Scenario analysis report with policy recommendations: An assessment of sustainability, resilience, efficiency and fairness and effective chain relationships in VALUMICS case studies : Deliverable 8.4

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, to view a copy of the license, see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The final version of this report is available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6534011The functioning of food value chains entails a complex organisation from farm to fork which is characterised by various governance forms and externalities which have shaped the overall food system. VALUMICS food value chain case studies: wheat to bread, dairy cows to milk, beef cattle to steak, farmed salmon to fillets and tomato to processed tomato were selected to enable explorative and empirical analysis to better understand the functioning of the food system and, to identify the main challenges that need to be addressed to improve sustainability, integrity, resilience, and fairness of European food chains. The VALUMICS system analysis was executed through four operational phases starting with Groundwork & analysis including mapping specific attributes and impacts of food value chains and their externalities. This was followed by Case study baseline analysis, which provided input to the third phase on Modelling and exploration of future scenarios and finally Policy and synthesis of the overall work. This report is an overall synthesis of the VALUMICS results as follows: • Key findings from the VALUMICS project on the functioning of European food value chains and their impacts on more sustainable, resilient, fairer, and transparent food system are summarised through a compilation of 25 Research Findings and Policy Briefs. • By highlighting the major contributions from the research activities throughout the four phases of the VALUMICS project, this report delivers an assessment of various factors influencing sustainability, resilience, efficiency and fairness and effective chain relationships of different food value chains, and their determinants. • The synthesis of the outcome allows the identification of opportunities and challenges characterising the functioning of food supply chains, and thus, the prospects and potentials for strengthening the EU food sector

The Impact of Supply Chain Management Practices on Competitive Advantage: The Moderating Role of Big Data Analytics

Purpose: The current study aims to investigate the moderating role of Big Data Analytics (BDA) on the relationship between supply chain management practices (SCMPs) and the competitive advantage (CA) in the Jordanian manufacturing firms.   Design/methodology/approach:  Quantitative method was used to collect data from 156 Jordanian manufacturing companies. And hierarchical linear multiple regression using SPSS technique was used to test the study hypotheses.   Findings: The results show significant positive impact of SCMPs on CA. Specifically, a significant positive impact is found between information quality (IQ), and information sharing (ISh) on CA. However, strategic supplier partnership (SSP), and customer relationship management (CRM) had no impact on CA. However, the study found that BDA does not enhance the impact of SCMPs on CA.   Research, Practical & Social implications: This study provides an inventory of knowledge about the reality of BDA and its moderating role on the relationship between SCMPs and CA, which contributes to enriching the library in overall and Jordanian in specific in this subject.   Originality/value: This paper is one of the first papers in the Jordanian context to address the moderating effect of BDA between SCMPs and CA

Models and Algorithms for the Optimisation of Replenishment, Production and Distribution Plans in Industrial Enterprises

