Managing the humanitarian supply chain: a fuzzy logic approach

Author(s):  
Kunal K. Ganguly ◽  
R.K. Padhy ◽  
Siddharth Shankar Rai

Purpose Humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) in today’s environment faces the challenges such as information availability, inventory management, collaboration, logistics related issues and preparedness. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the HSCM performance, considering the consequences in terms of operation, recovery and responsiveness based on the fuzzy estimates of the components presented. Design/methodology/approach In the study, triangulation approach was adapted for collecting data and developing a hierarchical structure for humanitarian supply chain performance assessment. The relationships between HSCM performance and its suddenness and required preparedness are depicted by cause and effect diagrams. The concepts of fuzzy association and fuzzy composition are applied to identify relationships. Findings In the hierarchy presented, the performance in a disaster situation, preparedness and suddenness of the situation and factors that influence the above are modeled. The taxonomy is developed for describing the relationship between factors, their likelihoods and impacts to achieve consistent quantification. Research limitations/implications The study considers case studies from Indian conditions; however, conditions in other countries and their practices for the disaster management may vary to certain extent. Practical implications A methodology presented for evaluating the exposures in considering the consequences in terms of responsiveness, operations, recovery, mitigation and emergency response. The study may help the humanitarian relief practitioners to understand the insights of the disaster situations using the proposed framework. Originality/value A common language for describing the different factors of HSCM is presented, which includes terms for quantifying likelihoods and impacts. The concept of fuzzy association and fuzzy composition has been applied to identify relationships between sources and consequences on HSCM performance. The use of descriptive linguistic variables is ensured through the implementation of fuzzy logic.

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 940-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhijeet Ghadge ◽  
Xie Fang ◽  
Samir Dani ◽  
Jiju Antony

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to proactively analyse and mitigate the root causes of the product and security risks. The case study approach examines the effectiveness of the fuzzy logic approach for assessing the product and process-related failure modes within global supply chain context. Design/methodology/approach The case study of a Printed Circuit Board Company in China is used as a platform for conducting the research. Using data triangulation, the data are collected and analyzed through interviews, questionnaires, expert opinions and quantitative modelling for some interesting insights. Findings Fuzzy logic approach for failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) provides a structured approach for understanding complex behaviour of failure modes and their associated risks for products and processes. Today’s managers should conduct robust risk assessment during the design stage to avoid product safety and security risks such as recalls. Research limitations/implications The research is based on the single case study and multiple cases from different industry sectors may provide some additional insights. Originality/value The study attempts to mitigate the root causes of product and processes using fuzzy approach to FMEA in supply chain network.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bharat Singh Patel ◽  
Cherian Samuel ◽  
S.K. Sharma

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report a case study carried out to assess the agility and identify obstacles to agility in a supply chain. A human perception-based framework is used for the calculation of agility. The case study was carried out in a North India-based manufacturing organization. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the concept of a multi-grade fuzzy logic approach is used. Using this concept, the overall agility index has been determined. The fuzzy logic approach has been used to overcome the disadvantages such as impreciseness and vagueness using a scoring method. Findings From the analysis, it is observed that the organization on which the study was performed is “very agile.” After evaluating the agility level, the fuzzy performance importance index is calculated, which helps to identify the barriers of agility in the supply chain. These barriers help decision makers to implement appropriate improvement measures for improving agility level. Overall, 11 barriers were identified in the study. Research limitations/implications Managers of the contemporary manufacturing organization have to measure the agility level of the organization and identify barriers to agility in order to survive in a competitive environment. The obstacles identified in this study are used to improve the performance of the organization. The enterprise should improve on the weak areas in order to achieve the highest agility level. Originality/value The agile supply chain (ASC) enablers proposed by previous researchers are not sufficient for the evaluation of agility of a supply chain. There are a few more ASC enablers such as customer satisfaction, flexibility and adaptability that also play a vital role in making a supply chain agile. Adding these three ASC enablers, a total of seven ASC enablers along with their attributes are being considered for the development of a conceptual model.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siva Kumar ◽  
Ramesh Anbanandam

