Using OR to adapt supply chain management best practices to humanitarian logistics

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 307-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luk N. Van Wassenhove ◽  
Alfonso J. Pedraza Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Humanitarian Logistics ◽  
Chain Management

scholarly journals Humanitarian logistics research for the care of refugees and internally displaced persons

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Oloruntoba ◽  
Ruth Banomyong
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Humanitarian Logistics ◽  
Internally Displaced Persons ◽  
Displaced Persons ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internally Displaced

PurposeThis “thought paper” is written by the special issue editors as a part of the five papers accepted and published in response to the special issue call for papers on logistics and SCM in the context of relief for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in theJournal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue on “refugee logistics” and analyse the nature and challenges of displacement from a displaced person’s perspective. The paper also argues for a more critical appreciation of the role and value that research in logistics, operations and supply chain management (LOSCM) can play in the delivery of services and care for refugees and IDPs from the perspective of preparedness and logistics planning of humanitarian organisations. The paper further outlines basic challenges to undertaking innovative, boundary pushing valuable and impactful research on “refugee logistics” given the difficult ideological, political and policy context in which “refugee logistics research” will be undertaken. The paper also advocates for more critical research in humanitarian logistics (HL), that explicitly acknowledges its ontological, epistemological and methodological limitations even when ethically sound. The paper concludes by suggesting a future research agenda for this new sub-field of humanitarian logistics research.Design/methodology/approachConceptual paper utilising viewpoints, literature reviews as well as original ideas and thoughts of the authors.FindingsThe new field of “refugee logistics research” is important. It has been neglected in humanitarian logistics research for too long. Hence, there needs to be more research in this sub-field of humanitarian logistics.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a “thought paper”. It is the basic conceptual ideas of the authors. While it is not based on empirical work or data collection, it is based on a comprehensive literature research and analysis.Social implicationsThis paper advocates for the universal human rights of IDPs and refugees and their dignity, and how LOSCM can contribute to upholding such dignity.Originality/valueIt contributes indirectly to logistics policy and refugee policy as well as logistics service quality and advocacy for human rights and human dignity.

scholarly journals Procedure for Modeling and Improving E-SCM Processes

2007 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Boonyathan ◽  
L. Al-Hakim
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Process Mapping ◽  
Electronic Technology ◽  
Chain Management

Today’s managers are turning to the functions of the supply chain to improve margins and gain competitive advantage. The explosion of the Internet and other e-business technologies has made real-time, online communication throughout the entire supply chain a reality. Electronic supply chain management (e-SCM) is a reference to the supply chain that is structured via electronic technology-enabled relationships. This chapter concentrates on the development of a procedure referred to as eSCM-I for e-SCM process improvement. The procedure focuses on process mapping and relies on principles of coordination theory. It is based on SCOR to standardize the process and take advantage of this technique of benchmarking/best practices potential. The procedure employs IDEF0 technique for mapping the processes.

scholarly journals Supply chain management best practices: A case of humanitarian aid in southern Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngonidzahe K. Ngwenya ◽  
Micheline J.A. Naude
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
African Region ◽  
Regional Office ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: A key contemporary issue in the southern African region is the increased frequency of the number of natural disaster occurrences. Because of the extent of the damage as a result of these disasters, beneficiary needs have to be met to mitigate against consequent hardships and the loss of lives in the affected communities.Objectives: This article reports on a study that investigated supply chain management best practices that are employed by the United Nations World Food Programme’s (UNWFP) when dealing with disasters.Method: This exploratory study consisted of five in-depth interviews with voluntary participants at the UNWFP regional office in Johannesburg to determine the various initiatives adopted by the UNWFP that ensure successful disaster relief operations. Thematic analyses were used to analyse the collected data.Results: Based on the themes generated from the in-depth interviews, supply chain best practices were mainly linked to the concepts of agility, responsiveness and flexibility.Conclusion: The main findings revealed that the strategic planning, implementation and controlling of agile, flexible and responsive supply chain practices can contribute to the success of logistical operations supporting humanitarian efforts in southern Africa.

Framework to manage humanitarian logistics in disaster relief supply chain management in India

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saurav Negi ◽  
Gaurav Negi
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Humanitarian Logistics ◽  
Indian States ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chain ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Relief Supply Chain

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the issues and challenges in humanitarian logistics and to develop a framework for effectively managing the humanitarian logistics in disaster relief supply chain operations in India.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a framework to manage humanitarian logistics effectively in disaster management through qualitative analysis. First, the author examines the challenges facing the humanitarian logistics and supply chain through the reviews of the literature on various disasters. Then, the author presented a framework based on the best practices and initiatives taken worldwide in the preparedness and response stage of the humanitarian supply chain to manage and reduce the aftermath of any disaster in context to India.FindingsA framework has been developed to manage humanitarian logistics in the disaster relief operation, which would improve the humanitarian supply chain in India and help to effectively manage natural disasters in the preparedness and response stage at the state and district levels.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper mainly emphasises on the preparedness and response stage of disaster supply chain management in Indian context.Practical implicationsNone of the disaster incidents can be stopped from taking place, but the impact can be minimised by proper preparedness and effective response during the operations of humanitarian logistics. With this hope, the framework has been developed, which if implemented would help to plan and manage any disaster incident in an effective manner, which ultimately would save millions of lives and cost in terms of infrastructure, property, assets etc.Originality/valueAs natural disaster incidents are occurring frequently in Indian states, there is an urgent need for a framework to manage the logistics operations effectively and efficiently during any disaster relief operations. Limited literature is found on developing and presenting a framework focusing on the preparedness and response phase of disaster supply chain management in context to India. Hence, this paper is believed to be the first to fulfil this gap with main emphasis on the preparedness and response stage of disaster supply chain management in Indian scenario.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document