Food Supply Chain: A Review of Approaches Which Enhance Sustainability with a Focus on Social Responsibility

The sustainability of food supply chain management in a global market after the Economic Crisis is increasingly relevant; the economic and environmental pillars have been closely studied and examined, while the social pillar is considered only marginally and never independently. We propose a literature review focused on 28 articles regarding sustainability in the food supply chain. The proposed review (a) detects methods that could be used to enhance sustainability, (b) highlights the most used methods and their shortcomings, and with regard to social sustainability (c) highlights the fact that most of the studies were found to be based on empirical approach. Moreover, we propose the use of a fuzzy framework to evaluate sustainability (in particular, the social aspect), since fuzzy variables could better explain phenomena and situations generally described verbally

MCDM Bunkering Optimisation in a Hub and Spoke System: The Case of the North Adriatic Ports

Choosing an optimal bunkering port that minimises the increase in the operating costs in a hub and spoke system is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. Furthermore, the criteria are related to the port particularities, the environment, fuel price, and some criteria are quantitative while others are qualitative. It is therefore necessary to create a model that takes such features into consideration. Firstly, in this paper a set of the most used criteria will be defined. Then, a method to choose suitable criteria for a hub and spoke system will be proposed. Secondly, using a Fuzzy AHP, weights will be defined and used in a multi-criteria goal function. The outcome is a bunkering policy MCDM model based on the aggregation of fuel consumption and price to criteria related to port characteristics, local aspects and service particularities. All these factors must be considered by a chief engineer (superintendent) in the process of defining a sustainable bunker policy. A case study based on the North Adriatic port system demonstrates the applicability of the proposed model. In addition, the case study highlights that in hub and spoke systems with short loops, feeder ships can regulate cargo capacity and stay at a port with bunkering policy planning.</p

Rates the Ships Must Pay to Deliver the Oil Sludge as an Incentive to Improve Port Waste Green Logistics

Vessels of the shipping industry produce sludge during the operation of the main engine, various types of auxiliary engines, and the handling of fuel oil on board ships. The sludge can be stored in special tanks and disposed of ashore or burned on board. In the European Union, according to the Port Reception Facilities Directive (EU) 2019/883, ships have to pay a port waste fee for the delivery of ship waste, which is calculated according to the size of the ship. Such an approach does not take into account the capacity of port green waste logistics. In this paper, the case of delivery of ship sludge to ports that are similar in terms of waste logistics capacity is analysed. It is presented as a mathematical game between ships and ports to improve green waste logistics and match the amount of oil sludge that can be discharged from ships to the capacity of ports. The goal of the game is to discourage free-riders, which can occur on both sides, between suppliers and ports. The waste rate can be used as a regulator and incentive that discourages sludge dumping when recycling is not feasible. A model evaluation is proposed using a numerical example

A Framework for Detecting the Proper Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Method Taking into Account the Characteristics of Third-Party Logistics, the Requirements of Managers, and the Type of Input Data

The aim of the paper is to propose a framework for improving the process of choosing an appropriate multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method in the selection of a third-party logistics provider (3PLP). A systematic combining process was used, along with two literature reviews, one empirical survey and a case study. A four-step framework was proposed, starting with identifying common criteria that are harmonised to the 3PLP selection process, followed by analysing all aspects of the 3PLP selection problem and the selected MCDM methods in view of common criteria, finishing with a decision tree, divided into seven branches that orient the decision-maker towards his decisions. The paper also contributes to the theory by identifying and evaluating criteria that characterise 3PLP decision-making and by suggesting a suitable order of criteria. A numerical example was implemented to evaluate a proposed framework

Competition or cooperation in a hub and spoke-shipping network: the case of the North Adriatic container terminals

