Sustainable supply chain management trends in world regions: A data-driven analysis

This study proposes a data-driven analysis that describes the overall situation and reveals the factors hindering improvement in the sustainable supply chain management field. The literature has presented a summary of the evolution of sustainable supply chain management across attributes. Prior studies have evaluated different parts of the supply chain as independent entities. An integrated systematic assessment is absent in the extant literature and makes it necessary to identify potential opportunities for research direction. A hybrid of data-driven analysis, the fuzzy Delphi method, the entropy weight method and fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory is adopted to address uncertainty and complexity. This study contributes to locating the boundary of fundamental knowledge to advance future research and support practical execution. Valuable direction is provided by reviewing the existing literature to identify the critical indicators that need further examination. The results show that big data, closed-loop supply chains, industry 4.0, policy, remanufacturing, and supply chain network design are the most important indicators of future trends and disputes. The challenges and gaps among different geographical regions is offered that provides both a local viewpoint and a state-of-the-art advanced sustainable supply chain management assessment

Competition or Authorization—Manufacturers’ Choice of Remanufacturing Strategies

In the face of the cannibalization of remanufactured products produced by independent remanufacturers (IRs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can produce remanufactured products themselves to compete with independent remanufacturers (IRs), or they can authorize the IRs to cooperate because of their seller reputation. This paper studies the key factors that influence OEMs’ choice of remanufacturing strategies. By establishing three two-stage models and comparing them, the thresholds for OEMs to choose different remanufacturing strategies were obtained. There is also an interesting finding that when the authorization fee is higher than a certain value, even if the remanufactured product poses a competitive threat to the new product, the OEM will help the IR improve their remanufacturing technology to save costs and achieve a win–win situation. With the increase in authorization fees, OEMs’ profits will increase first and then decrease, so it is not always better for OEMs to charge higher authorization fees. Whether it is an authorization or a competitive scenario, the improvement in remanufacturing technology by OEMs can increase the output of remanufactured products, which is conducive to environmental protection

Study of the supply chain of recycled paper and cardboard in the city of Cuenca-Ecuador

El presente artículo se enmarca en el reciclaje como motor de desarrollo para los actores presentes en esta industria, enfatizando en aquellos que intervienen en la cadena de suministro de papel y cartón en la ciudad de Cuenca-Ecuador. La metodología empleada, con carácter cuantitativo-inductivo de corte transversal, no experimental, tiene como objetivo usar el Método Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) (Saaty, 1980) aplicando criterios adaptados a realidades y particularidades presentes en dicha cadena de suministro. Finalmente, esto permite la selección de criterios para futuras evaluaciones de una gestión eficaz de la cadena de suministro respecto a la toma de decisiones gerenciales.This article focuses on recycling as a development engine for the actors in this industry, emphasizing those who take part in the paper and cardboard supply chain in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. The methodology applied, with a cross-sectional, non-experimental, quantitative-inductive character, aims to use the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Method (Saaty, 1980) which involves criteria adapted to realities and particularities in the paper industry supply chain. Finally, this result allows us to select criteria, for future evaluations of an efficient management of the supply chain in relation to managerial decision making.Facultad de Ciencias Económica

Forward thinking in reverse : design, implementation, and continuous monitoring of a closed-loop supply chain using optimization, simulation, and dashboard systems to maximize net recovery

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-199).Developed during our recent six-month engagement at Dell-a leading computer manufacturer and services provider with one of the world's leading supply chains--we discuss a network flow-based mixed-integer linear program (MILP) model to identify the critical factors in optimizing reverse supply chain design decisions to optimize profit. The model is fast, intuitive, flexible, and robust to uncertainty. Its outputs include specific design recommendations, financial impact estimates, dynamically generated product routing diagrams, and multi-scenario sensitivity analysis. Through two case studies, the first in U.S. smartphone returns and the second in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Alienware-branded computer returns, we show how our model fosters standardized, robust strategic decision-making and serves as a platform upon which to build management systems for continuous improvement. We then discuss two such systems: a simulation-based reusable packaging cost-benefit analysis (CBA) calculator, and an automated dashboard for managing disassembly-for-parts decisions.by Timothy J. Vasil.S.M.M.B.A

