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Supply chains are widely studied as carriers of value, but their potential to create value remains underappreciated. This study conceptualizes supply chain orchestration as a business model that allows a firm to create value in a supply chain with high market uncertainty by matching demand and supply more effectively than the present norm, and without relying on product innovation. Building on contingency theory, this study theorizes supply chain orchestration and articulates three defining qualities of its activity system. Next, it describes the evolution of this business model: its creation requires architectural market knowledge; however, sustained belief in the architectural market knowledge, ironically, can hinder its adaptation to changes in the firm's environment and lead to its abandonment. The study, I hope, will promote management practice and research at the largely untapped intersection of business models and strategic supply chain management to foster novel value creation by orchestrating supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social interactions are important for how societies function, conferring robustness and resilience to environmental changes. The structure of social interactions can shape the dynamics of information and goods transmission. In addition, the availability and types of resources that are transferred might impact the structure of interaction networks. For example, storable resources might reduce the required speed of distribution and altering interaction structure can facilitate such change. Here, we use Camponotus fragilis ants as a model system to examine how social interactions are impacted by group size, food availability, and food type. We compare global- and individual-level network measures across experiments in which groups of different sizes received limited or unlimited food that is either favorable and cannot be stored (carbohydrates), or unfavorable but with a potential of being stored (protein). We found that in larger groups, individuals interacted with more social partners and connected more individuals, and interaction networks became more compartmentalized. Furthermore, the number of individuals that ants interacted with and the distance they traveled both increased when food was limited compared to when it was unlimited. Our findings highlight how biological systems can adjust their interaction networks in ways that relate to their function. The study of such biological flexibility can inspire novel and important solutions to the design of robust and resilient supply chains.

This study examines the pricing policies and the dual-channel strategies in a two-tier supply chain where a manufacturer distributes products through a retailer and considers the opening of a traditional direct online channel or a live-streaming sales channel The manufacturer has three sales modes, i.e., traditional retail channel only, opening a traditional direct online channel and opening a live-streaming direct sales channel, to consider. The manufacturer and the retailer play a Stackelberg game wherein the manufacturer has the first mover advantage. The two supply chain members can follow two decision sequences where the manufacturer decides the direct online retail price before the retailer does in one, and the manufacturer and the retailer cooperate to decide the retail prices simultaneously in the other. The profit optimization models for the three sales modes are formulated, and the closed forms of the optimal solutions are then derived through backward induction. The optimal pricing decisions and profits with different decision sequences are compared and analyzed among the three sales modes. The results suggest that the manufacturer should introduce a live-streaming direct sales channel when facing fierce competition, and should not introduce a dual channel to create a win-win situation for the two supply chain members when facing mild competition. The manufacturer should increase the wholesale and the direct online retail prices and make more live-streaming sales effort, and the retailer should also increase the retail price, if the streamer has good sales skills when introducing a live-streaming sales channel. The manufacturer and the retailer should decide the retail prices simultaneously when a live-streaming sale channel is introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the subsidy strategy of blockchain technology for low-carbon supply chains considering consumers' perceived mistrust level, this paper first examines the potential applications of blockchain technology in the supply chain. Subsequently, the effects of government subsidy strategies on the supply chain benefits was analyzed, upon which a low-carbon supply chain game model involving a single producer and a single retailer was constructed. Four investment subsidy models were considered and analyzed. The following conclusions are reached: (1) CERD and CPDL are the main factors affecting producer and retailer profitability. (2) The cost subsidy coefficients of the producer and the retailer are positively correlated with their respective profits, while government revenue initially increases and then decreases as subsidies to both parties increase. (3) While formulating policies, the government should not consider the subsidy costs that reduce consumer perceived distrust levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the resilience of an agriculture supply chain through the lens of complex network perspective. Given the susceptibility of these supply chains to bothrandom events (rainfall and yield uncertainty), and targeted events (income tax raids on millers, strikes, and lockouts), as well as spillover effects of disruptions; we propose a supply chain architecture that helps in achieving a balanced performance against these disruptions. For this, we propose a new attachment rule—'price/cost-based attachment rule', which we use along with degree-based and distance-based attachment rules in generating a resilient supply chain topology. We call the