Governance for quality management in tropical food chains

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aad van Tilburg ◽  
Jacques Trienekens ◽  
Ruerd Ruben ◽  
Martinus van Boekel
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Supply Chain Governance ◽  
Required Quality

This paper provides a framework that focuses on the linkages between several key dimensions of supply chain organisation and performance of perishable tropical food products. The focus is on the relationship between governance regime and quality management, however, two other related variables are also taken into account because they impact this relationship: channel choice and value added distribution in the supply chain. Governance regimes focus on how to enhance coordination and trust amongst supply chain partners and how to reduce transaction costs. Quality management deals with how to manage food technology processes such that required quality levels can be improved and variability in quality of natural products can be exploited. Governance regimes in relation to quality management practices are discussed to the extent that supply chain partners are able, or are enabled, to invest in required quality improvements. Reduction of transaction costs, creation of trust-based networks and proper trade-offs between direct and future gains may offer substantial contributions to effective quality management and enforcement. This framework has been applied to nine case studies about food supply chains originating from developing countries (Ruben et al., 2007). Three of these case studies are summarised in this paper to illustrate what challenges can be derived from this study. These selected case studies concern fish caught in Kenya, mangoes grown in Costa Rica and vegetables produced in China.

Managerial responses to transaction cost disequilibrium in food supply chains and networks

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Bremmers ◽  
Bernd van der Meulen ◽  
Krijn Poppe ◽  
Jo Wijnands
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Transaction Cost ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Competitive Position ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Local Supply

Differences in transaction costs (i.e. costs of information processing, monitoring and control) between firms in local supply chains as well as in an international setting may have a negative impact on competitiveness and on creation of value added. Transaction cost disequilibrium is defined as a state in which transaction costs exceed the transaction benefits from the exchange of assets. The goal of this article is to assess whether such a disequilibrium exists for European food supply chains; if so, what its effects are and how it can be reduced. Transaction cost disequilibrium will be investigated at two levels: international competition and within local supply chains. The first focuses on the competitiveness of supply chains in global markets, the second especially regards the competitive position of companies within a single supply chain. To address our research question, we gathered empirical data by means of survey questionnaires and interviews in 2007 and 2008. The results show that internationally differences in transaction costs exist, but perceived disadvantages of EU food firms towards the US are being outweighed by perceived transaction benefits (i.e. preferred higher levels of food safety). However, within local supply chains SMEs are confronted with more than average transaction and compliance costs. Transaction benefits can only partially be reaped, especially because of a lack of transparency of the origin of value added to consumers. Proposed improvements to the competitive position of SMEs - contingent upon supply chain structure and product characteristics - include up-scaling, improvement of innovative power, co-labelling as well as simplification of EU food law.

scholarly journals Legal-economic barriers to price transfers in food supply chains

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Bremmers ◽  
Bernd Van der Meulen ◽  
Zorica Sredojevi ◽  
Jo Wijnands
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Price Volatility ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Industry Policy ◽  
The One

Recent price movements have put food supply chains under pressure. On the one side, upward price tendencies on commodity markets result in higher costs to processing firms. On the other side, these firms are confronted with a strong retail sector that is able to prevent compensation to protect consumers’ and own economic interests. Regulatory impediments of European law, especially with respect to foodstuffs, can adversely be utilized as barriers to protect the interest downstream the supply chain. The problem is that legal-economic instruments which can serve to smooth price volatility in supply markets can also opportunistically be used at the expense of the middlesection in food supply chains (i.e., mainly small and medium sized producers). The aim of this article is to identify the legal-economic mechanisms that effect price transfers in food supply chains in the European Union and define policy adjustments to improve pricing mechanisms, while safeguarding the interests of the processing industry. Policy alternatives to improve the smooth functioning of notably intermediate markets in food supply chains are the restructuring of competition law, improved processor information management and creating transparency of value added in the supply chain by means of labelling devices.

scholarly journals Humanitarian supply chain strategies – a review of how actors mitigate supply chain risks

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Jahre
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Supply Chain Risk Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Supply Chain Risks

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to link humanitarian logistics (HL) and supply chain risk management (SCRM) to provide an understanding of risk mitigation strategies that humanitarian organisations use, or could use, to improve their logistics preparedness. Design/methodology/approach Based on systematic reviews of RMS in SCRM and supply chain strategies (SCS) in HL literature, a framework is developed and used to review published case studies in HL. Findings The study finds that humanitarian actors use a number of the strategies proposed in the framework, particularly those related to strategic stocks, postponement, and collaboration. Strategies related to sourcing and procurement, however, especially those on supplier relationships, seem to be lacking in both research and practice. Research limitations/implications The study is based on secondary data and could be further developed through case studies based on primary data. Future studies should explore the generalisability of the findings. Practical implications Practitioners can use the framework to identify potential new SCS and how strategies can be combined. Findings can help them to understand the abnormal risks of main concern, how they may impact normal risks, and provide ideas on how to tackle trade-offs between different risks. Social implications The results can support improvements in humanitarian supply chains, which will provide affected people with rapid, cost-efficient, and better-adapted responses. Originality/value The paper connects SCRM and HL to develop a framework and suggests propositions on how humanitarian actors can mitigate supply chain risks. Questioning the focus on strategic stock it suggests complementary or alternative strategies for improving logistics preparedness.

