Search results
1 – 10 of 523Chhabi Ram Matawale, Saurav Datta and S.S. Mahapatra
The concept of agile supply chain (ASC) has become increasingly important as means of achieving a competitive edge in turbulent business environments. An ASC is a dynamic alliance…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of agile supply chain (ASC) has become increasingly important as means of achieving a competitive edge in turbulent business environments. An ASC is a dynamic alliance of member enterprises, the adaptation of which is likely to introduce velocity, responsiveness and flexibility into the manufacturing system. In ASC management, supplier/partner selection is a key strategic concern; influenced by various agility-related criteria/attributes. Therefore, evaluation and selection of potential supplier in an ASC has become an important multi-criteria decision-making problem. The purpose of this paper is to report, a supplier selection procedure (module) in the context of ASC.
Design/methodology/approach
During supplier selection, subjectivity of evaluation information (human judgment) often creates conflict and bears some kind of uncertainty. To overcome this, the present work attempts to explore vague set theory to deal with uncertainties in the supplier selection decision-making process. Since, vague sets can provide more accurate information as compared to fuzzy sets. It considers true membership function as well as false membership function which give more superior results for uncertain information. In this procedure, first, linguistic variables have been used to assess appropriateness rating (performance extent) as well as priority weights for individual quantitative or qualitative criterions. Second, the concept of degree of similarity and probability of vague sets has been used to determine appropriate ranking order of the potential supplier alternatives.
Findings
A case empirical example has been provided. It has been proved that the methodology would be fruitful in considering different evaluation criterion (indices); may be contradicting in nature like beneficial and cost criterions. The application of vague set theory has also been proved as a better option to work under uncertain (fuzzy) decision-making environment in comparison to fuzzy set theory.
Originality/value
The application of vague set theory in multi-criteria group decision making has been reported in literature to a limited extent. Application of vague set as a decision-making tool in agile supplier selection appears relative new and unexplored work area. The work has got remarkable managerial implications.
Details
Keywords
Maqsood Ahmad Sandhu, Ahm Shamsuzzoha and Petri Helo
The purpose of this paper is to deal with the importance and obstacles of outsourcing strategy in project business in terms of product development perspectives. This strategy is…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to deal with the importance and obstacles of outsourcing strategy in project business in terms of product development perspectives. This strategy is intrinsically analyzed and evaluated with respect to the strategic business environments.
Design/methodology/approach
The objective of this research is to analyze the advantages and limitations of the outsourcing that have been identified in prior studies. This research has attempted to investigate the performance implications of outsourcing strategies in terms of theoretical considerations and implementation perspectives.
Findings
In this study, the authors have presented a general overview of outsourcing strategies in terms of both light and dark sides of this approach. Various driving forces of outsourcing strategy along with critical success factors are articulated within project to product development perspectives.
Research limitations/implications
Future research could be continued to measure various performance variables such as productivity, sales, revenues, career opportunities, manifest in power struggles, change jobs, change organizational cultures, etc. in multiple case companies, which affect with the success or failure of outsourcing arrangements.
Practical implications
The term outsourcing is nowadays a widely known business strategy, where manufacturing firms share partly or fully of their production process with outside organizations or suppliers. The research approach as articulated within this paper would be beneficial for project business organizations and specially the product designers and project managers for planning and developing their strategic business potentials with respect to outsourcing and in-sourcing decisions.
Originality/value
In this paper a high-level decision-making model for outsourcing and a cause and effect type framework are demonstrated with a view to ease the decision-making process for the organizations managers.
Details
Keywords
Chhabi Ram Matawale, Saurav Datta and S.S. Mahapatra
The recent global market trend is seemed enforcing existing manufacturing organizations (as well as service sectors) to improve existing supply chain systems or to take up/adapt…
Abstract
Purpose
The recent global market trend is seemed enforcing existing manufacturing organizations (as well as service sectors) to improve existing supply chain systems or to take up/adapt advanced manufacturing strategies for being competitive. The concept of the agile supply chain (ASC) has become increasingly important as a means of achieving a competitive edge in highly turbulent business environments. An ASC is a dynamic alliance of member enterprises, the formation of which is likely to introduce velocity, responsiveness, and flexibility into the manufacturing system. In ASC management, supplier/partner selection is a key strategic concern. Apart from traditional supplier/partner selection criteria; different agility-related criteria/attributes need to be taken under consideration while selecting an appropriate supplier in an ASC. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Therefore, evaluation and selection of potential supplier in an ASC have become an important multi-criteria decision making problem. Most of the evaluation criteria being subjective in nature; traditional decision-making approaches (mostly dealing with objective data) fail to solve this problem. However, fuzzy set theory appears an important mean to tackle with vague and imprecise data given by the experts. In this work, application potential of the fuzzy multi-level multi-criteria decision making (FMLMCDM) approach proposed by Chu and Velásquez (2009) and Chu and Varma (2012) has been examined and compared to that of Fuzzy-techniques for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and Fuzzy-MOORA in the context of supplier selection in ASC.
