The role of human factors in agile supply chains

It is becoming impossible to remove or ignore sources of turbulence and volatility in markets. Hence, supply chain managers must accept uncertainty, but they still need to develop a strategy that enables them to match supply and demand at an acceptable cost. The ability to achieve this has been termed 'supply chain agility'. The aim of this paper is to represent the effect of human factors on agile supply chains. Various human factors affecting the agility of an organisation are identified. These factors interact with each other and their overall effect helps an organisation in attaining agile-enabled needs. In this article Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) has been used to evolve relationships among these human factors. The study concludes with a discussion on these human factors and the managerial implications. [Submitted 21 November 2007; Accepted 05 February 2008]human factors; agility; agile supply chains; supply chain management; SCM; interpretive structural modelling; ISM.

Implementation challenges of blockchain technology in closed-loop supply chain: a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management perspective in developing countries

Closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) activities ensure flawless Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management by the usage of IoT and Blockchain technology (BCT) is proven as an effective and sustainable solution among developed countries. However, implementation challenges including data integrity, accessibility, and reluctance to change restrict the potential of these digital technologies in developing countries. Thus, to extend the existing literature, the study has relevance. Based on a systematic literature review, Best Worst Method (BWM) is used for determining the most critical BCT implementation barriers affecting WEEE. This study identifies the IoT-enabled BCT implementation issues in closed-loop WEEE management. This study examines the appropriate issues in the context of developing a legislative support system, ineffective database management, low understanding of cognitive technologies, and information security and privacy are the key concerns for BCT implementation in closed-loop supply chains. The model is an effort in the waste management domain for the transition of developing economies towards circularity

India’s public transportation system: the repercussions of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has left scars on the Indian public transportation system. In order to regain its original momentum, policymakers will need to assess the barriers hindering the effectiveness of the public transportation sector. In this regard, this article analyzes the various factors affecting the public transportation sector in India and determines their interrelationships. The research is presented in three steps. First, we review the literature to identify the factors that affect the public transportation system in India. Next, we propose an integrated model of grey-DEMATEL and ANP, grey-DANP, to calculate the priority ranking and weight of the factors. The grey-DEMATEL method is used to find the interrelationships among the factors, while ANP determines the local and global weights of the factors to form a priority order. Then, we present the interrelationships in the form of influential relation maps. Furthermore, we provide a sensitivity analysis to enhance the credibility of our study. The paper reveals that governmental regulations are the most influential factors in India\u27s public transportation system. The transportation authorities and policymakers must also focus on improving the financial stability and enhancing the customer’s trust in the public transportation system. The framework provided in this paper can be applied to other countries where similar hindrances in the public transportation system have been caused by COVID-19

Evaluating roadblocks to implementing a green freight transportation system: an interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy digraph matrix approach

Nowadays, freight logistics industries are seeking to adopt green freight practices in their transport systems to reduce environmental concerns; efficient green freight practices lead to reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while using less energy and material. The freight logistics industry, despite its’ significant contribution to a country's monetary development and economic welfare, is not well regarded because of its role in contaminating the climate. However, the freight logistics industry is trying to implement a green freight transportation system to improve their image with buyers. However, they are facing a lot of obstacles. Therefore, this paper seeks to identify the barriers to the implementation of green freight in first world and third world nations and formulate them into a single numeric index. The Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set (IVIFS)-based graph theory and matrix approach (GTMA) technique has been used in this research to derive the green freight barrier impact index value. The PERMAN algorithm is used to compute the permanent function of matrices. Findings suggest that the freight logistics industries in third world nations should pay more attention to societal and managerial barriers for successful implementation of green freight. This research will assist policymakers and managers of freight logistics industries to create strategies to overcome the hurdles in properly implementing green freight practices

Interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy digraph matrix approach with PERMAN algorithm for measuring COVID-19 impact on perishable food supply chains