proposed supply chain network—'Balanced Supply Network' whose performance is compared with a scale-free network (BA Network) and a random network (ER Network). The comparison is based on critical performance indicators such as availability (demand and supply availability rate) and connectivity (size of largest all-role connected component). The findings, on expected lines, reveal that our proposed network exhibits a performance trade-off between BA Network and ER Network when subjected to targeted disruptions and disruption propagation scenarios. However, in case of random disruptions, it ensures maximum resilience and even outperforms BA Network due to its construction properties. Further, to optimize resilience, we introduce weights to the attachment rules of our proposed network. These weight assignments enable us to identify the most effective configuration among the three attachment rules for enhancing the network's ability to withstand disruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agriculture has emerged as a critical topic in the context of sustainable development goals set by the United Nations. A key aspect impacting the sustainability of the agriculture supply chain is the usage of agrochemicals. Transitioning to sustainable alternatives from agrochemicals poses challenges, as it affects farms' productivity, income, and food supply to the market. The delicate balance between farm income and greenhouse gas emissions related to chemical fertilizer usage has not been addressed adequately using a dynamic system behavior perspective. This study employs a System Dynamics model to simulate the impact of adopting biofertilizers on the triple-bottom-line performance of the agrochemical supply chain from a policy perspective. The model aims to understand stakeholder behavior within the fertilizer supply chain and enhance its sustainability. Additionally, the study models the effects of various input subsidies using the design of experiments in an Indian agrochemical supply chain, examining trade-offs involved in the triple-bottom-line (social, environmental, and economic) parameters for each subsidy. The simulation model offers policymakers insights into determining appropriate subsidy levels to facilitate a sustainable transition of agricultural supply chains. In this context, various possible scenarios were obtained by simulating the policy parameters (agriproduct price, chemical fertilizer prices, biofertilizer fixed costs, and biofertilizer subsidies) resulting in optimal levels of environmental impact, producer profit, and social benefit. It also provides a comprehensive evaluation of the triple-bottom-line effects of policy strategies, thereby facilitating the comprehension of trade-offs in the supply chains of lower/middle-income countries. The study contributes valuable guidance for policymakers to make informed decisions for promoting sustainable agriculture and achieving the triple-bottom-line objectives in the agrochemical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaks havoc in supply chains by reducing the production capacity of some essential suppliers, closure of production facilities or the absence of infected workers. In this paper, we present three decision support models for a plant manager to help in deciding on (a) the level of protection of the workforce against the spread of the virus in the absence of regional protection measures, (b) on the duration of the protection, and (c) the level of protection of the workforce with regional protection measures enforced by health authorities. These decision models are based on a SIS epidemiological model which takes into account the possibility that a worker can infect others but also that even when recovered can be infected again. The first and third models prescribe how, in time, the protection effort in terms of prophylactic measures must be deployed. The second model extends the first one as it also determines the length the protection effort must be deployed. The proposed models have been applied to the case of a meat processing plant that must satisfy the demand of a large-scale retailer. Clearly, to achieve production targets and satisfy customers' demand, plants in this labor-intensive industry rely on the number of healthy workers and the service level of suppliers. Our results indicate that these models provide managers with the tools to understand and measure the impact of an infection on production and the corresponding cost. Along the way, this work illustrates the ripple effect as suppliers affected by the pandemic are unable to fulfill the processing plant requirements and so the retailer's orders. Our findings provide normative guidance for supply chain decision support systems under risk of pandemic induced disruptions using a quantitative model-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current dynamic market, businesses have recognized the pivotal role of data and sustainability technologies in attaining competitive advantage. Big Data Analytics-Artificial Intelligence and Green Supply Chain Management are significant sustainability promotion strategies. The research collected data from 220 employees in the Taiwanese manufacturing sector with the help of a survey methodology. The findings revealed significant impacts of Big Data Analytics-Artificial Intelligence on both green supply chain management and supply chain ambidexterity. Moreover, supply chain ambidexterity significantly influences green supply chain management. Lastly, supply chain ambidexterity was also found to mediate the relationship between Big Data Analytics-Artificial Intelligence and green supply chain management. This study provides several implications for fostering a responsible economy. It elucidates how leveraging Big Data Analytics-Artificial Intelligence enhances supply chain ambidexterity, reinforcing sustainable practices without detectable alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many attempts have been made to identify barriers to blockchain adoption in supply chain; however, barriers to blockchain adoption in supply chain