Presents the introductory editorial for this issue of the publication.
There have been few research efforts to study the behavior of cellular manufacturing (CM) systems as a function of setup time, processing time, and their ratio. This ratio is found to be a critical parameter in identifying the proper manufacturing environment for the suitability of CM. An analytical model is used in the chapter to compare the relative performance of a partitioned (cellular) system with an unpartitioned (functional) system as a function of the ratio between setup time and processing time per unit, varying over a large domain of values. As per the comparison, the ratio between setup time and processing time per unit in combination with the setup time value impacts the performance measures of flow time and work-in-process for both partitioned system and unpartitioned system. Also identified are the domain values over which both systems are infeasible, as well as the values at which feasibility exists. Conditional characteristics concerning the relative performance of the two strategies are identified. The performance criteria used are flow time and work-in-process.
International trade, through global supply chains, is central to global sustainable production and consumption. Redistribution of environmental resources impacts through international trade has become apparent in ecological research – and may have long-term design and planning implications for production and supply chain management. However, current trade and production accounting methods are still incapable of providing accurate and reliable results for policymakers and organisational decision makers to manage global and supply chain trade issues. In this study, a blockchain-based conceptual framework for embodied environmental resources accounting in trade is proposed to address global supply chain and trade issues. Framework design, benefits, and challenges are also discussed. Future research and linkage to theory are also provided. This study provides a strong systemic foundation for managing environmental resources at the nexus of international trade, sustainable production, and global supply chains.
Increasing environmental pressures have caused Chinese apparel companies to pay close attention to environmentally-friendly clothes production (EFCP) and i
This chapter presents a case study of an overview of the efforts of Texas Instrument’s (TI’s) internal and external ERP implementation, with a focus on linking its ERP system in a global e-commerce setting. This linkage is especially important since it had been stated in TI’s strategic plan as an objective of this project to provide visibility of the ERP system to external constituents via Web linkages along with the objective of standardizing internal processes and important information technology systems to support market needs. Thus, its ERP system is central to managing its supply chain and B2B e-commerce linkages from both a customer and supplier perspective. Issues faced by TI are clearly outlined with future questions also posed in the final section.Request access from your librarian to read this chapter's full text.
The field of environmentally conscious design and manufacturing has focused primarily on internal functions and activities within an organization. However, external enterprise practices and relationships are of equal concern and often overlooked. External relationships serve as links in the development of a closed loop industrial ecosystem and are an integral part of supply chain management and environmental management strategy. This paper identifies emerging and potential research and development issues within supply chain management and the industrial ecosystem.
• Degrowth can support urban sustainability, especially in Global South or developing nations. • Degrowth and technological innovation have had controversial relationships. Some believe they cannot function together, others believe they are supportive. • This debate is evaluated and we posit that they are compatible if managed carefully with effective policies in place. • We provide three technological cases from Egypt, these cases are mapped to degrowth elements. • This is just an initial step in introducing the discourse, degrowth with environmental and social sustainability needs to be included on the map of policy makers. • Policy implications include investment, awareness raising, education, and diffusion of technologies that can support degrowth.
The green supply chain management literature has mostly focused on one tier of relationships among buyers and suppliers. The greatest adverse environmental
Myopic financial perspectives dominate product deletion decisions when such decisions require a balance of short-term and long-term considerations. This paper extends the limited studies of product deletion to explore supply chain operational, competitive and sustainability criteria within a broader organizational and inter-organizational context. The analysis uses inputs from a Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company where the product deletion decisions are imperative. The fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) is applied to construct a network of effectual interrelationships among product deletion decision criteria based on which the most influential criteria are identified. The DEMATEL method is then extended to explore the sequential effect of the decision criteria on product deletion decisions. The study shows that product revitalization probability increases if there is a focus on improving the product condition in terms of prominent criteria. On this basis, the findings suggest that competitive criteria play a significant role in product deletion decision-making. Some supply chain operational and sustainability criteria also make a difference, especially when considering their sequential effect on financial performance. This study is concluded by offering directions for more dynamic and deeper research into modeling and managing product deletion in organizations. Applications of the presented tool are worthwhile research topics to pursue in other managerial fields.
Prospective authors are requested to submit new, unpublished manuscripts for inclusion in the upcoming event described in this call for papers.
The application of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) as a discrete alternative multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) tool has been gaining more attention in the literature. In this literature, DEA has been applied as an MCDM tool and compared analytically to other MCDM models and their structures, especially those that are based on multiple objective linear programming approaches. In this paper, we provide an empirical evaluation of various DEA ranking approaches and MCDM techniques, which include outranking and multiattribute utility techniques, using case study information. A solid waste management system case study that has been published by Hokkanen and Salminen (1997a) provide the data and results for this comparison. The results of this study show that incorporating decision maker value judgments into the DEA approaches provided comparable results to those found by the `traditional' MCDM approaches. The DEA approaches seem to be advantageous to users by requiring less information from decision makers and analysts, and providing ranked alternative valuations that may be useful for some decision makers.
