manifested in. The goal of the classification is to unravel the specific domain of each norm in terminal operating company-liner shipping agency relations by exploring their occurrence and functioning. The data were gathered through interviews with professionals from terminal operating companies in Aliaga and liner shipping agencies that use at least one of these terminals. Study results show that the norms “flexibility” and “solidarity” are manifested as the financial and operational parts of the relation, while the norm “information sharing” is closely related to the effective use of information exchange platforms and the quality of exchanged information. The findings show how relational norms can add value to relationship performance in contract-based port supply chain relations.

Entropy in the ‘entrepot’: Examining the challenges of relief supply chains during COVID-19 pandemic relief item distribution operation-2020 in Uganda

Background: Distribution and management of relief supplies during hard times is seen as one of the key roles among governments in developing economies. Management of relief supply chains during a pandemic could be an uphill task that calls for an investigation. The present study focuses on the relief aid distribution of food items and face-masks during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda. It specifically examines the challenges faced by the relief supply chain. Methods: It was a case study of stakeholders involved in relief distribution and conducted through electronic and physical interviews. 20 electronic interviews were conducted through zoom and telephone calls while 20 physical interviews were conducted at the interviewees’ respective workplaces. Data were collected from January 2021 to March 2021. The method of data collection and analysis was qualitative. Data were thematically analyzed using Atlas ti. v7.57. Results: It was found that many challenges ranging from needs identification, procurement, warehousing, transportation, handling, beneficiary verification, and distribution inhibited the proper functioning of the relief items distribution supply chain. Other obstacles were the media and its increasing influence on supply activities. Also, politics coupled with the emergence of new actors and governance issues were identified as part of the study findings. Conclusions: The present study identified a number of challenges in relief aid distribution. Some of the challenges were internal to the relief supply chain, others were beyond the chain. The findings could inform leverage of a number of factors during relief item distribution in the next cycles.

Management of food cold chains traceability amid the COVID‑19 pandemic

The present article considers the functioning of food supply chains and their major component — a continuous cold chain of perishable food products, including meat products, under the conditions of COVID‑19 pandemic. The issues of the impact of the pandemic on production, processing and commercial supply of meat and meat products in Russia and worldwide are being considered. The traceability of temperature fluctuations in meat processing plants is relevant; it becomes an increasingly important factor for efficient logistics to provide the best supply and to keep the food safe in the current conditions. Research data is presented here. The results of the research show that frozen foods serve as carriers and distributors of SARS-CoV‑2 infection without any contact between people. This conclusion highlights additional challenges in controlling the spread of COVID‑19 worldwide, and reveals the mechanism of the disease transmission, taking into account the peculiarities of temperature modes during storage and transportation of perishable meat products. The risks of food cold chains functioning under the conditions of pandemic, the adaptive strategies for their mitigation and logistical systems of tracking are considered, in particular, the application of various data technologies.

Application of the failure mode and effects analysis tool in small-scale agroindustrial supply chains

The functioning of Agroindustrial Supply Chains is affected by the different internal and external contexts in which they develop. The objective of this work is to apply the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis method in an agroindustrial production chain in the Northwest of Argentina and identify the potential failures that may appear throughout its operation. Through a descriptive research and a previous background analysis, the instrument was applied in the different links of the production chain and a series of corrective measures were designed. The results obtained demonstrate the need to formulate a comprehensive Management Model for agroindustrial supply networks, which will improve their performance and contribute to the decision making process. The tool used can be adapted and replicated in agroindustrial production chains with similar characteristics.

Health supply chain system in Uganda: assessment of status and of performance of health facilities