Tesis por compendio[ES] La optimización en las empresas manufactureras es especialmente importante, debido a las grandes inversiones que realizan, ya que a veces estas inversiones no obtienen el rendimiento esperado porque los márgenes de beneficio de los productos son muy ajustados. Por ello, las empresas tratan de maximizar el uso de los recursos productivos y financieros minimizando el tiempo perdido y, al mismo tiempo, mejorando los flujos de los procesos y satisfaciendo las necesidades del mercado. El proceso de planificación es una actividad crítica para las empresas. Esta tarea implica grandes retos debido a los cambios del mercado, las alteraciones en los procesos de producción dentro de la empresa y en la cadena de suministro, y los cambios en la legislación, entre otros. La planificación del aprovisionamiento, la producción y la distribución desempeña un papel fundamental en el rendimiento de las empresas manufactureras, ya que una planificación ineficaz de los proveedores, los procesos de producción y los sistemas de distribución contribuye a aumentar los costes de los productos, a alargar los plazos de entrega y a reducir los beneficios. La planificación eficaz es un proceso complejo que abarca una amplia gama de actividades para garantizar que los equipos, los materiales y los recursos humanos estén disponibles en el momento y el lugar adecuados. Motivados por la complejidad de la planificación en las empresas manufactureras, esta tesis estudia y desarrolla herramientas cuantitativas para ayudar a los planificadores en los procesos de la planificación del aprovisionamiento, producción y distribución. Desde esta perspectiva, se proponen modelos realistas y métodos eficientes para apoyar la toma de decisiones en las empresas industriales, principalmente en las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES). Las aportaciones de esta tesis suponen un avance científico basado en una exhaustiva revisión bibliográfica sobre la planificación del aprovisionamiento, la producción y la distribución que ayuda a comprender los principales modelos y algoritmos utilizados para resolver estos planes, y pone en relieve las tendencias y las futuras direcciones de investigación. También proporciona un marco holístico para caracterizar los modelos y algoritmos centrándose en la planificación de la producción, la programación y la secuenciación. Esta tesis también propone una herramienta de apoyo a la decisión para seleccionar un algoritmo o método de solución para resolver problemas concretos de la planificación del aprovisionamiento, producción y distribución en función de su complejidad, lo que permite a los planificadores no duplicar esfuerzos de modelización o programación de técnicas de solución. Por último, se desarrollan nuevos modelos matemáticos y enfoques de solución de última generación, como los algoritmos matheurísticos, que combinan la programación matemática y las técnicas metaheurísticas. Los nuevos modelos y algoritmos comprenden mejoras en términos de rendimiento computacional, e incluyen características realistas de los problemas del mundo real a los que se enfrentan las empresas de fabricación. Los modelos matemáticos han sido validados con un caso de una importante empresa del sector de la automoción en España, lo que ha permitido evaluar la relevancia práctica de estos novedosos modelos utilizando instancias de gran tamaño, similares a las existentes en la empresa objeto de estudio. Además, los algoritmos matheurísticos han sido probados utilizando herramientas libres y de código abierto. Esto también contribuye a la práctica de la investigación operativa, y proporciona una visión de cómo desplegar estos métodos de solución y el tiempo de cálculo y rendimiento de la brecha que se puede obtener mediante el uso de software libre o de código abierto.[CA] L'optimització a les empreses manufactureres és especialment important, a causa de les grans inversions que realitzen, ja que de vegades aquestes inversions no obtenen el rendiment esperat perquè els marges de benefici dels productes són molt ajustats. Per això, les empreses intenten maximitzar l'ús dels recursos productius i financers minimitzant el temps perdut i, alhora, millorant els fluxos dels processos i satisfent les necessitats del mercat. El procés de planificació és una activitat crítica per a les empreses. Aquesta tasca implica grans reptes a causa dels canvis del mercat, les alteracions en els processos de producció dins de l'empresa i la cadena de subministrament, i els canvis en la legislació, entre altres. La planificació de l'aprovisionament, la producció i la distribució té un paper fonamental en el rendiment de les empreses manufactureres, ja que una planificació ineficaç dels proveïdors, els processos de producció i els sistemes de distribució contribueix a augmentar els costos dels productes, allargar els terminis de lliurament i reduir els beneficis. La planificació eficaç és un procés complex que abasta una àmplia gamma d'activitats per garantir que els equips, els materials i els recursos humans estiguen disponibles al moment i al lloc adequats. Motivats per la complexitat de la planificació a les empreses manufactureres, aquesta tesi estudia i desenvolupa eines quantitatives per ajudar als planificadors en els processos de la planificació de l'aprovisionament, producció i distribució. Des d'aquesta perspectiva, es proposen models realistes i mètodes eficients per donar suport a la presa de decisions a les empreses industrials, principalment a les petites i mitjanes empreses (PIMES). Les aportacions d'aquesta tesi suposen un avenç científic basat en una exhaustiva revisió bibliogràfica sobre la planificació de l'aprovisionament, la