Ecological Supply Chain Based on By-Product Exchange

In this paper, the concept and primary design principles of ecological supply chain (ESC) are discussed. And the paper shows that companies can gain economical, social and environmental efficiencies simultaneously from implementing ecological supply chain management (ESCM). The cooperation processing based on by-product exchange in ESC is discussed with the decision-making criterion of eco-efficiency maximization. Accordingly, a pricing model is given. A case study of Guangxi Guitang Group is analyzed at last, which shows the multi-win brought by ESCM

Ekologiczny łańcuch dostaw: narzędzia do oceny E-odpadów – globalna perspektywa

When a company's supply chain has achieved a desirable degree of eco-friendliness in all regards, from a sustainability perspective, its performance will be satisfactory. Since the closed-loop e-waste supply chain's operations are primarily focused on achieving sustainability objectives related to the manufacturing, distribution, reusing, and discarding electrical components, it is crucial to evaluate its success in this area. In order to monitor the performance of supply chains and enhance the processes, the supply chain operations reference model offers suggestions and benchmarking tools. In this study, a conceptual framework is illustrated to show how these standards could be used in the E-waste supply chain to link business processes, metrics, industry standards, and technology in order to enhance the relationship and coordination between the supply chain members and to increase sustainability throughout the supply chain. Insufficient attention so far has been paid to the SCOR model's sustainability criteria, according to an assessment of the literature. Consequently, in the wake of portraying the structure of Supply Chain Operation Reference model, we make sense of which credits should be included in Supply Chain Operation Reference so to reflect manageability and which cycles and practices are related with every standard or should be remembered for Supply Chain Operation Reference to lay out the connection between execution, cycles, and practices.Kiedy łańcuch dostaw firmy osiągnie pożądany stopień przyjazności dla środowiska pod każdym względem, z punktu widzenia zrównoważonego rozwoju, jego wyniki będą zadowalające. Ponieważ operacje łańcucha dostaw E-odpadów w obiegu zamkniętym koncentrują się przede wszystkim na osiąganiu celów zrównoważonego rozwoju związanych z produkcją, dystrybucją, ponownym użyciem i utylizacją komponentów elektrycznych, kluczowe znaczenie ma ocena jego sukcesu w tej dziedzinie. Aby monitorować wydajność łańcuchów dostaw i ulepszać procesy, model referencyjny operacji łańcucha dostaw oferuje sugestie i narzędzia do analizy porównawczej. W tym badaniu nakreślono ramy koncepcyjne, aby pokazać, w jaki sposób standardy te można wykorzystać w łańcuchu dostaw elektrośmieci w powiązaniu z procesami biznesowymi, wskaźnikami, standardami branżowymi i technologią w celu wzmocnienia relacji i koordynacji między członkami łańcucha dostaw i aby zwiększyć poziom zrównoważonego rozwoju w całym łańcuchu dostaw. Jak dotąd, co potwierdza dokonany przegląd literatury, kryteria zrównoważonego rozwoju modelu SCOR nie poświęcano wystarczającej uwagi. W związku z tym, po przedstawieniu struktury Modelu referencyjnego operacji łańcucha dostaw, rozumiemy, które kredyty powinny zostać uwzględnione w referencyjnej operacji łańcucha dostaw, aby odzwierciedlić łatwość zarządzania oraz które cykle i praktyki są związane z każdym standardem lub należy o nich pamiętać w odniesieniu do łańcucha dostaw, co umożliwia ukazanie związku pomiędzy wykonaniem, cyklami i praktykami

Improving Demand and Supply Balance in a Closed-Loop Supply Chain : A Case Study in a Dynamic Reuse Spare Part Business

