SUPPLIER SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATION UTILIZING MULTI ATTRIBUTE UTILITY MODELING

Conventionally, the focus during supplier evaluation has been to assess cost, quality and delivery effectiveness due to their impact on profitability. In recent years, there has been increased emphasis on promoting more sustainable business practices that focus on reducing environmental impact and improve societal well-being, in addition to economic benefits. However, most of the existing supplier evaluation methods in literature as well as those used by leading companies fall short of comprehensively assessing suppliers from a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) perspective. TBL defined as holistically looking at the economic, environmental, and societal aspects of an entity. This paper presents a review and selection of metrics for economic, environmental and societal sustainability evaluation. In addition, this work proposes a methodology for combining the scores into a comprehensive score that can be used to compare two entities performance relative to the TBL

A Decision-Support Tool for the Choice of Fabrication Routes in the Context of Mass Personalization

In the saturated competitive markets of today, Mass Personalization (MP) is getting more and more attention. MP refers to the affordable fabrication of personalized products where the customer is involved from the beginning of product life-cycle (design phase). In order to keep personalized products affordable, it is important to select the most cost-effective fabrication route for each individualized order. To do so, this study proposes a Web-based Personalized Manufacturing Consulting System (WebPMCS) towards selecting the most cost-effective processes/resources for mass personalization in the on-demand manufacturing context. The proposed tool includes a Graphical User Interface (GUI), a cost estimation model, and a relational database. In this document, we explain the steps towards WebPMCS design and development. Then, we adapt WebPMCS to Spark Assisted Chemical Engraving (SACE). By the aid of this case-study, we validate the tool, and determine the most cost-effective fabrication routes for several personalized orders. Finally, we suggest using multi-head machines for SACE personalized fabrication and prove its benefits using WebPMCS. The proposed tool acts as an advanced calculator and a process/resource selector, and is aimed to be used as an enabling module for industry 4.0 manufacturing philosophy

A Review of Supply Chain Data Mining Publications

The use of data mining in supply chains is growing, and covers almost all aspects of supply chain management. A framework of supply chain analytics is used to classify data mining publications reported in supply chain management academic literature. Scholarly articles were identified using SCOPUS and EBSCO Business search engines. Articles were classified by supply chain function. Additional papers reflecting technology, to include RFID use and text analysis were separately reviewed. The paper concludes with discussion of potential research issues and outlook for future development

The best Suppliers of Sistan Cement Factory using FAHP

Nowadays, Factories consider supply chain system as an essential tool for increasing competitive advantages. Under these certain conditions, creating proximity and long-term relationship between customers and suppliers can be taken into account as a vital factor in setting up the supply chain. Toward this regard, selecting the suppliers and logistics outsourcing have turned to the most important issue in creating this system. Human thoughts and judgment play a crucial role in determining the suppliers’ performance rate. Therefore, the fuzzy phenomenon will have more dominance on the systems distribution as long as the human force and complex systems are contributed in decision making. However, AHP method (Analytic Hierarchy Process) has more benefits over other approaches to evaluate the suppliers and logistics outsourcing. Using fuzzy AHP approach, we can minimize the deficiencies. This survey is aimed at prioritizing the suppliers and logistics outsourcing of a cement factory. Sistan Cement factory is our case study in this research. After identifying and collecting the indexes’ paired comparisons, fuzzy analytical hierarchy process method was used to rank the suppliers and logistics’ outsourcing of the cement factory. Due to great volume of the computation of fuzzy analytical hierarchy process MATLAB and Excel were utilized to follow the procedure of the study. Results obtained from MATLAB software and the experts make the suppliers and outsourcing rating feasible. Concerning this survey, the manager will be able to opt the suppliers and logistics outsourcing with lower risk and in a more transparent environment

Supplier selection criteria and methods: past, present and future

Sole purpose of supplier selection is not limited to get supply at low cost and at right time. Supplier selection is a strategic decision to fulfil company’s goal for long period of time at low risk. To accomplish this objective companies are moving from reactive buying to proactive buying to give more priority to co-creation of wealth with supplier/s. Considering this issue an attempt has been made in this paper to give systematic review of supplier selection and evaluation process from 2005 to 2012 to answer three main questions: (i) Which method is more appropriate for supplier selection? (ii) Which evaluating criteria were most cited? (iii) Is present trend of research is adequate enough to support proactive buying? In this regard, 78 papers are classified into 10 categories to identify factors affecting supplier selection and evaluation process. Statistical analysis has been conducted with software “R” to have better insight on the trend of research. Recommendations and future work is also included to verify inadequacy of existing methods, if any, to support proactive buying process

