Supply Chain Maturity Research Articles

Alternative Fuels in Sustainable Logistics—Applications, Challenges, and Solutions

Logistics is becoming more cost competitive while customers and regulatory bodies pressure businesses to disclose their carbon footprints, creating interest in alternative fuels as a decarbonization strategy. This paper provides a thematic review of the role of alternative fuels in sustainable air, land, and sea logistics, their challenges, and potential mitigations. Through an extensive literature survey, we determined that biofuels, synthetic kerosene, natural gas, ammonia, alcohols, hydrogen, and electricity are the primary alternative fuels of interest in terms of environmental sustainability and techno-economic feasibility. In air logistics, synthetic kerosene from hydrogenated esters and fatty acids is the most promising route due to its high technical maturity, although it is limited by biomass sourcing. Electrical vehicles are favorable in road logistics due to cheaper green power and efficient vehicle designs, although they are constrained by recharging infrastructure deployment. In sea logistics, liquified natural gas is advantageous owing to its supply chain maturity, but it is limited by methane slip control and storage requirements. Overall, our examination indicates that alternative fuels will play a pivotal role in the logistics networks of the future.

Drug supply management at first-level public health facilities: Case of Pyay District, Myanmar.

First-level public health facilities (PHFs) serve as primary providers of essential medicines, necessitating critical attention to drug availability and quality assurance. This study aimed to examine the status of functional areas within the drug supply chain management framework and assess the overall capability maturity at first-level PHFs. The cross-sectional study was conducted among 183 drug store sites from six townships of Pyay District. Only situational analysis was exercised to determine the existing situations. The overall capability maturity was determined according to the definitions of levels of the Capability Maturity Module Tool. 58.47% lacked formal drug supply management training, with 23.5% not undergoing performance reviews. Drug forecasting predominantly relied on a pen-paper system (91.6%) and factors like patient load (87.39%), drug consumption (85.71%), and disease prevalence (64.71%). Store site analysis revealed that 65.03% exhibited marginal capability, lacking standardized drugstores and employing unstandardized procedures. Storage practices varied, with 48.69% storing drugs conveniently and others categorizing them by drug type (32.79%) or using the first-expired-first-out system (40.98%). Approximately 42.69% reported having expired drugs. Concerning transportation costs, 37.16% incurred expenses exceeding 20,000 Kyats per time, with management staff often covering the costs. Waste management methods included burial pits (49.18%), incineration (62.84%), and sharp pits (55.19%). A majority (78.14%) used safety boxes, and 57.38% implemented a color-coded system for waste bins. The logistics management information system was entirely paper-based (100%). On average, assessments of drug quality conditions and physical damages scored 46.51% and 48.20%, respectively. The overall supply chain maturity at first-level public health facilities is at a marginal capability level (36.35%). While some basic drug supply chain management procedures were in place, they were not consistently followed, and many systems remain manual. The findings underscored significant inconsistencies in the management functions of supplied drugs, with poor adherence to Standard Operating Procedure guidelines.

The analysis of the impact of different supply chain factors using statistical perspective

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is an essential part of modern business and involves the coordination of procurement, production, and logistics. Effective SCM allows organizations to remain competitive and reduce costs. With the growth of the global marketplace, SCM is becoming increasingly important for businesses to compete. The most important aspect of SCM is to understand the components of the supply chain, which form a network of organizations involved in value-added processes and activities. The supply chain network consists of multiple components, indicating that the success of an organization's SCM depends on the combination of multiple influencing factors. This paper utilizes the supply chain data of several well-known companies, uses a dozen variables such as inventory turnover ratio, lead time, and supplier count as independent variables, and analyzes the effects of these different supply chain influencing factors on operational efficiency, supply chain resilience, and supplier relationship through multiple linear regression models. This study finds that many different supply chain factors, like transportation cost efficiency, delivery time, and others, have the greatest impact on the above-mentioned factors. This analysis may help companies to comprehensively assess their supply chain maturity and strategically enhance their supply chain attributes to achieve their business development goals.

Cheaper is not always better: Drug shortages in the United States and a value-based solution to alleviate them.

