Analysing Supply Chain Resilience: Integrating the Constructs in a Concept Mapping Framework Via a Systematic Literature Review

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyse the concept of supply chain resilience (SCRES) using a concept mapping framework to seek conceptual clarity, with an emphasis on SCRES definitions, essential capabilities, elements and managerial practices. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review was conducted of 103 peer-reviewed journal articles covering the period from 2000 to 2015, with the aim to identify supply chain resilience concept. Findings: Through analysis and synthesis of the literature, the study revealed three major constructs used to define resilience in supply chain: SCRES phases, strategies, and capabilities. The study has addressed five core resilience capabilities: the ability to anticipate, to adapt, to respond, to recover, and to learn. The study has also identified 13 essential elements and several managerial practices that support firms to acquire the five capabilities. The studied capabilities are then linked with supply chain resilient phases and strategies in order to establish an integrated view of the concept. Research limitations/implications: The explorative nature of this study and the role of the concept mapping framework, which does not empirically test the relationships in the model, are considered as limitations, to be addressed by the authors in future research. Originality/value: The originality of this paper lies in the classification of different features of SCRES through a comprehensive concept mapping framework that establishes relationships and interactions between them. This study, therefore, lays a foundation for testing these connections in future empirical studies. The article brings together fragmented literature from multiple studies to create a solid body of knowledge that addresses the need for conceptual clarity in SCRES literature

Model Based Systems Engineering for a Typical Smartgrid

The complexity and heterogeneity of today’s large Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) is addressed by model based design. This class of systems is a direct consequence of our entry into the new era of systems characterized by high complexity, increased software dependency, multifaceted support for networking and inclusion of data and services form global networks. Cyber-Physical Power Systems such as SmartGrids provide perfect example to emphasis heterogeneity and complexity of today’s systems. In this thesis we work towards augmenting the creation and demonstration of a framework for developing an integrated CPS modelling hub with powerful and diverse tradeoff analysis methods and tools for design exploration of CPS

Learner-focussed methodology for improving the resilience of training organisations in complex environments

Organisations are increasingly relying on resilience to adapt to uncertain and evolving operational environments, whilst continuing to achieve their requirements, and addressing pathologies in their organisational design and operations. The challenge is exacerbated by the growing organisational complexity, competing priorities and unintended consequences from various system modifications and trade-off decisions. To address the organisational resilience challenges, a comprehensive approach to organisational resilience is required. Despite the proliferation of resilience research in the academic literature, organisational resilience practitioners do not have a holistic practical methodology on how to design and maintain resilience in continuously operating and mature organisations. The research reports its comprehensive approach to ensuring desired organisational performance and resilience characteristics. The key aspects of resilience and organisation are determined in the extensive literature review and key stakeholder engagements, followed by the establishment of the current ‘as is’ state of a Defence training organisation. It is characterised by a mature design, complexity, and the need for uninterrupted delivery of its functions in continuous operations. The research combines resilience conceptualisation and organisational design review outcomes to formulate its approach to the organisational transition from the current ‘as is’ to the future ‘to-be’ state to secure a long-term delivery of the required outputs under diverse stressors. The approach is based on an original resilience framework and architecture; new resilience measures introduced via the survey instrument; and non-traditional application of various system thinking and modelling and simulation methodologies to review and modify a mature and fully operational training organisation targeting resilience. The approach was applied in more than 20 Defence training establishments at different levels of aggregation over three years and reported indicative results and real benefits to the participating organisations, as well as research limitations, contributions, and continuous improvement strategies. Although a Defence training organisation context is used in this paper, the principles of the research approach may be applied to any organisation. Future research directions concern further quantification of organisational resilience aspects such as their interrelationships effect on organisational performance and organisational importance ratings; expanding the scope of organisational context from training to include other organisational types; and developing automation approaches for the resilience survey data analysis and reporting

Operations Management

Global competition has caused fundamental changes in the competitive environment of the manufacturing and service industries. Firms should develop strategic objectives that, upon achievement, result in a competitive advantage in the market place. The forces of globalization on one hand and rapidly growing marketing opportunities overseas, especially in emerging economies on the other, have led to the expansion of operations on a global scale. The book aims to cover the main topics characterizing operations management including both strategic issues and practical applications. A global environmental business including both manufacturing and services is analyzed. The book contains original research and application chapters from different perspectives. It is enriched through the analyses of case studies

Modeling and Analyzing Cyber-Physical Systems Using Hybrid Predicate Transition Nets

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) are software controlled physical devices that are being used everywhere from utility features in household devices to safety-critical features in cars, trains, aircraft, robots, smart healthcare devices. CPSs have complex hybrid behaviors combining discrete states and continuous states capturing physical laws. Developing reliable CPSs are extremely difficult. Formal modeling methods are especially useful for abstracting and understanding complex systems and detecting and preventing early system design problems. To ensure the dependability of formal models, various analysis techniques, including simulation and reachability analysis, have been proposed in recent decades. This thesis aims to provide a unified formal modeling and analysis methodology for studying CPSs. Firstly, this thesis contributes to the modeling and analysis of discrete, continuous, and hybrid systems. This work enhances modeling of discrete systems using predicate transition nets (PrTNs) by fully realizing the underlying specification through incorporating the first-order logic with set theory, improving the type system, and providing incremental model composition. This work enhances the technique of analyzing discrete systems using PrTN by improving the simulation algorithm and its efficient implementation. This work also improves the analysis of discrete systems using SPIN by providing a more accurate and complete translation method. Secondly, this work contributes to the modeling and analysis of hybrid systems by proposing an extension of PrTNs, hybrid predicate transition nets (HPrTNs). The proposed method incorporates a novel concept of token evolution, which nicely addresses the continuous state evolution and the conflicts present in other related works. This work presents a powerful simulation capability that can handle linear, non-linear dynamics, transcendental functions through differential equations. This work also provides a complementary technique for reachability analysis through the translation of HPrTN models for analysis using SpaceEx

Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Supply Chain Performance and Reducing the Threats Arising from the COVID-19 Pandemic

A rigorous examination of the most recent advancements in blockchain technology (BCT) and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled supply chain networks is provided in this book. The edited book brings together the perspectives of a number of authors who have presented their most recent views on blockchain technology and its applications in a variety of disciplines. The submitted papers contribute to a better understanding of how blockchain technology can improve the efficacy of human activities during a pandemic, improve traceability and visibility in the automotive supply chain, support food safety and reliability through digitalisation of the food supply chain, and increase the performance of next-generation digital supply chains, among other things. The book attempts to address and prepare a way to address the complicated issues that supply chains are encountering as a result of the global pandemic