Many companies have adopted closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) systems in pursuit of greener operations through reuse product offering. Contrary to traditional forward supply chains, CLSCs combine both supply chain directions, forward and reverse. As well, the CLSC incorpo-rates circular manufacturing process into the loop, such as repairing, refurbishing, or reman-ufacturing. The combination of multiple simultaneous processes leads to added complexity in a circular system. This results in a wide range of challenges faced by a CLSC. The CLSC pro-cess challenges present themselves as unbalanced demand for reuse products and supply for returning end-of-use cores. As a result, this study’s purpose was to identify the most critical challenges contributing to an unbalanced demand and supply. Also, the study aimed to pro-vide improvement proposals to improve the situation at the case company. To realise this purpose, the study followed the format of a qualitative case study with a maritime company Wärtsilä as the case company. The research data was collected using open interviews with eight key stakeholders involved in the case company’s CLSC. Data from the interviews was then transcribed and analysed with a thematic analysis method; categorising found challeng-es into challenge categories identified from the existing literature. To examine the most criti-cal CLSC challenges, the study performed a criticality analysis using Process Failure Mode & Effect Analysis (PFMEA). PFMEA assigned severity to each found challenge while also evaluat-ing the case company’s current methods for prevention and detection. The analysis resulted in 14 different challenge categories expected to contribute to unbalanced demand and sup-ply. Two new challenge categories, challenges with process knowledge and challenges with a missing seeding strategy, were added to the body of knowledge. Regarding criticality, seven challenge categories were found as critical. Critical challenges in reverse supply chain pro-cesses related to limited internal and external process knowledge and visibility of returning cores. Critical challenges in circular manufacturing processes related to low core availability, pull-ordering system, outdated inventory management practices, and a missing seeding strategy. Finally, the study proposed improvement proposals for the critical challenges that would result in more balanced demand and supply. These findings stress the individual needs of each CLSC system to perform in an optimal manner. The case company’s single source for cores created new challenges that were yet to be identified by the existing litera-ture. Also, the separation of critical challenges aids managers in focusing on the most critical ones in often problem-rich CLSCs

Perspective study: governance for C2C

This perspective study will serve as frame of reference for follow-up activities and exchanges both within and outside the Cradle to Cradle Network (C2CN) and it aims to reflect the current challenges and opportunities associated with implementing a Cradle to Cradle approach. In total, four perspective studies have been written, in the areas on industry, area spatial development, governance and on the build theme

A Systematic Literature Review of the Solar Photovoltaic Value Chain for a Circular Economy

As the solar photovoltaic market booms, so will the volume of photovoltaic (PV) systems entering the waste stream. The same is forecast for lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles, which at the end of their automotive life can be given a second life by serving as stationary energy storage units for renewable energy sources, including solar PV. The main objective of this paper is to systematically review the “state-of-the-art” research on the solar PV value chain (i.e., from product design to product end-of-life), including its main stages, processes, and stakeholder relationships, in order to identify areas along the value chain where circular strategies could be implemented, thereby advancing the transition of the PV industry towards circularity. To achieve this goal, we conducted a systematic literature review of 148 peer-reviewed articles, published in English between 2000 and 2020. Results show the PV value chain has been studied from a forward flow supply chain perspective and mostly from a technological point of view, with little regard for circular design, circular business models, and PV reuse. This article thus takes an integrated value chain perspective, introduces some of the barriers to circularity that industry players face, and argues that these barriers represent future opportunities for incumbent and new entrants to innovate within a circular PV industry

A contribution to support decision making in energy/water sypply chain optimisation