BackgroundHealth supply chain systems are essential for effective and efficient healthcare system by ensuring availability of quality essential medicines and health supplies. While several interventions have been made to ensure the availability of quality essential medicines and health supplies, health facilities continue to report stockouts in Uganda.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the status and performance of the supply chain system across all levels of care in health facilities in Uganda.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted in 128 public and private-not-for-profit health facilities across 48 districts in Uganda. These facilities included all levels of care from Health Centres II, III, IV, general and referral hospitals, and national referral hospitals. Data were collected using desk reviews, health facility surveys, and key informant interviews with key personnel. Stock registers were reviewed to assess the availability of a basket of essential medicines based on the essential medicines list of the Ministry of Health.ResultsLess than half (42%) of health facilities had computer hardware. Most (84%) of health facilities were using a form of Logistics Management Information System with only (6%) were using the Electronic Logistics Management Information System. Just under a third (33%) of health information officers and (51%) of public health officers’ positions were filled in the health facilities. Nearly (66%) of health facilities used supply chain data to support decision-making. Most (84%) of health facilities reported stockouts of Essential Medicines and Health Supplies in the past 6 months. The main reasons for stockouts were (59%) a sudden increase in demand (40%) delivery gaps/delayed deliveries and (35%) discrepancies in orders and deliveries. Health facilities responded to stockouts through various means including (75%) redistribution (43%) purchased from a distributor, and (30%) placing emergency orders.ConclusionsThe findings from this study show that the performance of health facilities in different supply chain processes and functions was defective. To improve the supply chain performance of health facilities, it is important to invest in infrastructure development, provide computer hardware and internet connection and strengthen the capacity key personnel. This is key for ensuring full functionality of the supply chain and availability of quality medicines and health supplies to the end-user.

Supply Chain Network Design in Connected-oriented Business: How Does Supply Chain Function?

In the upcoming connected-oriented business society, the flexible Supply Chain Network (SCN) design with capability to managing highly fragmented organization, and, the cost structure optimization in value chain finance, risk mitigation over supply chain are becoming more critical. This paper is attempting to find out how the flexible SCN is used to deal with such a rapid changing, distributed, multiple-enterprises organization if the SCM discipline still the major solution space that the executives rely on. The paper defines a need to swing back partial manufacturing from horizontal globalization to be more vertically integrated. The research has been enabling a very straight forward sequence on SCN formation: align business, make connection, and operate it.

The impact of social media, big data and IOT on the supply chain management performance

The development of Industry 4.0, a new digital industrial technology, has a favorable effect on how well the supply chain functions. Big Data, Social Media, and the Internet of Things (IoT) have all been proposed as ways to enhance supply chain performance. Although there has been limited exploratory research in this area, the favorable impact of the Internet of Things (IoT), Social Media, and Big Data on Supply Chain on supply chain and company performance has been empirically confirmed. How the logistics sector is being impacted by Big Data, IoT, and Social Media from a business and customer perspective? Can the Supply Chain be managed and controlled more effectively because of the integration of social media and ICT? Does Supply chain management get better with the incorporation of information and communication technology? The initial goal of this study is to demonstrate the connection that already exists between supply chain management, social media, big data, and the internet of things. Second, we'll discuss how the integration of social media, big data, and the internet of things has affected the sustainability, efficiency, and various flows of supply chain management.

Impact of Environmental Factorson Supply Chain Practices in Textile Sector

In today's era, supply chain functions play a significant role in every business model, whether service-based or product based. Effective and efficient supply chain practices help the business grow, provide value to its buyers, and help make rational decisions that encompass the nation's economic, social, and environmental benefits. These supply chain functions can only be implemented and provide sustainable benefits if no direct or indirect disruption is inferred due to internal or external environmental factors. Our nation's textile manufacturers and exporters are the primary sources that propel the nation's economy. In short, the textile industries drive ninety per cent of the economy. Eventually, their supply chain practices are surrounded by many factors, which lead them to run or halt their operations. If we enlighten the past, a major global environmental factor, significant supply chain disruptions occur and especially strikes our country's primary economy-driven sector. It is a cross-sectional study. The present study was conducted in the urban areas of Karachi, Pakistan. Data collection will be through questionnaires and surveys. It is designed for information collection so it can use to determine the impact of this factor in significant supply chain functions, including procurement, warehousing, logistics, and import & export.

