Method and approach Mapping for Agri-food Supply Chain Risk Management: A literature review

One of the agri-food characteristics is perishable product which made it has a higher chance damage risk from the farmer to the consumer. While issues around food security and associated risks are extremely important. Some methods or approaches have been used to identify and assess risks that occur in agri-food supply chain. The purpose of this paper was to identify the development of methods or approaches used to identify and assess the risks that occured in the agri-food supply chain. The articles search was undertaken through articles search on selected relevant journals of supply chain risk management for agri-food published from 2004 until 2014. A total of 77 randomly selected journal articles had been analyzed. These mapping were arranged in systematic stages, started from searches related supply chain risk management for agrifood. Furthermore, the articles identified and classified the methods or approaches for each stage of supply chain risk management, and were divided into three main stages: risk identification, risk assessment and risk mitigation. The last, the articles of risk identification are categorized into three groups : qualitative, semi-quantitative and qualitative.The mapping results showed that risk assessment supply chain for agri-food was much related to microbiology risk assessment. It related to the characteristics of agri-food products. Standard models used for risk assessment in supply chain for agri-food were based on integration of statistical analysis and simulation. The other techniques used included intelligent technique, optimization models and multi-criteria decision analysis. The literature on supply chain risk management for agri-food is so vast, complex and difficult to understand that a mapping of method and approach is needed and much value for the research community. Keywords :supply chain risk, risk identification, risk assessment, risk mitigation, agri-foo

Generating space for innovations in agriculture: the AgriSpin project

Good initiatives for sustainable innovations are everywhere. The biotope selects. How can a conducive biotope be created where such initiatives will flourish and develop into successful innovations? Where can initiators easily find partners and funds to make their dreams come true? What can innovation support agencies do concretely to make a difference? These are the central questions in the European Union Horizon 2020 project AgriSpin. Here, we share our first experiences from AgriSpin, in which 15 partner organisations in 12 European regions are learning from and with each other about successful approaches to innovation brokering. Firstly, we summarise some bottlenecks that are frequently mentioned in the literature. Then the design of the project is described. A key element is the series of ‘cross-visits’ hosted by the partners. At the time of writing, all cross-visits have been made, and the project has entered a digestion period in which we try to make sense of what has been observed. The next step is to design action plans for each partner organisation and the key actors in the regions where they operate. So, this paper reports work in progress. Nevertheless, some interesting ‘pearls’ and ‘puzzles’ can already be reported

Steering supply chains from a complex systems perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to systematically review the properties of supply chains demonstrating that they are complex systems, and that the management of supply chains is best achieved by steering rather than controlling these systems toward desired outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – The research study was designed as both exploratory and explanatory. Data were collected from secondary sources using a comprehensive literature review process. In parallel with data collection, data were analyzed and synthesized. Findings – The main finding is the introduction of an inductive framework for steering supply chains from a complex systems perspective by explaining why supply chains have properties of complex systems and how to deal with their complexity while steering them toward desired outcomes. Complexity properties are summarized in four inter-dependent categories: Structural, Dynamic, Behavioral and Decision making, which together enable the assessment of supply chains as complex systems. Furthermore, five mechanisms emerged for dealing with the complexity of supply chains: classification, modeling, measurement, relational analysis and handling. Originality/value – Recognizing that supply chains are complex systems allows for a better grasp of the effect of positive feedback on change and transformation, and also interactions leading to dynamic equilibria, nonlinearity and the role of inter-organizational learning, as well as emerging capabilities, and existing tradeoffs and paradoxical tensions in decision-making. It recognizes changing dynamics and the co-evolution of supply chain phenomena in different scales and contextsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Steering Supply Chains from a Complex Systems Perspective

Purpose The purpose of this research is to systematically review the properties of supply chains demonstrating that they are complex systems, and that the management of supply chains is best achieved by steering rather than controlling these systems toward desired outcomes. Design/methodology/approach The research study was designed as both exploratory and explanatory. Data were collected from secondary sources using a comprehensive literature review process. In parallel with data collection, data were analyzed and synthesized. Findings The main finding is the introduction of an inductive framework for steering supply chains from a complex systems perspective by explaining why supply chains have properties of complex systems and how to deal with their complexity while steering them toward desired outcomes. Complexity properties are summarized in four inter-dependent categories: Structural, Dynamic, Behavioral and Decision making, which together enable the assessment of supply chains as complex systems. Furthermore, five mechanisms emerged for dealing with the complexity of supply chains: classification, modeling, measurement, relational analysis and handling. Originality/value Recognizing that supply chains are complex systems allows for a better grasp of the effect of positive feedback on change and transformation, and also interactions leading to dynamic equilibria, nonlinearity and the role of inter-organizational learning, as well as emerging capabilities, and existing trade-offs and paradoxical tensions in decision-making. It recognizes changing dynamics and the co-evolution of supply chain phenomena in different scales and contexts

A Framework for Digital Twins for Production Network Management

The dynamic and highly complex task of production network management requires decision support through quantitative models. In the industrial praxis, these models are specifically designed and implemented for particular management decisions, requiring significant one-time effort for model creation. This contribution utilizes the digital twin concept to facilitate production network models that are continuously synchronized with the examined production network to support several different management decisions. The approach structures data from existing information systems as a synchronized generic base model, which is used to create problem-specific executable models, thereby saving costs through repeated model use and quicker decision making

Design, development and construction of an ATEX compliant ISO 9001:2008 magnetic ink manufacturing facility

This Thesis charts the cradle-to-grave development of a chemical processing plant suitable for the manufacture of 160 tonnes per annum of magnetic ink, and the associated, in-line process, quality control and assurance methodologies, developing innovations for the printing industry. The work was undertaken through Knowledge Transfer Partnership number 9576 between BemroseBooth Paragon, Ltd. and The University of Hull.First, the formulation of magnetic inks is described and characterized through a variety of physical and chemical measurements. The magnetic properties of the development inks are presented. Thirteen different ink formulations were developed during the course of this work, all of which are currently now available on the global market, being sold in four continents to, amongst others, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG, formerly ATOC), Régie-Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP), all operators for the French motorway tolls (Sanef, Vinci, ASF, etc.), New York Metropolitan and Casa da Moeda do Brasil (CMB).The design of the manufacturing process, including safety, health and environment consideration, are outlined, with their realization within an ISO 9001:2008 quality management system. The process economics are rationalized and pre-project estimations are contrasted with actual costs.Fast moving manufacturing environments always require the development of innovations to expand product ranges and resolve issues associated with limited reverse supply chains and complications in the use of manufactured product. A variety of problems are presented, with realized and pragmatic pathways to their solution given. In keeping with the spirit of environmental responsibility, innovations in the development of water-based magnetic inks are presented, and routes to their low cost, in situ process monitoring, presented.Last, an entirely new electrochemical approach to the detection of security threats in a mass transit environment is illustrated to a proof-of-concept