Showing papers on "Supply chain published in 2021"

A digital supply chain twin for managing the disruption risks and resilience in the era of Industry 4.0

Abstract: We theorize a notion of a digital supply chain (SC) twin – a computerized model that represents network states for any given moment in real time. We explore the conditions surrounding the design an...

COVID-19 pandemic related supply chain studies: a systematic review

Abstract: The global spread of the novel coronavirus, also known as the COVID-19 pandemic, has had a devastating impact on supply chains. Since the pandemic started, scholars have been researching and publishing their studies on the various supply-chain-related issues raised by COVID-19. However, while the number of articles on this subject has been steadily increasing, due to the absence of any systematic literature reviews, it remains unclear what aspects of this disruption have already been studied and what aspects still need to be investigated. The present study systematically reviews existing research on the COVID-19 pandemic in supply chain disciplines. Through a rigorous and systematic search, we identify 74 relevant articles published on or before 28 September 2020. The synthesis of the findings reveals that four broad themes recur in the published work: namely, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, resilience strategies for managing impacts and recovery, the role of technology in implementing resilience strategies, and supply chain sustainability in the light of the pandemic. Alongside the synthesis of the findings, this study describes the methodologies, context, and theories used in each piece of research. Our analysis reveals that there is a lack of empirically designed and theoretically grounded studies in this area; hence, the generalizability of the findings, thus far, is limited. Moreover, the analysis reveals that most studies have focused on supply chains for high-demand essential goods and healthcare products, while low-demand items and SMEs have been largely ignored. We also review the literature on prior epidemic outbreaks and other disruptions in supply chain disciplines. By considering the findings of these articles alongside research on the COVID-19 pandemic, this study offers research questions and directions for further investigation. These directions can guide scholars in designing and conducting impactful research in the field.

A production recovery plan in manufacturing supply chains for a high-demand item during COVID-19

Abstract: A recent global pandemic, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), affects the manufacturing supply chains most significantly This effect becomes more challenging for the manufacturers of high-demand and most essential items, such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer In a pandemic situation, the demand of the essential products increases expressively; on the other hand, the supply of the raw materials decreases considerably with a constraint of production capacity These dual disruptions impact the production process suddenly, and the process can collapse without immediate and necessary actions To minimize the impacts of these dual disruptions, we aim to develop a recovery model for making a decision on the revised production plan,In this paper, the authors use a mathematical modeling approach to develop a production recovery model for a high-demand and essential item during the COVID-19 The authors also analyze the properties of the recovery plan, and optimize the recovery plan to maximize the profit in the recovery window,The authors analyze the results using a numerical example The result shows that the developed recovery model is capable of revising the production plan in the situations of both demand and supply disruptions, and improves the profit for the manufacturers The authors also discuss the managerial implications, including the roles of digital technologies in the recovery process,This model, which is a novel contribution to the literature, will help decision-makers of high-demand and essential items to make an accurate and prompt decision in designing the revised production plan to recover during a pandemic, like COVID-19

Impact of Industry 4.0 on supply chain performance

Abstract: Considering the crucial role Information Technology (IT) plays in achieving performance improvements in business processes, this paper aims to explore the potential impact of the fourth industrial ...

Innovations and technology disruptions in the food sector within the COVID-19 pandemic and post-lockdown era

Abstract: Background COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global lockdown that has abruptly shut down core businesses and caused a worldwide recession. The forecast for a smooth transition for the agri-food and drink industry is, at best, alarming. Given that COVID-19 shutdown multiple core services (such as aviation, food services, supply chains, and export and import markets), there is an enormous deficiency in critical information to inform priority decision making for companies where this uncertainly is likely to impact negatively upon recovery. Scope and approach The current article investigates potential innovations within the era of the COVID-19 crisis after framing them within the four issues of the food sector (food safety, bioactive food compounds, food security, and sustainability) that are directly affected by the pandemic. The prospect of foreseen innovations to disrupt the food sector during lockdown periods and the post-COVID-19 era is also discussed. Key findings and conclusions Internet and Communication Technologies, blockchain in the food supply chain and other Industry 4.0 applications, as well as approaches that redefine the way we consume food (e.g., lab-grown meat, plant-based alternatives of meat, and valorization of a vast range of bioresources), are the innovations with the highest potential in the new era. There is also an equally pressing need to exploit social marketing to understand attitudes, perceptions, and barriers that influence the behavior change of consumers and the agri-food industry. Subsequently, this change will contribute to adapting to new norms forged by the COVID-19 pandemic, where there is a significant gap in knowledge for decision making.

Circular economy strategies for electric vehicle batteries reduce reliance on raw materials

Abstract: The wide adoption of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles will require increased natural resources for the automotive industry. The expected rapid increase in batteries could result in new resource challenges and supply-chain risks. To strengthen the resilience and sustainability of automotive supply chains and reduce primary resource requirements, circular economy strategies are needed. Here we illustrate how these strategies can reduce the extraction of primary raw materials, that is, cobalt supplies. Material flow analysis is applied to understand current and future flows of cobalt embedded in electric vehicle batteries across the European Union. A reference scenario is presented and compared with four strategies: technology-driven substitution and technology-driven reduction of cobalt, new business models to stimulate battery reuse/recycling and policy-driven strategy to increase recycling. We find that new technologies provide the most promising strategies to reduce the reliance on cobalt substantially but could result in burden shifting such as an increase in nickel demand. To avoid the latter, technological developments should be combined with an efficient recycling system. We conclude that more-ambitious circular economy strategies, at both government and business levels, are urgently needed to address current and future resource challenges across the supply chain successfully. New battery chemistry can help reduce the reliance on Co for electric vehicles. However, to avoid burden shifting to other resources such as Ni, circular economy strategies with enhanced battery traceability and recycling could contribute substantially to the reduction of primary Co demand from the automotive industry.

