Information systems for supply chain management: uncertainties, risks and cyber security

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) systems have been growing in popularity across various segments of the electronic industry over the past few years. New initiatives in resources planning, electronic commerce and extended supply chain are fuelling the trend among corporations toward integrating strategic business applications. ERP systems assist enterprises in automating and integrating corporate cross-functions. SCM systems support information flow from various players in the supply side, reducing transaction cost and facilitating supplier-customer interactions. Given the popularity and importance of ERP and SCM systems, this research aims to examine and compare these two systems from the standpoint of organisational and technological implementation and explores the trend and opportunity of their system integration. Furthermore, the authors present and analyse two potential approaches to linking ERP and SCM systems, which indeed promote their integration. This article is concluded with the challenges and implications of the ERP and SCM system integration.

Organizations rely on various types of information systems (IS) to manage day-to-day business and make decisions such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply chain management (SCM) systems. Organizations rely on ERP systems to replace their legacy systems, integrate core business processes and to help adding value and increasing visibility. Additionally, SCM systems help organizations to enhance relationships with supply chain members. It is essential for organizations to measure their business performance by taking into consideration intra-organizational and inter-organizational indicators. Therefore, the integration between ERP and SCM systems is a key to enable more business performance; that were otherwise hidden. Accordingly, the motive for this paper is to study the influence of ERP-SCM integration on enabling more business performance measures. For this reason, a business performance measures framework was constructed and then tested on two organizations using multi-case study qualitative research approach. Analysis results indicated that integrating ERP and SCM systems would render more performance measures and hence enable better and wider-scope evaluation. Consequently, managers are more informed and accordingly are able to make high quality decisions.

Abstract—To date, the knowledge regarding the potential uses of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Supply Chain Management (SCM) and how GIS applications can deliver business benefits are limited. To explore the current uses of GIS in SCM, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted. Three databases (Web of Science, ProQuest, and Business Source Premier) were explored using the PreferredReporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA) methodology. A total of 79 papers were included in the literature review. The combined findings showed that the GIS applications in SCM were a) network/transportation analysis/ routing algorithms (53 papers), b) Location-Allocation Site Search/ Selection (using multiple-criteria decision analysis [MCDA]) (45 papers), c) spatial analysis(people or land) (34 papers), d) connection with optimisation tools (32 papers) and e) visualisation/ monitoring or BuildingInformation Modelling (BIM) (8 papers). The industries and related Supply Chain (SC) domains that used GIS were a)Biomass Biofuel/Wood (33), b) Logistics (22), c)Humanitarian/ Emergency/ Healthcare (10), d) Food/ Agro-Industry (5), e) Petroleum/ Coal/ Shale Gas (3), f) FaecalSludge (2), g) Recycle & product footprint (2) and h)Construction (2). The research case studies took place in 26 countries, and the most prominent GIS software provider wasEsri’s ArcGIS. The findings of the first literature review ofthe GIS applications in SCM showed that many businessindustries have not utilised the GIS capabilities, such asvisualisation, spatial analysis, optimisation, and site research. However, GIS can significantly contribute to SCM decisionmaking by providing answers to cost minimisation, supplierselection, facility location, SC network configuration andasset management. Keywords— Supply Chain Management, Logistics, SystematicLiterature Review, GIS

In the new dynamic economic environment where supply chains increasingly face constant change and instability, the better supply chain planning and management enabled by advanced data management systems provides enhanced value proposition for customers resulting in improved profitability for firms along the supply chain. However, achieving such high quality level of supply chain visibility is not an easy task requiring technological capability, organizational willingness and data quality management intensively demanding attention from both managers and scholars. Therefore, the chapter begins with an overview of the role of information systems in supply chain management followed by a discussion regarding the role of information quality in successful supply chain interactions. Data quality management in terms of strategy and data governance is then reviewed. Finally, data quality tools complementing strategy dimension of data quality management are studied.

This study examined supply chain management (SCM) for small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) in China. It first described the characteristics of the supply chain and its changes, challenges, and competition in both domestic and global markets for China’s SMEs. The study used the qualitative survey research method to interview twenty individuals working in China’s SMEs among diverse industries. The results indicated that (a) China’s SMEs had struggled with the cost and suitability when using information systems in supply chain management, (b) China’s SMEs had not found an effective measure to avoid or reduce supply chain risks, and (c) China’s SMEs cautiously welcomed globalization but also pointed out globalization brought uncertainty and challenges.

