Evaluating agricultural food supply chain resilience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

With the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic, agricultural food supply chains (AFSC) have suffered from unprecedented challenges and disruption. AFSC must possess extremely high levels of resilience when confronted by the pandemic. In this study, we have identified six important resilience criteria and eighteen sub-criteria of AFSC in the context of the COVID-19. The research presents the conceptual mixed multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technology to prioritize the resilience criteria based on understanding their interrelationships. Results identify three essential resilience criteria, namely “coordination and collaboration in the supply chain”, “efficiency”, and “strategic management” and the top five key sub-criteria as “velocity”, “visibility”, “continuity management”, “connectedness”, “collaborative planning and replenishment”. The framework proposed in this study contributes to the interdisciplinary understanding towards building resilience within AFSC, and has the potential to be extended to other types of supply chains in response to COVID-19.

Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Traceability and Efficiency in Automobile Supply Chain—A Case Study

A robust traceability system would help organizations in inventory optimization reduce lead time and improve customer service and quality which further enables the organizations to be a leader in their industry sector. This research study analyzes the challenges faced by the automotive industry in its supply chain operations. Further, the traceability issues and waiting time at different nodes of the supply chain are considered to be priority issues that affect the overall supply chain efficiency in the automotive supply chain. After studying the existing blockchain architectures and their implementation methodology, this study proposes a new blockchain-based architecture to improve traceability and reduce waiting time for the automotive supply chain. A hyper ledger fabric-based blockchain architecture is developed to track the ownership transfers in inbound and outbound logistics. The simulation results of the proposed hyper ledger fabric-based blockchain architecture show that there is an improvement in the traceability of items at different nodes of the supply chain that enhances the Inventory Quality Ratio (IQR) and the mean waiting time is reduced at the factory, wholesaler, and retailer, which thereby improves the overall supply chain efficiency. The blockchain embedded supply chain is more capable to eliminate the risks and uncertainties associated with the automotive supply chain. The benefits of adopting blockchain technology in the automotive supply chain are also described. The developed blockchain-based framework is capable to get more visibility into goods movement and inventory status in automotive supply chains.

Procurement for Assembly Under Asymmetric Information: Theory and Evidence

We study an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) purchasing two inputs for assembly from two suppliers with private cost information. The OEM can contract with the two suppliers either simultaneously or sequentially. We consider both cases in which the OEM has relatively equal bargaining power (the dynamic bargaining institution) or substantial bargaining power (the mechanism design institution). For the dynamic bargaining institution, we show that in sequential bargaining, the supply chain profit is higher, the OEM earns a lower profit, the first supplier earns a higher profit, and the second supplier may earn a higher or lower profit, than compared with simultaneous bargaining. For the mechanism design institution, we show that all players’ profits are the same in simultaneous and sequential contracting. We also benchmark against a case where the OEM procures both inputs from a single integrated supplier (a dyadic supply chain). We then test these predictions in a human-subjects experiment, which supports many of the normative predictions qualitatively with some deviations: an OEM with relatively equal bargaining power weakly prefers to contract with suppliers simultaneously, whereas an OEM with substantial bargaining power prefers to contract with suppliers sequentially. In addition, the OEM’s profit and supply chain efficiency are higher in the dyadic supply chain than the assembly system. This paper was accepted by Charles Corbett, operations management.

The Impact of E-Management Innovation System on Improving Corporate Operating Performance

E-management innovation system in recent years, the supply chain management system has been continuously upgrading and innovating, the main purpose is to improve the efficiency of its supply chain and reduce costs. This study investigates the effect of e-management system on supply chain efficiency. We use three assumptions to design, information technology innovation, information environment, relationship risk to do in-depth discussion on whether the efficiency of the supply chain will be affected. In this study, the Likert seven-point scale was used to design the survey method. In this study, N=331 questionnaires were issued, and 195 questionnaires were finally available, which met the minimum sample number. The main object of this study is to investigate the senior executives in zhejiang electronics industry. This result proves that e-management innovation system can improve the efficiency of its supply chain. We observed and verified the correlation results through three dependent variables and one fruit variable.

