A Supply Chain Management view from ICPR – Innovation in Product and Production

This Special Issue of the Brazilian Journal of Operations and Production Management (BJOPM) features six papers selected from the supply chain management (SCM) track of the 21st International Conference on Production Research (ICPR), which conference theme was “Innovation in Product and Production”. This introduction paper evaluates and summarizes the selected contributions characterizing SCM with a leading role in innovation management. The research presented here focuses on supply chain design and cultural influences on supply chain performance, bridges the gap between basic research and industrial application and provides approaches to effectively design supply networks and processes. Some of the dominate key topics emphasized in the six papers contained in this special issue are countertrade in supply chains, types of contracts in supply chains, value stream mapping (VSM), process management, supply chain performance measurement, order penetration points and inventory policies for distribution systems. The main research tools used are analytical hierarchy process (AHP), simulation, SCM logistic scorecard and Markov chains

Supply chains and energy security in a low carbon transition

This special edition to be published in Applied Energy brings together a range of papers that explore the complex, multi-dimensional and inter-related issues associated with the supply or value chains that make up energy systems and how a focus on them can bring new insights for energy security in a low carbon transition. Dealing with the trilemma of maintaining energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining affordability for economies and end users are key issues for all countries, but there are synergies and trade-offs in simultaneously dealing with these different objectives. Currently, industrialised energy systems are dominated by supply chains based on fossil fuels and these, for the most part, have been effective in enabling energy security and affordability. However, they are increasingly struggling to do this, particularly in respect to efforts to tackle climate change, given that the energy sector is responsible for around two-thirds of the global greenhouse gas emissions [1]. A key challenge is therefore how to decarbonise energy systems, whilst also ensuring energy security and affordability. This special issue, through a focus on supply chains, particularly considers the interactions and relationships between energy security and decarbonisation. Energy security is a property of energy systems and their ability to withstand short-term shocks and longer-term stresses depends on other important system properties including resilience, robustness, flexibility and stability [2]. Energy systems are essentially a supply chain comprising of multiple and interrelated sub-chains based around different fuels, technologies, infrastructures, and actors, operating at different scales and locations – from extraction/imports and conversion through to end use [3]. These supply chains have become increasingly globalised and are influenced by the on-going shifts in global supply and demand. Thus the aim of this special issue is to explore and discuss how to enable the development of a secure and sustainable energy system through a better understanding of both existing and emerging low carbon energy supply chains as well as of new approaches to the design and management of energy systems. In part, because moving from a system dominated by fossil fuels to one based on low carbon creates a new set of risks and uncertainties for energy security as well as new opportunities. A large number of submissions from over 18 countries were received for this special edition and 16 papers were accepted after peer review. These address a variety of issues and we have chosen to discuss the findings under two key themes, although many of the papers cut across these: (1) Insights from, and for, supply chain analysis. (2) Insights for energy security and its management. We then provide in (3) a summary of insights and research gaps. Table 1 provides a snapshot of the areas covered by the papers showing: theme (s); empirical domains; and geographical coverage

Managing reverse exchanges in service supply chains

PurposeThis study aims to address the management of reverse flows in the context of service supply chains. The study builds on the characteristics of services production reported in literature to: identify diverse types of reverse flows in services supply chains; discuss key issues associated to the management of reverse service flows; and suggest directions for research for developing the knowledge for management of reverse flows in service contexts. Design/Methodology/ApproachThis study first provides an overview of the theoretical background which supports the identification and the characterization of the flows, and the reverse flows, involved in service production. A short summary of each paper accepted in this special issue is also provided to give readers an overview of the various issues around reverse exchanges in service supply chains that authors have attempted to address. FindingsIn this study we identify distinct types of reverse flows in services production building on the analysis of the characteristics of service production and delivery reported in the literature. Our discussion highlights the fact that service supply chains can be quite diverse in the type of exchanges of inputs and outputs that take place between customers and providers, showing that often there can be substantial flows of items to return. In particular, and differently from manufacturing contexts, we highlight that in service supply chains providers might need to handle bi-directional reverse flows. Research limitations/implicationsThe lack of research on reverse service supply chains is to a great extent a consequence of dominant paradigms which often identify the absence of physical product flows as a key distinguishing feature of service supply chains, and therefore lead to the misbelief that in services there is nothing to return. This special issue therefore aims to clarify this misunderstanding through the limited selection of eight papers that address various issues around reverse exchanges in service supply chains.Originality/valueWhile theoretical and empirical research in supply chain is abundant, management of reverse exchanges in service supply chain is sparse. In this special issue we aim to provide a first contribution to understand how the characteristics of service production raise new issues for the management of reverse flows in service supply chains, and to foster the development of adequate management strategies