Maintaining the appeal of Australian lamb to the modern consumer

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Fowler ◽  
J. M. Hoban ◽  
G. Melville ◽  
D. W. Pethick ◽  
S. Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Retail Cuts ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact

Aligning the production of lamb cuts with consumer preferences is an ongoing challenge for the Australian lamb supply chain. In recent decades, genetic and on-farm management practices have improved, while the demographics of consumers and their consumption patterns have changed. This has resulted in larger traditional lamb cuts, which have less appeal to modern consumers. Therefore, research has been conducted to determine the potential to fabricate new value-added lamb cuts from heavier carcasses, determine consumer preferences for lamb roasts, investigate the impact of increasing carcass weight and fat depths on the production of value-added retail cuts and determine the nutritional composition of these cuts. In an effort to address these issues, a new value-added cut, the compact shoulder roast, was developed from the forequarter of the carcass to provide an option for retailers processing heavier lamb carcasses. A subsequent survey of consumer preferences highlighted that preferences for roast weight and size were affected by frequency of consumption, with daily consumers preferring the heaviest roasts and younger consumers preferring lighter roasts, implying the need for further fabrication, such as that required for the compact shoulder roast. However, the time taken to fabricate these value-added cuts increases with each kilo increase in carcass weight and decreasing saleable meat yield of lamb carcasses results as the degree of value-adding increases, indicating that a higher average price per kilo is required at retail. Subsequently, value-added cuts will need to be marketed on the basis of other product qualities such as nutritive value. However, profiling of lamb cuts has also shown that there is little data on the nutritive value of a range of lamb cuts, apart from the loin, so work has been undertaken to address this deficiency using grass-fed lamb through a major supply chain.

scholarly journals Transparency in Global Agribusiness: Transforming Brazil’s Soybean Supply Chain Based on Companies’ Accountability

Logistics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Gabriel Medina ◽  
Karim Thomé
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Domestic Trade ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Trade Offs

Background: Although agri-food supply chains have become fundamental for food security throughout the world, some are associated with negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts. This study explores the possibilities of transforming the governance in Brazil’s soybean supply chain based on stakeholders’ accountability. Methods: We used secondary data from companies’ reports and statistical yearbooks to identify key stakeholders in the soybean supply chain as well as to explore trade-offs between reducing farming expansion into new agricultural frontiers and increasing investments in agro-industrial sectors. Results: The results reveal that at the global level, multinational corporations along with domestic groups should be held accountable for improving the governance of the soybean supply chain in Brazil since foreign multinationals control 65.4% of it. At the domestic level, losses in Brazil’s farming sector can either be offset by an 11% or 5.2% market share increase in the trading segment or in the whole supply chain, respectively, since Brazilian groups control 93.4% of the farming sector but only 7.1% of the agro-industrial sectors. Conclusions: Global accountability and domestic trade-offs are fundamental for transforming governance in global agri-food supply chains. They serve as a means for overcoming the current strategy of expansion into new farming frontiers.

scholarly journals Global Supply-Chain Strategy And Global Competitiveness

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asghar Sabbaghi ◽  
Navid Sabbaghi
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Global Supply Chain ◽  
Management Information ◽  
Supply Chain Strategy ◽  
Global Competitiveness ◽  
Partner Relations

The purpose of this study is to provide an analysis of global supply chain in a broader context that encompasses not only the producing company, but suppliers and customers.The theme of this study is to identify global sourcing and selling options, to enhance customer service and value added, to optimize inventory performance, to reduce total delivered costs and lead times, to achieve lower break-even costs, and to improve operational flexibility, customization and partner relations. In this context, an integrated management information system will be viewed as the key instrument that captures all relevant data and makes it available to the appropriate decision-maker and that provides an optimizer and decision-support function supporting various phases of the decision-making process, requiring the identification of cost cutting and value adding strategies. The properly integrated management information systems will help companies to gain the critical global competitive edge to survive in today's markets. We suggest various strategies in sourcing, manufacturing/operation, and marketing that can provide a competitive global supply chain strategy for a firm to increase value. We provide case studies where these strategies have been successful as well as case studies where they have failed.

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