Managing risks in sustainable supply chains

Purpose of the paper: The aim of this paper is to discuss the emerging challenges that modern supply chains face from the perspective of sustainability, highlighting the opportunities and the risks that these organizations encounter. Methodology: The paper is theoretical, and provides an analysis of trends and challenges for sustainable supply chains and the management of related risks, highlighting some gaps in the literature. Findings: The paper categorizes the priorities for modern sustainable supply chains and provides a clear differentiation between the concept of \u2018sustainability risk management\u2019 and the categorization of \u2018risks in sustainable supply chains\u2019. Implications and originality/value of the paper: The paper addresses different gaps in the literature of sustainable supply chains and provides the managers with helpful directions for their supply chain management agenda. In detail, authors identifies trends that seem to make supply chains more vulnerable and exposed to the risk, key risk-related questions for managing sustainable supply chain, suggesting a number of important issues which need to be weighed when supply chain design decisions are taken. Research limitations: The theoretical approach of the paper can benefit from future in-depth analyses based on case studies

Jet fuel price variations and market value: a focus on low-cost and regular airline companies

We analyze the relationship between dynamics to stock prices and jet fuel prices, conditional on financial and company-specific variables, in the airline sector. In particular, our contribution to the literature is in the comparison between regular and low-cost airline companies. We run a set of fixed-effect regressions where the dependent variable, the stock daily return of the airline company (observed between 2008 and 2014) is regressed over three sets of explanatory variables (financial, company-specific and time variables). While large and small companies provide similar results, we find that the company price return – among different variables – correlates only with the jet fuel return and the stock market return. Our work also suggests that there is a difference between regular and low-cost companies. We speculate that this possibly arises because low-cost companies stock-pile in a more efficient way, which depends less on current jet fuel price. Our evidence then sheds light on the efficiency of the low-cost model and may suggest to export part of its practice among regular airline companies

Evaluation of control strategies for managing supply chain risks using Bayesian belief networks

Supply chains have become complex and vulnerable and therefore, researchers are developing effective techniques in order to capture the complex structure of the supply network and interdependency between supply chain risks. Researchers have recently started using Bayesian Belief Networks for modelling supply chain risks. However, these models are still focused on limited domains of supply chain risk management like supplier selection, supplier performance evaluation and ranking. We have developed a comprehensive risk management process using Bayesian networks that captures all three stages of risk management including risk identification, risk assessment and risk evaluation. Our proposed new risk measures and evaluation scheme of different combinations of control strategies are considered as an important contribution to the literature. We have modelled supply network as a Bayesian Belief Network incorporating the supply network configuration, probabilistic interdependency between risks, resulting losses, risk mitigation control strategies and associated costs. An illustrative example is presented and three different models are solved corresponding to different risk attitudes of the decision maker. Based on our results, it is not always viable to implement control strategy at the most important risk factor because of the consideration of mitigation cost, relative loss and probabilistic interdependency between connected risk factors

Supply chain risk network management : a Bayesian belief network and expected utility based approach for managing supply chain risks

The paper develops and operationalises a supply chain risk network management (SCRNM) process that captures interdependencies between risks, multiple (potentially conflicting) performance measures and risk mitigation strategies within a (risk) network setting. The process helps in prioritising risks and strategies specific to the decision maker's risk appetite. The process is demonstrated through a case study conducted in a global manufacturing supply chain involving semi-structured interviews and focus group sessions with experts in risk management. Theoretically grounded in the framework of Bayesian Belief Networks (BBNs) and Expected Utility Theory (EUT), the modelling approach has a number of distinctive characteristics. It utilises a top-down approach of Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). Performance measures are identified first and subsequently connected to risks. A 'probability conditional expected utility' matrix is introduced to reflect the propagation impact of interdependent risks on all performance measures identified. A 'weighted net evaluation of risk mitigation' method is proposed and the method of 'swing weights' is used to capture the tradeoff between the efficacy of strategies and the associated cost keeping in view the decision maker's risk appetite. The approach adapts and integrates techniques from safety and reliability engineering (FTA), decision making under uncertainty (EUT), and multi-criteria decision analysis (swing weights). The merits and challenges associated with the implementation of interdependency based frameworks are discussed. Propositions are presented to elucidate the significance of modelling interdependency between risks and strategies

Misurare la qualit\ue0 del servizio dell\u2019operatore logistico nella supply chain alimentare: risultati di un\u2019indagine empirica

