Restorative measures to diminish the covid-19 pandemic effects through circular economy enablers for sustainable and resilient supply chain

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Somesh Agarwal ◽  
Mohit Tyagi ◽  
Rajiv Kumar Garg
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Entropy Weight ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Manufacturing Enterprises ◽  
Entropy Weight Method ◽  
Negative Impacts

Purpose The catastrophic state of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has seized off all the operations along with the globe. It has not only distressed the socio-economic structure of the world but also mounted enormous pressure on the governmental bodies to save the lives of the people. Despite this, severe impacts of the same have been observed on the small and medium manufacturing enterprises (SMME) practices, resulting in the economic downturn. The purpose of this study is to facilitate the SMME’s with circular economy (CE) practices to overcome the negative impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on their supply chain (SC) operations. Design/methodology/approach The presented work identified seven critical impacts as criteria of the novel COVID-19 pandemic on the Indian SMME and seeks to identify the relief measures in the CE paradigm by identifying 13 prominent enablers to CE as alternatives. Experts’ opinions have been engaged to detect CE enablers’ proficiency to overpower the pandemic impact through a questionnaire-based survey. The obtained data have been clustered and analyzed through a hybrid approach of entropy weight method and grey relational analysis to find an organized ranking of the enablers. Findings Current work spotlights the SMME’s losses due to SC disruptions and declined consumption patterns. The waste augmentation during the pandemic era has also been grouped in this study, primarily associating with the SC’s waste generation. The result of the performed analysis shows that the CE enabler “waste reduction and its transformation into a resource (E1)” have achieved the highest rank among all the considered enablers, governing a higher demand toward reusing waste for better handling the post COVID era state of affairs. Originality/value The presented study aimed to suppress the pandemic impact and generate anticipation of the CE concept, which might help the managers and policymakers identify its urgent need to achieve a stable and resilient SC system in a post COVID period. Presented work is peculiar, aiming to accelerate the CE adaption with green material usage in the industrial sector to suppress the present miserable condition and to achieve industrial and social sustainability for a better-foreseen future.

Conception of circular economy obstacles in context of supply chain: a case of rubber industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Somesh Agarwal ◽  
Mohit Tyagi ◽  
R.K. Garg
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electre Method ◽  
Hierarchy Process

PurposeAdopting the circular economy (CE) notion in the supply chain perspective is necessary for the sustainability viewpoint. However, such practices are deficient, especially in developing countries like India, because of several obstacles. The purpose of this study was to create an approach for circular supply chain management (CSCM) adaption in Indian rubber industries by identifying and evaluating its associated obstacles.Design/methodology/approachA hybrid approach of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the grey-based ELECTRE method had been employed in this research to obtain the mutual rankings of the identified obstacles based on their impressions on the CSCM prosperity criteria through a case study and involving diverse expert's opinions.FindingsPresented study's findings illustrate that “Lack of consumer knowledge and consciousness towards environmental sustainability” was found to be the top-ranked obstacle followed by “Unwillingness towards supply chain re-structuring”.Research limitations/implicationsThe obstacles' prioritized rankings could help leaders to create sequential strategies for adapting a resilient CSCM structure by systematically eliminating these obstacles. Moreover, the pinpointed critical obstacles could be investigated further in separate studies and generate future studies' scope.Originality/valueDuring the extensive literature survey, it had been found that the CSCM practices are in the fledgling stage in the developing country's context. Moreover, studies related to CSCM adaption in rubber-based manufacturing industries were much lacking. Presented work is peculiar, aiming to accelerate the CSCM adaption in the industrial rubber sector in developing countries like India.

Green supply chain management and the circular economy

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 794-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junjun Liu ◽  
Yunting Feng ◽  
Qinghua Zhu ◽  
Joseph Sarkis
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Theoretical Development ◽  
Green Supply Chain Management ◽  
Green Supply Chain ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Green supply chain management (GSCM) and the circular economy (CE) overlap but also differ. The purpose of this paper is to clarify linkages between these two concepts. It identifies mutual theory applications used to study GSCM and CE. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review is conducted to identify theories from GSCM and CE studies. A critical analysis explores the theories that can provide mutual applications between GSCM and CE fields. Propositions are developed. Findings In all, 12 theories are applied in both GSCM and CE studies. Several theories are only applied in GSCM studies, but can help to advance CE study. These theories include complexity, transaction cost economics, agency, and information theories. Each of the eight theories only applied to CE can potentially advance GSCM study. Research limitations/implications The findings contribute to further theory development for both GSCM and CE study. A methodological review can advance theoretical development and cross-pollination in both fields. Originality/value This work is the first study to explicitly explore linkages of GSCM and CE from a theoretical perspective.