Supply Network Evolution in Emerging Industries

The study of emerging industries has recently captured the interest of academics, industrialists, and government policy makers as a means to providing new sources of ‘value’ creation. In recent years, research in this area has typically focused on product R&D technologies, coupled with their particular technology commercialisation challenges. However, the industrial ecosystem is much more complex, and cannot be readily described by a single viewpoint. It is now widely recognised that manufacturing value chains (including subsequent stages of design for manufacture, engineering, production ramp-up, route-to-market, and in-use activities) are critical to transforming new technologies and ideas into innovative products and services. However, the design, setup and operation of enabling supply networks, in the context of emerging industries, is poorly understood. One key challenge is there is no defined strategy that a firm can follow due to lack of certainty in the business ecosystem and on end-consumer requirements. This often forces entrepreneurs to experiment with multiple supply chain strategies. This process can be very time consuming – leading to increased time to market and making it difficult to maintain critical ‘first mover advantage’. This increasing focus on emerging industries, with these inherent uncertainties, is also compounded with changes in the industrial landscape for mature sectors – with the impact of globalisation and the dissolution of vertically integrated value chains – raising the importance of supply networks as an enabling element of emerging industrial development. This special issue focuses on ‘Supply network evolution in emerging industries’, drawing on examples of ‘industrial innovation’ spanning technology-based product innovation, new production or supply chain replenishment models (e.g., new routes to market) and/or novel business models. The research presented here offers new insights into the design and operation of supply networks and their links to other parts of the broader industrial ecosystem

Special issue 'Advances in postharvest process systems' [Editorial]

The world population is predicted to increase from the present 7.7 billion to 9.7 billion in 2050, demanding a significant increase in food supply and production. However, around 25–30% of food is wasted worldwide every year due to poor postharvest supply chain design and management in different stages of the food supply chain, including postharvest handling, processing, and storage systems. This special issue presents state-of-the-art information on the important innovations and research in the agricultural and food industry. Different novel technologies and their implementation to optimize postharvest processes and reduce losses are reviewed and explored. In particular, it examines a range of recently developed and improved technologies and systems to help the industry and growers to manage and minimize postharvest losses, enhance reliability and sustainability in the postharvest food value chain, and generate high-quality products that are both healthy and appealing to consumers. This special issue consists of three sections, focusing on food storage and preservation technologies [1–4], food processing technologies [5–8], and the applications of advanced mathematical modeling and computer simulations [9–11]. We wish to acknowledge the expert contributions of all authors here. We also wish to acknowledge and thank MDPI staff for their professional assistance in editing the published articles. We sincerely hope that this special issue will assist all readers and stakeholders working in or are associated with the fields of agriculture, agri-food chain, and technology development and promotion. After all, efficient postharvest technology is an essential and key factor underlying future global food security, and ultimately human survival and development

Farm SMEs sustainability assessment based on Bellagio Principles. The case of Messinian Region, Greece