Supplier selection criteria and methods: past, present and future

Sole purpose of supplier selection is not limited to get supply at low cost and at right time. Supplier selection is a strategic decision to fulfil company’s goal for long period of time at low risk. To accomplish this objective companies are moving from reactive buying to proactive buying to give more priority to co-creation of wealth with supplier/s. Considering this issue an attempt has been made in this paper to give systematic review of supplier selection and evaluation process from 2005 to 2012 to answer three main questions: (i) Which method is more appropriate for supplier selection? (ii) Which evaluating criteria were most cited? (iii) Is present trend of research is adequate enough to support proactive buying? In this regard, 78 papers are classified into 10 categories to identify factors affecting supplier selection and evaluation process. Statistical analysis has been conducted with software “R” to have better insight on the trend of research. Recommendations and future work is also included to verify inadequacy of existing methods, if any, to support proactive buying process

THE ROLE OF UNDERLYING MECHANISMS IN ACHIEVING CONSISTENT HYBRID COMBINATIONS OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

This thesis takes a step beyond the current discussion on hybrid competitive strategies (HS) by identifying the underlying mechanisms and common elements of successful hybrid strategies. Reviewing empirical and theoretical literature revealed a significant gap in this respect. Therefore, the activity-based view of strategy is introduced to the discussion on HS. In a first step, four consistent and sustainable HS concepts are developed providing the basis for deriving specific HS models. A second step identifies commonalities among these HS types and theoretically derives a synthesized, common HS model. Thirdly, the critical realist stance was selected for answering this thesis’ research questions addressing consistent HS concepts, implementations, common activities achieving external and internal fit, as well as common capabilities and resources supporting these activities. In a case study approach, semi-structured, open ended interviews combining appreciative and laddering methods are conducted with twelve interviewees from five firms. The separate analysis of ladder elements and ladders allowed distinguishing constitutional from relational elements. Based on this, fourth, an empirically revised research construct is substantiated. This research finds HS firms applying intended and consistent, but mixed strategy concepts based on generating high customer benefits through combining competitive weapons of differentiation and price or total customer cost. Moreover, HS concepts centre on three strategic building blocks: customer centricity, fulfilment of customer needs and employee orientation. Additionally, the research indicates that firms apply activities primarily for achieving fit. While all firms combine both views, no activities are directed to both fit types simultaneously. Activities deploy capabilities and resources in general on two adaptive and two absorptive mechanisms. Several practical implications derive from this thesis. First, firms can apply the synthesized model as a kind of ‘blueprint’ providing orientation for how to combine competitive advantages. Second, policy makers can apply the outcomes as principles steering firms or industries to ‘higher’ levels of performance. Last, firm managers can adapt their own as well as their firm’s behaviour accordingly

Standardisation of quality and reliability tests in the auto-parts industry: a structured approach concerning thermal systems

In the automotive industry, first-tier suppliers play an important role, as they often establish long-term partnerships with multiple car-makers for developing and supplying complete car modules. One of the conditions underlying these partnerships is the quality and reliability of car modules. To achieve it, car-makers generally require multiple tests, often on 100% of the parts subcontracted. The number of tests required can be very high, even for modules with a relatively low level of customisation. Also, the configuration of the tests can vary significantly from one car-maker to another, even for the same test typologies. The aim of this paper is to present a decision-support tool for the standardisation of quality and reliability tests, which uses some already available information on previous tests (e.g. about their effectiveness, cost and simplicity of execution) and involves experts both from the supplier’s and car-makers’ staff. Test standardisation is guided by a simple procedure based on two steps: (i) grouping the tests required by different carmakers into typologies of homologous tests, with a similar protection level in terms of product and quality reliability, and (ii) determining the most appropriate configuration for each test typology. The description of the methodology is based on a real case-study concerning a worldwide supplier of thermal systems