Scenario development for improving supply chain performance using the system dynamics approach

A system dynamics analysis of food supply chains – Case study with non-perishable products

Impact of supply chain digitalization on supply chain resilience and performance: A multi-mediation model

This study aims at investigating the roles of supply chain integration and innovation on supply chain performance through a mediation mechanism of supply chain. This study develops a theoretical framework based on resource-based view and dynamic capability theory. Based on a quantitative study of 214 Saudi hospitals, an empirical analysis was made using a structural equation modelling with AMOS. Results revealed that supply chain integration and innovation positively affect supply chain resilience and performance. In addition, supply chain resilience has a positive and significant relationship with supply chain performance. Most significantly, the relationships of supply chain integration and of innovation to supply chain performance were found to be partially mediated by supply chain resilience. These results showed that integration and innovation have direct effects to improve supply chain performance and indirect ones when hospitals make efforts in developing their resilience. This study is important for top managers of Saudi hospitals to integrate their supply chains and innovate them to improve their resilience and performance.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the complex interrelationships among the key constructs, supply chain orientation (SCO), supply chain integration (SCI) and supply chain performance (SCP) in Indian manufacturing industries. These relationships have been studied using the relational view (RV) and the knowledge-based view (KBV) theoretical perspectives. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual model was derived from the existing body of knowledge in the supply chain domain. The study is based on a sample size of 122 data collected via face-to-face meetings with the Indian manufacturers using well-established scales. The covariance-based structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings In Indian manufacturing and supply chains, SCO has a positive relationship with SCI and SCP. Moreover, the direct impact of SCO on SCP diminishes when SCI is used as a mediating variable. This study also observes positive impact of: i) SCO on SCP, ii) SCI on SCP and iii) discovery of mediating role of SCI on SCP under the theoretical lenses of RV and KBV. Research limitations/implications Cross-sectional survey of manufacturing firms of one country (using one response per firm) calls for validation covering other parts of the world and demands a longitudinal survey. This research will trigger more scholarly, practice and policy debate among researchers studying Indian and emerging economies context. Practical implications The notion of a holistic view of the SC with a focus on improving the customer value can enhance strategic partnerships among the SC partners (i.e. SCI) and overall SCP. Firms should make efforts to include SCI in SC designs to successfully transform SCO into SCP. Originality/value The originality of the research lies in studying the complex interrelationships among key concepts of SC in a unique Indian manufacturing context. The Indian supply chains operate in a set of unique characteristics, which have been detailed out in this paper. This paper not only establishes the mediating role of SCI for overall SCP in emerging economies but also enhances the scholarly knowledge in the SC domain. Most studies report SCO as a single-order construct, measured by scales comprising of only few items. The second-order SCO measures in this study bring credibility to the findings. Additionally, it contributes to both academicians and practitioners alike in the context of an integrated SC in emerging economies.

Measuring the influence of digital twins on the sustainability of manufacturing supply chain: A mediating role of supply chain resilience and performance

The supply chain of the palm oil agro-industry is quite complicated and lengthy and involves many actors. This causes supply chain performance to be less than optimal. In addition, it also raises doubts applying the principle of sustainability in its business activities. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the performance of the supply chain of the palm oil agro-industry to know the actual conditions at the moment and to identify existing problems and opportunities for improvement. Thus, the right strategy can be formulated to increase the sustainability and responsiveness of the palm oil agro-industry. This study aims to identify the condition of the palm oil agro-industry supply chain mechanism and analyze the performance of the palm oil agro-industry supply chain so that improvement strategies can be formulated. Analysis of the supply chain performance of the palm oil agro-industry was determined using the Supply Chain Operation Reference (SCOR) method by weighting the results of the Analytical Hierarchy Process questionnaire (AHP) to obtain the supply chain. The results showed that the supply chain structure of the palm oil agro-industry consisted of farmers, transportation, palm oil mills, private partners, distributors, and consumers. Analysis of the performance of supply chain actors in the palm oil agro-industry is primarily in the medium and above average categories. Improving supply chain performance needs to be emphasized at each stage of the planning process with reliability performance attributes and performance indicators in the form of accuracy in predicting the number of requests. Alternative strategies that are prioritized to improve supply chain performance are increasing the competence of human resources and supply chain partnerships.