producció i la distribució que ajuda a comprendre els principals models i algorismes utilitzats per resoldre aquests plans, i posa de relleu les tendències i les futures direccions de recerca. També proporciona un marc holístic per caracteritzar els models i algorismes centrant-se en la planificació de la producció, la programació i la seqüenciació. Aquesta tesi també proposa una eina de suport a la decisió per seleccionar un algorisme o mètode de solució per resoldre problemes concrets de la planificació de l'aprovisionament, producció i distribució en funció de la seua complexitat, cosa que permet als planificadors no duplicar esforços de modelització o programació de tècniques de solució. Finalment, es desenvolupen nous models matemàtics i enfocaments de solució d'última generació, com ara els algoritmes matheurístics, que combinen la programació matemàtica i les tècniques metaheurístiques. Els nous models i algoritmes comprenen millores en termes de rendiment computacional, i inclouen característiques realistes dels problemes del món real a què s'enfronten les empreses de fabricació. Els models matemàtics han estat validats amb un cas d'una important empresa del sector de l'automoció a Espanya, cosa que ha permés avaluar la rellevància pràctica d'aquests nous models utilitzant instàncies grans, similars a les existents a l'empresa objecte d'estudi. A més, els algorismes matheurístics han estat provats utilitzant eines lliures i de codi obert. Això també contribueix a la pràctica de la investigació operativa, i proporciona una visió de com desplegar aquests mètodes de solució i el temps de càlcul i rendiment de la bretxa que es pot obtindre mitjançant l'ús de programari lliure o de codi obert.[EN] Optimisation in manufacturing companies is especially important, due to the large investments they make, as sometimes these investments do not obtain the expected return because the profit margins of products are very tight. Therefore, companies seek to maximise the use of productive and financial resources by minimising lost time and, at the same time, improving process flows while meeting market needs. The planning process is a critical activity for companies. This task involves great challenges due to market changes, alterations in production processes within the company and in the supply chain, and changes in legislation, among others. Planning of replenishment, production and distribution plays a critical role in the performance of manufacturing companies because ineffective planning of suppliers, production processes and distribution systems contributes to higher product costs, longer lead times and less profits. Effective planning is a complex process that encompasses a wide range of activities to ensure that equipment, materials and human resources are available in the right time and the right place. Motivated by the complexity of planning in manufacturing companies, this thesis studies and develops quantitative tools to help planners in the replenishment, production and delivery planning processes. From this perspective, realistic models and efficient methods are proposed to support decision making in industrial companies, mainly in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The contributions of this thesis represent a scientific breakthrough based on a comprehensive literature review about replenishment, production and distribution planning that helps to understand the main models and algorithms used to solve these plans, and highlights trends and future research directions. It also provides a holistic framework to characterise models and algorithms by focusing on production planning, scheduling and sequencing. This thesis also proposes a decision support tool for selecting an algorithm or solution method to solve concrete replenishment, production and distribution planning problems according to their complexity, which allows planners to not duplicate efforts modelling or programming solution techniques. Finally, new state-of-the-art mathematical models and solution approaches are developed, such as matheuristic algorithms, which combine mathematical programming and metaheuristic techniques. The new models and algorithms comprise improvements in computational performance terms, and include realistic features of real-world problems faced by manufacturing companies. The mathematical models have been validated with a case of an important company in the automotive sector in Spain, which allowed to evaluate the practical relevance of these novel models using large instances, similarly to those existing in the company under study. In addition, the matheuristic algorithms have been tested using free and open-source tools. This also helps to contribute to the practice of operations research, and provides insight into how to deploy these solution methods and the computational time and gap performance that can be obtained by using free or open-source software.This work would not have been possible without the following funding sources: Conselleria de Educación, Investigación, Cultura y Deporte, Generalitat Valenciana for hiring predoctoral research staff with Grant (ACIF/2018/170) and the European Social Fund with the Grant Operational Programme of FSE 2014-2020. Conselleria de Educación, Investigación, Cultura y Deporte, Generalitat Valenciana for predoctoral contract students to stay in research centers outside the research centers outside the Valencian Community (BEFPI/2021/040) and the European Social Fund.Guzmán Ortiz, BE. (2022). Models and Algorithms for the Optimisation of Replenishment, Production and Distribution Plans in Industrial Enterprises [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/187461Compendi

