Enhancing Supply Chain Reliability through Agent-Based Supply Chain Event Management

Supply Chain Event Management (SCEM) is an approach to the monitoring of supply chains. It observes specific events and exceptions in real-time and then alerts managers if problems occur. This paper presents an architecture for an SCEM system based on intelligent software agents, Auto-ID technologies and mobile user interfaces. The motivation for this approach is to enhance existing SCEM solutions by exploiting up-to-date technologies. It delegates the task of automated problem solving when disruptions in supply chains occur to software agents

A survey of simulation techniques in commerce and defence

Despite the developments in Modelling and Simulation (M&S) tools and techniques over the past years, there has been a gap in the M&S research and practice in healthcare on developing a toolkit to assist the modellers and simulation practitioners with selecting an appropriate set of techniques. This study is a preliminary step towards this goal. This paper presents some results from a systematic literature survey on applications of M&S in the commerce and defence domains that could inspire some improvements in the healthcare. Interim results show that in the commercial sector Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) has been the most widely used technique with System Dynamics (SD) in second place. However in the defence sector, SD has gained relatively more attention. SD has been found quite useful for qualitative and soft factors analysis. From both the surveys it becomes clear that there is a growing trend towards using hybrid M&S approaches

A Principal-Agent Model for Investigating Traceability Systems Incentives on Food Safety

This article investigates the effects of contingent payments and a traceability system's expected traceback rate of success on the food safety effort exerted by raw material suppliers. This sheds light on when contingent payments and the reliability of a traceability system are substitutes and complements to each other in terms of inducing raw material suppliers to exert higher food safety effort. In addition, the effect of higher penalties and costs of food safety crisis on the effort to be induced by buyers (principal) on suppliers (agents) is investigated under a symmetric information setting. Finally, the asymmetric information setting is formalized as a principal-agent model and left to be explored in a future work. Some numerical exercises are carried out to illustrate main findings. It has been found that more reliable traceability systems might induce higher food safety efforts by suppliers. However, this same effect could be accomplished either with higher payments whenever no food safety crisis occurs or with lower payments whenever a food safety crisis occur both assuming the traceability system works. Finally, it is shown that without a traceability system in place no incentive scheme could be implemented.Information Asymmetry, Identity Preservation, Food Traceability, Supply Chain Management., Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, D82, D86, C61,

Risk assessment and relationship management: practical approach to supply chain risk management

The literature suggests the need for incorporating the risk construct into the measurement of organisational performance, although few examples are available as to how this might be undertaken in relation to supply chains. A conceptual framework for the development of performance and risk management within the supply chain is evolved from the literature and empirical evidence. The twin levels of dyadic performance/risk management and the management of a portfolio of performance/risks is addressed, employing Agency Theory to guide the analysis. The empirical evidence relates to the downstream management of dealerships by a large multinational organisation. Propositions are derived from the analysis relating to the issues and mechanisms that may be employed to effectively manage a portfolio of supply chain performance and risks

An Approach to E-marketplace Automation

E-marketplaces have become an essential part of e-commerce. In our research a decentralised agent-based e-marketplace platform was devised. The goal of our research is to improve overall supply chain service quality by allowing companies\u27 agents to evaluate the service quality of their partners through the history of their transactions. Consequently, since more informed decisions are taking place continuously and autonomously, supply chain service quality is being improved along the whole supply chain. In the article a service quality evaluation model of a supply chain is empirically evaluated

Internet of Things and Supply Chain Management: An Empirical Analysis of Nigeria Perspective

IT developments is a paradigm shift in various domains, including supply chain management (SCM). This study examines internet of a thing (IOT) and SCM; an empirical analysis of Nigeria perspective. The study examined IOT factors and its effect on SCM, with a specific focus on Jumia Nigeria. The survey research design was used in this study. The study's sample size is comprised of 265 members of Jumia employees who were randomly selected with 253 valid responses retrieved. SmartPLS3 was used for the analysis, and hypotheses were tested using structural equation model at a significance threshold of 0.05 to see whether they were correct. Results demonstrated that IOT has a standardized beta value and P value of 0.948 and 0.000 on SCM which its r2 indicates 89.9% on SCM. In conclusion, IOT factors integration will lead to continuous improvement as it helps to enhanced its supply chain management

While Doha Sleeps: Securing Economic Growth through Trade Facilitation

Improving the international trading system does not require new, comprehensive multilateral agreements. Countries can derive large gains from the trading system by engaging in reforms often referred to as trade facilitation. In broad terms, trade facilitation includes reforms aimed at improving the chain of administrative and physical procedures involved in the transport of goods and services across international borders. Countries with inadequate trade infrastructure, burdensome administrative processes, or limited competition in trade logistics services are less capable of benefiting from the opportunities of expanding global trade. Companies interested in investing, buying, or selling in local markets are less likely to bother if there are too many frictions related to document processing or cargo inspection at customs, antiquated port facilities, logistics bottlenecks, or limited reliability of freight or trade-financing services. According to recent studies from the World Bank and other international economic institutions, trade facilitation reforms could do more to increase global trade flows than further reductions in tariff rates. For many developing countries -- particularly those that receive preferential tariff treatment from rich countries -- reducing transportation and logistics-related costs through trade facilitation reforms would be much more beneficial than further tariff cuts. But trade facilitation does not only offer promise to developing countries. All countries can benefit by removing sources of friction in their supply chains. The post-9/11 focus on minimizing the risk of terrorists exploiting porous international supply chains to sneak weapons of mass destruction into U.S. cities -- obviously a vital objective -- could hamper the capacity of Americanbased companies to attract investment and compete for markets. Likewise, U.S. prohibitions against foreign competition in transportation services and the political antipathy toward foreign investment in U.S. port operations raise the costs of doing business and increase the scope for trade facilitation in the United States

THE ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEM AND RISK MANAGEMENT

The yield of enterprise can be accretion by integrating systems to business partners to create highest competitive advantage in the time of run. System integration can be done by adopting the e-commerce technology and Business-to-Business models that willEnterprise, System, Integration, Business, Risk

Supply Chain Governance, Corporate Governance and Firm Supply Performance: A Paradox of Prediction

The supply chain management has emerged as a key competitive tool, however, little or no attention has been given to explore the link between supply chain governance, external corporate governance mechanism such as board characteristics and supply chain performance. Therefore, the current study is being carried out explore the relationship among three interlinked phenomena such as external corporate governance, supply chain governance and firm supply performance. It is argued in this study that the supply chain governance mediates the relationship between corporate governance firm supply performance. The SMART-PLS is used to achieve the objective of the current stud. The data is collected from the operation managers, production managers and finance managers of manufacturing firms listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange. The results of the study have shown a great deal of agreement with our proposed hypothesis. Meanwhile the findings have provided support to the predictions of agency theory and resource based theory. The study which is among pioneering studies on the issue will be helpful for policy makers and managers in understanding the role of agency theory in supply chain management