This article examines the problem of the competition or cooperation of the container terminals in the North Adriatic hub and spoke system with respect to the leadership position of the ship owners, which defines the flow of containers. The problem is defined as a two-stage game where the shipping companies act as leaders and the container terminals are the followers. The stages of the game are defined as a multi-objective optimization problem on a graph. The proposed simulations and the results obtained could be a first step in defining a sustainable method of collabora-tion in the hub and spoke system between the ports and the ship owners. The purpose of the article is also to present a systematic examination of a hub and spoke port network based on a competition–cooperation model. The model could also be used by the shipping companies or container terminals to find an optimal strategy in the game and validate their business decisions. First published online 16 January 201

Identification of Environmental Criteria for Selecting a Logistics Service Provider: A Step Forward towards Green Supply Chain Management

Green environmental performance increases the competitiveness of the supply chain. However, the greening of the supply chain depends on the manufacturer who drives the green initiative, as well as on all the members of the supply chain who take part in the process. The manufacturer’s attention has been largely focused on the environmental performance of the supplier and retailer, whereas logistics service providers have been somehow neglected. It is, in fact, the case is that logistics service providers have begun to play a critical role in supply chain management and could therefore significantly improve environmental sustainability. They have already undertaken a green initiative that unfortunately has rarely, if at all, been required by the manufacturer. The lack of requirements for logistics providers hinders the progress of a green initiative. To take a step forward towards green supply chain management, this chapter aims to introduce all the necessary criteria for the selection of a logistics service provider (LP), with an emphasis on environmental criteria. The environmental selection criteria, with all related subcriteria, were achieved on the basis of a systematic literature review. It has been found that buyers of logistics services still strive to minimize costs, expect quality logistics services, a well-positioned LP, all the while overlooking environmental issues. The most frequently applied environmental selection criteria are value-added reverse logistics services, followed by environmental expenditures, pollutants released, energy consumption, clean materials and energy use. The findings presented here are useful particularly for researchers, as issues regarding sustainable LP selection and its limitations are highlighted, related to selection criteria identification. These findings may be of less use to managers. However, future phases of this study, richer for the evaluation of logistics experts, will be much more applicable to buyers and providers of logistics services

A Warehouse Social and Environmental Performance Metrics Framework

To improve the supply chain performance in all three aspects of sustainability (social, economic, and environmental), a comprehensive sustainable performance measurement system that captures all the supply chain partners’ efforts and commitments is required. Warehouse, as the second largest logistics source of environmental pollution in the supply chain has been almost completely overlooked and ignored in the past studies. To fill this gap, a warehouse performance metrics framework for environmental and social performance measures was proposed using a novel Fuzzy Delphi and Best-worst methodological approach. The method is less time-consuming than the Analytic Hierarchy Process or Analytic Network Process, it does not address whether criteria are dependent or independent, requires fewer comparisons of criteria, but still produces reliable and credible results. The presented framework consists of 32 equally formulated environmental and social performance indicators, including formulas and measurement units. The 14 most important indicators are ranked according to the requirements of different stakeholders.</p

Game Theory - Applications in Logistics and Economy

This book provides a wide range of examples of the uses of game theory, even in situations where such application may seem unsuitable. This book explores cooperative, competitive, leader-follower games and the free-rider problem - as well as games with the aim of maintaining friendships or team work. The reader will be presented with a wide range of practical applications of game theory

Quality standards implementation in maritime education and training institutions: fuzzy assessment

Efficient organization of maritime industry is based on adequate human resources. Knowledge and skills are the results of a well organized study process and training. Since education is part of the public administration, the European Quality Management tool for the Public Sector - Common Assessment Framework (CAF) could be used, in accordance with the STCW convention requirements as a starting point to develop a model that allows quantitative assessment of the Maritime Education and Training (MET) institutions. Evaluation results and procedures are usually described qualitatively as verbal assessments that are part of a report or are summarized in statistical reports. Fuzzy reasoning permits a transition from qualitative to quantitative decision making. For this purpose, we suggest fuzzy modelling, which gives a quantitative assessment of education effectiveness. Evaluators’ verbal assessments could be linguistic input variables of a fuzzy decision model, based on CAF recommendations and STCW convention that produces a quantitative mark of the Maritime Education and Training Institution quality