The seeking of process sustainability forces enterprises to change their operations. Additionally, the industrial globalization implies a very dynamic market that, among other issues, promotes the enterprises competition. Therefore, the efficient control and use of their Key Performance Indicators, including profitability, cost reduction, demand satisfaction and environmental impact associated to the development of new products, is a significant challenge. All the above indicators can be efficiently controlled through the Supply Chain Management. Thus, companies work towards the optimization of their individual operations under competitive environments taking advantage of the flexibility provided by the virtually inexistent world market restrictions. This is achieved by the coordination of the resource flows, across all the entities and echelons belonging to the system network. Nevertheless, such coordination is significantly complicated if considering the presence of uncertainty and even more if seeking for a win-win outcome. The purpose of this thesis is extending the current decision making strategies to expedite these tasks in industrial processes. Such a contribution is based on the development of efficient mathematical models that allows coordinating large amount of information synchronizing the production and distribution tasks in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. This thesis starts presents an overview of the requirements of sustainable production processes, describing and analyzing the current methods and tools used and identifying the most relevant open issues. All the above is always within the framework of Process System Engineering literature. The second part of this thesis is focused in stressing the current Multi-Objective solution strategies. During this part, first explores how the profitability of the Supply Chain can be enhanced by considering simultaneously multiple objectives under demand uncertainties. Particularly, solution frameworks have been proposed in which different multi-criteria decision making strategies have been combined with stochastic approaches. Furthermore, additional performance indicators (including financial and operational ones) have been included in the same solution framework to evaluate its capabilities. This framework was also applied to decentralized supply chains problems in order to explore its capabilities to produce solution that improves the performances of each one of the SC entities simultaneously. Consequently, a new generalized mathematical formulation which integrates many performance indicators in the production process within a supply chain is efficiently solved. Afterwards, the third part of the thesis extends the proposed solution framework to address the uncertainty management. Particularly, the consideration of different types and sources of uncertainty (e.g. external and internal ones) where considered, through the implementation of preventive approaches. This part also explores the use of solution strategies that efficiently selects the number of scenarios that represent the uncertainty conditions. Finally, the importance and effect of each uncertainty source over the process performance is detailed analyzed through the use of surrogate models that promote the sensitivity analysis of those uncertainties. The third part of this thesis is focused on the integration of the above multi-objective and uncertainty approaches for the optimization of a sustainable Supply Chain. Besides the integration of different solution approaches, this part also considers the integration of hierarchical decision levels, by the exploitation of mathematical models that assess the consequences of considering simultaneously design and planning decisions under centralized and decentralized Supply Chains. Finally, the last part of this thesis provides the final conclusions and further work to be developed.La globalización industrial genera un ambiente dinámico en los mercados que, entre otras cosas, promueve la competencia entre corporaciones. Por lo tanto, el uso eficiente de las los indicadores de rendimiento, incluyendo rentabilidad, satisfacción de la demanda y en general el impacto ambiental, representa un area de oportunidad importante. El control de estos indicadores tiene un efecto positivo si se combinan con la gestión de cadena de suministro. Por lo tanto, las compañías buscan definir sus operaciones para permanecer activas dentro de un ambiente competitivo, tomando en cuenta las restricciones en el mercado mundial. Lo anterior puede ser logrado mediante la coordinación de los flujos de recursos a través de todas las entidades y escalones pertenecientes a la red del sistema. Sin embargo, dicha coordinación se complica significativamente si se quiere considerar la presencia de incertidumbre, y aún más, si se busca exclusivamente un ganar-ganar. El propósito de esta tesis es extender el alcance de las estrategias de toma de decisiones con el fin de facilitar estas tareas dentro de procesos industriales. Estas contribuciones se basan en el desarrollo de modelos matemáticos eficientes que permitan coordinar grandes cantidades de información sincronizando las tareas de producción y distribución en términos económicos, ambientales y sociales. Esta tesis inicia presentando una visión global de los requerimientos de un proceso de producción sostenible, describiendo y analizando los métodos y herramientas actuales así como identificando las áreas de oportunidad más relevantes dentro del marco de ingeniería de procesos La segunda parte se enfoca en enfatizar las capacidades de las estrategias de solución multi-objetivo, durante la cual, se explora el mejoramiento de la rentabilidad de la cadena de suministro considerando múltiples objetivos bajo incertidumbres en la demanda. Particularmente, diferentes marcos de solución han sido propuestos en los que varias estrategias de toma de decisión multi-criterio han sido combinadas con aproximaciones estocásticas. Por otra parte, indicadores de rendimiento (incluyendo financiero y operacional) han sido incluidos en el mismo marco de solución para evaluar sus capacidades. Este marco fue aplicado también a problemas de cadenas de suministro descentralizados con el fin de explorar sus capacidades de producir soluciones que mejoran simultáneamente el rendimiento para cada uno de las entidades dentro de la cadena de suministro. Consecuentemente, una nueva formulación que integra varios indicadores de rendimiento en los procesos de producción fue propuesta y validada. La tercera parte de la tesis extiende el marco de solución propuesto para abordar el manejo de incertidumbres. Particularmente, la consideración de diferentes tipos y fuentes de incertidumbre (p.ej. externos e internos) fueron considerados, mediante la implementación de aproximaciones preventivas. Esta parte también explora el uso de estrategias de solución que elige eficientemente el número de escenarios necesario que representan las condiciones inciertas. Finalmente, la importancia y efecto de cada una de las fuentes de incertidumbre sobre el rendimiento del proceso es analizado en detalle mediante el uso de meta modelos que promueven el análisis de sensibilidad de dichas incertidumbres. La tercera parte de esta tesis se enfoca en la integración de las metodologías de multi-objetivo e incertidumbre anteriormente expuestas para la optimización de cadenas de suministro sostenibles. Además de la integración de diferentes métodos. Esta parte también considera la integración de diferentes niveles jerárquicos de decisión, mediante el aprovechamiento de modelos matemáticos que evalúan lasconsecuencias de considerar simultáneamente las decisiones de diseño y planeación de una cadena de suministro centralizada y descentralizada. La parte final de la tesis detalla las conclusiones y el trabajo a futuro necesario sobre esta línea de investigaciónPostprint (published version

