| 1. |
- Ahlqvist, Victoria, et al.
(author)
-
Supply Chain Risk Governance: Towards a Conceptual Multi-Level Framework
- 2020
-
In: Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal. - : OSCM Forum. - 1979-3561 .- 2579-9363. ; 13:4, s. 382-395
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is currently putting high pressure on most countries’ critical infrastructures (not only health care), creating huge uncertainties in supply and demand, and disrupting global supply chains. The global crisis will demonstrate the extent to which different parties (countries, public authorities, private companies etc.) can work together and take holistic decisions in such situations. A core question in supply chain management asks how independent decision-makers at many levels can work together and how this joint work can be governed. Supply chain risk management (SCRM), however, has focused mostly on how focal private companies apply SCRM processes to identify, analyse and mitigate risk related to upstream and downstream flows in their supply networks. At the same time, interorganisational collaboration to handle diverse risks is always needed. A risk that hits one organisation often affects other, interconnected organisations. This study aims to develop the term supply chain risk governance with an associated conceptual framework that embraces various types of supply chains and actors. In a cross-disciplinary literature study, we dissect, compare and combine risk governance with interorganisational aspects of SCRM and find that the mechanisms suggested in the risk governance literature coincide with many of those in SCRM. We suggest a combination of these to govern risk processes at an inter-organisational level, regardless of the type of organisation included in the supply chain. This would be suitable for critical infrastructures that often contain a mixture of private and public actors. The scope of the literature employed is limited, and some articles have played a larger role in the framework development. The paper explores new territory through this cross-disciplinary study, extends existing multi-level frameworks with inter-organisational governance mechanisms and proposes new governance mechanisms to the field. This study could support the understanding of how critical infrastructures in our society are governed so as to increase their resilience to both smaller and larger disruptions.
|
|
| 2. |
- Batwa, Abbas, et al.
(author)
-
Blockchain Technology and Trust in Supply Chain Management: A Literature Review and Research Agenda
- 2021
-
In: Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal. - : OSCM Forum. - 1979-3561 .- 2579-9363. ; 14:2, s. 203-220
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Applying blockchain technology for information sharing in supply chain is driven by many factors, but developing trust is one of the most proposed. However, trust is a multidimensional, intangible concept without an agreed-upon definition. Whereas some argue that trust is the main driver of blockchain technology, others have found a negative relationship. This study focuses on how applying blockchain in supply chain management can influence trust and proposes a corresponding research agenda. Trust and blockchain technology discussions are scattered throughout the literature. Thus, a systematic literature review was performed based on a conceptual trust framework. This study discovered a gap in linking trust theories to blockchain technology applications especially in supply chain management, and provided insights into trust’s reciprocal nature. Current literature strongly expects trust as a consequence for blockchain adoption if considered in the technology. Simultaneously, trust in supply chain partners is strongly expected as an antecedent to blockchain because it requires openness in information sharing. Thus, propositions and agenda for future research are suggested. The research is limited to literature findings due to the immaturity and low scalability of blockchain technology adoption; however, the most reviewed articles in less than two years old, increase the results’ accuracy.
|
|
| 3. |
- Bäckstrand, Jenny, 1979-, et al.
(author)
-
Enhancing Supply Chain Capabilities in an ETO Context Through "Lean and Learn"
- 2021
-
In: Operations and Supply Chain Management. - : OSCM. - 1979-3561 .- 2579-9363. ; 14:3, s. 360-367
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the operations management literature, organizational learning has recently begun to emerge as an important missing link to successful lean transformations. As such, drawing on insights from two case companies in the engineer to order (ETO) industry, we frame the successful enhancement of supply chain capabilities through a lens we call “Lean and Learn”. Continuous improvement without learning is not lean thinking. Thus, lean thinking and practice is, in essence, a process of learning; where problems are identified and solutions are created, analysed, selected, and implemented; resulting not only in improved performance but also in improved capability. Since the ETO industry exhibits project-based production, there seems to be natural barriers and resistance to continuous improvement and learning. By building on the notion that an organization with an improved capability is an organization that has learned, this study examines the link between supply chain capabilities and organizational learning in an ETO context by combining analytical conceptual reasoning with meta-data collected from action research at two case companies. The study contributes to practice by pointing out how supply chain capabilities can be enhanced in an ETO context, and to academia by identifying and offering new knowledge to start filling the research gap between three specific research areas: ETO supply chains, organizational learning, and lean management.
|
|
| 4. |
- Eriksson, David, et al.
