Supply chain antecedents of agile manufacturing in a developing country context

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1042-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Bahjat Abdallah ◽  
Israa Hussein Nabass

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine supply chain practices that contribute most to the success of agile manufacturing (AM), and to examine their effects on its implementation levels in the Jordanian manufacturing sector. It also investigates the effect of AM on operational performance (OP). Design/methodology/approach The study is based on survey data collected from 294 manufacturing companies from different industry types in Jordan. Validity and reliability analyses were performed using SPSS and AMOS, and the study hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Findings The results revealed that supplier involvement, internal integration, and modularization of products positively and significantly affect AM. Customer involvement and postponement were insignificantly related to AM. Further, the results demonstrated that AM positively and significantly affect OP. Originality/value A limited number of previous studies investigated supply chain antecedents of AM. Further, there is no consensus among researchers on these practices. In addition, this area is underinvestigated in the developing countries in general and in Jordan in particular. The current study contributes to the literature by determining the most commonly linked supply chain practices to AM and examining their effects on its implementation levels in the context of a developing country, Jordan.

2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristóbal Sánchez‐Rodríguez ◽  
David Hemsworth ◽  
Ángel R. Martínez‐Lorente

PurposeSupply chain management is an increasingly important organizational concern, and proper management of supplier relationships constitutes one essential element of supply chain success. However, there is little empirical research that has tested the effect of supplier development on performance. The main objective is to analyze the effect of supplier development practices with different levels of implementation complexity on the firm's purchasing performance.Design/methodology/approachThree supplier development constructs were defined: basic supplier development, moderate supplier development, and advanced supplier development. Three structural models were hypothesized and tested using structural equation modeling through field research on a sample of 306 manufacturing companies in Spain.FindingsIdentified important interrelationships among the various supplier development practices, basic, moderate, and advanced. Also indicated that the implementation of supplier development practices significantly contributes to the prediction of purchasing performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe use of a single key informant could be seen as a potential limitation of the study. The study was a cross‐sectional and descriptive sample of the manufacturing industry at a given point in time. A more stringent test of the relationships between the different levels of supplier development and performance requires a longitudinal study, or field experiment.Practical implicationsThis study focused on supplier development practices and revealed how involving suppliers in supplier development activities is important and may help buyers to increase their purchasing performance. The findings from the structural analysis should provide practicing managers with insights on how these practices and their benefits are related in terms of purchasing performance, thus affecting their ability to make better sourcing decisions.Originality/valueFills an important gap in the purchasing literature with respect to the area of supplier development. While there is much written about supplier development based on conceptual and case study research, this study is unique in that it is the first attempt to empirically model the relationships between different levels of supplier development and their impact on purchasing performance using a comprehensive set of practices.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Barau Singhry ◽  
Azmawani Abd Rahman

Purpose Despite the importance of collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR), its influence on supply chain innovation capability (SCIC) and supply chain performance (SCP) has not been sufficiently examined. The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedence of SCP through CPFR and SCIC. Design/methodology/approach Through cluster and stratified random sampling, 286 responses from top managers of 1,574 Nigerian manufacturing companies were analyzed. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling with AMOS graphics. Findings The results show that SCIC has a full mediating effect on the relationship between CPFR and SCP. Specifically, CPFR has a significant relationship with both SCP and SCIC, and SCIC also relates significantly to SCP. Practical implications This study offers implications for manufacturers in developing countries in general, and in Nigeria in particular, by providing a guideline on how to improve SCP through CPFR. Originality/value The paper contributes to the limited studies on CPFR and SCP by extending this line of study into the realm of innovation capability and innovation. It integrates the social exchange theory and the dynamic capabilities theory to examine the collaborative processes of CPFR in the supply chain context. This study stressed the importance of boundary theoretical spanning by extending CPFR and SCP into the domain of innovation capability.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1717-1737
Author(s):  
Reza Salehzadeh ◽  
Reihaneh Alsadat Tabaeeian ◽  
Farahnaz Esteki

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of different forecasting methods (judgmental, quantitative and mixed forecasting) on firms' supply chains and competitive performance.Design/methodology/approachWorking with three groups of manufacturing companies, we explore the consequences of judgmental, quantitative and mixed forecasting methods on firms' competitive performance in supply chains. The validity of constructs and path relationships was examined using structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsOur findings indicate that supply chain efficiency influences both cost reduction and customer satisfaction. In addition, the three dimensions of supply chain performance are shown to be direct antecedents of competitive performance. Our empirical results reveal that although all studied forecasting methods meaningfully influence supply chain performance, the mixed method, compared to the other two methods, has greater capabilities to enhance supply chain performance.Originality/valueThis research provides originality and insight into supply chain practices through forecasting methods to improve competitive performance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1306-1324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Robinson ◽  
Karl Manrodt ◽  
Monique Lynn Murfield ◽  
Christopher A. Boone ◽  
Paige Rutner