Integrating Tier-1 module suppliers in car sequencing problem

<p class="Abstract"><span lang="EN-GB">The objective of this study is to develop a car assembly sequence that is mutually agreed between car manufacturers and Tier-1 module suppliers such that overall modular supply chain efficiency is improved. In the literature so far, only constraints of car manufacturers have been considered in the car sequencing problem. However, an assembly sequence from car manufacturer imposes a module assembly sequence on Tier-1 module suppliers since their assembly activities are synchronous and in sequence with assembly line of that car manufacturer. An imposed assembly sequence defines a certain demand rate for Tier-1 module suppliers and has significant impacts on operational cost of these suppliers which ultimately affects the overall modular supply chain efficiency. In this paper, a heuristic approach has been introduced to generate a supplier cognizant car sequence which does not only provide better operational conditions for Tier-1 module suppliers, but also satisfies constraints of the car manufacturer.</span></p>

Performance Evaluation of Indian “Supply Chain Management” for Manufacturing Sector

In most organizations, financial results have been the key metric of progress. On a weekly, quarterly, and annual basis, the companies have created reporting structures and financial statements to measure their “supply chain” success. Companies, on the other hand, have struggled to establish successful real-time “supply chain” output analysis and processes. Companies today are working in an ever-changing and volatile world while still competing against global competition. As a result, the principle of “supply chain” management (SCM) has assumed strategic significance. So far, research has shown that many modern businesses have struggled to maximize their “supply chain’s capacity because they have often failed to develop the success metrics required to properly leverage their “supply chain”. Manufacturing companies in India are no exception. The authors of this paper want to suggest whether or not a specific solution is appropriate in the case of Indian manufacturing companies. All required factors influencing a company's “supply chain” success have been incorporated, and the suitability of “supply chain” measurement methods, especially for manufacturing organisations, has been suggested. A scale for “supply chain” efficiency methods was established using data obtained from 100 manufacturing organizations throughout India. The research findings are supposed to have important consequences for Indian manufacturing companies in terms of understanding the factors that contribute to effective SCM operations.

Evaluation on the adoption of transportation e-marketplace in vietnam from the demand side’ viewpoint

Studying on transportation e-marketplaces (TEMs) has today received much concern because developing TEMs helps enterprises and their customers reduce operation costs and improve supply chain efficiency. This study evaluates the adoption of TEMs in Vietnam based on the demand side’s perspective, including the viewpoint of shippers and the Transport Service Providers (TSPs). While shippers and TSPs around the world are facing various issues related to transportation and logistics process in the competitive market, TEMs is a potential solution which can offer response to those challenges such as transaction cost reduction, better transport capability, inefficiency diminishment, … In Vietnam, TEMs is still a new concept with the limitation of usage, so that the number of researches on this topic is scarce. This study followed the quantitative research method via SPSS technique of data analysis to provide a brief view of TEMs adoption in Vietnam. These insights can make contribution to both research and practice in the future.

An Empirical Study of Supply Chain Frangibility and Risk Management in Indian Automobile Industry

The automobile sector in India is one the key segment of Indian economy as it contributes to 4% of India’s GDP and 5% of India’s Industrial production. The supply chain of any firm is generally dependent on six driving factors out of which three are functional (information, inventory, and facilities) and 3 are logistic (sourcing, pricing, and transportation). The risk causing factors in supply chains consists of various levels of sub-factors under them. Say for instance, under supply risk, the sub-factors can be poor logistics at supplier end, poor material quality etc., under demand risk, the sub-factors can be inaccurate demand forecasting, fluctuating demand, bullwhip effect, and under logistics risk, the sub-factors can be poor transportation network, shorter lead time, stock outs. Through this study, we observe to find the effect of these factors in the supply chain. We use Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) technique to prioritize the various types of risk into zones namely high, medium and low risk factors. Also, we use the Best Worst Method (BWM), a multi-criteria decision-making technique to find out the overall weightings of different risk factors. The combination of these methods can help an organization to prioritize various risk factors and proposing a proper risk mitigation strategy leading to increase in overall supply chain efficiency and responsiveness.

EFFECT OF THE SUPPLIER SELECTION ON SUPPLY CHAIN EFFICIENCY IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF NANDI

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplier selection on the supply chain efficiencies in the county Government of Nandi. The study was guided by the following theories: transaction cost theory and the contingency theory. The study employed an explanatory survey which was cross-sectional in time dimension. Methodology: A proportionate stratified random sampling based on departmental section was utilized. The primary data collection procedure involved a survey where a self–administered questionnaire was used. With reference to content validity, the questionnaire was reviewed by a panel of experts before pilot testing was done. Once the data was cleaned, sorted and entered, it was analysed through the use of descriptive analysis (frequency distribution, means, standard deviation) with the data being presented in tabular and pictorial format. The inferential statistics (multiple regression), will be conducted at 95 per cent confidence level with significance levels of 0.05. The results were displayed using tables. Findings: The findings of the study indicated that supplier selection practices had positive and significant influence on supply chain efficiency, Kenya (β =0.114; p<0.05. The concluded that supplier selection is the predictor of supply chain efficiency of county government of Nandi. The study recommended that the county government of Nandi other organizations at large should show more commitment in SRM by having systems to monitor and appraise and evaluate performance at a strategic level. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study could be replicated in other industry sectors of the economy to build on the body of knowledge of supplier selection on performance of organizations.