L\u2019obiettivo dell\u2019articolo \ue8 analizzare quali siano le variabili di servizio su cui si fonda la soddisfazione dei clienti degli operatori logistici all\u2019interno della catena di fornitura alimentare. A tal fine, gli autori hanno condotto una ricerca empirica in ambito business-to-business, basata su un\u2019analisi della letteratura in tema di relazione tra industria e distribuzione, con particolare riferimento alla relazione tra industria-operatori logistici-distribuzione, evidenziando i principali contributi e gap esistenti

Co-Occurrence of NDM-5 and RmtB in a Clinical Isolate of Escherichia coli Belonging to CC354 in Latin America

New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing isolates are usually resistant to most β-lactams and other antibiotics as a result of the coexistence of several resistance markers, and they cause a variety of infections associated to high mortality rates. Although NDM-1 is the most prevalent one, other variants are increasing their frequency worldwide. In this study we describe the first clinical isolate of NDM-5- and RmtB-producing Escherichia coli in Latin America. E. coli (Ec265) was recovered from a urine sample of a female outpatient. Phenotypical and genotypical characterization of resistance markers and conjugation assays were performed. Genetic analysis of Ec265 was achieved by whole genome sequencing. Ec265 belonging to ST9693 (CC354), displayed resistance to most β-lactams (including carbapenems), aminoglycosides (gentamicin and amikacin), and quinolones. Several resistance genes were found, including blaNDM-5 and rmtB, located on a conjugative plasmid. blaNDM-5 genetic context is similar to others found around the world. Co-transfer of multiple antimicrobial resistance genes represents a particular challenge for treatment in clinical settings, whereas the spread of pathogens resistant to last resort antibiotics should raise an alarm in the healthcare system worldwide.Fil: Costa, Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Instituto de Investigaciones En Bacteriologia y Virologia Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Figueroa Espinosa, Roque Arnulfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Instituto de Investigaciones En Bacteriologia y Virologia Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Gaudenzi, Florencia. Hospital Central de San Isidro “Dr. Melchor Angel Posse”; ArgentinaFil: Lincopan, Nilton. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Fuga, Bruna. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Ghiglione, Barbara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Instituto de Investigaciones En Bacteriologia y Virologia Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Gutkind, Gabriel Osvaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Instituto de Investigaciones En Bacteriologia y Virologia Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Di Conza, José Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Instituto de Investigaciones En Bacteriologia y Virologia Molecular; Argentin

Exploiting Knowledge across Networks through Reputation Management.

The emerging paradigm of network competition is increasingly in evidence across many industrial sectors and provides further support for the idea that ‘supply chains compete, not companies’. It can be argued that network competition requires a much greater focus on managing the interfaces that connect the individual players in that network and exchanging and leveraging knowledge across the network. This paper sets out to establish a framework whereby the critical interfaces and the knowledge sharing benefits can be identified and how the strength of the relationships at those interfaces can become the basis for building organisational reputation and create an environment more conducive to co-operation and knowledge sharing. Finally, the paper analyses the potential impact of reputational risks in influencing the perception of stakeholders about the organisation. Whilst the idea of value-adding networks based on closely connected providers of capabilities and resources is appealing, it should be recognised that, if not properly managed, the actions of the stakeholders in those networks can impact the risk profile of the business significantly—particularly reputational risk. The more that organisations become part of complex global networks, the more dependent they become upon the other network members for knowledge and other resources. Because of this dependency there is always the danger that the reputation of the focal firm can be damaged by the actions of other network members, hence reducing the likelihood of future collaborative working and knowledge exploitation. Using examples drawn from a variety of industries, the paper highlights the potential for reputational risk if the critical network interfaces are not closely managed. It will be argued that by actively managing relationships with stakeholders in the network the risk to the organisation's reputation can be mitigated and the sharing of knowledge simultaneously enhanced

Introduction to Commodity Price Risk Management

Every business is exposed to financial risk stemming from commodity price volatility. Risk exposure may be direct from the prices paid for raw materials needed for operations, or indirect from higher energy and transportation costs. The purpose of this book is to provide an approach that organizations can implement to manage commodity price volatility and reduce their exposure to financial risk. This topic is important for current and future supply chain professionals due to the significant direct financial effects that price volatility has on profitability, organizational cash flow, the ability to competitively price products, new product design, buyer-supplier relationships, and negotiating, to name a few