finance (SCF) are underexplored. This study prioritizes barriers to blockchain adoption in SCF and evaluates the barrier level of each alternative participant. We propose an integrated decision model to prioritize the barriers and evaluate their levels of alternative participants. To determine the barriers, we conducted a literature review. We then introduce an integrated weight calculation method by combining interval-valued Fermatean fuzzy (IVFF)-optimistic-pessimistic-utility values-based and IVFF-RS (ranking sum) methods to determine the barrier weights. To evaluate the barrier level of each alternative participant in SCF, the integrated IVFF-RAFSI (Ranking of Alternatives through Functional Mapping of Criterion Subintervals into a Single Interval) model is presented to rank the barrier, which uses a power-weighted aggregation operator to fuse experts' opinions. A case study demonstrates the practicality of the integrated IVFF-RAFSI model. The results show that uncertain and competitive markets (weighted at 0.0676) are the most significant barriers. This finding also suggests that small and medium-sized processing enterprises have the highest barriers to blockchain adoption. Sensitivity and comparative analyses validate the steadiness and competency of the proposed model. These results indicate that the proposed methodology provides a systematic technique for analyzing barriers to blockchain applications in SCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: With the changing landscape of the globalised business world, business-to-business supply chains face a turbulent ocean of disruptions. Such is the effect that supply chains are disrupted to the point of failure, supply is halted and its adverse effect is seen on the consumer. While previous literature has extensively studied risk and resilience through mathematical modelling, this study aims to envision a novel supply chain model that integrates blockchain to support visibility and recovery resilience strategies. Design/methodology/approach: The stochastic bi-objective (cost and shortage utility) optimisation-based mixed-integer linear programming model integrates blockchain through a binary variable, which activates at a particular threshold risk-averse level of the decision-maker. Findings: Firstly, visibility is improved, as identified by the average reduction of penalties by 36% over the different scenarios. Secondly, the average sum of shortages over different scenarios is consequently reduced by 36% as the recovery of primary suppliers improves. Thirdly, the feeling of shortage unfairness between distributors is significantly reduced by applying blockchain. Fourthly, unreliable direct suppliers resume their supply due to the availability of timely information through blockchain. Lastly, reliance on backup suppliers is reduced as direct suppliers recover conveniently. Research limitations/implications: The findings indicate that blockchain can enhance visibility and recovery even under high-impact disruption conditions. Furthermore, the study introduces a unique metric for measuring visibility, i.e. penalty costs (lower penalty costs indicate higher visibility and vice versa). The study also improves upon shortages and recoveries reported in prior literature by 6%. Finally, blockchain application caters to the literature on shortage unfairness by significantly reducing the feeling of shortage unfairness among distributors. Practical implications: This study establishes blockchain as a pro-resilience technology. It advocates that organisations focus on investing in blockchain to enhance their visibility and recovery, as it effectively reduces absolute shortages and feelings of shortage unfairness while improving recovery and visibility. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is a unique supply chain model study that integrates a technology such as blockchain directly as a binary variable in the model constraint equations while also focusing on resilience strategies, costs, risk aversion and shortage unfairness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the performance implications of blockchain implementation in the supply chain and explore how blockchain functions and supply chain processes of blockchain implementation moderate the effect on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach: Using 220 blockchain implementations announced between January 2015 and December 2022, we use the event study methodology to estimate the effects of blockchain implementation on the firm value. Regression analyses are conducted to examine the moderating effects of blockchain functions and supply chain processes. Findings: First, there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between blockchain implementation in the supply chain and firm value. Second, we find that abnormal returns from blockchain implementation are higher when used with blockchain's contract automation function and applied in downstream processes, supporting the moderation effects. Originality/value: The study provides empirical evidence on the effects of the blockchain implementation on firm performance, taking into account the complexity of blockchain functions and supply chain processes. It enriches the current understanding of how blockchain implementation in the supply chain contributes to firm value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Blockchain technology (BT) presents a decentralized approach that has promising potentials to alleviate many of the long-lasting risks and inefficiencies in trade finance (TF) and supply chain finance (SCF) operations, providing international traders greater access to working capital. Despite this, the actual adoption of the technology and related issues in this space has remained under-researched. This paper examines the state of the practice to identify the main drivers and inhibitors faced by TF/SCF parties in their BT adoption efforts. Design/methodology/approach: This exploratory study applies a multi-stakeholder perspective and a mixed-methods approach using semi-structured interviews with practitioners in