Investigating Brexit Implications on the Irish Agri-Food Exports: A Simulation-Based Scenario Mapping Model

The Irish economy is highly dependent on the UK market with a total export value surpassing e 14 billion. Several reports have warned of severe bottlenecks at the Irish and British ports if new customs checks are reintroduced. A significant disruption is also expected to the traffic flow between Ireland and Britain because of the lack of proper checking infrastructure at some ports. This situation will cause devastating impact on the competitive advantage of various Irish exports to the UK market, particularly limited-shelf-life products. Hence, a simulation model has been developed to investigate three Brexit scenarios: 1) applying non-tariff barriers at ports, 2) replacing the UK Landbridge with direct routes to continental Europe, and 3) lack of checking infrastructure at the UK ports. The scenarios’ implications on the transportation time and shelf life of Irish Cheese exports to the UK are investigated, leading to one recommendable scenario

Post-Brexit Implications on Irish Freight Transport and Logistics Sector

The study quantifies the impact that new custom checks and Agri/SPS inspection procedures could have on agri-food supply chains. It is possible that these checks will be introduced at both EU27 and UK ports. The analysis shows the potential risks to the Irish agri-food supply chain. These risks are explained through a range of non-tariff barriers and Ireland/EU transport connectivity scenarios. There is potential for disruption in the long-established transportation routes between Ireland, the UK and Continental European markets. Direct shipping routes (i.e. links directly between Ireland and the EU26) have therefore been considered in this case. This consideration comes from the perspective of both practitioners in the field and experts from social, environmental, and economic disciplines. The study demonstrates how Irish agri-food supply chains are uniquely exposed to Brexit. Ireland has had strong ties with the UK market and has been a supplier for many decades. In 2018, agri-food exports from Ireland to the UK reached €5.6 billion, while imports from the UK yielded €4.5 billion. Overall, this provided Ireland with a trade surplus of more than €1 billion.1 In addition, about 38% of Irish unitised exports to Continental Europe transits via the UK land- bridge.2 Brexit poses an unprecedented risk to the competitive advantage that Irish agri-food products have cultivated in UK markets. This study reveals that the delivery time for all products will increase, in each scenario, which will diminish product shelf-life. This risk, of course, will affect both the value and quality of certain products, which in turn affects their competitiveness

A continuous improvement approach for outsourced after-sales field repair services contracting

Manufacturers are forced to shift their traditional business focus from product offerings to integrated products and services to face the increasing competition in the market. Hence, they engage in service supply chains by hiring suppliers to efficiently provide services to their customers. Service supply chains are more complex and challenging than manufacturing supply chains and require more intense buyer-supplier collaboration; however, few studies addressed such collaboration and its implementation. Based on formal interactions with a multinational computer manufacturer who provides integrated products and services solutions to its customers in Europe; the Middle East; and Africa, it was found that the company’s goal is to improve after-sales field repair services contracting, with a particular focus on the Middle Eastern emerging markets which are growing fast. Research work in this thesis was carried out in three phases. The first phase aims at developing a contracting methodology for the outsourcing of field repair services. The second phase aims at exploring field repair service practices in the Middle Eastern emerging markets using a multi case study which showed both cultural and economic differences but little operational difference between both established and emerging markets. Due to little operational differences, data from an established market was used in the third phase to test the developed contracting methodology. This methodology extends the traditional supplier selection by adding an application feedback stage at the concluding stages of the selection process including a continuous improvement element that supports strategic and performance-based contracting and enables improving the current, not the subsequent, contracting process. A framework is proposed to allow for a buyer-supplier collaborative negotiations including an execution approach for the implementation of continuous improvement over the contract lifecycle with agreement on benefits sharing. Business process modelling and simulation is used to model the service provision and simulate the predicted improvements as it offers a quick, easy to use, and understandable approach for all users. Framework testing using case company data has shown to provide significant improvements in terms of ongoing cost reductions and improved service quality. The combined use of business process modelling and simulation has shown to be a practical and effective decision support tool that allows for rapid evaluation of improvements at the pre-signing stage of the contract

Product-service systems in Egypt: a multi case evaluation of field repair

Purpose – The purpose of this paper aims to evaluate field repair within product-service system (PSS) models operated by multinational manufacturers in the Egyptian emerging market to better understand the unique characteristics of this evolving market and to identify differences compared to established markets. Design/methodology/approach – Case research was conducted on multinational manufacturers providing field repair services in Egypt. The sample is made up of 12 companies across different industries using convenience and purposive sampling. Data were collected using structured interviews. Findings – There is no common model for field repair PSSs provision in the Egyptian emerging market even within the same industry, which is influenced by several factors. One of these factors is the market type being emerging or established. However, some commonalities have been found between some industries such as computer, telecommunications and document processing. Yet, there is no structural difference in the supply networks used to provide field repair service offerings in the Egyptian emerging market compared to established markets with the trend of outsourcing evident as a main attribute of a PSS in emerging markets. The main differences between established and emerging markets are related to country, culture and customer factors, which are market-based. Among the main challenges and risks that internationalized manufacturers face in Egypt, is the low level of customer awareness. Research limitations/implications – Findings are limited to the studied cases and industries; yet, internationalized firms must deal with some unique challenges and difficulties in emerging markets. Practical implications – This paper assesses PSS requirements and provides deeper insights for companies looking to provide or expand manufacturing-based offerings into the Egyptian emerging market

A simulation based continuous improvement approach for manufacturing based field repair service contracting

This paper develops and tests a novel extension to traditional supplier selection practice, with a particular focus on the concluding stages of a manufacturing-based field service. Action-based research was used to design and develop a discrete event simulation decision support for a large multinational manufacturing organisation with a significant after-sales service supply chain. The framework has been designed to identify and validate the value attributable to collaborative supplier contracting with built-in costed performance improvement targets. Use of the framework in the case organisation was found to produce greater cost savings over traditional practice, facilitating extended supply chain contracts. The results provide evidence of the high level of savings achievable while also improving customer delivery through targeted service improvements over the contracts life cycle. This framework advances beyond the prevalent practice of cost-focused short-term adversarial supply contracting and is innovative in terms of its continuous improvement simulation based framework design