Drug shortages threaten patients' access to medications and are associated with adverse health outcomes and increased costs. Drug shortages disproportionately occur among generic drugs of limited profitability, most notably drugs administered by injection. In this perspective, we discuss how reimbursement and purchasing practices that were meant to create an efficient marketplace for generics have generated strong price pressure that threatens profitability in certain markets. We further explain how, faced with limited profitability, manufacturers lack incentives to invest in resilient supply chains, and in some cases, engage in cost-containment strategies or decide to exit the market, ultimately contributing to shortages. We propose the development and implementation of value-based reimbursement to provide needed incentives for drug purchasers and manufacturers to establish a more reliable supply chain as part of the policy solution to reduce the number and extent of drug shortages. This reimbursement model would necessitate the development of a rating system that measures supply chain resilience and maturity for each generic product. This rating would then be applied as a value-based modifier to reimbursement rates for generic products. The proposed model would result in higher reimbursement rates for generic products from more dependable supply chains, generating incentives for manufacturers to invest in supply chain resiliency. We propose the application of this reimbursement system originally in Medicare given Congressional interest on reforming Medicare payment to prevent drug shortages.

Green Supply Chain Performance Analysis of Cowhide Crackers Industry

Cowhide crackers Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) process beef skin crackers as a home-based business. However, their supply chain faces challenges due to unstructured activities. Waste management, particularly cowhide and used water disposal, is inefficient. Research aims to evaluate performance indicators, measure green supply chain performance, and assess supply chain maturity. The methods employed include Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Green Supply Chain Operation Reference (GSCOR), and Process Maturity Model (PMM). Results indicate a green supply chain management score of 58.901, with an average performance level influencing a maturity model value of 3.95. This places supply chain performance in the “managed and measurable” category. Three indicators, including recyclable percentage, cycle time, and environmental performance standards, have values below 50, necessitating improvement proposals. The research highlights areas for enhancement to enhance efficiency and sustainability in the cowhide crackers SMEs’ supply chain, crucial for long-term success and environmental responsibility.

Investigating the relationship between supply chain maturity and performance: an emerging market study

PurposeThe current research aims to investigate the relationship between supply chain (SC) processes maturity and SC performance in the context of an emerging market (i.e. Morocco). Based on the SCOR model, the authors propose and test a thorough conceptual framework in which information systems moderates the relationship between SC processes maturity and performance. The effects of firm age and size are also taken into account.Design/methodology/approachBased on data collected from 175 top and middle managers using self-administered questionnaires, the authors empirically assessed the conceptual model using a partial least squares (PLS) estimation.FindingsThe study's findings demonstrate that SC processes maturity has a significant effect on SC performance. Second, information systems act as a moderator in the relationship between SC maturity and performance, e.g. the impact of supply chain processes maturity on supply chain performance measures is stronger in the presence of information systems support. Ultimately, firm size and age were found to have no significant impact on supply chain performance.Practical implicationsThe study's findings help SC managers to better understand how SC maturity contributes to SC performance. A firm effectively executing maturity factors in its SC processes is more likely to achieve a better SC performance. The authors also established the key role of information systems in strengthening the impact of SC maturity on performance. SC managers should capitalize on the use of information systems to achieve superior SC performance.Originality/valueThe present research bridges a gap pertaining to the impact of supply chain maturity on SC performance, particularly in emerging markets. It is the first of its kind to investigate the influence of SC maturity on SC performance the context of emerging markets.

Data and connectivity as key building blocks for effective collaboration with supply chain partners

Data and connectivity are the key building blocks that enable supply chain maturity for manufacturers and their partners in the supply chain ecosystem. Multi-enterprise supply chain business networks deliver data and connectivity with features that obtain real-time data, create visibility, ensure truth, enable collaboration and increase intelligence. It is critical to find the right partners when making a supply chain intelligence investment. This paper describes how to build supply chain intelligence and supply ecosystem orchestration to achieve long-term, sustainable value.

How can big data analytics improve outbound logistics in the UK retail sector? A qualitative study

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore how big data analytics (BDA) as a potential information technology (IT) innovation can facilitate the retail logistics supply chain (SC) from the perspective of outbound logistics operations in the United Kingdom. The authors' goal was to better understand how BDA can be integrated to streamline SCs and logistical networks by using the technology, organisational and environmental model.Design/methodology/approachThe authors applied existing theoretical foundations for theory building based on semi-structured interviews with 15 SC and logistics managers.FindingsThe perceived benefits of using BDA in outbound retail logistics comprised the strongest predictor amongst technological, organisational and environmental issues, followed by top management support (TMS). A framework was proposed for the adoption of BDA in retail logistics. Contextual concepts from previous literature have helped us understand how environmental changes impact BDA decision-making, as such: (i) SC maturity levels and connectivity affect BDA utilisation, (ii) connected SCs improve data accessibility and information exchange, (iii) the benefits of BDAs also affect adoption and (iv) outsourcing complex tasks to experts allows companies to focus on core businesses instead of investing in IT infrastructure.Research limitations/implicationsOutside the key findings listed, this study shows that there is no one-size-fits-it-all approach for use within all organisational settings. The proposed framework reveals that the perceived benefit of BDA is non-transferrable and requires top-level management support for successful implementation.Originality/valueThe existing literature focusses on the approaches to applying BDA in SC and logistics but fails to present a deep dive into retail outbound logistics activity. This study addresses the “how” and proposes a social-inclusive framework for a technology-enabled topic.