The role of capabilities in shaping sustainable supply chain flexibility and enhancing circular economy-target performance: an empirical study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Surajit Bag ◽  
Muhammad Sabbir Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Chain Flexibility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Supply Chain Flexibility ◽  
Target Performance ◽  
Analytics Capability

Purpose A circular economy is a popular approach considered by many firms to address sustainable development goals strategically. Literature indicates that collaborative relationships among supply chain partners facilitate circular economy practices. However, there is a dearth of studies in lower-middle-income countries indicating the unique challenges industries face whilst practising circular economy principles and how the challenges can be overcome. To address the calls of previous researchers, this study aims to explore the following relationships: engagement and alliance capability whilst data analytics capability plays a mediating role; the relationship between alliance and data analytics capability with sustainable supply chain flexibility whilst industry dynamism is considered as a moderating variable and the relationship between sustainable supply chain flexibility and circular economy-target performance. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was performed and data was collected from 760 employees of Indian firms. Covariance-based structural equation modelling was applied to perform the path analysis to determine a firm’s capabilities in shaping sustainable supply chain flexibility and enhancing circular economy target performance. Findings Drawing upon dynamic capability theory, it was first established that engagement capability has a positive and significant influence on alliance capability, whilst data analytics capability played a partial mediating role. Second, it was established that alliance capability and data analytics capability significantly affect sustainable supply chain flexibility, whilst industry dynamism played a moderating role. Finally, it was clear that sustainable supply chain flexibility had a significant and positive effect on circular economy target performance, ultimately enhancing sustainability. Originality/value This study advances the circular economy literature by recommending that firms must consider some critical operational level capabilities to develop their dynamic capability, i.e. sustainable supply chain flexibility, to better meet the competitive market conditions in turbulent business environments.

A multi-criteria decision-making framework for agriculture supply chain risk management under a circular economy context

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morteza Yazdani ◽  
Ernesto D.R.S. Gonzalez ◽  
Prasenjit Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Supply Chain Risk Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flood Risks ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Supply Chain Risks

PurposeThe implementation of circular economy strategies is one of the central objectives of several governments seeking a transition toward a sustainable development. Circular economy in agriculture deals with the production of agricultural commodities making an efficient use of resources and avoiding unnecessary waste and carbon emission generation. Disruptions in the production and supply of critical agricultural products can have serious negative repercussions for firms and consumers of the food supply chain. In recent decades, disruptions generated by natural disasters such as hurricanes, thunderstorms and floods have greatly impacted social communities and industrial sectors. Supply chain risks approaches are seen to contribute key elements to address the impacts of natural disaster toward the implementation of circular economy in agriculture, helping to prevent collapses in the production and supply of food. The purpose of this paper is to study and identify flood risk drivers and their effects on the sustainability of an agriculture supply chain in connection with a circular economy strategy. By using an extended Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis method combined with a multi-criteria decision analysis, the most essential flood drivers with a degree of importance are reported here. Then, the authors propose an Evaluation of Data based on average ASsessment method, to rank different agricultural projects that pretend to mitigate the flood risks and its impacts on crop areas. The application of this research lies within the framework of a real agricultural project founded by the European Commission Scientific Section, called RUC-APS.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use management science-based tools to address circular economy in agriculture. The authors propose a multi-criteria-based methodology to assess the risks of flooding in crops areas. To validate the proposed methodology, a case example from Spain is discussed to rank different agricultural projects that pretend to mitigate the flood risks and its impacts on crop areas.FindingsThe proposed multi-criteria methodology confirmed a successful application to rank different agricultural projects that pretend to mitigate the flood risks and its impacts on crop areas. Organizations and firms in the agricultural business can use the methodology to identify risks drivers and to detect the best projects to mitigate the highest impacts of flooding risks in crops areas.Originality/valueThe authors use supply chain risks approaches to address the impacts of natural disaster on the implementation of circular economy in agriculture. The authors propose a robust multi-criteria-based methodology to assess the risks of flooding in crops areas and we used to determine the best mitigating projects to face flooding risks on crop areas.

Examining the role of dynamic remanufacturing capability on supply chain resilience in circular economy

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 863-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surajit Bag ◽  
Shivam Gupta ◽  
Cyril Foropon
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Sustainable Manufacturing ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Resilience ◽  
Supply Chain Networks ◽  
Control Orientation ◽  
Technical Factors ◽  
Market Factors

PurposeWorldwide, facing increasing resources pressure, more and more manufacturing firms aim to circular economy (CE), which is a system characterized by the application of remanufacturing principles and adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the function of remanufacturing capability in influencing supply chain resilience in supply chain networks under the moderating effects of both flexible orientation and control orientation.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered through a survey performed online in South Africa, and 150 participants completed the survey. Participants were mainly industry professionals holding senior administrative positions.FindingsResults indicate that market factors, management factors and technical factors positively influence dynamic remanufacturing capability (DRC). More specifically, on one hand, market factors strongly influence DRC, whereas, on the other hand, both management and technical factors influence at lower level DRC. DRC has a positive influence on supply chain resilience. Flexible orientation is found to positively moderate the effect of DRC on supply chain resilience, whereas control orientation does not exert any moderating effect on DRC and supply chain resilience.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies that explore research gaps between current vs desired remanufacturing capability requirements to achieve sustainability goals in CE.

