Opportunities and challenges in sustainable supply chain: An operations research perspective
TL;DR: It was verified that sustainability has been mainly tackled by assessing economic and environmental aspects, leaving behind the social aspects, and it was found that optimization models applied to strategic level decisions are the most preponderant studies.
About: This article is published in European Journal of Operational Research.The article was published on 2017-10-01. It has received 258 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Social sustainability & Sustainability.
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TL;DR: A systematic literature review on SC resilience, focusing on the analysis of the development of quantitative methods to support resilient supply chain decisions, found that there is no consensus in the literature and it was concluded that the use of quantitative models should be further researched.
210 citations
TL;DR: A taxonomy for critical success factors (CSFs) of the reverse logistics capable of creating value for the company and its supply chain, from the perspective of the circular economy technical cycle, and a framework that represents the relationship between the CSFs and reverse logistics in the context of a circular supply chain is presented in this article.
Abstract: The production and consumption practices that follow the “take-make-dispose” flow have negatively impacted the environment over time. This has propelled the society to evaluate and seek sustainable development options, where Circular Economy (CE) emerged as a relevant concept. This embraced the accountability for reverse logistics of the end-of-life products, which is seen as a costly and complex effort to be managed. This article develops a taxonomy for critical success factors (CSFs) of the reverse logistics capable of creating value for the company and its supply chain, from the perspective of the CE technical cycle, and provides a framework that represents the relationship between the CSFs and reverse logistics in the context of the circular supply chain. The methodology adopted was the tertiary literature review using content analysis with a sample of 66 reviews. The proposed taxonomy embraced five CSFs: Material Planning and Management, Life Cycle Assessment, Industrial Sustainability, Information and Communication Technology, and Promoters and Relationships. The framework illustrates how each component of the circular supply chain (i.e. Circular Inputs, Product Design, Process Design and Circular Flows) is influenced by the five CSFs of the reverse logistics obtained, highlighting the Promoters and Relationships CSF, since it influences all components of the circular supply chain and, consequently, reverse logistics.
116 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors have recognized nine key sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices in Indian context and identified SSCM strategies based on their dependence and driving power.
Abstract: Over the past few years, a growing concern has been noticed among society, government and non-government organisations for conserving the environment and adopting Sustainable Supply Chain management (SSCM) practices. However, it is not simple for industries to develop sustainability in their business operations and activities especially in emerging economies. In this sense, the purpose of present research is to recognise and analyse various strategies to implement SSCM practices in Indian context. Present research has recognized nine key strategies. Due to qualitative nature of research, Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) methodology integrated with fuzzy MICMAC analysis to further refine the hidden relationship between strategies has been attempted. The identified SSCM strategies have been categorized based on their dependence and driving power. ISM methodology offers merely binary relationship among strategies, whereas fuzzy MICMAC analysis gives accurate investigation related to dependence and driving power of strategies. Findings reveals that ‘Management involvement, support and commitment’; ‘Understanding of the sustainability impacts of their supply chain’ and ‘Establishing a vision and objectives for supply chain sustainability’ are the strategies with the topmost independence powers. The developed model will help in uncovering the interaction and dependence among the identified strategies in implementation of SSCM practices from industrial viewpoint. The inputs of experts from academia and Indian automotive manufacturing firms have been used in this research. The present work will facilitate automotive and related firms in prioritisation of strategies and managing resources in a most sustainable way in an emerging economy context.
113 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a systematic review of 198 surveys published between 1995 and 2018 to answer three research questions: which are the existent literature reviews on supply chain sustainability, what are their methodological features, and what are the main objectives and subject matters.
113 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors model the asynchronous shipment and creation of containers within an interconnected network of services, find the best path routing for each container and minimise the use of transportations means.