(author)
-
Critical Manufacturing Prerequisites for Successful Reshoring
- 2021
-
In: Operations and Supply Chain Management. - : OSCM FORUM. - 1979-3561 .- 2579-9363. ; 14:2, s. 249-260
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Reshoring is an emergent theme in research and practice. It is important for researchers to understand the motivating force and prerequisites for these reshoring activities, and to develop a method that supports sustainable reshoring decisions. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the prerequisites for successful reshoring. The preparation for this study consists of a systematic literature review. The findings presented here, however, are revelatory and emerged during a workshop. The findings were further researched at a total of four companies, which were part of data collection in a larger project. This research identified three scenarios, in which preceding manufacturing step, creation of parallel steps, or exploration of overcapacity are central. The paper also presents a stage-gateprocess for reshoring decisions as well as a typology of reshoring alternatives. This research sheds light on prerequisites and contextual factors that enable companies to reshore. The importance of manufacturing capabilities can be seen in literature, but has not yet, to our knowledge, been given sufficient attention. The main practical implication is related to offshoring. Overly-aggressive offshoring can complicate future reshoring. As such, reshoring needs to be considered during offshoring, specifically what manufacturing capabilities that are kept at the domestic location.
|
|
| 5. |
- Jensen, Leif-Magnus, 1972-, et al.
(author)
-
Sourcing from China : Approaches and Outcomes for Swedish Firms
- 2022
-
In: Operations and Supply Chain Management. - : Operations and Supply Chain Management Forum. - 1979-3561 .- 2579-9363. ; 15:2, s. 267-279
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The large and persistent trend of firms sourcing from China is in itself well-established with many success stories. However, managing the sourcing is a complex issue confounded both by cultural differences and the length of the supply chain. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the sourcing approaches of Swedish companies in China and the resultant outcomes. This study is based on a set of cases of Swedish manufacturing and retailer firms. The firms represent different industries and sizes of the company but all have substantial experience sourcing from China. The paper finds that the firms have developed good monitoring systems for their sourcing work and are generally satisfied with the outcomes, but also have persistent communication issues. Two archetypes of firms successfully sourcing from China emerge from the research. The study shows the importance of investing long-term in sourcing operations, especially with regard to developing market understanding and supplier relationships. This must however be matched by appropriate supplier monitoring systems. The research addresses a gap where sourcing configurations and their outcomes beyond general assessments of whether they are successful or not are little explored in the literature.
|
|
| 6. |
- Murillo-Oviedo, Ana Beatriz, et al.
(author)
-
Achieving market orientation through cross-functional integration
- 2019
-
In: Operations and Supply Chain Management. - : OSCM. - 1979-3561 .- 2579-9363. ; 12:3, s. 175-185
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this study is to understand how cross-functional integration contributes to the market orientation of a company that strives to increase market responsiveness. A case study in the Brazilian beverages industry was conducted and empirical data was collected through fourteen in-depth interviews from various functions within the company. The findings indicate that cross-functional integration enables the company to achieve market orientation through two main processes: product launch and customer complaints. Cross-functional integration enables a company to disseminate knowledge about organizational dynamics at both departmental and individual levels, to generate interdependency, to improve the awareness about the internal needs, and to improve the internal knowledge about the customer. This study shows that practitioners need to establish cross-functional integration, as it contributes to the market orientation of a company. Internal knowledge enables practitioners to create value through products and services, while still preserving the corporate image. It also shows that cross-functional teams and meetings are necessary to achieve market orientation in a company.
|
|
| 7. |
- Norrman, Andreas, et al.
(author)
-
Supply Chain Incentive Alignment: The Gap between Perceived Importance and Actual Practice
- 2019
-
In: Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal. - : OSCM Forum. - 1979-3561 .- 2579-9363. ; 12:3, s. 129-142
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Incentive alignment is discussed as one of the key factors for successful implementation of supply chain management. However, there is a lack of empirical research regarding implementation as well as evaluation of the effects of alignment mechanisms in practice. The purpose of this study is therefore to explore and describe the current practice and to identify gaps of Supply chain incentive alignment. The study is an explorative and descriptive survey study based on forty-eight responses from members, supply chain officers, of the Swedish Supply chain panel. The theoretical lenses are based on literature discussing incentive alignment in supply chains, e.g. principal-agency theory and supply chain contracting, but also on literature discussing internal process based management and rewards for goal congruence. The study shows a clear gap between perceived importance and realized practice of both external (interorganizational) and internal (cross-functional) incentive alignment. Very few of the existing sophisticated coordinating mechanisms proposed in theory were used to any significant extent. In fact, the internal incentive structures seem to counter act, and not support, supply chain orientation. This finding relates not only to non-logistics departments but also to functions in “the logistics family”. The major challenge, both externally and internally, is to be able to define incentives that drives behaviour in the right direction. The study clearly shows gaps between practitioners’ intent and current practice, and it provides a broad range of more sophisticated and coordinating mechanisms than the ones mainly used today.
