Supply chain resiliency (SCR) is the ability of the supply chain (SC) to be prepared for unexpected events. In other words, the SC should be able to come back to the initial state or to move to a more desirable state when a perturbation is happening in the aim to increase the customer's satisfaction and financial performance. In this framework, a conceptual map is drawn here through a systematic literature review (SLR) to support researchers and supply chain practitioners in their future studies. It will help them to identify the operation research (OR) approaches being used at different levels of decision and how resiliency was treated. Using a refined set of keywords, we extract and filter the most recent resilient supply chain (RSC) articles from high quality journals between 2014 and 2021 to update the synthesis of the literature in the resilient SC (RSC) context, which makes researchers identify unaddressed problems.
Although various research studies have explored the importance of supply chain resilience, many areas still need improvement to adapt to global situations and new technology. Therefore, supply chain management must reconsider, explore unique aspects, and adjust from existing perspectives to survive the various novel threats. This study thoroughly analysed 145 articles published between 2000 and 2021 on supply chain resilience and its effectiveness in mitigating risk impacts. We scrutinised keyword definitions and summarised the strategies and notable trends by differentiating them into qualitative and quantitative approaches. Moreover, we provide a resilience mapping framework that includes a disruption profile, strategies, and pre- and post-disruption drivers. Finally, we propose recommendations to aid decision-makers and practitioners in understanding and quantifying the resilience in the supply chain. These recommendations can be helpful for future research directions.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the order fulfilment process (OFP) in a regional shared service canter handling intra-company sales and purchase orders as well as the transportation activities of a multinational enterprise (MNE). The study examined both strategic and operational sub-processes of order fulfilment and plans to identify wastes undermining the process efficiency using an adapted value stream mapping (VSM) methodology. Data was collected from 11 order managers through interviews and observations and analysed by using VSM. This study revealed that the root causes of inefficiencies were a lack of business process automation and utilisation of existing system technology as well as a significant deficiency in alignment among supply chain stakeholders. This study contributes to close existing gaps in theoretical research on order management by providing empirical basis from a chemical MNE and showing the application of VSM in the administrative settings.
The objective of this paper is to investigate empirically the effect of information sharing and inventory management practice on firms’ performance. To achieve the stated objective the study targeted supply chain practices of some companies operating in Ethiopia. Data were collected from 170 respondents including employees, suppliers, and distributors of the companies under investigation. Before the analysis of data, the accuracy of data entry, the existence of missing values, normality of data distribution and outliers checked and proved the nonexistence of serious issues. The specified objective and proposed hypotheses in this study tested by structural equation modelling (SEM). The result shows information sharing and inventory management practices have a direct and significant effect on the firm’s performance. Similarly, the higher share of information leads to better inventory management practice, which in turn leads to a greater performance of firms. The study concludes that information sharing has both direct and indirect effects on a firm's performance in the supply chain practices; whereas inventory management practices have a direct effect on the firm's performance. Generally, the results of the study have major theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, it offers concrete evidence on the significant effects of information sharing and inventory management in the supply chain practices on firm’s performance in developing countries; and hence contributes to the scarce body of literature and reduces the gaps of knowledge in the developing countries on the specified area of study. Besides the theoretical implication, practically the study allows the companies and industries under the considerations to recognize the significant effects of information sharing and inventory management practices on firm’s performance and to use this information to develop and enhance culture of information sharing and usage of sound inventory management techniques in the supply chain practices for the enhancement of organizational performance.
In Costa Rica, a large proportion of small farmers harvest roots and tubers in some of the poorest regions of the country. Addressing this, supply chains sustainability and performance intends to analyse intrinsic characteristics and the potential socio-economic benefits and development routes, including: food security, value added, economic performance, productivity and sustainability. This research proposed a tool for the analysis of supply chain performance; composed by a Delphi study creating indicators and a gap analysis between current performance and best-possible performance. The analysis used information from: in depth interviews with stakeholders and questionnaires with farmers (128), private companies (9) and consumers (515). Finally, a workshop with all parties involved validates our tool and outcomes. Results indicate potential for better loss and waste management, (especially cassava), and a strong legislative system that sometimes limits bio-economic innovations along the supply chain, coupled with governance mechanisms that tackle development and supply chain performance.
COVID-19 best reminds us of how every pain that is felt by supply chains goes to impact production. An aggregated framework of supply chain risk analysis is needed. This research endeavoured to theoretically structure the inter-relationships among supply chain vulnerabilities as well as corresponding capacity factors to mitigate supply chain risks and sustain supply chain resilience. An inter-relationship structure among risk vulnerabilities was mapped. Capacity factors were matched with each vulnerability category using anecdotal evidence found from various news and literature databases relevant to supply chain resilience concepts. The derived capacity-vulnerability typology revealed links between vulnerability and capacity factors and a structural model for risk prioritisation in managing low-probability, high-impact risks (LPHIRs). Production businesses and professionals shall find our findings a focused guideline for efficiently and effectively building risk resilient capacities. An extensive empirical study of our model with more comprehensive databases will better validate our theoretical results.
Manufacturer that produce, distribute or market physical products are likely to be impacted by numerous chemical and product regulations. Manufacturers must identify chemical substances which appear within mixtures, materials, formulations, raw materials, components, assemblies and finished products. This results in a very manual and resource intensive process of collection of chemical substances in products data, where definitions arise from internal, industry standards, supplier and customer requirements and often sourced from multiple supply chain actors. This paper contributes to existing literature by identifying a research gap in transforming current manual state data collection tasks via the utilisation of digital technologies, leveraging real-time data collection using smart labels to identify chemicals contained within products. The proposed design enables manufacturers to identify the use of chemicals consumed in a automated manner and enabling appropriate risks to be identified and managed accordingly. The design can be further expanded in the proposed collaborative data sharing network.
