The Factors Influence Suppliers Satisfaction of Green Supply Chain Management Systems in Taiwan

This study investigated user satisfaction when a new interorganizational information system (green supply chain management system; GSCMS) was introduced to a supplier by a leader in the Taiwan electronic industry. GSCMS providers, according to the requirements of the supplier network leader, trained the representatives of suppliers. All suppliers of two sample vendors (manufacturers of electronic products) were surveyed. Five putative influencing factors were considered: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, training, computer anxiety, and computer self-efficacy. We find four factors significantly affect user satisfaction. The results show that the training provided by focal vendors will influence the satisfaction of users. Next, the anxiety and uncertainty experienced by users decreases when they acquire more knowledge about the operation of the new GSCMS. Finally, user satisfaction can be increased by designing the functions and interfaces of a GSCMS in accordance with the user perceptions of usefulness and ease of use, moreover, implications and suggestions are also discussed.

The Strategic Implications of E-Network Integration and Transformation Paths for Synchronizing Supply Chains

Streamlining information flows across the physical supply chain is crucial for successful supply chain management. This study examines different structures of e-networks (i.e., virtual supply chains linked via electronic information and communication technologies) and their maximum capabilities to gain e-network benefits. Further, this research explores four levels of e-network integration based on a 2x2 e-network technology and transaction integration matrix. Of the four levels, an e-network with high e-technology/high e-transaction integration appears to be most desirable for the companies that aspire to achieve the maximum benefits from their IT investments. Finally, this study identifies three alternative transformation paths toward a powerful high e-technology/high e-transaction integration network and discusses strategic implications of selecting those paths, in terms of e-network structures, availability of financial and technical resources, supply chain members’ collaborative planning, e-security mechanisms, and supply chain size.

Strategic Management of International Subcontracting

Research on international subcontracting has been policy-oriented and industry-focused. There is a lack of understanding of the phenomenon from strategic management and international business perspectives. This article conceptualizes international subcontracting as a type of relational contract formed by buyers and suppliers from different countries, aiming to facilitate the sourcing of products or components with buyer-specific requirements. It builds a transaction cost model for studying the strategic choice of international subcontracting as an intermediate governance structure, sitting between arm’s length outsourcing arrangement and vertically integrated multinational enterprises (MNEs). A set of propositions are developed to aid future empirical research and to provide managers with some guidelines for organizing supply chain across borders. The model also allows managers to examine the complex nature of a range of subcontracting relationships and identify the specific mechanisms that can be used to preserve and manage the dyadic principal-subcontractor exchanges.

Facing the Challenges of RFID Data Management

Radio frequency identification (RFID) has generated vast amounts of interest in the supply chain, logistics, and the manufacturing area. RFID can be used to significantly improve the efficiency of business processes by providing automatic data identification and capture. Enormous data would be collected as items leave a trail of data while moving through different locations. Some important challenges such as false read, data overload, real-time acquisition of data, data security, and privacy must be dealt with. Good quality data is needed because business decisions depend on these data. Other important issues are that business processes must change drastically as a result of implementing RFID, and data must be shared between suppliers and retailers. The main objective of this article is focused on data management challenges of RFID, and it provides potential solutions for each identified risk.

The Construction of Green Supply Chain Management System

Considering the implications of EU environmental laws such as REACH (registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals) and EuP (directive on eco-design of energy-using products) as well as RoHS (restrictions of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment) Directive, they have been acquired to advance GSCM (green supply chain management) more and more. The aim of this article is to introduce the construction of GSCM system that improves collaborative relationships between an EEE manufacturer and its suppliers. The study is conducted in three steps. Firstly, the four elements, which are necessities to form collaborative relationships between an EEE manufacturer and its suppliers, are described. Secondly, the condition and construction of GSCM system including the four elements is proposed. Finally, we presented the method that the GSCM system is constructed as a practicable tool in the initial stage by a case study held in Shimadzu Corporation.

Cooperative Pricing Under Forecasting Sharing in the Manufacturer-E-Retailer Supply Chain

With the rapid development of the Internet, many retailers and individuals nowadays use this technology to engage in direct e-retailing sales. In this article, we investigate the value of demand-forecast information sharing in a manufacturer-e-retailer supply chain. The value of market information depends not only on its accuracy, but also on the e-retailer’s market power and the product’s Web compatibility. We develop a theoretical approach to examine the value of information sharing for the manufacturer and the e-retailer first, and then we further check to see how information sharing is moderated by the e-retailer’s market share and the product’s e-market-base demand. Our results suggest that under some conditions, both the manufacturer and the e-retailer can be better off from information sharing. Especially when the e-retailer’s market share is larger and the product’s e-market-base demand is higher, information sharing is more valuable for the supply chain players. Using our analysis findings, we indicate marketing strategies that the manufacturer and the e-retailer may want to adopt.

A Strategic Framework for Managing Failure in JIT Supply Chains

Supply chains can be disrupted at both local and global levels. Just-In-Time (JIT) companies should be particularly interested in managing supply chain failure risk as they often have very little inventory to buffer themselves when their upstream supply chain fails. We develop previous research further and present a strategic framework to manage supply chain failure in JIT supply chains. We identify two dimensions along which the risks of failure can be categorized: location and unpredictability. We go on to identify strategies which companies can use either before (proactive) or after (reactive) the failure to manage supply chain failure. We support our framework with examples of actual responses to supply chain failures in JIT companies. It is also hoped that our strategic framework will be validated empirically in the future leading to specific guidance for managers.

A Nelder and Mead Methodology for Solving Small Fixed-Charge Transportation Problems

The term ‘supply chain management’ has become common in the business world, which can be understood from the positive results of research in the area, particularly in supply chain optimization. Transportation is a frontier in achieving the objectives of the supply chain. Thrust is also given to optimization problems in transportation. The fixed-charge transportation problem is an extension of the transportation problem that includes a fixed cost, along with a variable cost that is proportional to the amount shipped. This article approaches the problem with another meta-heuristics known as the Nelder and Mead methodology to save the computational time with little iteration and obtain better results with the help of a program in C++.

Collecting Consumer Behavior Data with WLAN

Knowing consumers’ shopping paths is an essential part of successful retailing. Good space management requires accurate data about consumer behavior. Traditionally, these data have been collected through, for example, panel interviews, camera tracking, and in-store observation. Their nature is more or less subjective. Modern technology makes it possible to use more objective methods, such as wireless local area network (WLAN) and radio frequency identification (RFID). In this article we examine the possibilities WLAN provides information systems studies. The empirical data is collected from a large DIY (do-it-yourself) store. The results show that WLAN has great potential for accurate and objective data collection processes and modeling data in retailing.

Designing a Dynamic Buyer-Supplier Coordination Model in Electronic Markets Using Stochastic Petri Nets

Functional relationship between supplier and buyer in an open market place leads to investigate the role of both quantifiable and non-quantifiable parameters in coordination mechanism with the aim of achieving higher performance in supply chain activities. Here, we develop a supply chain model and a new agent to analyze and simulate the players’ behavior in the network. A cooperative game theory framework is utilized between buyer and supplier in order to increase the supply chain performance. The study is supported by presenting SC Net Optimizer as a tool for implementing the proposed coordination mechanism and evaluates the performance of the chain by simulation using stochastic Petri nets (SPNs). The model provides a more realistic optimization process by taking into consideration the dynamic information flow in an uncertainty environment.