In local and globalized markets, warehouses are crucial supply chain nodes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of warehousing on supply chain performance: A case of Inyange Industries Ltd. The goals were to evaluate how inventory management, warehouse capacity building, and material handling affects supply chain performance in Inyange Industries Ltd. This research experimented with three different theories: Just-in-time, Lean, and Triple-A supply chain. The population of this study were 105 staff members of Inyange Industries Ltd. Therefore, census was conducted because the population size is affordable and the researcher can be able to contact all the respondents. Quantitative data were analyzed using inferential research methodology in this study. Questionnaires were used to gather primary data, which was then analyzed. Data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to show the study's results. According to the research, supply chain performance is positively and significantly affected by both automated and manual material handling. Mechanical material handling, on the other hand, improves supply chain performance, but not much. Inyange Industries' supply chain performance is influenced by the material handling systems to the tune of 19.3%, as shown by the modified R2 value of 0.193. According to the research, supply chain performance is positively and significantly affected by inventory counts, warehouse management systems, and inventory organization. A 0.967 adjusted R^2 value suggests that 96.7% of the variation in Inyange Industries' supply chain performance is explained by the inventory management techniques. According to the research, supply chain effectiveness is positively and significantly impacted by warehouse demand planning, design, and management. Warehouse capacity planning techniques at Inyange Industries account for 95.4% of the variation in supply chain performance, as shown by the modified R2 value of 0.954. The research concluded that material handling, inventory management, and warehouse capacity planning are all important warehouse management measures that significantly impact supply chain performance for the better. The methods used by Inyange Industries Ltd. for managing their warehouses have resulted in an improvement in supply chain performance of 87.2%. The regression coefficients, supported by their t-test values and Beta coefficients, highlight both the significance and strength of relationships between independent and dependent variables. Material Handling demonstrated the greatest impact (β1=0.532, t=8.556, p=0.000), followed by Inventory Management (β2=0.379, t=6.147, p=0.000), and Warehouse Capacity Planning (β3=0.172, t=3.268, p=0.002), emphasizing their respective contributions to Supply Chain Performance of Inyange Industries Ltd.'s supply chain. This proved that material handling in warehouse management has a major influence on supply chain performance. Because the p-value was lower than 5%, we may say that the association is statistically significant. The research concluded that both automated and human material handling should get additional funding. To maximize efficiency in stock-taking as well. Previous studies have looked at a variety of organizational factors that affect performance of supply chains. To further understand how warehouse management strategies affect overall performance, more research is needed.

PurposeDespite the economic growth in Ghana, the manufacturing industry faces numerous challenges in their supply chains. The study aims to investigate the mediated-moderated role of supply chain technological innovation (SCTI) in the relationship between supply chain resilience (SCR) and supply chain performance (SCP) of manufacturing firms. By exploring this relationship, the study seeks to provide insights that can help manufacturing firms overcome the challenges they face and improve their overall supply chain performance.Design/methodology/approachThe quantitative research approach and explanatory research design were utilised. A sample of 345 manufacturing firms was drawn from a population of 2495 manufacturing firms in the Accra metropolis. Analysis of this study was performed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM).FindingsIt was revealed that SCTI positively mediates the nexus between SCR and SCP. However, we document that SCTI negatively moderates the nexus. It is instructive to advocate that a mere presence of a more enhanced SCTI is not enough to improve upon SCP of manufacturing firms, but should be a channel through which SCR can improve SCP.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the need for managers of firms to prioritise investment in technological innovation as a means of enhancing SCR and ultimately improving supply chain performance. By understanding the SCTI mediated-moderated relationship between SCR and SCP, supply chain managers, logistics managers, operation managers, as well as procurement managers can develop more effective strategies to optimise their operations. This study provides valuable insights for managers and policymakers in developing and implementing supply chain resilience strategies that take into account the important role of SCTI.Originality/valueThe originality of the study lies in exploring the mediated-moderated effect of technological innovation on the nexus between resilience and performance of supply chains in developing economies, where firms often face unique challenges such as infrastructure limitations, political instability and economic uncertainty. By investigating the interplay of SCTI between SCR and SCP, researchers can develop new insights and strategies to help navigate these challenges and achieve success.

