Integrating performance and risk aspects of supply chain design processes

Abstract

Supply chain design is a complex and relatively poorly structured process, involving choosing many decisional parameters and it usually requires consideration of numerous sources of uncertainty. Many conventional processes of supply chain design involve taking a deterministic approach, using point estimates, on important measures of supply chain effectiveness such as cost, quality, delivery reliability and service levels. Supply chain disruptions are often separately considered as risks, both in the research literature and in practice, meaning that a purely traditional risk management and risk minimization approach is taken. We have developed and applied an approach that combines the intellect and experience of the supply chain designer with the power of evaluation provided by a Monte Carlo simulation model, which uses decision analysis techniques to explicitly incorporate the full spectrum of uncertain quantities across the set of alternative supply chain designs being considered. After defining and setting out the general decision variables and uncertainty factors for 16 distinct supply chain design decision categories, we then apply that approach to combine the decision-makers’ heuristics with the probabilistic modeling approach, iteratively, to achieve the best of both elements of such an approach. This novel approach to fully integrating performance and risk elements of supply chain designs is then illustrated with a case study. Finally, we call for further developmental research and field work to refine this approach.     

Decision knowledge sharing: flexible supply chains in KM context

Supply chain excellence has a real impact on business strategy. Building supply chains as flexible systems represents one of the most exciting opportunities to create value and one of the most challenging tasks for the policy makers. It requires integrated decision making amongst autonomous chain partners with effective decision knowledge sharing between them. The key to success lies in knowing which decision has more impact on the overall performance and this can be achieved by appropriate knowledge sharing. In this context, knowledge management (KM) can be used as an effective approach to achieve knowledge sharing and decision synchronisation in supply chains. Flexible supply chains (FSC_s) are more complex and involve multiple autonomous players with varying technical cultures (affects knowledge mindsets), managerial background (affects decision knowledge) and supply chain management (SCM) exposures (affects knowledge sharing attitudes). Thus there is a need to develop demo models that can encourage chain managers towards collaborative knowledge sharing in the supply chains. This paper presents the application of one such model based on decision knowledge sharing (DKS) for improved supply chain management. A simulation model of a flexible supply chain based on DKS framework is developed for demo purposes. The key results are highlighted along with industry implications. The cost based performance of DKS at different levels of flexibility is studied. Thus a careful analysis of the chain with a focus on collaborative decisions is useful to ensure success. This paper addresses this interesting and challenging domain.     

供应链伙伴关系管理问题研究现状评述及分析

综述了国内外70余篇供应链伙伴关系相关文献,从关系管理基础理论、关系现状调查分析、关系组建研究、关系持续研究、信任关系五个方面,分析了供应链伙伴关系管理的研究进展;总结了现有研究中需强化的内容;进而,提出了供应链伙伴关系管理中一个新的研究课题--供应链伙伴关系维系管理,并展望了该课题中急需进行深入研究的方向.     

Quality management in outsourced global fashion supply chains: an exploratory case study

Abstract

Outsourcing production is common in the fashion industry but can lead to quality defects. This paper thus sheds light on how quality is managed in outsourced fashion supply chains. We propose a new trilogy for managing quality control in outsourced fashion supply chains: (1) manufacturer quality assessment, (2) quality management in production and (3) quality inspection and assurance. We implement an exploratory case study methodology. Through a qualitative case study of a leading global Japanese fashion retailer that outsources production mainly to China, we contribute to quality management studies by developing a new quality control trilogy for outsourced supply chains. Our findings can provide fashion retailers with guidance on controlling product quality in outsourced supply chains and developing strategies for improving supply chain performance. We also demonstrate the importance of contract and relationship management, supply chain integration and quality visibility in enhancing product and process quality in outsourced fashion supply chains.     

Green supply chain performance measurement using the analytic hierarchy process: a comparative analysis of manufacturing organisations

The main purpose of this research is to develop and deploy an analytical framework for measuring the environmental performance of manufacturing supply chains. This work's theoretical bases combine and reconcile three major areas: supply chain management, environmental management and performance measurement. Researchers have suggested many empirical criteria for green supply chain (GSC) performance measurement and proposed both qualitative and quantitative frameworks. However, these are mainly operational in nature and specific to the focal company. This research develops an innovative GSC performance measurement framework by integrating supply chain processes (supplier relationship management, internal supply chain management and customer relationship management) with organisational decision levels (both strategic and operational). Environmental planning, environmental auditing, management commitment, environmental performance, economic performance and operational performance are the key level constructs. The proposed framework is then applied to three selected manufacturing organisations in the UK. Their GSC performance is measured and benchmarked by using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), a multiple-attribute decision-making technique. The AHP-based framework offers an effective way to measure and benchmark organisations’ GSC performance. This study has both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically it contributes holistic constructs for designing a GSC and managing it for sustainability; and practically it helps industry practitioners to measure and improve the environmental performance of their supply chain.     