Purpose: Sufficient support of the sustainability of farm products embedded in a region (such as Products of Designated Origin / PDOs) to overcome significant obstacles to access domestic and remote markets. Main research question is how to overcome such inherent difficulties and transform them into challenges and opportunities to the new market environment. Design/methodology /approach: Combination of simplicity with the complicated issue of sustainability for awareness of small farmers SMEs and their collective representatives. Improve the understanding of the Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), to facilitate sustainability through use of the ‘Bellagio Principles’ for assessing sustainability of local farm products and facilitating further enhancement. Use of certain PDOs farm products of the Messinian region of Greece, such as local Sfela Feta cheese, olive oil, olives and raisins, to assess sustainability and improvement. Formation of a conceptual constructive action R&D framework of broader use in building-up and performing implementation of holistic supply chain strategy. Expected Findings: Providing better understanding of the SSCM. Insights on how SMEs co-operatives can collectively apply holistic strategies concerning local farm PDOs to fulfil competitiveness and sustainability requirements, under variant product and market conditions. Originality / Value : Improving the know-how, focusing on the sustainability of regional, traditional products and its effects upon supply chain performance and market access. Practical implications for regional-based farm SMEs in the design of holistic value creation strategies to produce sustainable competitive advantage. Interactive cause and effect dynamic implications of sustainable development on social, economic and physical environment

Understanding inter-organizational decision coordination

This article develops a theoretical framework to investigate the interaction and coordination of decision-making processes in a supply chain with multiple and inter-dependent suppliers and customers. Design/Methodology/Approach: Three longitudinal case studies on the decision coordination processes between a European toy supplier and three retailers. Findings: The case studies found different mental models, decision-making behaviours, coordination behaviours and ordering behaviours even though the toy supplier and the three retailers observed quite the same material flow behaviours. The study found explanations for these diverse behaviours by analyzing the mental models and decision-making behaviours of each involved party. Originality/value: The findings explain the conditions which lead to undesirable mental models and decision-making behaviours which affect the coordination of decisions among supply chain members

The hidden side of sustainable operations and supply chain management: unanticipated outcomes, trade-offs and tensions

Purpose The research is based on a critically analyzed literature review focused on the unanticipated outcomes, trade-offs and tensions of sustainable operations and supply chain management (OSCM), including the articles selected for this special issue. Design/methodology/approach The authors introduce the key concepts, issues and theoretical foundations of this special issue on “The hidden side of sustainable operations and supply chain management (OSCM): Unanticipated outcomes, trade-offs and tensions”. The authors explore these issues within this context, and how they may hinder the authors' transition to more sustainable practices. Findings The authors present an overview of unanticipated outcomes, trade-offs, tensions and influencing factors from the literature, and identify how such problems may emerge. The model addresses these problems by highlighting the crucial effect of the underlying state of knowledge on sustainable OSCM decision-making. Research limitations/implications The authors limited the literature review to journals that ranked 2 and above as defined by the Chartered Association of Business Schools Academic Journal Guide. The main implication for research is a call to focus attention on unanticipated outcomes as a starting point rather than only an afterthought. For practitioners, good intentions such as sustainability initiatives need careful consideration for potential unanticipated outcomes. Originality/value The study provides the first critical review of unanticipated outcomes, trade-offs and tensions in the sustainable OSCM discourse. While the literature review (including papers in this special issue) significantly contributes toward describing these issues, it is still unclear how such problems emerge. The model developed in this paper addresses this gap by highlighting the crucial effect of the underlying state of knowledge concerned with sustainable OSCM decision-making

Hybrid concrete: improved processes and performance

This paper presents the results of a study of three very successful Hybrid concrete projects. Supply chain analyses are described and, in the event, the situations found are typified as networks. Problem areas are identified together with various illustrations of good practice, with a particular stress on the necessity for intensive and effective informal communications. The particular problems attendant on the design side of the process, rooted in role confusion and a lack of design fixity are highlighted. This links to the suggestion that as the knowledge of Hybrid systems becomes better understood and is more fully communicated through codification then many of these problems should evaporate. That is, Hybrid can move from being a disruptive technology and become a sustaining technology for the industry and its clients