Findings
It has been observed that similar ranking order appears in FMLMCDM as well as Fuzzy-TOPSIS. In Fuzzy-MOORA, the best alternative appears same as in case of FMLMCDM as well as Fuzzy-TOPSIS; but for other alternatives ranking order differs. A comparative analysis has also been made in view of working principles of FMLMCDM, Fuzzy-TOPSIS as well as Fuzzy-MOORA.
Originality/value
Application feasibility of FMLMCDM approach has been verified in comparison with Fuzzy-TOPSIS and Fuzzy-MOORA in the context of agile supplier selection.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this conceptual paper is to attempt to answer the related questions of how and why supply chain partners are chosen. Research objectives are to understand how and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this conceptual paper is to attempt to answer the related questions of how and why supply chain partners are chosen. Research objectives are to understand how and why collaborative partners are chosen, by learning the actual decision‐making processes and key factors in partner selection.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed methods approach was chosen, comprising: a focused literature review, to identify key issues, and informal interviews, leading to the development of a Partner Negotiation Model; a multiple case study approach, involving formal interviews about two partnerships, supplemented by documentation, contracts, correspondence and other records; and some manual data analysis and a qualitative research tool. The whole resulted in identification of significant issues for partner negotiation and selection.
Findings
Contrary to accepted theory in the alliance, partner selection, and decision‐making literature, the results show that alliance partners are chosen through a complex negotiation process rather than rational selection. The research and interviews with software industry collaborators suggest roles for factors such as complexity, cyclic negotiation, several types of partners, several levels of alliance formation, and hidden factors, such as personal friendship or perceived reputation. Overall, the problem of collaborative partner selection was found to be much more complex than expected.
Research limitations/implications
Research results are limited by the small sample of partnerships reviewed, but the results can be used as a starting‐point for further larger‐scale studies.
Practical implications
Supply chain partners in business can use these results to help them better understand the process and criteria for future supply partner selection.
Originality/value
The results may be used to develop a set of partner selection recommendations for practitioners. For specific firms that become involved in organizing supply chain alliances, the results of this work will provide decision support in terms of choosing among partners or indeed whether to engage in a particular relationship.
Details
Keywords
Anoop Kumar Sahu, Nitin Kumar Sahu and Atul Kumar Sahu
In the rapidly changing business environment, companies must align with suppliers to streamline operations, as well as working together to achieve a level of agility beyond…
Abstract
Purpose
In the rapidly changing business environment, companies must align with suppliers to streamline operations, as well as working together to achieve a level of agility beyond individual companies (Lin et al., 2006). Today’s more dynamic business environment increases the need for greater agility in supply chains, which increases both the importance and frequency of supplier/partner evaluation and benchmarking decision making. The purpose of this paper is to develop a multiple criterion appraisement index (model/module) for supplier/partner alternative firm benchmarking perspective under similar agile supply chain architecture.
Design/methodology/approach
In this reporting, evaluation information against subjectivity (uncertain environment) indices has been transformed mathematical dimensionless numbers by fuzzy-based computation module. A new interval-valued fuzzy number set conjunction with modified “technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution” methodology has been explored from benchmarking (ranking order of firm under similar criterion) point of view of supplier firms.
Findings
In this context, a novel “fuzzy mathematical equation” has been developed in perceptive to compute the priority weights and appropriateness ratings of first-level measures which reduced the acquisition of supplementary priority weights and appropriateness ratings assessment in linguistic terms from group decision makers (DMs) for first-level indices. An empirical case study has been carried to ranking order the candidate partner/supplier alternative via collective index (CI) value. Lower value of “CI” reflected higher degree of performance extent. The authors found out the effectiveness and validity of proposed methodology for constructed appraisement module.
Originality/value
This research work shall be valuable for that organization which volunteer to obtain the ranking order of partner/supplier alternative (benchmark) under similar agile supply chain architecture in accordance to group DMs’ comprehensive information for select best one supplier for own firm. In this reporting, a novel fuzzy mathematical equation has been developed in order to compute the important weights as well as priority rating of first-level indices/measure which reduced the supplementary important weights and priority rating assessment from group DMs in linguistic terms in order to obtain the measures rating and weights.