The big floods that hit Malaysia in December 2014 to January 2015 affected more than 200,000 people and caused 21 fatalities. Shortage of food supply, clean water, and problems caused by unreliable communication continued to affect flood victims even after the flood water had receded. As aid is crucial, the correct management of the supply chain is important to allow a correct and relevant assistance to the needy population. Thus, the Supply Chain Management (SCM) system, which includes inventory management system, automatic matching of supply and demand, consumption trend analysis and data visualization is critical so that the delivery of humanitarian aid can be executed on time, which in turn reduces the impact of the disaster. Lack of either one of these components can lead to problems of forecasting the needs of the flood victims and causes unnecessary delays in decision making. The main objective of this paper is to propose a framework for SCM to support flood disaster relief operation and describe the different phases within the supply chain of food aid in a humanitarian crisis. This proposed framework is to enhance the existing SCM system so that the three phases involved in a flood disaster, which are pre-disaster, during disaster and post-disaster can be managed in a more systematic way. Based on the proposed framework, a supply chain management system can be developed to include inventory management system for monitoring, managing and distributing goods; matching of supply and demand for overcoming demand uncertainty; and data visualization for quick decision making.

The Institute for Supply Chain Management has defined supply management as “the identification, acquisition, access, positioning and management of resources an organization needs or potentially needs in the attainment of its strategic objectives.” The essence is a shift of focus away from business units such as warehouses or factories to a more holistic view of a supply chain. For a given company, this might include parts suppliers, manufacturers, transport, logistics and retailers. The purpose of this essay is to explore and evaluate the various approaches that can be taken to facilitate the management of supply chains.KeywordsSupply chainManagementInformationIT SCM

The Radio Frequency Identification has opened a new phase in Supply Chain Management that must be considered by software reuse. The System of Systems presents in Supply Chain Management make use of very reusable information through of repeated scenarios and actors with the same function. However, do not found a specific domain analysis process based on a well defined set of guidelines and steps to the supply chain domain. This paper present an approach of Domain Analysis to developing Radio Frequency Indentification Systems in Supply Chain Management.

Employees’ Reactions to IT-enabled Process Innovations in the Age of Data Analytics in Healthcare

Supply chain management (SCM) system is an essential requirement for companies and manufacturers to collaborate in doing business. There are many techniques to manage supply chains, such as using Excel sheets and web-based applications. However, these techniques are ineffective, insecure, and prone to human error. In this paper, we propose CLOUTIDY, a cloud-based SCM system using SEMAR (Service Market) and Blockchain system. We modify JUGO architecture to develop SEMAR as a broker between users and cloud service providers. Also, we apply the Blockchain concept to store the activity log of the SCM system in a decentralized database. CLOUTIDY system can solve several common cases: service selection, resource provisioning, authentication and access control. Also, it improves the security of data by storing each activity log of the supply chain management system in the Blockchain system.

The paper analyzes various inventory management systems used in large foreign firms, based on integrated planning in matters of movement of information and material resources. Logistic systems are characterized by the presence of complex random relationships within these systems, which requires not only the distribution of logistics functions among all participants in the supply chain, but also the integration of individual links in the supply chain into a single system enabling to optimally solve the problems of material and information support at all levels of manufacturing processes and to adequately respond to the effects of external factors. These tasks in modern logistics practice are solved by various planning models described in this paper.

Digital transformation to improve supply chain management systems in e-commerce is exciting and emerging. Digital transformation offers a reshaping of traditional business models, especially digital-based exports between different regions of the world that are constrained by the need for an adequate regulatory framework. This research explores supply chain optimization processes from China to Africa through digital innovation and predictive analytic. Modern digital technologies integrating supply chain management systems have proven important factors for business objectives, especially for digital exports from China to Africa. These technologies have increased work efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced decision-making capabilities for running e-commerce. Digital innovation adopted with a mean of 1.58 and a standard deviation of 0.62, indicates that China and Africa’s digital connectivity is at an early stage in supply chain performance. The early stage means that digital infrastructure such as high-speed internet and interoperable platforms are not yet fully developed and the adoption of advanced technologies such as AI and blockchain, is limited. Additionally, challenges such as variations in policies, low levels of trust and poor collaboration hinder full integration into digital-based commerce. The results on obstacles, with a mean of 1.87 and a standard deviation of 0.74, indicated that infrastructure, skills, and technology challenges are critical to improving digital transformation in supply chain management systems. Forecasting analytic positively impacts demand forecasting with a mean of 1.18 and a standard deviation of 0.39. Inventory management reduces overstock, evidenced by 1.55 mean values and 0.55 standard deviation. Regression analysis shows that predictive analytic needs further refinement, as a p-value greater than 0.05 suggests. Supply chain transparency, with a mean value of 1.44 and a standard deviation of 0.67, and supply chain flexibility, with a mean value of 1.28 and a standard deviation of 0.57, are significant contributors to the operational performance that necessitates digital-based growth. Various correlation analyses show a weak relationship between digital innovation and supply chain-based outcomes, indicating the need to coordinate strategies that enhance connectivity between China and Africa. This research study identifies and presents an effective platform for digital exports from China to Africa through digital innovation and predictive analytic. The study also identified strategies to improve supply chain efficiency and technology to make digital exports efficient, further boosting e-commerce between China and Africa.