Diving into emerging economies bottleneck: Industry 4.0 and implications for circular economy

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Oranges Cezarino ◽  
Lara Bartocci Liboni ◽  
Nelson Oliveira Stefanelli ◽  
Bruno Garcia Oliveira ◽  
Lucas Conde Stocco
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Emerging Countries ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regulatory Policies ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose In this paper, the authors aim to explore the relationship between the concepts of Industry 4.0 and circular economy (CE) as a contribution to the management decision on emerging countries. By analyzing the trends of scientific production to ascertain the interface of both constructs, the purpose of this paper is to identify limitations for Industry 4.0 and CE implementation in Brazil, as well to present an original framework and strategic pathways to overcome limitations for emerging countries. Design/methodology/approach Supported in the Brazilian case, the authors draw a framework using the structuralism approach to indicate pathways for the strategic positioning of emerging economies that consider their limitation and potential for competitive advantage. By understanding country-related limitations such as social and economic contingencies, the authors conceive a structure of implications for Brazil’s capacity to develop CE in the digital era. Findings Results show that Brazil has a reasonable, institutional and stable environment, as well as strong regulatory policies for solid waste that can stimulate CE in the country. However, it requires more communication between actors, especially public and private institutions, performing long-range relationships. Also, the country requires consolidation of industrial policies and investments in the remanufacturing process in the supply chain. Likewise, despite Brazil’s ability to take advantage of CE’s benefits, the country presents a huge lack of qualification to fulfill the competences that the digitization process demands. Economically, Brazil has been fighting against an economic crisis since 2014 that has limited general investments, especially in the industrial sector. Industry presents low performance and decreasing GDP participation, which leads to constant overseas production transfer as a consequence of the workforce’s high costs. Research limitations/implications The authors can affirm that Brazil is far behind developed countries in searching for the capacity to provide CE through technological industrial change. The main problems are related to the lack of articulation of public and private spheres to promote new digital business models. Therefore, the structured framework enables managers and public agents to provide solutions and to properly address supply chain bottlenecks in emerging economies. Originality/value Exploring the relationship between the concepts of Industry 4.0 and CE through the specific lens of the structuralist method, this work can contribute to the management decision on emerging countries, looking into four important perspectives: political, economic, social and technological.

Green supplier selection using an AHP-Entropy-TOPSIS framework

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Freeman ◽  
Tao Chen
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supplier Selection ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Entropy Weight ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Supplier Selection

Purpose – This paper aims to focus on development of a green supplier selection model using an index system based on a combination of traditional supplier and environmental supplier selection criteria. Strategies that balance economic and environmental performance are increasingly sought after as enterprises that increasingly focus on the sustainability of their operations. Green supply chain management (GSCM) in particular, enables the integration of environmentally friendly suppliers into the supply chain to be systematised to fit with specific environmental regulations and policies. More persuasively, GSCM allows enterprises to improve profits whilst lowering impacts on the global environment. Design/methodology/approach – A two-phase survey approach was adopted for the research. For the first phase, semi-structured interviews with senior management representatives of the case company – a Chinese-based electronic machinery manufacturer – were used to determine green supplier selection criteria. For the second phase, a two-part questionnaire survey was undertaken, the first part providing the data for an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) analysis of the first-phase criteria and the second with collecting data for an Entropy weight analysis. The resultant AHP and Entropy weights were then combined to form compromised weights – which, using technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) methodology, were translated into preferential rankings of suppliers. Findings – Senior managers were found to rank traditional criteria more highly than environmental alternatives – the implication being that for the company, concerned, it may take some time before environmental awareness is fully assimilated into GSCM practice. Originality/value – The paper moves us a significant step closer to the application more widely, of innovative AHP-Entropy/TOPSIS methodology to real-world SCM problems.

Counterfeiting and piracy in supply chain management: theoretical studies

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Li ◽  
Zelong Yi
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Social Acceptance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Perspective ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Key Aspects

Purpose This paper aims to generate novel insights in supply chain management by reviewing studies related to counterfeiting and piracy issues with a particular emphasis on theoretical works. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review of more than 100 peer-reviewed academic papers is conducted. The authors first introduce the social acceptance of counterfeiting and piracy to explain the existence of these illegal products. After that, they focus on the negative effect of counterfeiting and piracy on supply chain management and society while mentioning their positive and normative effects carefully under certain circumstances. Findings People have been attempting to reveal the impacts of counterfeiting and piracy on customers, licit firms, industry sectors, governments and the society as a whole. The negative impacts of counterfeiting and piracy on legal firms and licit supply chains is examined thoroughly in the literature; however, benefits from counterfeiting and piracy are also pointed out. Additionally, researchers are interested in firms’ reactions toward this phenomenon. Based on heuristics from the above analysis, it is fruitful to conduct this research in a theme of supply chain management. Originality/value Most studies on counterfeiting and piracy are not from a supply chain management perspective and mainly focus on their effect on consumers or a single firm. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of few studies that incorporate the key aspects of counterfeiting and piracy into supply chain management and also highlight several important directions for future research in the sense of supply chain.

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