Abstract: Logistic networks intensely use means of transportation and storage facilities to deliver goods. However, these logistic networks are still poorly interconnected and this fragmentation is responsible for a lack of consolidation and thus efficiency. To cope with the seeming contradiction of just-in-time deliveries and challenging emissions targets, a major improvement in supply networks is sought here. This new organisation is based on the universal interconnection of logistics services, namely a Physical Internet where goods travel in modular containers for the sake of interconnection in open networks. If from a logical point of view, merging container flows should improve efficiency, no demonstration of its potential has been carried out prior to the here reported research. To reach this potentiality assessment goal, we model the asynchronous shipment and creation of containers within an interconnected network of services, find the best path routing for each container and minimise the use of transportations means. To carry out the demonstration and assess the associated stakes, we use a set of actual flows from the fast-moving consumer goods sector in France. Various transportation protocols and scenarios are tested, revealing encouraging results for efficiency indicators such as CO2 emissions, cost, lead time, delivery travel time, and so forth. As this is a first work in the field of flows transportation, the simulation model and experiment exposes many further research avenues.
104 citations
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TL;DR: The extent to which the process of systematic review can be applied to the management field in order to produce a reliable knowledge stock and enhanced practice by developing context-sensitive research is evaluated.
Abstract: Undertaking a review of the literature is an important part of any research project. The researcher both maps and assesses the relevant intellectual territory in order to specify a research question which will further develop the knowledge base. However, traditional 'narrative' reviews frequently lack thoroughness, and in many cases are not undertaken as genuine pieces of investigatory science. Consequently they can lack a means for making sense of what the collection of studies is saying. These reviews can be biased by the researcher and often lack rigour. Furthermore, the use of reviews of the available evidence to provide insights and guidance for intervention into operational needs of practitioners and policymakers has largely been of secondary importance. For practitioners, making sense of a mass of often-contradictory evidence has become progressively harder. The quality of evidence underpinning decision-making and action has been questioned, for inadequate or incomplete evidence seriously impedes policy formulation and implementation. In exploring ways in which evidence-informed management reviews might be achieved, the authors evaluate the process of systematic review used in the medical sciences. Over the last fifteen years, medical science has attempted to improve the review process by synthesizing research in a systematic, transparent, and reproducible manner with the twin aims of enhancing the knowledge base and informing policymaking and practice. This paper evaluates the extent to which the process of systematic review can be applied to the management field in order to produce a reliable knowledge stock and enhanced practice by developing context-sensitive research. The paper highlights the challenges in developing an appropriate methodology.
7,368 citations
"Opportunities and challenges in sus..." refers methods in this paper
...A systematic research methodology is used (Tranfield et al., 2003) to ensure the consistency and quality of the work developed and to provide a suitable examination of the decisions, procedures, and conclusions taken....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate the process of systematic review used in the medical sciences to produce a reliable knowledge stock and enhanced practice by developing context-sensitive research and highlight the challenges in developing an appropriate methodology.
Abstract: Undertaking a review of the literature is an important part of any research project. The researcher both maps and assesses the relevant intellectual territory in order to specify a research question which will further develop the knowledge hase. However, traditional 'narrative' reviews frequently lack thoroughness, and in many cases are not undertaken as genuine pieces of investigatory science. Consequently they can lack a means for making sense of what the collection of studies is saying. These reviews can he hiased by the researcher and often lack rigour. Furthermore, the use of reviews of the available evidence to provide insights and guidance for intervention into operational needs of practitioners and policymakers has largely been of secondary importance. For practitioners, making sense of a mass of often-contrad ictory evidence has hecome progressively harder. The quality of evidence underpinning decision-making and action has heen questioned, for inadequate or incomplete evidence seriously impedes policy formulation and implementation. In exploring ways in which evidence-informed management reviews might be achieved, the authors evaluate the process of systematic review used in the medical sciences. Over the last fifteen years, medical science has attempted to improve the review process hy synthesizing research in a systematic, transparent, and reproducihie manner with the twin aims of enhancing the knowledge hase and informing policymaking and practice. This paper evaluates the extent to which the process of systematic review can be applied to the management field in order to produce a reliable knowledge stock and enhanced practice by developing context-sensitive research. The paper highlights the challenges in developing an appropriate methodology.
7,020 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a literature review on sustainable supply chain management taking 191 papers published from 1994 to 2007 into account, and a conceptual framework to summarize the research in this field comprising three parts.