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose and test a dual pathway model whereby addressing the question, “What are the effects of supply chain orientation and organizational identification on internal integration and supplier integration?”.Design/methodology/approachA survey design was performed to collect data from supply chain professionals regarding their organization’s supply chain orientation (SCO), organizational identification (OI) and achieved states of both internal and supplier integration. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was performed to test the dual mediating pathways.FindingsThe results show that internal integration partially mediates relationships between SCO and supplier integration and for OI and supplier integration. In comparing the mediating effects to test competing theories, the SCO path yields stronger complementary partial mediation. This supports the proposition that SCO and OI mutually exist within an organization and influence achieved integrative behaviors. Additionally, results suggest the behavioral spillover effect exists for an internally integrated organization that has also achieved supplier integration.Originality/valueThis research makes several contributions to extant literature, including finding that SCO contributes to levels of achieved integration. Also, this research theoretically integrates literature on the social dilemma associated with supplier integration and the behavioral spillover effect, suggesting that SCO allows for positive internal integrative behaviors to spillover to integrated suppliers. Finally, this research contributes to research on OI by finding achieved integration is an outcome, which refutes a dominate theory that explains OI facilitates negative behaviors toward external organizations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 690-711
Author(s):  
Seyed Mahmoud Zanjirchi ◽  
Negar Jalilian ◽  
Ali Mirhoseini

Purpose According to the definitions presented for agility drivers, it can be mentioned that supply chain risk factors in terms of feature have very close roles to agility drivers and both of these factors impact the uncertainty in the environment. However, the risk factors with a wider domain are more comprehensive. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of risk as a driver on the organizational agility. Design/methodology/approach To conduct the research, after identification of influential risk factors of supply chain and indicators of organizational agility, questionnaires needed for the research were designed and after confirming their validity and reliability were distributed among the member of the sample. To assess the relationship between supply chain risk and the amount of organizational agility, data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling technique. Findings The results of data analysis showed that supply chain risk factors could be considered as a driver affecting the organizational agility. In addition, in this study, supply chain risk factors were ranked using interpretive structural modeling. The presented comprehensive model indicated that based on causal relationships between risk factors, sovereign risk as the basis for model (three levels) and product and customer satisfaction risks as the output of the model (Level 1) were considered. Originality/value This paper fulfills an identified need to study how the risk factors as drivers of supply chain agility can have effect on agility.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esraa Hussein Nabass ◽  
Ayman Bahjat Abdallah

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of agile manufacturing (AM) on business performance and operational performance (OP) dimensions in manufacturing companies in Jordan. It also explores the indirect effect of AM on business performance through OP dimensions of cost, quality, delivery and flexibility.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyzes survey data collected from 282 manufacturing companies from different industries in Jordan. Validity and reliability analyses were performed using SPSS and Amos, and the research hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results demonstrated that AM positively and directly affected business performance. It also positively affected OP dimensions of quality, delivery and flexibility. However, cost performance was not significantly affected by AM. In addition, quality performance and flexibility performance fully mediated the relationship between AM and business performance, whereas cost performance and delivery performance did not show mediating effects.Originality/valueTo the best of the knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the mediating effects of OP dimensions on the relationship between AM and business performance. In addition, a limited number of previous studies investigated the performance outcomes of AM. Furthermore, this area is under-investigated in the Middle East in general and in Jordan in particular.


Author(s):  
Alba Manresa ◽  
Jasna Prester ◽  
Andrea Bikfalvi

Purpose Firms innovate and sophisticate their offerings to remain competitive. This sophistication often finds opportunities in servitization. Given that many customers expect the service offering from manufacturing companies, it is crucial to research what capabilities drive service offerings and their impact on performance. The purpose of this paper is to test the capabilities–service–performance chain. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual model is proposed and the research hypothesis is tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) performed on a data set corresponding to 205 Spanish and Croatian manufacturing firms. Findings Using SEM, this research analyses the causal model between manufacturing, organizational and digital capabilities on base, intermediate and advanced services, and their impact on both service and financial performance. Research limitations/implications This study has some limitations: the advanced service construct was mostly developed on case-based research. Some constructs have low convergent validity and reliability. The relative smallness of the data set used and its two-country provenance could raise issues about the international nature and generalizability of the findings. Practical implications Digital capabilities are important for the provision of all three groups of services in terms of using digital devices in data acquisition, helping to make the manufacturing company more agile. Originality/value The present study also contributes to the conceptual framework of servitization by providing a new and more up-to-date definition of capabilities and services, also considering digital capabilities, which are less explored. It also contributes to being the first to explore the entire manufacturing sector [nomenclature statistique des activités and économiques dans la Communauté éuropéenne (NACE) 10–31].


