https://findresearcher.sdu.dk:8443/ws/files/116118561/reverse_logistics.pdf

Reverse logistics and closed-loop supply chain: A comprehensive review to explore the future

Purpose




Recently, in response to the credit crunch and the increased costs of financing, new solutions for supporting the financial management of supply chains, known as supply chain finance (SCF), have been developed. They exploit the strengths of supply chain links to optimise working capital. The purpose of this paper is to provide a reference framework that links together the objectives leading to the adoption of SCF solutions and several moderating variables.




Design/methodology/approach




This paper adopts a multiple case study methodology, analysing 14 cases of the application of SCF solutions among Italian companies.




Findings




The main findings are the identification of the different objectives leading to the adoption of SCF; the analysis of the impact of moderating variables (the level of inter- and intra-firm collaboration, the level of the trade process digitalisation and the bargaining power and financial strength of the leading firm) on SCF adoption; and the formulation of a reference framework supporting the effective adoption of SCF solutions.




Research limitations/implications




This contribution is exploratory in nature; theory-testing contributions should be the focus of further research. Also, the sample is limited to Italian companies. Finally, the service provider’s point of view has been marginally taken into consideration in this study.




Originality/value




The article addresses the need for more empirical research on SCF. It provides a reference framework focused on the objectives and moderating variables leading to effective SCF adoption, providing a theory-building contribution on the general topic of SCF and on the specific topic of the adoption process of different SCF solutions.

Does finance solve the supply chain financing problem

The benefits of supply chain visibility: A value assessment model

Purpose – Given the relevance of supply chain sustainability, the aim of the present paper is threefold: first, to investigate the strategies currently undertaken by companies in the supply chain sustainability arena, and, second, to find out which phase of the supply chain is at the forefront in the implementation of initiatives towards more sustainable supply chains. Finally, the criteria commonly used for priority‐setting amongst different initiatives within the same supply chain phase are identified.Design/methodology/approach – A three‐pronged methodology was adopted. First, a framework was developed to identify the initiatives towards supply chain sustainability. Second, the framework was applied to a set of multinational companies by examining their environmental reporting, thus to assess the adoption of each initiative. Third, a further in‐depth investigation of three companies was finally performed in order to provide additional insights on the obtained results.Findings – The research offers a be...

Benchmarking supply chain sustainability: insights from a field study

Recent years have witnessed a marked increase in interest by researchers and practitioners in the concept of process harmonization. However, they fail to present performance measures to evaluate the extent of process harmonization achieved after implementing harmonization initiatives. At a process level, measures provide information to control and manage processes in order to improve them. Given the importance of process harmonization in process improvement as has been attributed in the literature, there is a need of measures to evaluate to what extent processes are harmonized (i.e. to what extent differences and inconsistencies are eliminated). The aim of this study is to develop and validate a set of operational measures to evaluate the level of harmonization of business processes in an organization. The research approach was composed of two phases: First, an exploratory phase to derive a measurement model composed by a set of measures of process harmonization; and second, a confirmatory phase to empirically assess the measurement model derived. As a result, a valid and reliable hierarchical measurement model was developed composed by a second order formative construct "process harmonization" and three first order reflective constructs: representing data, resources and IT-related measures. Keywords: harmonization, business process, hierarchical measurement model, partial least squares

/pdf/the-development-of-measures-of-process-harmonization-5c4i5unyj2.pdf

The development of measures of process harmonization

Purpose – The paper aims to give a quantitative assessment of the benefits obtainable by using information and communication technologies to integrate the order‐to‐payment process involving manufacturers and specialized retailers in the home appliances industry.Design/methodology/approach – Standard business processes were defined and activity base costing was applied to develop the cost model with the support, i.e. validation and data provision of most of the companies operating in the Italian home appliances market.Findings – The bottom line is €96 per order‐to‐payment cycle in the conventional, paper‐based scenario, compared to €23 in the integrated scenario involving the exchange of structured electronic documents. The potential savings amount to about 80 per cent of the costs, almost equally shared between the retailer and the manufacturer. A significant part of the benefits comes from the reduction in the management costs of non‐conformity issues.Research limitations/implications – The assessment co...

Assessing the benefits of B2B trade cycle integration: a model in the home appliances industry

Product take-back legislations shift responsibility of disposal from consumers to producers. The most known example is for the disposal of the Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Traditional WEEE management approaches focus on a single actor and on specific WEEE categories and do not optimise the system as a whole. This paper presents a linear programming model to manage the assignment of the WEEE flows to consortia of producers, in order to minimise the logistics and administrative costs of the whole system. A case study is used to validate the approach and the potential applications of the model.

A. Salgaro

Papers

Assessing the benefits of B2B trade cycle integration: a model in the home appliances industry

A model for the management of WEEE reverse logistics

How do electronic invoicing operators create value?Empirical evidence from Finnish and Italian operators

Can RFId be profitable in the CPG supply chain? An Activity-Based model to assess the economic performances