4,760 citations
TL;DR: An integrated and fresh look into the area of GrSCM is taken, using the rich body of available literature, including earlier reviews that had relatively limited perspectives, on the basis of the problem context in supply chain's major influential areas.
Abstract: Vol. 9 Issue 1 pp. 000‐000 There is a growing need for integrating environmentally sound choices into supply-chain management research and practice. Perusal of the literature shows that a broad frame of reference for green supply-chain management (GrSCM) is not adequately developed. Regulatory bodies that formulate regulations to meet societal and ecological concerns to facilitate growth of business and economy also suffer from its absence. A succinct classification to help academicians, researchers and practitioners in understanding integrated GrSCM from a wider perspective is needed. Further, sufficient literature is available to warrant such classification. This paper takes an integrated and fresh look into the area of GrSCM. The literature on GrSCM is covered exhaustively from its conceptualization, primarily taking a ‘reverse logistics angle’. Using the rich body of available literature, including earlier reviews that had relatively limited perspectives, the literature on GrSCM is classified on the basis of the problem context in supply chain’s major influential areas. It is also classified on the basis of methodology and approach adopted. Various mathematical tools/techniques used in literature vis-a-vis the contexts of GrSCM are mapped. A timeline indicating relevant papers is also provided as a ready reference. Finally, the findings and interpretations are summarized, and the main research issues and opportunities are highlighted.
3,344 citations
"Opportunities and challenges in sus..." refers background or result in this paper
...…with some exceptions related to the green supply chain where the main focus is the environmental pillar (9 papers - Ahi & Searcy, 2015a; Fahimnia et al., 2015; Golicic & Smith, 2013; Ilgin & Gupta, 2010; Ilgin et al., 2015; Min & Kim, 2012; Sarkis, 2012; Sarkis et al., 2011; Srivastava, 2007)....
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...…10 years on SSC (2006 onwards) Reference Research Focus and objective Research Methodologies Systematic Literature Review Number of papers Time horizon Supply Chain Structure Decision Level Analyzed Sustainability Dimensions Main Journals Srivastava (2007) Focus on Green Supply Chain (Green SC)....
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...…order to understand the position of the present paper in the related literature, its scope is comparable to the ones from the literature reviews published in the area from 2007 onwards, when Srivastava (2007) AC CE PT ED M AN US CR IP T 5 published his review on Green Supply Chain (Green SC)....
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...A first group contemplates papers that explored a general research focus, meaning that the authors followed a holistic approach to analyze the published papers that address SSC (5 papers - Ahi & Searcy, 2015b; Ashby et al., 2012; Fahimnia et al., 2015; Min & Kim, 2012; Seuring & Müller, 2008; Srivastava, 2007)....
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...Regarding the treatment of sustainability, most of the papers have considered the three pillars of sustainability (economic, environmental and social), with some exceptions related to the green supply chain where the main focus is the environmental pillar (9 papers - Ahi & Searcy, 2015a; Fahimnia et al., 2015; Golicic & Smith, 2013; Ilgin & Gupta, 2010; Ilgin et al., 2015; Min & Kim, 2012; Sarkis, 2012; Sarkis et al., 2011; Srivastava, 2007)....
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TL;DR: In this article, a large-scale literature review and use conceptual theory building to introduce the concept of sustainability to the field of supply chain management and demonstrate the relationships among environmental, social, and economic performance within a supply chain context.
Abstract: Purpose – The authors perform a large‐scale literature review and use conceptual theory building to introduce the concept of sustainability to the field of supply chain management and demonstrate the relationships among environmental, social, and economic performance within a supply chain management context.Design/methodology/approach – Conceptual theory building is used to develop a framework and propositions representing a middle theory of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM).Findings – The authors introduce the concept of sustainability – the integration of environmental, social, and economic criteria that allow an organization to achieve long‐term economic viability – to the logistics literature, and position sustainability within the broader rubric of SSCM. They then present a framework of SSCM and develop research propositions based on resource dependence theory, transaction cost economics, population ecology, and the resource‐based view of the firm. The authors conclude by discussing manageri...
3,093 citations