社会控制与供应链绩效的相互作用关系探讨——以依赖及供应链整合为中介

供应链各节点企业彼此相互依赖，这种依赖关系如何为管理者所利用，并借助适当的关系治理来促进互惠互利的依赖关系的建立，进而提升供应链整体竞争力具有重要的战略意义。本文拟以社会控制机制和依赖为切入点，探讨其与供应链整合和供应链绩效的深层作用机理，并进而运用结构方程模型（SEM）对社会控制、依赖和供应链整合对绩效的作用路径进行实践模拟。实证结果表明，1）社会控制对依赖、供应链整合和供应链绩效有显著的正向促进作用；2）依赖在社会控制对供应链整合的作用关系中起着不完全的中介作用，且间接作用大于直接作用；3）社会控制可以通过依赖、供应链整合及二者的因果关系间接作用于供应链绩效，但是依赖的中介效应最大（44%），依赖和供应链整合的因果关系中介效应次之（37%），整合的中介效应最小（19%）；4）规模对社会控制/依赖与供应链整合/供应链绩效的作用关系具有调节效应。     

Eco-efficient supply chain networks: development of a design framework and application to a real case study

This paper presents a supply chain network design framework that is based on multi-objective mathematical programming and that can identify ‘eco-efficient’ configuration alternatives that are both efficient and ecologically sound. This work is original in that it encompasses the environmental impact of both transportation and warehousing activities. We apply the proposed framework to a real-life case study (i.e. Lindt & Sprüngli) for the distribution of chocolate products. The results show that cost-driven network optimisation may lead to beneficial effects for the environment and that a minor increase in distribution costs can be offset by a major improvement in environmental performance. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge on eco-efficient supply chain design and closes the missing link between model-based methods and empirical applied research. It also generates insights into the growing debate on the trade-off between the economic and environmental performance of supply chains, supporting organisations in the eco-efficient configuration of their supply chains.     

Enhancing competitive advantage by constructing supply chains to achieve superior performance

This paper studies the impact of configuring supply chain design strategies on performance using real-world example of aligning different supply chain practices to supply chain strategies to achieve competitive advantage. The paper first carries out a synthesis of literature categorising the supply chain strategies, practices and linking them to contexts and competitive advantage. The paper then uses a case study methodology to explore the process of adjusting supply chain strategies and aligned practices to gain competitive advantage in different contexts. The paper reports two case examples of a leaf tobacco company and a mosquito coil manufacturer from India facing different demand characteristics and implementing different supply chain strategies for enhancing performance objectives. Both companies faced a change in their business environment and competitive priorities. In both the examples, companies used a combination of practices for implementing appropriate supply chain strategies to gain competitive advantage. This paper contributes to the academic discipline of supply chain management through developing theory showing the transition of supply chain strategies for achieving superior performance in different business environments. The paper has wide managerial implications by reporting real-life implementation of different supply chain strategies thus bridging the practice-theory gap.     

Enabling sustainable energy futures: factors influencing green supply chain collaboration

Abstract

To explore the relationship between sustainability strategies and future energy needs, supply chains need to reduce their CO2 emissions through developing their green credentials and improving performance. Knowledge management (KM) is an enabler to support collaboration efforts. The SCM and KM areas have largely focused on improving organisational performance. While the latter has yielded successful outcomes in different sectors, there is still a scarcity of research on identifying influential factors highlighting those aspects which may enable green supply chain collaboration (GrSCC), thus leading to sustainable energy futures and carbon-efficient production. This paper examines the role of KM in facilitating GrSCC. Through the identification of key factors extrapolated from the literature, a model for implementing GrSCC using a futures-based perspective is proposed. This paper inductively demonstrates the relationship between identified GrSCC factors through fuzzy cognitive mapping technique. Findings support a futures-based perspective that enhances understanding and refines forward-looking strategies for GrSCC.     