Purpose This paper aims to introduce a joint DEMATEL and NK methodology to develop a process model for introducing and implementing relational supply chain practices for low-carbon supply chains. Using this process model as a guide, insights into specific practices and how to implement these relational practices to achieve competitive advantage across organizations are introduced. Design/methodology/approach Low-carbon cooperation practices framework based on the relational view is developed. A methodology based on DEMATEL and the NK model is used to construct a sequential process model for introducing and implementing these relational practices. Empirical data from three manufacturing organizations in China are utilized to validate the model. Findings Initial results provide a sequence of relational practices for guiding those organizations and their suppliers for healthy and low-carbon development. Interdependencies between relational practices are analyzed and evaluated from four aspects. Insights into the broader application of the methodology and initial results from both a research and managerial perspective are presented, especially with consideration of the China, an emerging economy, context. Research limitations/implications The methodology remains relatively abstract in nature, yet the tool can provide very useful interpretations and information for both researchers and practitioners. Practical implications This paper stipulates that in addition to internal operational practices, the relational practices between buyer and supplier may be equally important to achieve a low-carbon outcome, especially in supply chain setting. This paper also shows that not only the relational practice itself but also the implementation sequence of the relational practices can relate to performance. According to the authors’ initial results, organizations in this study should first develop product development cooperation, then exchange carbon knowledge and implement effective governance and last build a trust relationship with its suppliers for low-carbon cooperation. Originality/value This is one of the few approaches that directly evaluates and identifies the interdependencies among relational practices and to construct a process model for introducing and implementing low-carbon supply chain cooperation. It is also the first time that the NK model has been integrated with DEMATEL. Focusing on Chinese supply chain carbon emissions concerns is also a unique perspective.
No abstract is provided for this article.
This chapter presents a case study of an overview of the efforts of Texas Instrument’s (TI’s) internal and external ERP implementation, with a focus on linking its ERP system in a global e-commerce setting. This linkage is especially important since it had been stated in TI’s strategic plan as an objective of this project to provide visibility of the ERP system to external constituents via Web linkages along with the objective of standardizing internal processes and important information technology systems to support market needs. Thus, its ERP system is central to managing its supply chain and B2B e-commerce linkages from both a customer and supplier perspective. Issues faced by TI are clearly outlined with future questions also posed in the final section.
This paper introduces a decision model and framework for subcontractor selection and team formation in the built environment based on the triple-bottom-line economic/business, social and environmental aspects of sustainability. The model and decision framework aid the decision maker in forming a construction project team that can most benefit the overall goal of sustainability and compatibility amongst the subcontractors (supply chain) from a number of trade industries. The model uses both the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the analytical network process (ANP) as its basis. Once the generic decision model is described, an example application is used to show its use and feasibility. The robustness of the solution is demonstrated using sensitivity analysis, allowing the decision maker to appreciate the complexities in this decision environment. This is one of the few formal modelling applications to sustainability in the built environment, an industry that has significant economic, social, and environmental influences.
Production and consumption in our industrial systems typically begin in the extractive, mining, industries. Typically these activities begin in emerging economies, such as Ghana. It is also clear that supply chain activities in mining operations may have severe environmental and social problems with serious economic consequences. Greening the supply chain of mining operations are an important avenue that can provide beneficial consequences. Developing, evaluating, assessing, and selecting essential green supply chain management (GSCM) practices are a goal for successful GSCM implementation. These practices may have interrelated and complex relationships. Understanding them and their relative importance is an initial step for achieving the assessment goals for successful GSCM implementation in the mining industry. This study adopts a proposed comprehensive and integrative GSCM major practices and sub-practices (framework); determines the relative relationships and influences within this GSCM framework, and identifies the perceived impact of the GSCM framework on organizational sustainable performance (economic, environmental, and social – triple bottom-line) pertinent to the mining industry, in the emerging economy nation of Ghana. An integrated methodology identifying and limiting interdependencies within GSCM factors will be utilized. The methodology uses fuzzy-DEMATEL and analytical network process (ANP) for the evaluation. Multiple field studies within Ghana's mining industry are used to illustrate the applicability of the proposed methodology. The results can provide valuable clues and guidelines to decision-makers and analysts inside and outside the mining industry, for improving corporate sustainable production and consumption. Future research and practical implications are also introduced in the paper.
