Value chain

About: Value chain is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 7206 publications have been published within this topic receiving 224183 citations.

The constructs of sustainable supply chain management - a content analysis based on published case studies

Abstract: The intersection of supply chain management and sustainability is still a rather young research field emerging as growing topic only recently. This paper outlines findings of a content analysis assessing systematically all case studies in the field of sustainable supply chain management, published from 1994 to 2007 in English-speaking peer-reviewed journals, and thus, mapping and evaluating the scope of current SCM topics reflected in these case papers. The analysis confirms previous research that highlights pressures from governments, customers and stakeholders as triggers of sustainable supply chain management and the neglect of the social dimension of sustainability within supply chain management. Improving supplier performance or, at least, assuring minimum performance standards can be generally regarded important objectives of supply chain strategies. Communication is an outstanding characteristic both for traditional and sustainable supply chain management; though far-reaching supply chain integration is still rather limited.

How to move supply chain beyond cleaning up after new product development

Abstract: Purpose – Improving alignment between supply chain and new product development (NPD) can enhance market impact and revenue growth. Additionally, it can remove a lot of frustration for supply chain managers, who currently are often the last to find out about NPD, whereas their contribution is crucial when it comes to getting products to market on time and in the right volumes. Whereas a recent research note published in this journal offered possible avenues for progressing alignment between NPD and the supply chain, this paper seeks to offer insights from industry on how to actually achieve progress. Design/methodology/approach – This paper offers insights from industry in three areas of practice and a report on the outcome of a workshop of supply chain executives. Findings – The experience from case companies shows that companies are making progress in aligning NPD and the supply chain by improving basic alignment, improving supply chain readiness and leveraging supply chain capability to make NPD better. Practical implications – In addition to case examples, a set of screening questions for supply chain managers to bring to alignment meetings with NPD are offered, supporting a growing supply chain contribution to NPD. Originality/value – Following on from a research note published in this journal, this paper offers experiences from companies that have actually made progress with improving alignment as well as results from a focused workshop of senior supply chain executives. Together these findings can assist in making the path forward suggested in the research note a reality in practice.

Forecasting job creation from renewable energy deployment through a value-chain approach

Abstract: This paper introduces a new approach to the study of the socioeconomic impact of renewable technologies through the analysis of the reinforcing effects of the expansion of this industry and the specific characteristics of the employment along the value chain. The method proposed is based on the collection, critical analysis and presentation of the results obtained using primary information sources. The model design includes contributions extracted from a prior analysis of the existing assessment methods, to lessen the uncertainty of the job ratios often used in these types of analysis. One factor to be taken into account is the high degree of development in the sector and above all the maturity of the technology considered from the point of view of the industry fabric: the economy of scale and technological development actually influences the human resources needs, sometimes increasing the demand for professionals within the scope of R&D and sometimes reducing jobs in the manufacturing industry, which is gradually applying processes with a greater degree of automation. The influence of these experience curves is different for every single stage of the value chain. Trade balance of technologies is also crucial for local employment generation. An analytical model was developed based on the above assumptions and applied to the Spanish PV industry. This industry has been playing a leading role in the expansion of renewable energy and offers a high potential towards the short-term development of the smart grids in this country. This model represents very well the history of the Spanish PV industry reflected through the evolution of the jobs and is shown to be the foundation of a methodology for prospective studies in the social and economic impacts of renewables.

Value chain analysis in consumer focus improvement: A case study of the UK red meat industry

Abstract: Purpose – A key vision of tomorrow's industry is creating supply chains which collaboratively strive on enhancing the value to the end-consumer. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the food value chain analysis (FVCA) methodology for improving consumer focus in the agri-food sector based on the lean paradigm, value stream mapping and value chain analysis (Porter, 1985). Design/methodology/approach – This contribution presents a case-study of a UK red meat supply chain explaining how the FVCA method enabled a team of researchers and practitioners to identify the misalignments of both product attributes and supply chain activities with the consumer needs. Findings – This paper explains how the FVCA methodology potentially realigned the processes along the supply chain with the true consumer requirements and why the supply chain effectiveness was improved; this follows with a description of the subsequent efficiency gains from application of the FVCA methodology. Originality/value – This paper further defines the demarcation between supply chain “effectiveness” and “efficiency”. This paper contributes to the debate on the importance of supply chain effectiveness by linking to consumer value at every stage of the supply chain.

Approaches for Setting-up Multi-Stakeholder Platforms for Agricultural Research and Development

Abstract: In order to facilitate improved returns to research and development in African agriculture, the innovation systems approach which engenders the involvement of multiple stakeholders in its innovation pathway, has been proposed. Despite the potential of this approach, the understanding of its implementation and particularly of the process of setting up its multi-stakeholder platform is still largely lacking. Yet, this platform is critical to the success and sustainability of the operations of the platform. This article introduces the concept of Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) and the constituent Innovation Platform (IP) as a workable multistakeholders approach for sustainable agricultural research and development. The IAR4D approach entails a multi-sectoral orientation to agricultural problem diagnosis and draws on integrated approaches using 'hard' and 'soft' sciences to provide solutions, while maximizing available resources. IAR4D is premised on the innovation systems approach and requires systemic interaction among all stakeholders around specific commodities or production systems. The procedure for the establishment of an IP requires a value chain analysis of the commodity of interest, followed by a systematic engagement of the identified stakeholders to the platform. The stakeholders in a balanced IP will cut across the private and the public sectors with distinct engagement of the non-traditional stakeholders as input dealers, financial institutions, policy makers, etc. The activity of a typical IP could be kick-started by joint development of a business plan and its proactive implementation in a partnership mood. A functional IP will normally experience series of iterative learning at the interphase of which innovation is generated. The set-up of multistakeholders platform in IAR4D mode has potentials to function effectively as a model for regional and national ARD planning.