PENGUKURAN KINERJA SUPPLY CHAIN CUMI-CUMI DI PPS NIZAM ZACHMAN BERDASARKAN MODEL MATURITY MENGGUNAKAN METODE SCOR

The supply chain system is an important factor in the commodity process or an effective and efficient logistics system. In the field of the fishing industry, the supply chain system greatly influences the process of activity flow starting from fish availability, productivity, fish quality assurance to distribution to consumers. Effective and efficient supply chain system management will have a huge impact on the commodities of the national fishing industry. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to measure the performance of the supply chain management system based on the level of maturity so that it can be a benchmark as an improvement in the future. The approach method used in this study is to use the concept of the Supply Chain Operation Reference (SCOR) model which is collaborated with key performance indicators (KPI) and analytical hierarchy processes (AHP) to produce the maturity value of supply chain performance. This research uses a descriptive method by making observations, distributing instruments in the form of questionnaires, interviews and literature studies in its preparation. The results of the study obtained a level of supply chain performance in PPSNZJ obtained a final value of 84.38 by entering the Good performance category based on the SCOR method and the supply chain maturity level obtained a maturity level of 4.3 on a scale of 0-5 withmanaged and measurable conditions. Efforts to measure supply chain performance are carried out to realize the improvement of supply chain performance in the national fishing industry which is integrated with suppliers, fishermen, companies, stakeholders and consumers

Supply Chain Maturity Models- A Comparative Review

Supply Chain Maturity Models- A Comparative Review

Digital supply chain research trends: a systematic review and a maturity model for adoption

PurposeThis study investigates the enablers and challenges of digital supply chains (DSCs) adoption and develops a digital supply chain maturity (DSCM) model as a basis for developing guidelines for DSC adoption in the digital transformation journey.Design/methodology/approachThe research involves a systematic literature review (SLR) of Industry 4.0 (I4) adoption in supply chain (SC) practices to identify key enablers and associated maturity levels. The literature search of published articles during the 1997–2020 period and subsequent screening resulted in 64 articles. A DSCM model was developed using the categorization of important enablers and associated levels transitioning from the traditional SC to the DSC ecosystem.FindingsFour broader categories of DSC enablers and challenges were identified from the content analysis of SLR. Digital strategy alongside I4 technologies and human capital were prominent in DSC adoption as I4 technologies and human capital depend on other enablers such as dynamic capabilities (DCs). Lack of infrastructure and financial constraints to implementing I4 were significant challenges in the DSC adoption.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed DSCM model provides a holistic view of enablers and maturity levels from traditional SC to DSC adoption. However, the DSCM model needs to be empirically validated and streamlined further using inputs from practitioners.Practical implicationsThe proposed DSCM model can be used as a framework to guide practitioners in assessing maturity and developing implementation plans for successful DSC adoption.Originality/valueThis research introduces a novel DSC maturity model through a holistic view of enablers and maturity levels from traditional SC to DSC adoption.

Measuring innovative capability maturity model of trucking companies in Indonesia

Trucking companies are important part of supply chains, as they connect most of product movements. While a lot of studies have been done to assess supply chain maturity level, very limited studies have been done to specifically address trucking companies. In this study we develop a model and measurement instruments to assess maturity of trucking companies in terms of their innovative capabilities. Innovative capabilities are critical in today's fast technological development such as industry 4.0 and trucking companies have opportunities to use those technologies to play a better role in the supply chain they involve in. We then use the instruments to assess the maturity level of 52 companies that involved in transporting goods using trucks. The results show that the maturity level has a widespread, ranging from the lowest to the highest level, but most of them are in the category of partial maturity to mature. This indicates that most companies have an opportunity to improve their innovative capabilities.

Assessing smart circular supply chain readiness and maturity level of small and medium-sized enterprises

A Smart Circular Supply Chain (SCSC) integrates both Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and Circular Economy (CE) concepts into supply chain in response to achieving sustainable goals/agenda. The purpose of this paper is to assess SCSC readiness and maturity level of SMEs considering different stakeholders from a multi-layered perspective. For this aim, a conceptual framework was proposed and accomplished through a case study of SMEs in Turkey’s textile industry. Such integrated approach to holistically assessing SCSC readiness and maturity makes a unique contribution to the field. The highlights of this study are summarized as follows: (1) approaching readiness and maturity in transitions by focusing on systems theory; (2) identifying the dimensions of readiness and maturity in transitions to I4.0 and CE; (3) assessment of readiness and maturity level of SMEs in transition to CE and (4) assessment of readiness and maturity level of SMEs in transition to I4.0 within the supply chain.

