99 research outputs found
Supply chain integration in New Zealand: benchmark comparisons with the UK automotive sector
Supply chain integration is a promising approach to cross-enterprise process improvement that is still not well understood. This research investigates the level of sophistication (maturity) of supply chain integration in New Zealand from the systems uncertainty perspective. Uncertainty levels of value streams are evaluated using the 'uncertainty circle' concept, thereby enabling benchmark comparisons of value stream performance. A sample of 21 NZ process industry value streams is assessed using a so-called Quick Scan Audit Methodology (QSAM). and the uncertainty results compared with those obtained from 21 value streams in the UK automotive sector. This benchmarking revealed that value streams in New Zealand are weakly integrated and have control mechanisms which are significantly looser than those of the UK sample, even though they face higher uncertainty on the control and demand sides. In contrast, crosscountry differences in supply and process uncertainty are marginal. While providing insights into the general health of New Zealand value streams, the authors acknowledge that the sample is not a comprehensive representation of every NZ value stream
Designing and managing multiple pipelines
There is now a growing recognition that supply chains should be designed from
âthe customer backwardsâ rather than from âthe company outwardsâ. If such a view
is accepted then the implication is that since the organisation will likely be
serving multiple markets or segments there will be the need to design and manage
multiple âpipelinesâ to serve those different customers. To assist decision
makers in their choice of appropriate supply chain design a framework is
proposed based upon multiple criteria. A case study is presented which
highlights the benefits of selecting, engineering and operating multiple
pipelines tailored to the needs of th
Transforming Developing Countries Agrifood Value Chains
The global agrifood trade is highly reliant on developing countries, which affects value chain transformation and which often results in an imbalance of governance and value addition. In order to address this imbalance and increase the overall value creation, this paper develops and empirically tests a framework for agrifood value chain transformation in developing countries. The research employs a qualitative methodology to explore the proposed framework, which is based on a value chain maturity assessment of current practice and identification of a transformation route. Three primary value chain maturity levels in developing countries are established: traditional, managed, and best practice. Each level is determined using key indicators relating to governance (vertical-horizontal coordination, and information flow) and value addition (value orientation, safety, and quality). The application of this framework to Indonesiaâs cashew nuts value chain reveals a mix of traditional and managed practices. The short-medium term transformation focuses on enabling farmers, as the decoupled actors, to advance from a traditional to a more managed chain. Further, the major wholesaler and exporter are identified as highly influential in driving the transformation process. The long-term transformation focuses on developing best practices regarding branded value addition and collaborative governance. This framework offers a novel value chain transformation approach based on a maturity assessment technique leading to the identification of transformation routes. This method takes a holistic transformation approach via the evaluation all the value chain actorsâ governance and value-addition capabilities. Follow-up research is required to identify the enablers and barriers of globalised value chain transformation, especially with respect to sustainability
Speeding up the progress curve towards effective supply chain management
Introduces a supply chain âhealth checkâ procedure successfully applied in the European automotive sector and presents the results for the analysis of 20 trans-European value streams covering a wide range of first and second tier suppliers. The health check procedure is activated via a quick scan methodology (QSM) requiring execution by a multi-disciplinary team working on-site. The degree of integration within the value chain is estimated by the QS team, using the uncertainty circle concept which apportions observed uncertainties in the product delivery process (PDP) according to source. In our experience the four major contributors are: the demand side; supply side; value added process side; and systems controls. The results clearly demonstrate a well-trodden and hence proven route for value stream performance improvement. They also identify value chain exemplars and many areas of best practice, but most importantly they provide a list of actions focused on improving the performance of individual value streams. Properly applied, re-engineering programmes based on these trigger points will speed up the progress curve towards effective supply chain management
International and local NGO supply chain collaboration
Purpose â The purpose of this paper is to identify the key drivers and challenges to supply chain collaboration in the humanitarian sector; to appraise the relationships between international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and local non-governmental organizations (LNGOs) during disaster relief; and to explore the humanitarian context in regard to supply chain collaboration. Design/methodology/approach â Literature from both the commercial and humanitarian sectors is discussed in the context of vertical partnerships. A Jordanian study spanning a network of 26 international and LNGOs is explored via semi-structured interviews. Findings â The research provides valuable insights on the challenges facing LNGOs and INGOs when developing partnerships. Contextual factors, including host governmental policies and the social-economic setting of a disaster directly affect the motivations for supply chain collaboration between LNGOs and INGOs. Research limitations/implications â The research is built on interviewees with 30 humanitarian professionals working in one country during an extended crisis. The majority of the empirical data are only from one actorâs perspective, thus further research into dyadic and network relationships is required. Approaches to addressing the diverse cultural and decision-making perspectives of LNGOs and INGOs warrant further investigation. Practical implications â Recognizing the motives and challenges to vertical partnerships between LNGOs and INGOs will assist the managers, both at the strategic and operational levels, to find solutions and evolve strategies to build effective partnerships. Compromise and consideration for partnerâs drivers and cultural views are essential for effective joint humanitarian relief initiatives. Originality/value â This paper extends supply chain collaboration to a humanitarian context. Overcoming the challenges facing collaborative efforts and complementary nature of the drivers provide a means to achieve effective partnerships. Despite the uniqueness of the humanitarian context, such as the secondary nature of cost and dynamic demand, the core principles of collaboration still hold