PurposeFirst, the purpose of this paper is to develop some policies as an alternative scenario to increase the performance of the Indonesian dairy milk supply chain so it can fulfil the target of the government. Second, this study aims to find the best alternative scenario based on the performance resulted from the simulation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper develops a system dynamics-based model by using six approaches, i.e. “population and consumption of dairy milk”, “national milk production”, “dairy cattle feed”, “dairy cattle population”, “profit gained by the dairy farmer”, and “government policy”.FindingsThere is no best scenario; however, the combined scenario can give the better condition to achieve the targets set by the government.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of this study include: the relationship between the levels of welfare of farmers and the desire being a dairy farmer is not modelled; the quality of milk is only determined by the content of fat and protein in one litre of milk, and the level of milk consumption per capita increases naturally without any intervention or policy from the government.Practical implicationsThis study provides essential insights into the context of implementing the policies in the Indonesian dairy supply chain.Social implicationsThe research revealed that good policies scenario could be built after simulating and analysing the effect of each scenario on the performance of a dairy supply chain carefully.Originality/valueThis study does not test one policy in isolation. It simultaneously tests various combinations of policy that related to dairy cattle import, operational assistance for dairy cooperative and dairy farmer that may help maximise the performance of the Indonesian dairy milk supply chain.

Purpose Existing supply chain (SC) performance models are not able to cope with the potential of intensive SC digitalisation and establish a relationship between decisions and decision criteria. The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated knowledge-based system (KBS) that creates a link between decisions and decision criteria (attributes) and evaluates the overall SC performance. Design/methodology/approach The proposed KBS is grounded on the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy AHP), which establishes a relationship between short-term and long-term decisions and SC performance criteria (short-term and long-term) for accurate and integrated Overall SC performance evaluation. Findings The proposed KBS evaluates the overall SC performance, establishes a relationship between decisions (long-term and short-term) and decision criteria of SC functions and provides decision makers with a view of the impact of their short-term or long-term decisions on overall SC performance. The proposed system was implemented in a case company where the authors were able to develop a SC performance monitoring dashboard for the company’s top managers and operational managers. Practical implications The proposed KBS assists organisations and decision makers in evaluating their overall SC performance and helps in identifying underperforming SC functions and their associated criteria. It may also be considered as a tool for benchmarking SC performance against competitors. It can efficiently point to improvement directions and help decision makers improve overall SC performance. Originality/value The proposed KBS provides a holistic and integrated approach, establishes a relationship between decisions and decision criteria and evaluates overall SC performance, which is one of the main limitations in existing supply chain performance measurement systems.

The key objective of this research study is to delve into the factors affecting supply chain resilience to enhance supply chain performance through the mediation of supply chain resilience. A quantitative method of research was applied to perform this particular research. Data collection was performed using the questionnaire technique. As it was impossible to collect data from every member of the targeted population, a sample of data was calculated using G*power software and a sample size of 129 respondents. It was concluded that supply chain artificial intelligence, adaptive capability, and collaboration positively and significantly influence supply chain resilience and performance. At the same time, supply chain resilience also positively impacts supply chain performance. Thus, adopting resilience and other dynamic capacities can enhance organizational and supply chain performance. This research study provides insight to the manufacturing firms' practitioners and managers for improving their resilience level in the supply chain. This specific research study plays a significant role in literature by highlighting the concept of supply chain resilience and the supply chain performance of organizations.

This study investigates how tech-driven integration (TDI), supply chain flexibility (SCF), and organizational ambidexterity (ORA) influence supply chain integration (SCI) and supply chain performance (SCP) in manufacturing firms. Supply chain uncertainty and agility are examined as moderating factors in the relationship between TDI, SCF, ORA, SCI, and supply chain performance. Based on insights from two experts and a comprehensive literature review, 35 measurement items were identified for the close-ended questionnaire design. Grounded in the resource-based view, the study employs the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach to analyze 409 valid responses from the manufacturing industry. Our findings reveal that TDI and ORA positively impact SCI, while SCF has no significant influence on SCI. SCI directly influences SCP. Supply chain uncertainty moderates the two impacts: TDI and SCI; ORA and SCI. Besides, supply chain agility moderates the relationship between SCI and SCP. Our findings contribute to the literature by introducing a novel perspective on the relational dynamics of supply chain management by TDI and emphasizing the importance of organizational ambidexterity. We provide practical recommendations for managers to improve firm performance by strengthening the connections between TDI, SCF, ORA, uncertainty, agility, SCI, and SCP.

