12,481 research outputs found
Identification of Critical Factors and Their Interrelationships to Design Agile Supply Chain : Special Focus to Oil and Gas Industries
Purpose – This research attempted to identify the most critical factors and their inter-relationships to ensure designing agile supply chain, especially in oil and gas industry. This factors identification process is performed through developing a conceptual framework and the use of Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) tool.
Design/methodology/approach – This study is conducted through an extensive literature review and questionnaires survey to identify and refine the critical factors that ensure the agile supply chain in oil and gas industry. In addition, several brainstorming sessions with the experts in the field of oil and gas industries were organized with the objective to interpret the contextual inter-relationships between the identified factors. The outcomes from the literature reviews, interview questions and experts’ opinions were used to develop a diagraph and MICMAC analysis to know the drivers of agility in supply chain.
Findings –From this study, 34 enablers and 12 factors were identified, which are responsible to ensure agile supply chain in oil and gas industry. Out of these identified factors, top management commitment, strategic alignment, competency of management and integration of information and systems technology are found to be the critical drivers of supply chain agility. On the other hand, government regulations, transportation and logistics flexibility and production planning and control falls under the category of dependent factors.
Originality/value – The identified factors and their interrelationships can be a valuable aid to ensure and measure the agility in supply chain, especially in oil and gas industry. These identified factors and their defined consequences will help managers and concerned authorities in oil and gas industry to take better decision to improve the agility level of their supply chain.©2020 Springer Nature. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40171-020-00247-5fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed
An approach for analysing supply chain complexity drivers through interpretive structural modelling
Today’s greater product variety, shorter product life cycle, and lower production costs are pushing companies to look beyond their own boundaries, thereby, creating complexity in the management of the supply chain. To manage such complexity, it is imperative that the management understand the associated complexity drivers and their interrelationships. This study identified twenty-three drivers responsible for supply chain complexity and classified them by using various criteria. In addition, the study presents a structural model using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) methodology to understand the inter-relationships between one driver to another. The research findings showed that drivers such as customer need, competitor action, and government regulation are beyond the control of supply chain partners, and have found the highest dominance with respect to supply chain complexity. Conversely, drivers related to tactical issues such as production planning and control, logistics and transportation, forecasting error, and marketing and sales are found to be the dependent drivers. Remaining drivers, such as company culture, number of suppliers, product variety, and organizational structure fall between the former two classifications. These drivers are related to strategic issues and require action from the upper level of the management hierarchy.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed
Farm SMEs sustainability assessment based on Bellagio Principles. The case of Messinian Region, Greece
Purpose: Sufficient support of the sustainability of farm products embedded in a region (such as Products of Designated Origin / PDOs) to overcome significant obstacles to access domestic and remote markets. Main research question is how to overcome such inherent difficulties and transform them into challenges and opportunities to the new market environment.
Design/methodology /approach: Combination of simplicity with the complicated issue of sustainability for awareness of small farmers SMEs and their collective representatives. Improve the understanding of the Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), to facilitate sustainability through use of the ‘Bellagio Principles’ for assessing sustainability of local farm products and facilitating further enhancement. Use of certain PDOs farm products of the Messinian region of Greece, such as local Sfela Feta cheese, olive oil, olives and raisins, to assess sustainability and improvement. Formation of a conceptual constructive action R&D framework of broader use in building-up and performing implementation of holistic supply chain strategy.
Expected Findings: Providing better understanding of the SSCM. Insights on how SMEs co-operatives can collectively apply holistic strategies concerning local farm PDOs to fulfil competitiveness and sustainability requirements, under variant product and market conditions.
Originality / Value : Improving the know-how, focusing on the sustainability of regional, traditional products and its effects upon supply chain performance and market access. Practical implications for regional-based farm SMEs in the design of holistic value creation strategies to produce sustainable competitive advantage. Interactive cause and effect dynamic implications of sustainable development on social, economic and physical environment
Supplier selection using a hybrid model for 3C industry
Supplier selection is a good strategy for firms that can reduce operating costs and improve competitiveness for computer, communication and consumer electronics (3C) industry. The major aim of this research is to build a systematic approach for establishing a supplier selection model, and then prioritize improvement criteria in order to best supply chain management. The study proposed a hybrid approach by using the interpretive structural modeling (ISM) method to deal with the interrelationship among criteria, and the analytic network process (ANP) method is employed to recognize the criteria of supplier selection and evaluate with respect to environmental competency for the case of Taiwan's 3C industry. The study shows that the proposed model could be an effective and efficient decision-making tool that can be easily extended to other contexts. Especially, it has provided decision-makers and researchers with better understanding of the differences in supplier selection activity needs and specific management interventions by examining these criteria
Analysis of Decision Support Systems of Industrial Relevance: Application Potential of Fuzzy and Grey Set Theories
The present work articulates few case empirical studies on decision making in industrial
context. Development of variety of Decision Support System (DSS) under uncertainty and
vague information is attempted herein. The study emphases on five important decision making
domains where effective decision making may surely enhance overall performance of the
organization. The focused territories of this work are i) robot selection, ii) g-resilient supplier
selection, iii) third party logistics (3PL) service provider selection, iv) assessment of supply
chain’s g-resilient index and v) risk assessment in e-commerce exercises.