An integrative approach to assess environmental and economic sustainability in multi-tier supply chains

Abstract

Multi-tier supply chain sustainability is paramount to achieve corporate sustainability, due to the significant impacts from organisations beyond the focal firm boundaries and its direct suppliers. However, including environmental considerations within the dominant profit-centric logic of supply chain related decisions is prone to generate sustainability tensions. This work aims to support organisations address tensions between sustainability dimensions by adopting an integrative approach for sustainable supply chain management performance assessment thanks to an innovative eco-intensity based performance assessment method, which achieves a balanced consideration of environmental and economic performance in a weak sustainability perspective. The method, using primary data sourced from actual practice and featuring an indirect multi-tier approach with decentralised responsibilities across organisations, is applied to a case study of a machinery supply chain. The proposed integrative approach can support addressing sustainability tensions in the area of sustainable supply chain management, facilitate sustainable supplier evaluation and identify supply chain hotspots for operational improvement.     

基于连续时间动态博弈的供应链声誉及其微分对策研究

着眼于企业及其供应链的可持续发展,纳入时间因素分析供应链协调问题.基于供应链视角考虑顾客价值开拓,并将其本质抽象为“供应链声誉”的构建过程.针对这一供应链动态协调问题,基于供应链成员企业之间的长期合作关系,在连续时间背景下采用变分法建立了供应链各方关于供应链声誉的微分对策模型,通过求解该模型发现在拟约束方程组有解时Nash均衡存在,并求出了相应的最优微分对策.这些理论研究结论阐明了长期的、稳定的合作关系对于实现供应链协调的意义,对于实践中供应链动态协调的实现具有一定的启发与参考价值.论文最后对相关结论进行了数值分析.     

Exploring the factors of achieving supply chain excellence: a New Zealand perspective

The objective of the paper is to analyse supply chain (SC) excellence from the practitioners’ perspective in the New Zealand (NZ) context. The extant literature does not focus on achieving this excellence with the contemporary factors of this dynamic field. The study is an exploratory one using the structured Delphi technique to understand the ground level experience of the practitioners on the constructs of supply chain excellence. In this paper, we have administered three poll rounds to gather insights from the SC practitioners on the various enablers and barriers that impact supply chain excellence in the NZ environment. Seven supply chain management constructs are explored for their relationships with barriers and enablers in achieving the excellence in supply chains. The outcomes reveal that the people relevant issues (i.e. SCM knowledge education and supply chain culture) are more significant than other technical and operational factors. However, the influences from specific NZ business environment issues become far less important than a few years ago. This paper seeks the integration of practice-based views with the academic supply chain literature and original contributions from the NZ context.     

Sustainable supply chain practices: an empirical investigation on Indian automobile industry

The purpose of this research study is to analyze sustainable supply chain (SSC) management practices for Indian automobile industry and to identify the critical factors for its successful implementation. Despite the fact that SSC has been frequently promoted as a means of improving business competitiveness, little empirical evidence exists in the literature validating its positive link with organizational performance. Sustainable supply chain practices (SSCP) not only help in reducing environmental degradation but it also has social and economic implications (as per tipple bottom line approach). For this purpose, empirical data is collected to measure the SSCP prevailing in Indian automobile industry. A structural equation modeling technique is used to build the measurement and structural models. Later, statistical estimates are used to validate the model that has been built. The data analysis helps to determine whether to accept or reject the hypothesis that has been stated based on the structural model. The result shows how SSCP are correlated and help in improving the supply chain performance among the industries being surveyed. It is also observed that environmental and social performance have a positive relationship with economic performance.     

Stages of Supply Chain Disruption Response: Direct,Constraining, and Mediating Factors for Impact Mitigation

It is well established that supply chain disruptions can have a severe negative impact on firms and general wisdom suggests that this impact can be mitigated by quick responses. Aside from a few anecdotes, however, little is known about the decision‐making process that leads to speedy responses and about its impeding and supporting antecedents. Using the organizational information‐processing perspective, this empirical study unravels the disruption management process along a sequence of four stages—disruption recognition, disruption diagnosis, response development, and response implementation—and hypothesizes constraining and mediating effects of these stages. The findings contribute to an improved understanding of the role that the decision stages play in mitigating supply chain disruptions, and confirm the prediction that the speed with which information is processed and the stages are worked through positively affects supply chain performance. In addition, the findings suggest that one of the stages, diagnosis, acts as a constraining factor to the other stages. The stages also play a mediating role between the impact that the disruption has and a firm's readiness (prior to a disruption), dependence on a key supplier, and supply chain complexity. This provides guidance to decision makers in the application of resources both prior to a negative event and during a disruption recovery.     