Potential of Total Cycle Time Compression in Construction: Focus on Program Development and Design
Time compression is a widely accepted approach to improving customer service levels while minimizing total costs. However, few applications within the construction sector exist, especially in relation to the early stages of program development and design. These stages are of paramount importance because of the resultant ramifications on the total cycle time of the entire construction project, in the form of changes, rework, waste, and risk. Most applications of time compression focus on quantifying and removing nonvalue adding time from business processes. This is difficult for program development and the design stages of construction because most information sources
are qualitative. As a result, a methodology has been developed to identify the key areas of potential improvement during these early stages. Collection of opinion data via semistructured interviews, questionnaires, and a workshop with a cross section of supply chain
members has made it possible to quantify the potential improvements. The action research findings have been summarized into a time-compression model for the program development stages in the format of two interlinked cause and effect diagrams. These further emphasize the need for effective program development to minimize the risks of project overrun
New Zealand blue whales: initial photo-identification of a little-known population
ABSTRACT Eighteen blue whales were photo-identified from coastal waters around the North and South Islands of New Zealand from 2004-2013 in five different months of the year. No photographic matches were found between locations. The photo-ID collection provides a foundation for future study on this little-known population. Fourteen of the photo-identifications were obtained in January and March 2013 during transits of the Antarctic Blue Whale Voyage from Nelson, NZ to Antarctica and return. This voyage also allowed for observations of the external morphology and behaviour of the blue whales encountered. Body length and proportion, head shape, body condition and skin condition were similar to Australian but not Antarctic blue whales. Feeding behaviour was observed off the South Island's west coast in January 2013 and strong evidence of feeding off the east coast in March 2013, the first this has been reported for these locations
A centre of international trade and transport logistics
Achieving superior productivity and growth, and understanding how to best manage cost-efficient, environmentally-friendly modes of integrated transport is of vital importance to a nation\u27s strategic interests. Yet in an era of increasing sensitivities toward greenhouse gas emissions and the âgreeningâ of business many countries lack educational facilities which are dedicated to understanding multi-modal transport logistics and sustainable supply chains that can extend to international trading partners. This paper explains in detail a proposed centre of excellence concept that was developed for the New Zealand Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CiLT). By facilitating intensive business collaborations and engaging industry directly with teaching specialists, consultants, and researchers it is anticipated that Centre stakeholders would benefit from: 1) industry-relevant, world-class applied research and problemsolving expertise that will directly add value to the NZ national and local economies, 2) shared decision support facilities that bring together industrialists, academics, consultants, and other specialists to work together on the most pressing export trade-related supply chain, logistics, and transport challenges and opportunities, 3) improved, industry-relevant qualifications and programmes that make extensive use of new and innovative teaching and learning methods and which are tailored to the countryâs international trade, transport and logistics sectors. This research brings together the views of industry, education providers, students, and governmental stakeholders. It has been informed by first-hand experience, by the literature, by international visits and by acknowledged best practise
LOGISTICAL SERVICE PROVIDER TRIADIC RELATIONAL DYNAMICS
The concept of supply chain management has evolved from focussing initially on functional co-ordination within an organisation, then to external dyadic integration with suppliers and customers and more recently towards a holistic network perspective. A triad is the simplest meaningful sub-set of a network, and as such will be used as the unit of analysis for this research into relationship continuity and information connectivity of logistical service providers and their associated supply chains. Eight triadic relational states are proposed and the evolutionary paths between them hypothesised based on balance theory. The fundamental roll of logistical service providers is examined within these alternative triadic states with a specific focus on the relationships between the actors. Empirical evidence is collected from two very different triads. Historical information is gathered on the evolution of these two cases and cross-referenced with our proposed evolutionary triadic model. How the interactions and relationships change over time is the central focus of the case investigation and the conceptual model. Our initial findings indicate that some networks are more stable than others and depending on their position in a triad some actors can gain power over their business partners. Further, those organisations that act as information conduits seem to have greater capacity to influence their standing in a supply chain network.  
Supply chain integration in New Zealand: fact or fantasy?
Researchers at the Logistics Systems Dynamics Group (LSDG), Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University in Wales and the Systems Department, Waikato Management School, Hamilton, New Zealand have explored the issue on uncertainty in supply chains and have established a relationship between best-in-class supply chain practices (highly integrated supply chains) and levels of supply chain uncertainty using the Quick Scan Audit Methodology developed by LSDG. This approach has been applied to six New Zealand companies. The studies show that New Zealand organisations face high uncertainties and therefore are weakly internally and externally integrated. Six common root causes for the low level of integration have been identified, namely poor knowledge management, functional silos, weak operation processes, multiple independent information systems, human resources and lack of strategic supplier relationship management
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