Firstly, decision support systems in relation to robot selection are conceptualized through
adaptation to fuzzy set theory in integration with TODIM and PROMETHEE approach, Grey
set theory is also found useful in this regard; and is combined with TODIM approach to
identify the best robot alternative. In this work, an attempt is also made to tackle subjective
(qualitative) and objective (quantitative) evaluation information simultaneously, towards
effective decision making.
Supplier selection is a key strategic concern for the large-scale organizations. In view of this, a
novel decision support framework is proposed to address g-resilient (green and resilient)
supplier selection issues. Green capability of suppliers’ ensures the pollution free operation;
while, resiliency deals with unexpected system disruptions. A comparative analysis of the
results is also carried out by applying well-known decision making approaches like Fuzzy-
TOPSIS and Fuzzy-VIKOR.
In relation to 3PL service provider selection, this dissertation proposes a novel ‘Dominance-
Based’ model in combination with grey set theory to deal with 3PL provider selection,
considering linguistic preferences of the Decision-Makers (DMs). An empirical case study is
articulated to demonstrate application potential of the proposed model. The results, obtained
thereof, have been compared to that of grey-TOPSIS approach.
Another part of this dissertation is to provide an integrated framework in order to assess gresilient
(ecosilient) performance of the supply chain of a case automotive company. The
overall g-resilient supply chain performance is determined by computing a unique ecosilient
(g-resilient) index. The concepts of Fuzzy Performance Importance Index (FPII) along with
Degree of Similarity (DOS) (obtained from fuzzy set theory) are applied to rank different gresilient
criteria in accordance to their current status of performance.
The study is further extended to analyze, and thereby, to mitigate various risk factors (risk
sources) involved in e-commerce exercises. A total forty eight major e-commerce risks are
recognized and evaluated in a decision making perspective by utilizing the knowledge
acquired from the fuzzy set theory. Risk is evaluated as a product of two risk quantifying
parameters viz. (i) Likelihood of occurrence and, (ii) Impact. Aforesaid two risk quantifying
parameters are assessed in a subjective manner (linguistic human judgment), rather than
exploring probabilistic approach of risk analysis. The ‘crisp risk extent’ corresponding to
various risk factors are figured out through the proposed fuzzy risk analysis approach. The risk
factor possessing high ‘crisp risk extent’ score is said be more critical for the current problem
context (toward e-commerce success). Risks are now categorized into different levels of
severity (adverse consequences) (i.e. negligible, minor, marginal, critical and catastrophic).
Amongst forty eight risk sources, top five risk sources which are supposed to adversely affect
the company’s e-commerce performance are recognized through such categorization. The
overall risk extent is determined by aggregating individual risks (under ‘critical’ level of
severity) using Fuzzy Inference System (FIS). Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) is then
used to obtain structural relationship amongst aforementioned five risk sources. An
appropriate action requirement plan is also suggested, to control and minimize risks associated
with e-commerce exercises
Logistics service providers (LSPs) evaluation and selection: Literature review and framework development
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight to the outsourcing decision-making through investigating if the old evaluation/selection criteria and methods still fit with current business
priorities or not and, therefore, to identify the appropriate criteria and methods to develop a new selection framework. Since the economic recession of 2008, logistics outsourcing decisions have become
more prominent to avoid high fixed costs and heavy investment requirements and to achieve competitive advantages.
Design/methodology/approach – This is a focused literature review prepared after analyzing 56 articles related to the logistics service provider (LSP) evaluation and selection methods and criteria during 2008-2013. The academic articles are analyzed based on research focus/area, evaluation and selection methodology/methods and evaluation and selection criteria. Then reviewed result is compared with previous literature studies for the periods (1991-2008) to identify any possible shifts.
Findings – The review reveals that: several problems in current LSPs literature have been identified; the reviewed papers can be categorized into seven groups, the usage and importance of evaluation and
selection criteria fluctuate during different periods; 12 crucial criteria have been identified, increasing the importance of specific selection methods and the integrated models and fuzzy logic in logistics literature. Then, a comprehensive LSPs’ evaluation and selection framework has been developed.