Robust Metal Additive Manufacturing Process Selection and Development for Aerospace Components

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) encapsulates the myriad of manufacturing processes available to meet industrial needs. Determining which of these AM processes is best for a specific aerospace application can be overwhelming. Based on the application, each of these AM processes has advantages and challenges. The most common metal AM methods in use include Powder Bed Fusion, Directed Energy Deposition, and various solid-state processes. Within each of these processes, there are different energy sources and feedstock requirements. Component requirements heavily affect the process determination, despite existing literature on these AM processes (often inclusive of input parameters and material properties). This article provides an overview of the considerations taken for metal AM process selection for aerospace components based on various attributes. These attributes include geometric considerations, metallurgical characteristics and properties, cost basis, post-processing, and industrialization supply chain maturity. To provide information for trade studies and selection, data on these attributes were compiled through literature reviews, internal NASA studies, as well as academic and industry partner studies and data. These studies include multiple AM components and sample build experiments to evaluate (1) material and geometric variations and constraints within the processes, (2) alloy characterization and mechanical testing, (3) pathfinder component development and hot-fire evaluations, and (4) qualification approaches. This article summarizes these results and is meant to introduce various considerations when designing a metal AM component.

Readiness and Maturity of Smart and Sustainable Supply Chains: A Model Proposal

Many companies embrace Industry 4.0 technologies to enable operational sustainability against increasing climate change effects, decreasing natural resources, and raising consumer awareness of environmental issues. Even though readiness and maturity assessment of smartness and sustainability concepts are nested, no study simultaneously focuses on these concepts. As pioneering research, we propose a novel model titled “Smart and Sustainable Supply chain Readiness and Maturity model (S3RM)” and validate it by conducting a case study in the automotive industry. We design our model upon the triple-bottom-line (TBL) approach consisting of smartness and sustainability dimensions. Our study introduces the TBL of smartness covering availability, integrity, and adaptability sub-dimension. TBL of sustainability includes social, environmental, and economic sub-dimensions. The proposed model calculates the Smart and Sustainable Readiness and Maturity Index by averaging sustainability scores’ summation and smartness scores’ multiplication. Each sub-dimension consists of items measured by a readiness and maturity scale. The findings suggest how smartness and sustainability items create strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the supply chain operations. Our model provides managerial implications in assessing the readiness and maturity of Industry 4.0 tools and sustainability indicators. This study offers a road map to managers on smart and sustainable supply chains’ defined target areas.

Advances, challenges, and perspectives of biogas cleaning, upgrading, and utilisation

Biogas as a renewable energy resource can be broadly recognised as a carbon–neutral fuel which reduces anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, mitigates global warming, and diversifies energy supply. However, the biogas share in the global renewable energy supply chain and technology deployment and maturity are not commensurate with the potential. The first half of this study critically reviews state of the art developments in biogas cleaning and upgrading technologies by considering their present status, current challenges, and barriers associated with their future development. The second part of this paper aims to address critical gaps in converting biogas to biomethane, proposing required pre-treatment steps for different technologies. The third part focuses on current policies concerning the strict regulations implemented for flaring consent applications. In this section, biogas upgrading technologies were compared by estimating the global warming potential (GWP) resulting from waste gases (WG). It was observed that due to high methane losses, WGs from membrane technologies have the highest GWP, but with flaring have the lowest GWP. In the last part of this review, the recent applications of biogas in cogeneration (CHP), tri-generation (CCHP), quad-generation systems, heat, and vehicles are discussed. The use of biogas by different technologies, and their resulting efficiencies were analysed in CHP applications, including microturbines, micro humid air turbine (mHAT), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and hybrid systems of SOFC-microturbines.

