Supply Chain Management Practices and Supply Chain Performance in the Manufacturing Industries of Bangladesh

Purpose: The paper aims to examine the association between supply chain management practices (SCMP) and supply chain performance (SCP) in the manufacturing industries of Bangladesh. SCMP was classified as strategic supplier partnership (SSP), customer relationship (CR), information sharing level (IS), information quality level (IQ), and postponement (POS). Methods: It is a quantitative research based on a survey questionnaire. Supply chain management practices were measured by items adapted from Li, Nathan, and Rao (2006), while supply chain performance was measured by using key supply chain performance indicators suggested by Ambe (2013). Using convenience sampling technique, data were collected from 203 executives involved in supply chain activities working in different manufacturing organizations in two major cities of Bangladesh (Dhaka and Chittagong). Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation, and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: Results demonstrated a positive correlation between supply chain management practices and supply chain performance (r=0.67**). However, strategic supplier partnership, customer relationship, and postponement are more strongly related to improving supply chain performance than information sharing level and information quality level. Implications: A significant implication of the study is that manufacturing organizations should develop supply chain management capabilities to improve supply chain performance and they should begin with developing their level of information sharing and level of information quality. Limitations: The use of the convenience sampling technique limits the generalizability of the findings. The small sample size (n=203) also warrant caution in interpreting the results.

A A Multi-Objective Mathematical Model for Vehicle Routing Problem Considering the Time Window and Economic and Environmental Objectives Using the Metaheuristic Algorithm Based on Pareto Archive

Purpose: The purpose of this study is the well-known Heterogeneous Fleet Vehicle Routing Problem (HVRP) is one of the developed problems of vehicle routing, which involves optimizing a set of routes for a fleet of vehicles with different costs and capacities. Methods: HVRP is usually modeled as a single objective that aims to minimize overall transportation costs (total fixed costs and costs commensurate with total distance). Results: These vehicles are located in the central depot and serve customers’ demands. Implications: In this case, the number of vehicles available (of any type) may be limited.

The The Impact of the Renegotiation of United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) on the Agricultural Exports of Sinaloa State of Mexico

Purpose: Mexico, like other countries, invested in measures to attract foreign direct investment to its territories. It, therefore, signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, a treaty that facilitated Mexico to be the largest direct exporter to the United States. However, in 2018 the agreement was renegotiated and replaced with United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). This research is carried out to determine the advantages and disadvantages of renegotiation for Sinaloa's agricultural exports, with the question of whether it would negatively impact the Sinaloa's agricultural exports. Methods: The study focuses on the impact of renegotiation of the NAFTA on agricultural exports of the state of Sinaloa with indicators such as the Exports-Trade, GDP, and GDP Per capita of Mexico, opening to new markets, and logistics. Results: The renegotiation has a direct relationship with agricultural production in Sinaloa, with a serious negative effect, since overproduction would be created if the new destination for exporting from Sinaloa was not quickly available. Implications: This research can be of much use to the main agricultural exporting companies in Sinaloa, government agencies, and the Sinaloa Chambers of Commerce for decision making and policy formulation.