Originality/value – To the best of our knowledge, this is the first focused logistics outsourcing study that reviews the 2008-2013 period in detail, comparing results with previous literature studies, identifies
current LSPs literature problems/gaps, new trends and shifts in the way that LSPs are evaluated and selected, identifies crucial selection criteria and proposes a new holistic LSPs evaluation and selection framework. In addition, it identifies important issues for future research.
Keywords Supplier or partner selection, Evaluation and selection methods and criteria,
Logistics outsourcing, Logistics service provider, LSP framewor
Harnessing Knowledge, Innovation and Competence in Engineering of Mission Critical Systems
This book explores the critical role of acquisition, application, enhancement, and management of knowledge and human competence in the context of the largely digital and data/information dominated modern world. Whilst humanity owes much of its achievements to the distinct capability to learn from observation, analyse data, gain insights, and perceive beyond original realities, the systematic treatment of knowledge as a core capability and driver of success has largely remained the forte of pedagogy. In an increasingly intertwined global community faced with existential challenges and risks, the significance of knowledge creation, innovation, and systematic understanding and treatment of human competence is likely to be humanity's greatest weapon against adversity. This book was conceived to inform the decision makers and practitioners about the best practice pertinent to many disciplines and sectors. The chapters fall into three broad categories to guide the readers to gain insight from generic fundamentals to discipline-specific case studies and of the latest practice in knowledge and competence management
Reconfiguration of supply chain network:an ISM-based roadmap to performance
Purpose: Short product life cycle and/or mass customization necessitate reconfiguration of operational enablers of supply chain (SC) from time to time in order to harness high levels of performance. The purpose of this paper is to identify the key operational enablers under stochastic environment on which practitioner should focus while reconfiguring a SC network. Design/methodology/approach: The paper used interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach that presents a hierarchy-based model and the mutual relationships among the enablers. The contextual relationship needed for developing structural self-interaction matrix (SSIM) among various enablers is realized by conducting experiments through simulation of a hypothetical SC network. Findings: The research identifies various operational enablers having a high driving power towards assumed performance measures. In this regard, these enablers require maximum attention and of strategic importance while reconfiguring SC. Practical implications: ISM provides a useful tool to the SC managers to strategically adopt and focus on the key enablers which have comparatively greater potential in enhancing the SC performance under given operational settings. Originality/value: The present research realizes the importance of SC flexibility under the premise of reconfiguration of the operational units in order to harness high value of SC performance. Given the resulting digraph through ISM, the decision maker can focus the key enablers for effective reconfiguration. The study is one of the first efforts that develop contextual relations among operational enablers for SSIM matrix through integration of discrete event simulation to ISM. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Theorizing the Principles of Sustainable Production in the context of Circular Economy and Industry 4.0.
The concept of Sustainable Production is evolving with changes triggered by the emergence of new economic and industrial models such as Circular Economy and
Industry 4.0. However, most studies that currently link these concepts are based on the principles of Sustainable Production defined 20 years ago. Therefore, the primary aim
of this study is to redefine the principles that should govern Sustainable Production operations in the transition towards a Circular Economy and smart industry models. To
this end, an initial proposal of 11 principles was shared with 11 world-class experts (academics and practitioners) and a consensus proposal was sought through a Delphi Panel. Ten principles emerged from this study, which were evaluated by experts according to criteria of significance, parsimony, semantic consistency and empirical adequacy. Additionally, to study the relationships between the ten principles, the
Interpretative Structural Model (ISM) technique was applied. The ISM technique identified which principles are independent of or dependent on each other and established relationships between the principles. The findings suggest that Principle 5
("Prioritize employees' well-being"), Principle 6 ("Enhance management commitment to sustainability"), Principle 9 ("Measure and optimize sustainable processes") and
Principle 10 ("Boost the use of sustainable technologies") help to establish an ideal context to enhance the development of the rest of the principles that characterize Sustainable Production. The presentation of the ten principles opens new possibilities for researchers while helping managers to better understand sustainability in terms of production and, therefore contribute to achieving SDG 12
Harnessing Knowledge, Innovation and Competence in Engineering of Mission Critical Systems
This book explores the critical role of acquisition, application, enhancement, and management of knowledge and human competence in the context of the largely digital and data/information dominated modern world. Whilst humanity owes much of its achievements to the distinct capability to learn from observation, analyse data, gain insights, and perceive beyond original realities, the systematic treatment of knowledge as a core capability and driver of success has largely remained the forte of pedagogy. In an increasingly intertwined global community faced with existential challenges and risks, the significance of knowledge creation, innovation, and systematic understanding and treatment of human competence is likely to be humanity's greatest weapon against adversity. This book was conceived to inform the decision makers and practitioners about the best practice pertinent to many disciplines and sectors. The chapters fall into three broad categories to guide the readers to gain insight from generic fundamentals to discipline-specific case studies and of the latest practice in knowledge and competence management
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