PROCEEDINGS 5th PLATE Conference

The 5th international PLATE conference (Product Lifetimes and the Environment) addressed product lifetimes in the context of sustainability. The PLATE conference, which has been running since 2015, has successfully been able to establish a solid network of researchers around its core theme. The topic has come to the forefront of current (political, scientific & societal) debates due to its interconnectedness with a number of recent prominent movements, such as the circular economy, eco-design and collaborative consumption. For the 2023 edition of the conference, we encouraged researchers to propose how to extend, widen or critically re-construct thematic sessions for the PLATE conference, and the paper call was constructed based on these proposals. In this 5th PLATE conference, we had 171 paper presentations and 238 participants from 14 different countries. Beside of paper sessions we organized workshops and REPAIR exhibitions

Circular Economy and Industrial Packaging Material Waste in EU: Case Study

Current linear economy is based on take-make-use-dispose model which is damaging the environment with unsustainable resource use and generated waste. Sustainable alternative to current linear model is circular economy (CE), which integrates the economic activities and wellbeing with efficient resource use. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the impacts of CE to the consumption of industrial packaging material and waste management in international manufacturing industry. The study focuses primarily on environmental demands that EU is increasingly setting for multinational companies (MNCs) and how they impact on CE transition. Implementing circular business model within the organization may enable diverse benefits, e.g. potential to save considerable resources, gain competitive advantage and create value from economic, social and environmental perspective. Thus, the contribution of CE in gaining competitive advantage and creating value in global business context is observed in this study from resourcebased view (RBV). Furthermore, waste management is closely interconnected with CE and developing functioning waste management system is crucial for effective resource use, as well as packaging waste treatment. This thesis includes a qualitative case study, which examines the research topic by conducting interviews for external and internal stakeholders of a case company operating in global manufacturing industry. The research investigated the background of the demands for packaging material in EU, as well as identified the possibilities and challenges in terms of packaging material.It also mapped the current state of industrial packaging material waste treatment, monitoring and reporting. Current EU legislation and demands are not forcing companies to shift towards CE but are currently making the unsustainable actions and operations continuously more expensive and difficult. Reporting the inbound and outbound packaging material is mandatory for multinational companies in EU and currently very challenging. More reliable reporting would require extensive improvement in system data, requirements for suppliers about the packaging material, as well as more standardized packaging for products. CE can enable various possibilities for companies by turning the inefficiencies of linear economy model into business value. However, various factors are hindering the transition towards circular model, such as legislation, complex global supply chains, challenging packaging materials, as well as missing system for circulating material. In order to overcome these challenges, comprehensive cooperation within the organization and throughout the global value chains is mandatory. Certain requirements for stakeholders are necessary for developing more circular processes and ensure that supply chain partners are willing to operate in more sustainable way. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for developing waste treatment methods and new systems for circulating packaging. The waste should be seen as a resource but current challenges in recycling and reusing the materials are decelerating companies to do any actual actions

Exploratory research into supply chain voids within Welsh priority business sectors

The paper reports the findings resulting from the initial stages of an exploratory investigation into Supply Chain Voids (SCV) in Wales. The research forms the foundations of a PhD thesis which is framed within the sectors designated as important by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and indicates local supplier capability voids within their supply chains. This paper covers the stages of initial data gathering, analysis and results identified between June 2006 and April 2007, whilst addressing the first of four research questions. Finally, the approach to address future research is identified in order to explain how the PhD is to progress

Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing: The Human-Data-Technology Nexus

This is an open access book. It gathers the first volume of the proceedings of the 31st edition of the International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, FAIM 2022, held on June 19 – 23, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Covering four thematic areas including Manufacturing Processes, Machine Tools, Manufacturing Systems, and Enabling Technologies, it reports on advanced manufacturing processes, and innovative materials for 3D printing, applications of machine learning, artificial intelligence and mixed reality in various production sectors, as well as important issues in human-robot collaboration, including methods for improving safety. Contributions also cover strategies to improve quality control, supply chain management and training in the manufacturing industry, and methods supporting circular supply chain and sustainable manufacturing. All in all, this book provides academicians, engineers and professionals with extensive information on both scientific and industrial advances in the converging fields of manufacturing, production, and automation