The social-psychological processes of supply chain learning: A dyadic perspective

Today’s dynamic and complex supply chain contexts require supply chain actors to continuously learn. Hence, this research explores the fundamentals of effective supply chain learning, which presents in the extant literature as an opaque black box. The study explores the socio-psychological dynamics of learning capability and learning processes of a dyadic supply chain, arguing that they depend on certain enabling characteristics. The study also contributes to a comprehensive theory of supply chain learning by establishing the nature of the linkages between the elements of supply chain learning, thereby bridging the various gaps between micro-and macro-perspectives. By highlighting the significance of the enabling factors, it also theorizes the dynamics of supply chain learning. Also, the relationship between enabling characteristics and the individual, individual-group, group-organizational, and organizational levels of supply chain learning is shown to be strongest when certain contextual factors are present. In analyzing the phenomena, the study uses a constructivist paradigm and an interpretative philosophical base. It also adopts organizational learning theory and a relational view as fundamental theoretical perspectives. A multiple case study methodology is used when collecting the data. This research makes valuable original contributions in the field of supply chain learning. The theoretical contributions extend organizational learning theories to the dyadic supply chain context by developing a more comprehensive and practical perspective of 'supply chain learning' that also demonstrates the crucial role of certain enabling characteristics. This research also develops a framework of the dynamics of supply chain learning at the dyadic level from the perspectives of the supplier and the manufacturing firm. This study will help decision makers to better understand how to manage their supply chain dynamics and enhance their learning processes and capabilities. Using a multilevel lens to study the supply chain learning phenomenon, the framework presented in this study opens the way for understanding the critical role of value creation and behavioral enabling characteristics in supply chain learning. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of applying behavioral approaches in future explorations of supply chain learning phenomena. However, further theoretical development is required, both to enhance the validity and reliability of the findings and ultimately to provide a successful and sustainable theory of supply chain learning

The Impact of Extended Warehouse Management System Implementation on Warehouse Operational Performance: A Case Study of Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry

Warehouses operating in the Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry are affected by the supply chain disruptions. Therefore, it is critical to develop faster and effective mechanisms of managing warehouse operational performance. In this regard, this paper aims to evaluate the impact of Extended Warehouse Management System (EWMS) implementation on warehouse operational performance. It intended to achieve two objectives: to examine the advanced features of EWMS and the impact of EWMS implementation on warehouse operational performance. The case study method gathered operational quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources, ensuring data richness. Descriptive statistics and mean comparison tests through hypothesis testing were used as quantitative data analysis techniques, using the IBM SPSS Statistics 21 statistical analysis software package. The Framework Approach was used to analyse qualitative data. By mapping Process Flowcharts before and after the implementation, the improvements and drawbacks were identified with their root causes. Advanced features of EWMSs are presented by reviewing the literature. The study's findings reveal that implementation of EWMS increases the throughput, average receiving rate, average allocation and picking rate, average loading rate, average last truck dispatch time, and average on-time delivery. The scope of the research is limited to evaluating the EWMS implementation impact on warehouse operational performance in a selected FMCG warehouse. Future researchers can focus on the effects of EWMS on supply chain capability enhancements and the strategic performance of supply chain partners. The in-depth analysis of performance improvements in the extent of the throughput, average receiving rate, average allocation and picking rate, average loading rate, average last truck dispatch time, and average on-time delivery signals warehouse managers in decision making on effective utilisation EWMS implementation. This paper is among the very few evaluating Extended WMS, specifically, empirical investigation of the impact of EWMS system implementation on FMCG warehouse operational performance. Keywords: Extended Warehouse Management Systems, Advance Features, FMCG Warehouses, Warehouse Operational Performanc

A Maturity Model for Assessing the Extent of Automation in Sri Lankan Warehouse Operations: A Multiple Case Study

Warehouses are facing substantial challenges due to the COVID-19 context. In this regard, automation in the warehouse industry has become an emerging trend in the supply chain sector. However, there is no proper model to measure the maturity level of warehouse operations. This paper aims to provide a maturity scale model to measure the automation stage in the Sri Lankan warehouse context. This research uses qualitative and quantitative approaches to assess the maturity level. A refined maturity assessment model was developed using early literature and industry expert views. The study analysed data collected from five major warehouses in Sri Lanka, and those were modelled as ad-hoc, mechanisation (semi-automated), and fully automated stages of examining the overall maturity stage of the selected warehouses. The study findings reveal that the majority of selected Sri Lankan warehouses have developed soft-based automation practices. According to the study, chosen warehouses in Sri Lanka retain the stage of 1.93 in maturity scale, which means combining traditional manual processes with some part of automation. Further selected warehouse operations belong to the mature stage of ad-hoc level in the maturity scale of automation. It may dramatically move to the mechanisation stage with the globalised market dynamics. Further, the maturity model of the study provides a practical diagnostic tool that will help warehouses assess the warehouses' automation level in the Sri Lankan context. Keywords: Automation of Warehouse Operations, Maturity Scale, Warehouse Automation Practice