Towards monitoring and managing the production of cadastral information in land information infrastructures using supply chain mapping and the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model

Coping with rapid urbanisation and the impacts of climate change requires effective land management. Quality land information is essential for this. A land information infrastructure is a collaborative and coordinated initiative aimed at providing land information from different organisations, such as municipalities, government departments and private companies, to diverse user communities. A land information infrastructure is complex, spanning information streams through many organisations and technical systems, and presenting challenges for managing and monitoring the production of land information. In the manufacturing field, a supply chain refers to the stream of activities from the initial source to the delivery of end products to customers, and supply chain management is directed at optimising the creation of the products of such a chain. The Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model is widely used for analysing supply chain processes in order to quantify and improve product and service delivery, and it has also been applied to geographical information supply chains. In this study, the SCOR model is applied to the supply chain processes in a South African case study of a land information infrastructure focusing on the production of cadastral information products. The supply chain comprises a land developer, a land surveying firm, the Surveyor General’s and Deeds Offices, a geospatial data vendor and the end customer. This supply chain is mapped and analysed using supply chain mapping and the SCOR model, and based on this, the complexity of the land information infrastructure is revealed. The study shows that supply chain management and the SCOR model can be used to analyse, monitor and manage the production processes of land information within a land information infrastructure.

Supply Chain Risk Mapping at ABC Cement Plant in Aceh, Indonesia

Supply Chain Risk Management is an industry collaboration work with partners in the supply chain system to implement a risk management process in dealing with the emergence of risks and uncertainties caused by logistics activities or other resources in the supply chain. Every industry deals with risk. This study aims to identify, classify, and mapping supply chain activities and their risks. At the initial stage, the identification of supply chain events is done by doing interviews and brainstorming. Then, these events are portrayed in the supply chain map. Then, the risk identification stage used a rating scale to determine the level of likelihood and consequence based on three SCOR elements. There are 40 risk events in this study which are 13 risk events in the source section, 19 risk events in the make section, and eight risk events in the delivery section. Finally, it is necessary to calculate the value of the Risk Priority Index (RPI). The RPI is the basis of the risk mapping stage. The risk map will show the urgency to treat each risk event.

Partnerships promote innovation in food supply chains

Partnerships promote innovation in food supply chains

Активізація державної фінансової підтримки фермерських господарств як умова забезпечення продовольчої безпеки в ЄС та Україні

The necessity of increasing state financing of farms to ensure the food security of the country is substantiated. The key role of farms in ensuring the functioning of domestic and international food supply chains is characterized. The consequences of the influence of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine on the EU agricultural market are shown. The theoretical aspects of the development of a system of measures to support the income of farms to ensure the economic growth of the EU are disclosed. The sizes and conditions of direct state assistance to farmers under the CAP to ensure food security are considered. The main directions for enhancing the financing of agricultural enterprises in the EU have been determined. The practice of implementing the Common Agricultural Policy in the EU is analyzed. Methodological provisions have been developed for the formation of a mechanism for state support of farms, which will be the basis for making decisions on the distribution of funding.

A toolkit to aid in the education and training of supply chain members for the efficient distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine: A South African case

Background: Since the roll-out of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines worldwide, South Africa has had to adjust and overcome challenges associated with the safe and effective distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to its citizens. Vaccines are biological products, and many supply chain factors could influence product integrity and efficacy. This study focuses on aiding the logistics industry in understanding the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain around its handling, storage, and transportation requirements.Objectives: The study had five objectives. Firstly, to understand the functionality and components of a vaccine supply chain and, secondly to identify the stakeholders involved and their roles. Thirdly, the researchers wanted to comprehend and clarify the cold chain protocols for each category of the COVID-19 vaccines procured and the appropriate international best practices. The last two objectives were to identify the skill and training requirements of stakeholders on all levels, and using these inputs in creating an educational toolkit, aimed at operationally involved supply chain stakeholders.Method: The researchers made use of both primary and secondary data, focusing mostly on collecting data through a literature review, stakeholder analysis, and interview process.Results: The study outcome was a COVID-19 vaccine educational toolkit with four tools addressing the research objectives: (1) An identification of all vaccine supply chain stakeholders, (2) vaccine categorisation according to type and equipment required, (3) handling, storage, and delivery protocols, and (4) vaccine supply chain skill and training requirements.Conclusion: These tools can be used as a basis when educating and/or training COVID-19 vaccine supply chain employees on different levels and stages.