Supply chains are distributed systems and hence multiagent based systems are considered the best approach to manage supply chains. In multiagent systems for supply chain management, each agent is assigned to model a facility and the interaction protocol to connect the agents is defined. The intelligent agents interact with each other to dynamically access, transfer, and evaluate the information of the supply chain. We introduce a specific multiagent system for dynamic lot-sizing in supply chains. The dynamic lotsizing problem over a planning horizon makes a plan that minimizes cost while satisfying forecasted external demands. The common drawbacks of the majority of dynamic lot-sizing algorithms are that they offer centralized solutions with a monolithic view of the problem. On the other hand, supply chains are struggling with expensive inefficiencies due to the lack of information sharing. Therefore, there is a need to design coordination mechanisms that are capable of motivating information sharing. Supply chain entities will be willing to share information when they are guaranteed to get the right benefits in return for information sharing. Such trustworthy mechanisms may not produce the global optimum of monolithic models, but they would be more reasonable, considering the reality of supply chains.

The paper determines the relevance of the problem under study with regard to the key principles of formation and development of information support systems for the supply activities of enterprises in the context of digitalization. Given the rapid development of the digital economy (its digitalization), the economic development of enterprises will increasingly depend on information resources rather than material ones. The aims of the study were to investigate the fundamental principles of formation and development of information support systems for the supply activities of enterprises in the context of digitalization. The morphological method of research and the method of synthesis were used in the study. The basis for the effective implementation of the supply strategy is its effective information support. The importance of information and communication support for supply chain activities is becoming increasingly important in the context of digitalization of these processes and taking into account the transport component. In particular, thanks to satellite navigation systems and their use in supply and transportation, business managers can view online the movement of their own vehicles, raw materials, goods, etc., achieving savings in the supply system and supply chains. The main result of the introduction and further harmonious development of a corporate information system in the supply system is the formation of a highly effective management mechanism at an enterprise covering all business processes of supply (and not only) activities. Based on the systematization and supplementation of existing methodologies, the article describes the key principles of formation of information support systems for supply activities in the digitalization environment. The capabilities of innovative technologies should be effectively applied in the processes of modeling, simulation, forecasting the state of the information support system for supply activities. The paper formalizes the information system of supply activities. Summarizing, it is advisable to state that the information support of the supply activities of enterprises is a dynamic process. Information circulates in the supply chain management system with its help. When forming and constantly developing information support systems for the supply activities of enterprises in the context of digitalization, managers need to adhere to the key principles, while taking into account the innovative dynamism of methods, means of supply, etc.

Supply chain management systems (SCMS) championed by network leaders in their supplier networks are now ubiquitous. While prior studies have examined the benefits to network leaders from these systems, little attention has been paid to the benefits to supplier firms. This study draws from organizational theories of learning and action and transaction cost theory to propose a model relating suppliers’ use of SCMS to benefits. It proposes that two patterns of SCMS use by suppliers—exploitation and exploration—create contexts for suppliers to make relationship-specific investments in business processes and domain knowledge. These, in turn, enable suppliers to both create value and retain a portion of the value created by the use of these systems in interfirm relationships. Data from 131 suppliers using an SCMS implemented by one large retailer support hypotheses that relationship-specific intangible investments play a mediating role linking SCMS use to benefits. Evidence that patterns of information technology use are significant determinants of relationship-specific investments in business processes and domain expertise provides a finer-grained explanation of the logic of IT-enabled electronic integration. The results support the vendors-to-partners thesis that IT deployments in supply chains lead to closer buyer-supplier relationships (Bakos and Brynjyolfsson 1993). The results also suggest the complementarity of the transaction-cost and resource-based views, elaborating the logic by which specialized assets can also be strategic assets.