Managing supply chains for sustainable operations in the era of industry 4.0 and circular economy: Analysis of barriers

Abstract: Organizations are struggling to leverage emerging opportunities for maintaining sustainability in the global markets due to many barriers in the era of Industry 4.0 and circular economy. The main aim of this study is to analyze these barriers to improve the sustainability of a supply chain. Our study identifies the major criteria for sustainable operations and barriers that need to be overcome to achieve the objectives of sustainability through literature review and experts’ opinions. An integrated approach comprising Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Elimination and Choice Expressing Reality (ELECTRE) is used to analyze these barriers and ensure the sustainable supply chain operations. Resource circularity, increasing profits from green products, and designing processes for resource and energy efficiency have been found to be as major sustainability criteria. There are many barriers to the implementation of Industry 4.0. These barriers include but are not limited to, a lack of a skilled workforce that understands Industry 4.0, ineffective legislation and controls, ineffective performance framework, and short-term corporate goals. The study finds that ineffective strategies for the integration of industry 4.0 with sustainability measures, combined with a lack of funds for industry 4.0 initiatives, are just two of the major barriers. The findings of the study will help organizations to develop an effective and integrated strategic approach that will foster sustainable operations through the utilization of improved knowledge of Industry 4.0 and the circular economy.

Supply Chain Viability and the COVID-19 pandemic: a conceptual and formal generalisation of four major adaptation strategies

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged supply chains (SC) on an unprecedented scale testing viability and adaptation under severe uncertainty. However, the literature on the adaptation strategies and...

Dancing the Supply Chain: Toward Transformative Supply Chain Management

Abstract: Most of the theories that have dominated supply chain management (SCM) take a reductionist and static view on the supply chain and its management, promoting a global hunt for cheap labor and resources. As a result, supply chains tend to be operated without much concern for their broader contextual environment. This perspective overlooks that supply chains have become both vulnerable and harmful systems. Recent and ongoing crises have emphasized that the structures and processes of supply chains are fluid and interwoven with political‐economic and planetary phenomena. Building on panarchy theory, this article reinterprets the supply chain as a social–ecological system and leaves behind a modernist view of SCM, replacing it with a more contemporary vision of “dancing the supply chain.” A panarchy is a structure of adaptive cycles that are linked across different levels on scales of time, space, and meaning. It represents the world’s complexities more effectively than reductionist and static theories ever could, providing the basis for transformative SCM.

Global Logistics : New Directions in Supply Chain Management

Abstract: The world of logistics is constantly evolving and in the same way, the sixth edition of this established book has evolved to represent the current trends, best practice and latest thinking in global logistics. It serves as a forum allowing the contributors, a range of acknowledged sector specialists, to discuss key logistics issues and share their authoritative views. To keep its contemporary focus new chapters have been added covering subjects including: agile supply chains, creating shareholder value, IT, performance measurement, internet trading and humanitarian supply chains. The remaining chapters have all been updated.

Food retail supply chain resilience and the COVID-19 pandemic: A digital twin-based impact analysis and improvement directions

Abstract: In this study, we examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food retail supply chains (SCs) and their resilience. Based on real-life pandemic scenarios encountered in Germany, we develop and use a discrete-event simulation model to examine SC operations and performance dynamics with the help of anyLogistix digital SC twin. The computational results show that food retail SC resilience at the upheaval times is triangulated by the pandemic intensity and associated lockdown/shutdown governmental measures, inventory-ordering dynamics in the SC, and customer behaviours. We observe that surges in demand and supplier shutdowns have had the highest impact on SC operations and performance, whereas the impact of transportation disruptions was rather low. Transportation costs have spiked because of chaotic inventory-ordering dynamics leading to more frequent and irregular shipments. On bright side, we observe the demand growth and utilization of online sales channels yielding higher revenues. We propose several directions and practical implementation guidelines to improve the food retail SC resilience. We stress the importance of SC digital twins and end-to-end visibility along with resilient demand, inventory, and capacity management. The outcomes of our study can be instructive for enhancing the resilience of food retail SCs in preparation for future pandemics and pandemic-like crises.

COVID-19 and Supply Chain Disruption: Evidence from Food Markets in India .

Abstract: This paper looks at the disruption in food supply chains due to COVID-19 induced economic shutdown in India. We use a novel dataset from one of the largest online grocery retailers to look at the impact on product stockouts and prices. We find that product availability falls by 10% for vegetables, fruits, and edible oils, but there is a minimal impact on their prices. On the farm-gate side, it is matched by a 20% fall in quantity arrivals of vegetables and fruits. We then show that supply chain disruption is the main driver behind this fall. We compute the distance to production zones from our retail centers and find that the fall in product availability and quantity arrivals is larger for items that are cultivated or manufactured farther from the final point of sale. Our results show that long-distance food supply chains have been hit the hardest during the current pandemic with welfare consequences for urban consumers and farmers.