Assessing Risks in Dairy Supply Chain Systems: A System Dynamics Approach

Due to the dynamic nature of the food supply chain system, food supply management could suffer because of, and be interrupted by, unforeseen events. Considering the perishable nature of fresh food products and their short life cycle, fresh food companies feel immense pressure to adopt an efficient and proactive risk management system. The risk management aspects within the food supply chains have been addressed in several studies. However, only a few studies focus on the complex interactions between the various types of risks impacting food supply chain functionality and dynamic feedback effects, which can generate a reliable risk management system. This paper strives to contribute to this evident research gap by adopting a system dynamics modelling approach to generate a systemic risk management model. The system dynamics model serves as the basis for the simulation of risk index values and can be explored in future work to further analyse the dynamic risk’s effect on the food supply chain system’s behaviour. According to a literature review of published research from 2017 to 2021, nine different risks across the food supply chain were identified as a subsection of the major risk categories: macro-level and operational risks. Following this stage, two of the risk groups identified first were integrated with a developed system dynamics model to conduct this research and to evaluate the interaction between the risks and the functionality of the three main dairy supply chain processes: production, logistics, and retailing. The key findings drawn from this paper can be beneficial for enhancing managerial discernment regarding the critical role of system dynamics models for analysing various types of risks across the food supply chain process and improving its efficiency.

Supply chain management in times of crisis: a systematic review

Complexities of crises force supply chains managers to formulate crisis-induced strategies, which contrast with the conventional strategies that give precedence to competitive priorities. Recent crises, such as the coronavirus outbreaks, large-scale product recalls, and financial crises, underscore the increasing regularity and severity of crises with imperatives for introspective and retrospective socio-economic insights on the contexts, priorities, and themes of supply chain management in times of crisis. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on supply chain management in times of crisis, systematically coalescing the related body of scholarly work; outlining current methods applied by researchers; capturing strategic priorities and themes of complexities in research studies; and highlighting potentials for future studies. Using a systematic review of 250 journal articles published between 1996 and 2021, the review finds four dimensions for restorative priorities that reflect operations strategy during crisis: (i) critical supplies with essential services, (ii) timely response with recovery, (iii) safety with security, and (iv) traceability with transparency. The review also finds that operational complexities during crises originate from network configurations and business cycle complexities, optimal selections and provisioning system complexes, and complex learning processes and demand predictions. Insights from the review aid in the proposal of build-to-cycle, organic capabilities, and operational mindfulness framings for supply chain management in times of crisis. The article concludes by recommending future research studies on supply chain upgrades, diagnosis, solidarity, mapping, temporariness, and thresholds, as well as optimal selection problems on linking crisis systems investments with liabilities and on linking crisis network allotments with cross-functionalities.

Mapping the supply chain: Why, what and how?

There is now widespread appreciation of the critical role played by supply chains in the global economy. Supply chains are dominant concerns for many organisations, governments, policy makers, and consumers. A primary requirement in addressing many contemporary supply chain challenges is the need to ‘map’ a supply system. With notable exceptions, much of the supply chain management literature has shied away from providing guidance on the mapping process. In this paper, we stress the reasons for the increased emphasis on mapping. We review the academic literature, highlighting the diversity of mapping exercises conducted by researchers and the lack of clarity about the different types of maps developed. Supply chain mapping has been used as an umbrella term for studies at very different aggregation levels. We define the fundamental elements needed to create a supply chain map and develop a formal hierarchy of supply systems for mapping at different levels of analysis. The hierarchy provides a structured way to consider the diversity of mapping exercises in the literature and to define the unit of analysis for a mapping study. We illustrate the hierarchy with a range of examples from the textile and apparel industry. We identify the primary and secondary data sources that can underpin mapping studies, highlighting the significant challenges in using them. We discuss the emerging commercial solutions to capture, map, and analyse supply systems for different purposes. In an increasingly data rich world, there are many opportunities to develop the supply chain mapping process further.

Mapping the Swiss Vaccine Supply Chain.

