scholarly journals Supply Chain Networks for Perishable and Essential Commodities: Design and Vulnerabilities

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aruna Apte

This paper presents the results of our case-based research into the causes and remedies of fresh produce supply chain disruptions resulting from contamination. The research was motivated by the incident of E-coli outbreak in packaged spinach in the US. We base our analysis on information gathered from published literature and data collection in the region from personnel involved in Agriculture. Our research is aimed at addressing the following research questions: What key factors contribute to the vulnerability to disruption from contamination and what are the interrelationships between these contributing factors? What managerial actions may be taken to minimize the fresh produce supply chain's vulnerability to disruption? In this research we develop a conceptual framework consisting of the contributing factors: product type, topological structure, exposure to contamination, product traceability, and communication. The practice related contributions of this research are managerial insight and recommended actions derived from the proposed conceptual framework.

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 656-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron A. MacKenzie ◽  
Aruna Apte

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to quantify elements that make fresh produce supply chains (FPSCs) vulnerable to disruptions and to quantify the benefits of different disruption-management strategies. Design/methodology/approach This paper develops a mathematical model of a disruption in a FPSC and analyzes the relationships among variables. Findings The model determines the optimal safety stock as a function of the perishability of the produce, the length of time it takes to find the contamination, the level of demand during the disruption, and the amount of produce that can be rerouted. Applying the model to the 2006 E. coli spinach contamination reveals that the drop in customer demand for fresh spinach plays the largest role in Dole losing sales. Research limitations/implications The model includes several parameters that may be difficult to estimate. Future models can incorporate uncertainty that is inherent in supply chain disruptions. Practical implications The model in this paper can help a supply chain (SC) manager explore the trade-offs of different disruption-management strategies. For example, a SC manager can determine the value of holding additional safety stock vs trying to improve traceability in the SC. Originality/value This paper quantifies and models insights delivered in the qualitative analyses of FPSC disruptions. The theoretical contributions include an analysis of the interaction among safety stock, levels of demand, communication, and traceability parameters in order to help SC managers evaluate different strategies to mitigate the effects of contaminated produce.


2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Brito ◽  
Catarina Roseira

Organisational performance tends to be highly dependent on suppliers' actions and on the way the relationships with them are managed by the buying company. Researchers have conducted extensive and valuable studies on the impact of supplier relationships in a network context. However, some important issues regarding supply management and its effects on the strategy of the buying firm have not been fully investigated. This article presents a model of supply chain networks developed on the basis of the conceptual framework of the IMP group. The aim is to contribute toward a better understanding of supply management through the integration of both relational, portfolio and network issues.


Author(s):  
Dimitrios Vlachos

As the practices of offshoring and outsourcing force the supply chain networks to keep on expanding geographically in the globalised environment, the logistics processes are becoming more exposed to risk and disruptions. Thus, modern supply chains seem to be more vulnerable than ever. It is clear that efficient logistics risk and security management emerges as an issue of pivotal importance in such competitive, demanding and stochastic environment and is thus vital for the viability and profitability of a company. In this context, this chapter focuses on a set of stochastic quantitative models that study the impact of one or more supply chain disruptions on optimal determination of single period inventory control policies. The purpose of this research is to provide a critical review of state-of-the-art methodologies to be used as a starting point for further research efforts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 461
Author(s):  
Hiroyasu Inoue

This study shows how import and export shocks propagate through domestic supply chains using actual Japanese supply-chain data and a world input-output table (WIOT) based on firm-level agent-based simulations. We propose three different models with which to connect the domestic firms to a WIOT. Then, we estimate the value-added losses of Japanese firms caused by shocks of different magnitudes and durations originating in China, in the EU and the US, and globally. The volume and rates at which losses increase are very different across the connection models, which indicates that the assignment of international connections to firms matters greatly. The losses increase sublinearly as the duration expands, which indicates that the shock propagation ultimately saturates the economy. Rates of saturation differ substantially depending on the assignment of international connections. The losses increase superlinearly as the initial reduction rate increases. This occurs because there is a greater probability of one supplier being replaced by other suppliers if the reduction is smaller.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Alhawari ◽  
Khurrum Bhutta ◽  
Asif Muzzafar

Not only has the COVID-19 outbreak brought about public safety challenges, but there has also been a major disruption in the business world that impacts one and all from small to large businesses. During This pandemic, supply chains (SCs) have witnessed disruptions, and this has inspired the interest of this paper. Therefore, the objective of the paper is to address two research questions pertaining to exploring the emerging SC aspects in the age of COVID-19 and future directions of SCs. To achieve this objective, a methodology is developed entailing three steps as follows. First, data is collected and included documents are identified through PRISMA strategy. Second, document analytics is performed using the web-interface of bibliometrix package in R software,the shiny app. Third, the research questions are addressed accordingly. The results showed that the most prominent terms related to SCs include supply chain disruptions, supply chain management,supply chain resilience, viability, and flexibility. Consequently, the first research question is approached in which the aspects of SC disruptions, resilient SC, viable SC,Sustainable SC, and SC management, are addressed. With more focus on building resilient SC in the short-term to recover from disruptions, viable SC can be created in the long-term perspective, which eventually build sustainable SC accordingly. Subsequently, considering these aspects enable successful SC management. Additionally, the future directions are explored including the transformation from globalization to regionalization perspective, focus on digitalization, need for holding more inventory, managing SCs for high resilience, more dependence on operations research and business analytics, and reconsideration of food SCs. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by providing insightful research agenda to scholars and practitioners concerned in exploring more of the influences of the current pandemic on SCs.


2012 ◽  
pp. 347-362
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Vlachos

As the practices of offshoring and outsourcing force the supply chain networks to keep on expanding geographically in the globalised environment, the logistics processes are becoming more exposed to risk and disruptions. Thus, modern supply chains seem to be more vulnerable than ever. It is clear that efficient logistics risk and security management emerges as an issue of pivotal importance in such competitive, demanding and stochastic environment and is thus vital for the viability and profitability of a company. In this context, this chapter focuses on a set of stochastic quantitative models that study the impact of one or more supply chain disruptions on optimal determination of single period inventory control policies. The purpose of this research is to provide a critical review of state-of-the-art methodologies to be used as a starting point for further research efforts.


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