Modelling the strategies for improving maturity and resilience in medical oxygen supply chain through digital technologies

Purpose Improving the medical oxygen supply chain (MOSC) is important to cope with the uneven demand and supply seen in the MOSC when India faced the second wave of COVID-19. This improvisation increases the supply chain (SC) maturity and consequently the efficiency and resiliency to tackle oxygen shortage across the country and to prevent another similar scenario from ever happening. The purpose of this study is to identify and prioritize the solutions to overcome the issues faced by the MOSC during the second wave of COVID-19 cases in India and in turn reduce the extent of casualties in the expected third wave. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses best worst method (BWM) and fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution to classify the sub-criteria for solutions to solve major SC issues. BWM is used to determine the weights of the sub-criteria and fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution for the final ranking of the solutions to be adopted. Findings The result of this study shows that the Internet of Things based tagging system is the best solution followed by horizontal and vertical integration of SC in making a resilient and digitized MOSC capable of handling general bottlenecks during a possible third wave. Research limitations/implications The research provides insights that can enable the personnel involved in MOSC. Proper understanding will help the practitioners involved in the SC to effectively tailor the operations and to allocate the resources available in an effective and dynamic manner by minimizing or eliminating the pre-existing bottlenecks within the SC. Originality/value The proposed framework provides an accurate ranking and decision-making tool for the implementation of the solutions for the maturity of the MOSC.

EVALUATION OF TACTICAL PLANNING MATURITY IN SUPPLY CHAINS OF MANUFACTURING COMPANIES

This paper aims to propose and test a model facilitating assessment of tactical planning maturity in supply chains of manufacturing companies. The author proposes a model called Tactical Planning Maturity Model (TPMM). The model is created based on literature research, participant observations and data gathering conducted in two companies. The proposed framework combines both knowledge from supply chain integration and steps necessary to reach proficiency in sales and operation planning. The second step consists of choosing a case study method to verify model adequacy in two companies operating in central Poland. The findings illustrate the TPMM as a ready-to-use tool where the line to supply chain maturity is clearly drafted and results could be compared between production companies. This paper strengthens the link between practitioner and academic literature by providing empirical evidence of the benefits of tactical planning maturity model usage as well as its impact on further development of supply chains. This paper studied merely two companies and is not intended to be representative of outcomes for all companies looking to understand the complexity and maturity of their supply chains. Furthermore, the analyzed companies only reached level four in the maturity model; levels five and six were not observed. Further quantitative studies are required for testing the accuracy of the proposed model and potentially, qualitative studies could be undertaken in order to understand factors enabling the increase in maturity of tactical planning in the supply chains of manufacturing companies.

Knowledge management in international supply chains

: Recently the management of supply chains tends to be oriented at gaining flexibility to changing market conditions, increasing the value delivered to customers or a reduction in operating costs. Internationally supply chain management is supplemented with a large variety of markets and long distances to come which raises new challenges. To deal with it enterpreneurs need to develop new business models based on knowledge. In leading edge supply chains knowledge management has become one of the most important processes. The aim of the article is to analyze the results of research on knowledge management in international supply chains, which was carried out in 2012. The study involved international supply chains at least partially functioning in Poland. The most crucial task was to observe whether and how approaches to knowledge management differ at different stages of supply chain maturity. Therefore, the results were associated with the evaluation of supply chain maturity level according to Poirier’s model. Research results allow to look positively at supply chains at the initial stage of improvement – they already show great awareness and considerable commitment in the field of knowledge management. Knowledge management in supply chains characterized by higher levels of maturity requires development, also in the field of collective knowledge management, which has already become their practice. It is now important to confront these research results with the reality that in recent years has revealed advances in knowledge management methods in supply chains, and to pursue new, inspiring research avenues.

Paving the Way for Circular Supply Chains: Conceptualization of a Circular Supply Chain Maturity Framework

The European Green Deal aims to make Europe climate neutral by 2050. According to this ambitious plan, 50% of greenhouse gas emissions are to be saved through a wide implementation of a circular economy. With supply chains responsible for four-fifths of greenhouse gas emissions, their role in the transition from linearity to a circular economy, and thus in the successful implementation of circular systems, is critical and requires the attention of academia, policymakers, and practitioners. Maturity models are suitable for monitoring, assessing, and evaluating the transformation process and determining the status quo of a supply chain. However, as the implementation of circular supply chains is still in its infancy, circular maturity frameworks at the supply chain level are not available yet. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to conceptualize a framework for analyzing the maturity level of circular economy adoption in the supply chain context. From an extensive and systematic literature review of overall 1,372 articles on supply chains, circular economy and maturity the following findings can be drawn: (i) circular economy and circular supply chains are massively growing research streams; (ii) the link between circular economy, supply chains and maturity assessment is so far missing; (iii) three constructs (organization, products, processes) characterize and influence circular supply chain maturity; (iv) a 3-layered maturity grid covering six archetypal elements of the circular economy enables the assessment of a circular supply chain maturity. The developed circular supply chain maturity framework paves the way for circular economy adoption at supply chain level by understanding current level of circular maturity and thus supporting the circular economy implementation process at supply chain level.