Circular Return Strategies for the Indian Dairy Market

Background Companies producing premium products with high quality and long product life can experience challenges when trying to penetrate price-sensitive customer segments on emerging markets due to a high product price. One way to achieve growth in these segments is to introduce new innovative business models. From the theory of circular economy, a concept combining sustainable and economical growth, innovative circular business models exist. The question has been raised if these business models can be used to help durable premium products to reach price-sensitive customers on emerging markets. Purpose The purpose of the project is to develop a business model aiming to increase the case company’s market share of dairy processing components on the Indian market while maintaining their position as a high quality brand. Methodology The project is performed as a case study in collaboration with a case company and therefore the research approach is qualitative and the research purpose is exploratory. However a market analysis of the Indian market is conducted and for this reason the purpose is also descriptive. Secondary data regarding the theory behind circular economy and the Indian market is collected through an extensive literature review. Primary data is mostly gathered through a number of interviews with the case company’s employees providing insights to the case company’s operations on the Indian market and knowledge about their customer base. Conclusion The recommended circular return strategy for the case company includes the product return models leasing, trade-ins and products repurchase and product recovery by either refurbishing or remanufacturing are most suitable for the case company. Indications show that this business model is a possible way for the case company to take market shares on the Indian market. In particular, private Indian companies with medium to high capacity can be receptive for circular return strategies. Furthermore, it could give the case company a competitive advantage since no similar business models are currently used on the Indian dairy market. The availability of CIP components to recover is currently the largest obstacle from the customers’ point of view. However, before implementing of circular return strategies their suitability need to be evaluated from the company’s perspective and factors such as reversed logistics, organizational mindset and costs need to be taken into consideration

The process of creating a nation-wide pool system for transport packaging - from vision to decision

After several years of disussions, tests, investigations and additional tests, the suppliers and retailers within the Swedish business sector for food and commodities formed a jointly owned, non-profit company in 1997, which subsequently started in physical operations in 2000. This company, Svenska Retursystem AB (www.retursystem.se), is now responsible for introducing returnable transport packaging into the Swedish food supply chains. The product range includes a family of nestable and interstackable plastic trays and plastic pallets in two sizes. This pool system is unique, since it is the only open, business-wide and national pool system in operation in the world. Planning and implementing an open loop, business-wide national pool system for transport packaging is a complex process. This research project focuses on the driving forces in the entire process, from vision to decision. During 1992-1999, a group of logistics specialists within the Swedish food supply chains took part in a development process that resulted in a great deal of learning. The process contained eight separate missions that are all described in this thesis. This development and decision process is an example of a process where there has been no clearly dominant or driving actor. Instead, suppliers and retailers have worked together in a process based on majority decisions, negotiation and consensus. The collection of data is based on semi-structured interviews with 14 informants. Documents from meetings complement these interviews and support the analyses. The theoretical platform for this research is based on change management in packaging development oriented towards the supply chain. The results obtained show the importance of establishing a common vision at an early stage, where a shared understanding forms a driving force for packaging development. Three "power tools", information, resources and support (Kanter, 1984), must be applied to avoid failure in change processes. One conclusion drawn in this research project is that an additional, fourth tool, gaining acceptance, is required in order to secure the participation of all supply chain actors in a packaging development process. Another conclusion is that all future development of packaging and logistics systems must be based on co-operation and an active dialogue among the actors along the suuply chain. Supply chain transparency is an important driving force, enabling parties to see where costs can be cut and savings can be made. Study visits and pilot tests have been identified as the most efficient methods to acquire new knowledge about logistics development

Manufacturing Value Modelling, Flexibility, and Sustainability: from theoretical definition to empirical validation

The aim of this PhD thesis is to investigate the relevance of flexibility and sustainability within the smart manufacturing environment and understand if they could be adopted as emerging competitive dimensions and help firms to take decisions and delivering value