ObjectivesThe design of the supply chain determines how effectively any vaccination campaign can be operated. This case study of Switzerland's vaccine supply chain compares its design with public health objectives. It maps the vaccine supply chain in Switzerland as it was set up to handle the first shipments of Covid-19 vaccine in 2021 to enable a more holistic view of supply and demand flows. Recommendations are made to improve emergency logistics of vaccines in the future.MethodsTwenty-six semi-structured interviews with international and Swiss stake-holders were coded and analyzed to arrive at a description of planning and distribution processes. The vaccine supply chain network structure was mapped, linking upstream and downstream flows of material and information. The visualization of nodes and flows was combined with spatial information, including population data. The results are summarized in narrative form to support decision-makers across disciplines.ResultsDespite adequate vaccine supply, abundant local endowments and high investment in infrastructure, the 2021 design of Switzerland's vaccine supply chain reduced the potential reach of target populations. The segmentation of catchment populations, collaboration between administrative units and better use of information on geolocation and material flows could have improved the speed and reach of vaccinations during the emergency response phase. Three recommendations are made for supply chain structures to support higher vaccination rates in the future.ConclusionsThe visualization identifies design alternatives which could have improved vaccination rates under the prevailing conditions. A supply chain map provides public health officials with a shared view of the vaccine supply chain in order to better match supply with demand. The case study contributes to developed country studies. In order to improve public health outcomes in Switzerland, investments to secure supply, strong national endowments, and excellent infrastructure must be combined with optimized supply chain design.

Increasing global supply chains’ resilience after the COVID-19 pandemic: Empirical results from a Delphi study

COVID-19 has revealed global supply chains’ vulnerability and sparked debate about increasing supply chain resilience (SCRES). Previous SCRES research has primarily focused on near-term responses to large-scale disruptions, neglecting long-term resilience approaches. We address this research gap by presenting empirical evidence from a Delphi study. Based on the resource dependence theory, we developed 10 projections for 2025 on promising supply chain adaptations, which were assessed by 94 international supply chain experts from academia and industry. The results reveal that companies prioritize bridging over buffering approaches as long-term responses for increasing SCRES. Promising measures include increasing risk criteria importance in supplier selection, supply chain collaboration, and supply chain mapping. In contrast, experts ascribe less priority to safety stocks and coopetition. Moreover, we present a stakeholder analysis confirming one of the resource dependence theory’s central propositions for the future of global supply chains: companies differently affected by externalities will choose different countermeasures.

Design a Multi Period Closed-Loop Supply Chain Program to Supply Recycled Products

Abstract Over the course of the last decades, closed-loop supply chains (CLSC) and reverse logistics issues have attracted increasing attention owing to strict environmental laws, social responsibilities, economic interests, and customer awareness. Hence, the issue of closed-loop supply chain and reverse logistics has emerged as a field of research in the new era. This issue has received much attention because it allows recyclable products to return to their original cycle. Therefore, this study primarily intends to present a mathematical model for designing a supply chain network for recycled products. The multi-stage and multi-period objective function of the closed-loop supply chain is presented to meet that aim. In this chain, dismantling, recycling, and disposal centers are considered. The objective function is to reduce the total cost of the closed-loop supply chain. The results of optimizing the mathematical model demonstrate that this model has the necessary efficiency for use in recycled products.

Effect of Tendering Process on Performance of Supply Chain Functions in Machakos County, Kenya

Despite the enactment of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2015 and operation of various regulations to improve performance of the procurement function, public procurement in Kenya is marred by corruption, resulting to losses of public funds amounting to billions of shillings. Over 80 percent of corruption practices in Kenya occur in public procurement. Therefore, the study sought to establish effect of tendering process on performance of supply chain functions in Machakos County. The study adopted legitimacy theory and transaction cost theory. The study adopted descriptive research design. The target population of the study was 10 procurement heads, 20 accounting heads and 21 store managers in the County government of Machakos. Since the sample size was small, the researcher used census technique to incorporate all the targeted respondents. The study used questionnaires to collect primary data from the respondents. Quantitative data was analyzed by descriptive statistics which was presented through graphs, tables and charts. Data analysis was done using the SPSS Software version 24. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine independent and dependent variables relationship. From the findings, the study established that there exists a strong positive and significant relationship between tendering process and performance of supply chain functions in Machakos County. In the light of the foregoing findings, the study recommends that there should be a regular and continuous monitoring and assessment of procurement systems in public entities such as county government with regard to their compliance with the procedures, rules and regulations setup in the Public Procurement Act.