Linking circular economy and digitalisation technologies : A systematic literature review of past achievements and future promises

The circular economy (CE) has the potential to capitalise upon emerging digital technologies, such as big data, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and the Internet of things (IoT), amongst others. These digital technologies combined with business model innovation are deemed to provide solutions to myriad problems in the world, including those related to circular economy transformation. Given the societal and practical importance of CE and digitalisation, last decade has witnessed a significant increase in academic publication on these topics. Therefore, this study aims to capture the essence of the scholarly work at the intersection of the CE and digital technologies. A detailed analysis of the literature based on emerging themes was conducted with a focus on illuminating the path of CE implementation. The results reveal that IoT and AI play a key role in the transition towards the CE. A multitude of studies focus on barriers to digitalisation-led CE transition and highlight policy-related issues, the lack of predictability, psychological issues and information vulnerability as some important barriers. In addition, product-service system (PSS) has been acknowledged as an important business model innovation for achieving the digitalisation enabled CE. Through a detailed assessment of the existing literature, a viable systems-based framework for digitalisation enabled CE has been developed which show the literature linkages amongst the emerging research streams and provide novel insights regarding the realisation of CE benefits.© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Environmental risk management system design for hazardous waste materials

Hazardous materials can be generally deemed as any material which, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics, may cause, or pose a substantial or potential hazard to human health or the environment. In the context of "sustainable development", most 'materials' could be deemed to be 'hazardous' at some stage of their lifecycle, i.e. from extraction to final disposal.This PhD study develops a decision support system for engineers and policy makers to help limit environmental burden, by reducing the environmental risk and the associated carbon footprint, from the perspective of 'hazardous' materials in product design, through the application of 'game theory' and 'grey theory' etc, as well as various computational approaches, by helping the designer identify novel solutions or mitigation strategies.The thesis starts by introducing the problem situation of the study and identify the research objectives, as well as previous studies have been reviewed in order to set this study in context.Since it is evident that consumers drive the open market, and their preference may be influenced by the carbon footprint label of products, the decision support system proposes an improved carbon labelling scheme to demonstrate the significance of a product‘s carbon footprint in a more visual way. The prototype of the scheme is derived from the concept of 'tolerability of risk', providing a framework by which judgments can be made as to whether society will accept the risk from hazardous materials.Application of game theory for decision support is a novel approach in this study, which aids decision-making by selecting appropriate strategies for both organisations and policy makers to reduce environmental impact. In this context, a game between manufacturers and government in the field of clean production is generated with various game scenarios to reflect the variation trend of strategic actions, and then developed to discuss the reduction of the inherent risk posed by 'hazardous' materials and carbon emissions on the supply chain network.The 'hierarchy of waste' suggests that the most preferable state for sustainability is prevention or the elimination of waste. Although this is not wholly practicable in real terms, the framework gives the importance to waste minimisation and prevention, especially promotes the cleaner production. In addition to strategy selection for mitigating environmental impact, the decision support system also develops an evaluation methodology for application by engineers to aid decision-making on materials selection, thus to improve the materials performances, promote cleaner production and provide better and sustainable products for public consumption

SUSTAINABLE VALUE OF RICE SUPPLY CHAIN: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW AND RESEARCH AGENDA

The rice supply chain is important to achieve food security. It has various perspectives, challenges or issues that causes a complex problem in supply chain system. The existing problem are related to food availability, inventory level, fragmented distribution, affordability of prices, accessibility, variation of business processes and the environmental impact from production and logistics system. Moreover integration framework in the dimension of sustainability is limited. The objective of this article is to identify current problems to construct the idea of supply chain integration and to build the formulation for improvement the value of rice supply chain. Fifty articles discuss rice supply chain. The remaining discuss on increasing rice productivity, inventory optimization, performance improvement, and traceability. The VOS viewer result showed that sustainability is connected to the supply chain at a distant position which indicates that sustainability has the opportunity to be studied wider range in future research. The gap analysis showed that the production increase is limited to agronomy innovation and didn’t consider sustainable characteristics input. The indirect innovations that use information technology for precision farming also had not been comprehensively collaborated. The production absorption had not been considered in inventory optimization and traceability system had not been developed for supply availability. The improvement activities to fill the gap will transform supply chain performance more efficient, responsive and minimum environmental impacts for the enhancement of the sustainability value of the rice supply chain. Keywords: gap analysis,  integration, rice supply chain, sustainability, production and logistics syste