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oskari Rintala ◽  
Tomi Solakivi ◽  
Sini Laari ◽  
Juuso Töyli ◽  
Lauri Ojala

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the extent to which psychological factors and the agency of decision-makers drive outsourcing decisions. Arguments based on transaction cost economics, the core competence approach and the theory of planned behavior are used to explain logistics outsourcing.Design/methodology/approachThe literature was reviewed to identify constructs that are antecedents of logistics outsourcing intentions, and corresponding measures were developed. The data were gathered through a survey of supply chain professionals in Finnish manufacturing companies. A measurement model was reviewed to ensure reliability and validity and converted into a structural model for analysis. The analysis was based on partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling.FindingsSupply chain managers objectively consider the characteristics of their organization's logistics identified in previous research as requiring assessment during the outsourcing process. However, and surprisingly, they also tend to rely on behavioral subjective factors such as positive attitudes, encouraging subjective norms and competence. Moreover, it seems that firms do not outsource logistics activities despite the high strategic importance of the function, but because of it.Research limitations/implicationsThe constructed model is limited to the constructs chosen to represent drivers of logistics outsourcing. Further application with more samples would improve its reliability.Practical implicationsThe factors proposed here with respect to assets and the capabilities of third-party partners could facilitate decision-making related to logistics outsourcing.Originality/valueThe findings emphasize the role of behavioral factors in the procurement function and therefore enhance the understanding of behavioral supply chain management.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Hsi Vivian Chen ◽  
Yu-Cheng Chen

Purpose In the digital economy, as artificial intelligence applications increase, big data analytical capability (BDAC) plays a crucial role, and intellectual capital is growing in importance. This study aims to examine the possible benefits and effects of intellectual capital, BDAC and integrations on operational performance. Design/methodology/approach This study collected data from firms in Asia, and a total of 257 senior managers completed a questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) is used for statistical analysis. Findings Intellectual capital positively correlates with BDAC, and BDAC positively relates to internal integration but not to external integration. Furthermore, both internal integration and external integration positively correlate with operational performance. This study supports that internal integration is a significant mediator in the influence of BDAC on operational performance. Practical implications First, the authors provide empirical evidence that intelligent capital in intangible resources helps firms to build BDAC. Second, this study stresses the importance of BDAC in business, which enhances the integration of the whole supply chain and results in superior operational performance. Originality/value This is a first attempt from the perspective of intelligent capital and uses SEM to emphasize the relationships among BDAC, supply chain integration and performance based on unique and irreplaceable intangible resources, thus providing a new perspective on the contributing factors of BDAC.


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cigdem Gonul Kochan ◽  
Saba Pourreza ◽  
Huguette Tran ◽  
Victor R. Prybutok

Purpose – The rapid consumption of new electronic devices has expanded the volume of electronic waste (e-waste) and created a potential threat to the environment. Recycling of e-waste (eCycling) can help stem the proliferation of e-waste and its environmental threat. In order to increase this positive involvement in eCycling and design effective eCycling programs, a better understanding of eCycling behaviors is needed. The purpose of this paper is to employ the Theory of Reasoned Action as a framework to develop a model to identify the determinants of eCycling behavior. Design/methodology/approach – To assess the model, a survey of 327 university students is undertaken. To analyze the eCycling behavior from the survey data, a structural equation modeling technique is used. Findings – The findings suggest that: attitudes and moral norms positively influence eCycling behavior; the higher the awareness of consequences, the more the eCycling involvement; and perceived convenience is an important factor that leads to more involvement in eCycling. Research limitations/implications – This research is limited by the student sample and campus environment that might confine the generalizability of the study. Also, additional variables need to be examined in order to better explain eCycling behavior. The result of the study provides insights for organizations to build successful eCycling programs, engage young adults such as college students in eCycling, and increase involvement in eCycling. Practical implications – This study provides insights that can help supply chain managers to better understand the consumer involvement in eCycling. Managers’ understanding of eCycling behavior would encourage eCycling involvement by placing drop-off units in convenient locations and by creating campaigns that motivate consumers to return their e-waste. An increased consumer involvement in eCycling can help manufacturing companies lower the cost of e-waste across the supply chain and regain the value of returned materials by adopting reverse logistics. Originality/value – This study contributes to the stream of eCycling literature by investigating students’ eCycling intentions and behaviors on a university campus. The paper develops an understanding of how eCycling involvement might be improved.


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