Purpose Growth in a number of the supply chain (SC) disruptions threatens the enterprises globally. Earlier studies and reports say that many organizations go out of businesses within two or three years after they experience a major disruption. Therefore, companies in today’s volatile business arena need to possess the necessary resilience level to combat supply china disruptions. This is even more important for organizations of developing nations, which are constantly struggling to gain the advantages of globalization and to grab the new opportunities. Thus, this paper aims to help organizations understand their SC resilience level through a framework. Design/methodology/approach The methodology comprises integrated Delphi – fuzzy logic approach in identifying formative elements of SC resilience from a diverse resilience related body of knowledge and distinguish key obstacles of SC resilience based on their performance level. Findings Findings reveal that SC flexibility components such as sourcing, manufacturing and logistic flexibility are the major contributors of SC resilience index of case organization. Similarly, lack of risk management culture, inter-organizational relationships, information sharing and integration of SC stakeholders are the major inhibitors of resilience. Thus, the organization needs to overcome these identified obstacles to enhance their SC resilience level. Practical implications Present study offers a novel focus of research on SC resilience measurement that is significant for understanding the level of immunity enterprises possess to unanticipated SC interruptions, and the ability to bounce back after an unforeseen event. Originality/value This paper proposes an integrated Delphi – fuzzy logic framework for measuring SC resilience. In doing so, the study identifies key potential inhibitors of SC resilience of the case company under study.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Khalil ◽  
Ashraf W. Labib

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to construct a fuzzy logic model that acts as a decision support system to minimize inventory-related costs in the field of industrial maintenance. Achieving a balance between the unavailability and over-storage of spare parts is a problem with potentially significant consequences. That significance increases proportionally with the ever-increasing challenge of reducing overall cost. Either scenario can result in substantial financial losses because of the interruption of production or the costs of tied-up capital, also called the “solidification of capital.” Moreover, there is that additional problem of the expiry of parts on the shelf.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed approach relies on inputs from experts with consideration for incompleteness and inaccuracy. Two levels of decision are considered simultaneously. The first is whether a part should be stored or ordered when needed. The second involves comparing suppliers with their batch-size offers based on user-determined criteria. A mathematical model is developed in parallel for validation.FindingsThe results indicate that the fuzzy logic approach is accurate and satisfactory for this application and that it is advantageous because of its limited sensitivity to the inaccuracy and/or incompleteness of data. In addition, the approach is practical because it requires minimal user effort.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, the exploitation of fuzzy-logic altogether with limited sensitivity experts' inputs were never combined for the solution of this particular problem; however, this approach's positive impact is expected to be highly significant in solving a chronic problem in industry.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 973-993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohit Agrawal ◽  
P. Asokan ◽  
S. Vinodh

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a study that is focused on application of fuzzy logic and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) approaches for leanness evaluation in an Indian small- and medium-size enterprise (SME). Design/methodology/approach Lean manufacturing concepts are being adopted by SMEs to sustain in the competitive manufacturing landscape. Performance of lean system needs to be assessed using appropriate methods. A model for measuring lean performance is proposed with five enablers, 30 criteria and 90 attributes. Leanness index is computed using fuzzy logic approach and benchmarked with ANFIS approach. Findings Leanness index computed using fuzzy logic approach is found to be (4.47, 5.97, 7.55) and that of ANFIS approach is found to be 5.84 to facilitate benchmarking of leanness evaluation. After finding weaker areas, certain improvement initiatives are being deployed. Research limitations/implications The developed model for leanness evaluation has been test implemented in an SME. In future, the model could be test implemented in several SMEs. Practical implications A case study conducted in an SME involved in heavy engineering fabrication is presented. Therefore, the inferences derived from the study has practical propensity. Originality/value The development of leanness evaluation model for SMEs and deployment in an industrial scenario are the original contributions of the authors.


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