敏捷供应链供需协调绩效关联分析与实证研究

回顾了供应链协调管理与协调绩效评价的研究现状,分析了供应链协调绩效因子之间的相互关系,建立了一系列的供需协调绩效的关联关系的理论假设命题和一个综合分析模型,并且通过企业的问卷采样,对假设与模型进行了实证研究,验证了有关分析结论与假设命题.     

不同权力结构和联盟策略下风险规避型闭环供应链决策

本文旨在探讨不同渠道权力结构和联盟策略下风险规避型闭环供应链的决策问题。考虑到产品需求和废旧产品回收的不确定性及决策者的风险规避特性,在制造商主导、零售商主导及制造商和零售商势力均衡三种情形下,分别构建了制造商和零售商联盟与不联盟时的闭环供应链博弈模型,获得了六个博弈模型下的均衡解,对比分析了不同模型下产品定价、废旧产品的最优回收价格和供应链及其成员的期望收益。研究结果表明,在制造商和零售商不联盟的情形下,决策者的风险规避程度增加能够缓解双重边际效应,供应链期望收益与风险规避程度正相关,而在制造商和零售商联盟的情形下,供应链期望收益与风险规避程度负相关;制造商和零售商不联盟时,制造商和零售商势力均衡的渠道权力结构对消费者最有利,而制造商和零售商联盟时,制造商和零售商势力均衡的渠道权力结构对消费者最不利;制造商和零售商权力结构不对等时最优价格决策之间的关系与制造商和零售商的风险规避程度有关;供应链期望收益在制造商和零售商势力均衡下最大,制造商期望收益在制造商主导的渠道权力结构下最大,零售商期望收益在零售商主导的渠道权力结构下最大。     

Agility and resilience as antecedents of supply chain performance under moderating effects of organizational culture within the humanitarian setting: a dynamic capability view

Abstract

This study examines the effects of supply chain agility (SCAG) and supply chain resilience (SCRES) on performance under the moderating effect of organizational culture. We have used the dynamic capability view (DCV) to conceptualize our theoretical models for different phases of humanitarian supply chain (HSC) (pre and post-disaster phases). We used partial least squares (PLS) to examine the proposed research hypotheses using 335 responses gathered from organizations in India using questionnaires designed for a single respondent. The results suggest that SCAG and SCRES are two important dynamic capabilities of supply chain, have significant effects on pre-disaster performance (PRE-DP). The control orientation does not have significant effect on the path joining SCAG and PRE-DP. However, the control orientation has a significant interaction effect on the path joining SCRES and PRE-DP. Similarly, SCRES has significant effect on post-disaster performance (POST-DP) but SCAG has no significant effect on POST-DP. In contrast, the flexible orientation has significant moderation effects on the paths SCAG/SCRES and POST-DP. These findings contribute to our understanding of the differential effect of SCAG/SCRES on supply chain performance in different contexts. The results provide further understanding to develop appropriate strategies for different phases. Finally, limitations of our study and future research are presented.     

供应链治理机制与供应链绩效之间的相互作用关系——基于信息共享的中介效应和信息技术水平的调节效应

本文构建起了供应链治理机制与供应链绩效之间的相互作用关系理论模型，并进而对信息共享在其中所起的中介效应及信息技术水平在其中所起着的调节效应进行剖析。以380份来自于供应链相关岗位的中高层管理人员及技术人员的问卷作为样本，利用结构方程模型对社会控制、正式控制、信息技术水平、信息共享及供应链绩效之间的相关关系进行实证研究。研究结果表明：（1）社会控制对信息共享及供应链绩效均产生正向影响，信息共享对供应链绩效也产生正向影响；而正式控制则对信息共享产生显著的负向作用关系，且其对供应链绩效的作用关系并不显著；（2）信息共享在社会控制和供应链绩效之间的作用关系中起着部分中介的作用，但其在正式控制-供应链绩效间的中介作用则并不显著；（3）信息技术水平对于社会控制-信息共享和正式控制-信息共享间的关系具有调节效应。     

基于信任的供应预测信息共享策略

现实中供应不确定是比较普遍的现象，供应预测信息共享对改善供应链绩效起着重要作用。针对由一个制造商和一个零售商组成的单周期供应链，利用斯坦克尔伯格博弈方法研究信任对供应预测信息共享的影响以及回购契约对该供应链的协调作用。研究表明：零售商对制造商的信任影响供应预测信息共享效果，进而影响供应链绩效；制造商说谎的心理负效用系数越大，越倾向于说真话；回购契约可以促进制造商共享真实供应预测信息；当制造商说谎的心理负效用系数较大时，存在一个最佳的回购价格，使供应链实现完美协调。