The outbreak of COVID-19 has prompted a substantial shrinkage in various businesses worldwide, the perishable food sector being one of the worst hits. Henceforth, this manuscript intends to analyse the impact of COVID-19 on perishable food supply chains (PFSC) of developed and developing countries. For this, the study presents the analysis in two steps. In the first step, the study illuminates the particular factors that frame unique sorts of supply chain (SC) disturbances in PFSC. Secondly, the study proposes a unique interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy set (IVIFS) based graph theory and matrix approach (GTMA) to analyse the COVID-19 impact index value. In addition to this, the PERMAN algorithm is used to calculate the permanent function. The study has revealed that developing nations should focus more on their technological and infrastructural factors to improve the condition of PFSC during the pandemic. This study’s results can be deployed by decision-makers to forestall the operative and long-haul consequences of COVID-19, or any other disruptions to the PFSC, and make plans to overcome the impact. The significance of this manuscript is that the prominent factors degrading the performance of PFSC amidst the pandemic have been highlighted, with their respective impact on developed and developing nations compared. Moreover, a neoteric comprehensive integration of IVIFS-GTMA technique along with the PERMAN algorithm has been utilised in this manuscript. This particular study is inimitable as it supplements existing literature by providing analytical support to the relationship among various factors impacting the PFSC amidst the pandemic

Enhancing resiliency of perishable product supply chains in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak

Globally, countries are struggling to fulfil customer demands due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on perishable food supply chains (PFSCs). This study aims to analyse the factors influencing PFSCs during the pandemic and improve their resiliency. This is essential as some factors discourage the productive execution of PFSCs and decrease organizational performance, thus lowering stakeholder satisfaction. This study has been conducted in two phases. The first phase, through extensive review and discussion with experts, identifies the influencing factors related to supply chain (SC) disturbances in PFSCs. In the second phase, a hybrid method i.e. g-DANP, a combination of grey-decision making trial and evaluation laboratory and analytic network process, is employed to develop a hierarchical structure to measure their influence. The proposed framework is validated with a case of the current COVID-19 outbreak. The study revealed that factors, restriction on import-export and fear of violation of social distancing guidelines, are the primary “cause” group factors; whereas, price variation of perishable products and panic buying and stockpiling are the crucial “effect” group factors affecting the PFSCs. The findings also enrich existing literature by providing analytical support to relationships between various factors affecting PFSCs during the pandemic. The results of this study can be utilised by decision-makers to anticipate the operative and long-haul effects of COVID-19 on PFSCs and create plans to deal with the pandemic.N/

Analyzing the challenges for sustainable food grain storage management: a path to food security in emerging nations

Food security is a critical concern for emerging nations, where agriculture is a vital source of livelihood for a significant proportion of the population. However, ineffective food grain storage management (FGSM) poses a substantial threat to food security, resulting in significant post-harvest loss (PHL). This research aims to identify and analyse the challenges of sustainable FGSM in emerging nations, with a specific focus on India using Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM) and Matrice d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée á un Classement (MICMAC) analysis. The study identifies 15 critical challenges after doing a thorough literature review, consulting with industry experts, and a dedicated questionnaire survey. The study finds that inadequate government policies and a lack of commitment from the top management are the major challenges to sustainable FGSM. The combination of the qualitative and quantitative model provides a comprehensive understanding of the identified factors and their interrelationships, offering a logical framework to support decision-making and encourage sustainability. This paper contributes to the broader debate on sustainable food production and consumption by highlighting the importance of sustainable FGSM in emerging nations

A systematic assessment of multi‐dimensional risk factors for sustainable development in food grain supply chains: a business strategic prospective analysis

The food grain supply chain (FGSC) is comprised of several links, stretching from the point of production to the point of consumption. A broken connection might produce a food catastrophe. The structural imbalance of India's FGSC is an obstacle to achieving sustainability; this has to be addressed if the country is to preserve national food security. This present study aims to develop a systematic assessment of the risks and the priority of risk-mitigating solutions in attaining sustainability in the Indian FGSC. Multiple groups of individuals and businesses involved in the FGSC have been surveyed and interviewed, with their responses analyzed. A total of thirty-one risk factors and eleven risk-reduction strategies are identified. Further, the identified risk factors are classified into five-dimensional sustainability criteria (environmental, economic, institutional, technical, and social) by using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Then, a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP), combined with the fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS) method, is adopted to find the most critical risk factors and choose the best course of strategies for risk mitigation. The study finds that inability to incorporate advanced technology imposes the highest risk to sustainability followed by natural disasters. Ensuring end-to-end computerization using advanced technology like agri 4.0 is the need of the hour in intercepting the range of FGSC risks. The results may help policymakers create a comprehensive risk mitigation plan and taxonomy to increase supply chain resilience