|
|
| 8. |
- Panova, Yulia, et al.
(author)
-
Application of the just-in-time approach to a third-generation port
- 2020
-
In: Operations and Supply Chain Management. - : OSCM Journal. - 1979-3561 .- 2579-9363. ; 13:3, s. 279-293
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper investigates the feasibility of different logistics concepts applicable in a third-generation port (first-and-foremost, just-in-time approach for a given case). In this regard, a simulation model imitating the work of a real third-generation port was developed. Four experiments with proposed logistics solutions have been configured and evaluated in the simulation model. They differed by the size and number of shipping consignments to the port, deployed truck fleet, etc. The research shows that effective material transfers from the plant to the port can be provided, if a ‘pulling’ type of logistics system is applied instead of the traditional ‘pushing’ system. This alternative allows goods to be delivered just-in-time with the minimum labour costs and material resources.
|
|
| 9. |
- Pardillo-Baez, Yinef, et al.
(author)
-
Local and organic food distribution systems: towards a future agenda
- 2020
-
In: Operations and Supply Chain Management. - : OSCM Forum. - 1979-3561 .- 2579-9363. ; 13:4, s. 336-348
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There has been an increasing consumer demand for local and organic food as they are considered to be more sustainable, ecological and healthier. The ‘conventional’ long food distribution system is not sufficient to fulfill the current needs. Consequently, short distribution systems for local and organic food have been gaining popularity, that is not only sustainable but also contributes to food security and satisfies local consumer demand. One such short distribution systems are alternative food networks (AFNs). The AFNs have emerged as a promising provisioning system for local and organic food that promotes economical, environmental and social sustainability and respect for farming tradition. However, the AFNs are facing challenges in increasing the distribution of local and organic food in the long term. The purpose of the paper is to make a review of the existing short food distribution systems for local and organic food and propose a research agenda. In order to achieve this, a literature review is conducted and different food distribution channels within AFNs are studied. The challenges for each food distribution channel are identified and then compared to ‘conventional’ distribution systems. The main finding of the study is a framework of main challenges of short food distribution channels within AFNs. The practical implication is generic criteria to consider while designing a short food distribution system that closely connects consumers and farmers of local and organic food. The policy implication is to create favorable conditions to encourage short food distribution systems in the long term.
|
|
| 10. |
- Pettersson, Annelie, et al.
(author)
-
To Evaluate Cost Savings in a Supply Chain : Two Examples from Ericsson in the Telecom Industry
- 2013
-
In: Operations and Supply Chain Management. - : OSCM Forum. - 1979-3561 .- 2579-9363. ; 6:3, s. 94-102
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- An accurate cost analysis is necessary to evaluate changes in a supply chain; this article shows how a rather simple framework can be used when evaluating changes in a supply chain. The framework is built on a Supply Chain Cost (SCC) model and customer service measurements, delivery precision and lead-time. Both suggested changes in a supply chain and already executed changes can be evaluated by the framework. Two different examples from the company Ericsson are presented to illustrate the framework, which is a 5 step analysis model. The existing, or pre-existing, supply chain is analysed, described and defined. The SCC and performance measures are mea-sured and/or estimated. Improvements are designed and defined. The same measures as before are measured again. The measures from before and after the change of the supply chain are evaluated to decide if the changes are improvements or not. Cutting costs in one area of the supply chain can be a mistake if not the total supply chain is considered and the total SCC. Considering both the SCC part and customer service measures present a wider understanding of the change. It is shown that SCC can be used as a tool to identify cost savings and evaluate if a change project will, or has, resulted in the cost savings the project aims for. Rough standard costs measures should be avoided instead actual costs should be used as much as possible. The used framework hopefully stimulate to similar analyses in other companies with other supply chains.
|
|