The purpose of this paper is to model dynamic feedback effects and complex interactions among risks affecting foodgrains transportation using a system dynamics approach. The risk scenario is simulated using a system dynamics model considering risk index values. It has been observed that there is a significant increase in inventory level from 8.39% to 28.4% and vehicle capacity from 8.99% to 28.4% with a change in risk value by 30%. This can help managers to develop inventory and transportation policies. It will, therefore, help to generate risk reduction scenarios for better availability of foodgrains through integrated risk control and mitigation in a supply chain. The key findings drawn for transportation and inventory management of foodgrains will help policy-makers to improve the efficiency of foodgrains supply chain. This research uniquely analyses the dynamic implication of inventory-transportation policies on foodgrains transportation system using system dynamics modelling approach.

The global food supply chain plays an essential role in economic development while addressing environmental and social issues in its business system. However, this complex network is exposed to various risk factors related to sustainability that can disrupt the supply chain performance. CV. XYZ is a food manufacturer that produces jackfruit chips in Indonesia. During the supply chain process, this company needs to manage the various risks across the supplier, manufacturer, and retailer stages. By identifying and evaluating risks at each stage, mitigation and improvement strategies can be proposed. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the supply chain risk mitigation and performance improvement strategies for maintaining supply chain stability and performance. House of Risk (HOR) was applied to analyze the mitigation strategies, while SWOT with analytical networking process (ANP) or analytical hierarchy process (AHP)/ (i.e., SWOT-ANP/AHP method)was used for analyzing performance improvement strategies by considering the weight of each factor. The result shows that twelve mitigation strategies are needed to mitigate the fourteen risk agents that focus on improving production activities and human resources. Moreover, eleven strategies have been proposed to improve sustainable supply chain performance in the future, focusing more on marketing activities and enhancing human resource capabilities.

Higher Education (HE) in South Africa has been recently affected by high staff turnover in the science faculties. The higher education system is under severe pressure given that the academic cohort of scientists comprises a majority of ageing white males. Thus, the higher education sector will have to ensure it attracts and retains scientific staff to address this potential crisis. High turnover sometimes occurs as a result of poaching from ‘sister institutions’ but, in the main, is due to staff losses to the private sector because universities cannot match the salaries offered in the private sector. A shortage of scarce skills has left universities with no option but to appoint foreigners in some faculties. This has a negative impact on staff retention. Furthermore, a career in academia is sometimes embraced through default rather than conscious choice. This results in lower productivity as there is little motivation for new staff to perform to their potential since they see academia as a stepping-stone to their ‘real career.’ Therefore, this study, sought to evaluate leadership approaches to talent development and retention using a qualitative system dynamics model. System dynamics modelling is a computer simulation approach to addressing social issues that is rooted in the agency-structure debate. The fundamental thesis of system dynamics is that the behaviour or observed phenomena in any system over time is largely determined by its structure and that effective changes or modifications can only be achieved through an understanding of the structure. The research was primarily qualitative, as system dynamics requires elicitation and understanding of the prevailing mental models in a system as the basis for developing a simulation model. System dynamics modelling primarily follows the systems thinking paradigm, which is a philosophical world view that is rooted in holism. The system thinking paradigm holds that all things and events inadvertently form part of a larger whole and they can be best understood within the context of this larger whole. A purposive sample of 30 members of staff from human resources management, executive management and members of the University Council was used to collect data through interviews and focus groups. Data was analysed using NVivo and a qualitative system dynamic modelling approach. The findings of the study led to identification of four consolidated themes, viz. talent development and retention; a system for talent management and retention; a process for talent management and retention, and recommendations for talent management and retention. The afore-mentioned themes were further categorised into nine sub-themes. The results show that several factors impact talent management, including bureaucracy and a lack of proper promotion processes. The findings from the system dynamics approach led to the formulation of four key variables: work pressurised induced turnover, resource dynamics for staff development, training dynamics and consultative strategic planning. The identified variables led to the development of an integrated SD-CLD model on leadership approaches to talent development and retention, which is a key contribution of this study. Therefore, institutions of higher learning must come up with talent development strategies that adhere to the prevailing laws such as the Employment Equity Act to achieve their strategic goals. A targeted training initiative is fundamental in developing the skills of academics in terms of teaching and learning and research. Hence, departmental courses, seminars and workshops for teaching and learning research excellence and general academic development need to be seriously debated within a given collegial, intellectual, and academic environment. This study has contributed to the literature on talent management, leadership, and retention from a university of technology where resource, constraints, culture, and politics play a crucial role on the final recipe. The study has further provided a springboard for altering or reviewing institutional policies so that the needs of employees are properly addressed, and the talent management framework is enhanced. Future research should consider expanding the scope of the study by other variables that are key to organisational effectiveness using a system dynamics approach.