Details
Keywords
King L. Choy, Wing Bun Lee and Victor Lo
An intelligent supplier relationship management system (ISRMS) integrating a company’s customer relationship management (CRM) system, supplier rating system (SRS) and product…
Abstract
An intelligent supplier relationship management system (ISRMS) integrating a company’s customer relationship management (CRM) system, supplier rating system (SRS) and product coding system (PCS) by the case based reasoning (CBR) technique to select preferred suppliers during the new product development (NPD) process is discussed. By using ISRMS in Honeywell Consumer Product (Hong Kong) Limited, it is found that the outsource cycle time from the searching of potential suppliers to the allocation of order, as well as the delay in delivery of goods of suppliers after order allocation, are greatly reduced. In addition, performance of suppliers can be monitored effectively.
Details
Keywords
Abstract
In this paper, a server‐based enterprise collaborative management system using enterprise application integration technology is developed for trial implementation at Honeywell Consumer Products (Hong Kong) Limited, in the area of supplier relationship management. The system facilitates supplier selection using an integrative case‐based supplier selection and help desk approach to select the most appropriate suppliers, based on their past performance records from a case‐based warehouse. Discusses a case study to integrate Honeywell's supplier rating system and product coding system by case‐based reasoning technique to select preferred suppliers during the new product development process. Finds that the outsource cycle time from the searching of potential suppliers to the allocation of orders is greatly reduced while performance of suppliers can be monitored simultaneously.
Details
Keywords
Many companies that were once centrally involved in the actual manufacture of products, and the delivery of their supporting services, now find themselves primarily engaged in…
Abstract
Many companies that were once centrally involved in the actual manufacture of products, and the delivery of their supporting services, now find themselves primarily engaged in integrating a number of other organizations, some of which they may own but many of which will be independent, each of which goes to make up a particular supply network. Consequently, continuously tracking performance of suppliers and an appropriate selection mechanism is one of the crucial activities in managing this supply network. This paper presents an intelligent generic supplier management tool (GSMT) using the case‐based reasoning (CBR) technique for outsourcing to suppliers and automating the decision‐making process when selecting them. The development of GSMT and how the CBR technique is applied is then given, followed by an application of GSMT in Honeywell Consumer Products (Hong Kong) Limited.
Details
Keywords
Anni-Kaisa Kähkönen and Katrina Lintukangas
This paper investigates how sustainability requirements modify supply strategies at different levels in the food industry companies. The paper integrates single supply decisions…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper investigates how sustainability requirements modify supply strategies at different levels in the food industry companies. The paper integrates single supply decisions into firm-level supply strategy and views supply strategy as one coherent strategy in which the decision-making is based on the values and principles of a firm.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper captures the decade of change and studies the renewal of supply strategy by utilising two qualitative data sets with a ten years of difference. The data contain 41 interviews from a retailer and 5 of its food supplier companies.
Findings
Results confirm that a decade ago only minor attention was channelled towards sustainability whereas today sustainability is a key driver behind supply decisions and supply strategies because firms need to respond to sustainability requirements and challenges. The study presents a framework for analysing different levels (firm, category and supply market levels) of changes and sustainability requirements faced by food companies and their supply strategies.
Originality/value
Previously, sustainability has rarely been connected to firm-level supply strategy. This study presents the supply strategy elements that were important for Finnish food industry companies over a decade ago and matches these elements to the needs of today’s firms. As a result, the study incorporates the concept of sustainability with the supply strategy frameworks.
Details
Keywords
Deepak Datta Nirmal, K. Nageswara Reddy and Sujeet Kumar Singh
The main purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive review and critical insights of the application of fuzzy methods in modeling, assessing and understanding the various…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive review and critical insights of the application of fuzzy methods in modeling, assessing and understanding the various aspects of green and sustainable supply chains (SSCs).
Design/methodology/approach
The present study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis of 252 research articles. This study employs various tools such as VOSviewer version 1.6.10, Publish or Perish, Mendeley and Excel that aid in descriptive analysis, bibliometric analysis and network visualization. These tools have been used for performing citation analysis, top authors' analysis, co-occurrence of keywords, cluster and content analysis.
Findings
The authors have divided the literature into seven application areas and discussed detailed insights. This study has observed that research in the social sustainability area, including various issues like health and safety, labor rights, discrimination, etc. is scarce. Integration of the Industry 4.0 technologies like blockchain, big data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) with the sustainable and green supply chain (GSC) is a promising field for future research.
Originality/value
The authors' contribution primarily lies in providing the integrated framework which shows the changing trends in the use of fuzzy methods in the sustainability area classifying and consolidating green and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) literature in seven major areas where fuzzy methods are predominantly applied. These areas have been obtained after the analysis of clusters and content analysis of the literature presenting key insights from the past and developing the conceptual framework for future research studies.
Details