various stages of BT implementation in TF/SCF initiatives across North America, Europe and Asia. The study then determines the priority of the identified factors using the Bayesian best-worst method (BWM). Findings: The findings show that while the discussion has focused on the technological drivers of BT adoption for TF/SCF, practitioners rely more on non-technological factors such as peer adoption and fostering innovation. The findings also reveal how practitioners address common BT issues, including scalability and interoperability. Originality/value: The study offers insights into important requirements for realizing the full benefits of BT in support of TF and SCF from an extended technology-organization-environment (TOE) perspective. On a more general level, it highlights what is required to transform this industry toward digitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior work shows limited success in retail firms' efforts to create socially responsible supply chains by enforcing suppliers' compliance with labor standards, partly due to conflicting sourcing demands exerted on the supplier by siloed functional units within the retail firm. To ensure the substantive adoption of labor standards throughout its supply chain, we argue that the retail firm must improve their degree of "supply chain labor compliance integration" by minimizing cross-functional tensions in human capital, identities, processes and goals. We define supply chain labor compliance integration, identify its determinant organizational practices that reduce cross-functional tensions, and explain the mechanisms by which it improves the retail firm's supply chain labor standards performance. This work offers theoretical and practical insights on the retail firm's capacity for managing socially responsible supply chains, and more broadly, on how systematically minimizing intra-organizational tensions arising in the pursuit of competing organizational priorities is a prerequisite for their simultaneous execution in inter-organizational business exchanges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has documented that a firm's disclosure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) makes it a more attractive business partner, boosting its sales. The authors extend this finding to business-to-business (B2B) firms. Using a regulatory change in China as a quasi-natural experiment, they demonstrate that a firm's disclosure of its CSR lowers by 2.1% the firm's dependence (for sales revenue) on its major customers but raises by 3.7% its dependence (for purchases) on its major suppliers. They further show that the firm's production efficiency (marketing efficiency) is a mechanism underlying the effect of CSR disclosure on dependence on major customers (suppliers). Next, they demonstrate that the CSR report's emphasis on the firm's supply chain partners weakens (strengthens) the effect on dependence on major customers (suppliers). The findings contribute to the multidisciplinary evidence on the B2B value of CSR disclosure, and the operations and marketing literature streams on determinants of supply-chain dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted with the aim of providing a chicken supply chain model based on challenges, success factors and human resource limitations. The information required for the research was collected from 15 experts and managers of poultry farms of Behparvor Group in the whole country and their opinions were obtained through interpretive structural modeling (ISM) interviews with a qualitative approach. In this research, using interpretive structural modeling, an integrated model for the chicken supply chain based on challenges, success factors and human resource limitations was designed. The results of interpretative structural modeling in this research showed the challenges of human resources with the dimensions of not paying attention to employee training, competitors' attempts to attract the company's experts, the nature of hard work, the inability to retain the company's experts, employees' resistance to change and leaving the job. Expert employees of the company as negative factors of the optimal supply chain of chicken production and also, the success factors of human resources with the dimensions of employee training, employee empowerment, employee welfare, job justice, financial justice and attracting and retaining employees as positive factors of the optimal supply chain of chicken production, along with the limitations of human resources with the dimensions of the lack of specialized labor in the labor market, the supply of labor by non-specialists and the lack of financial resources to attract specialized labor as negative factors of the optimal supply chain of chicken production constitute the integrated model of the chicken supply chain based on human resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the increasing interest in the role of supply chain concentration (SCC) in improving performance, its influence on firms' sustainability performance remains unexplored, as do the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. Drawing on resource dependence theory, the authors investigate the relationship between SCC and manufacturing firms' sustainability performance and the moderating roles of operational slack and information transparency. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use secondary data from 3,581 manufacturing firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share stock markets from 2006 to 2020 to conduct an empirical analysis using panel data regression models. Findings: Manufacturing firms' SCC is negatively related to sustainability performance until it reaches a certain point, where SCC positively affects sustainability performance, presenting a U-shaped relationship. In addition, operational slack represented by a quick ratio moderates the relationship between SCC and sustainability performance by flattening the curve. Operational slack represented by receivable turnover ratio moderates the relationship between SCC and sustainability performance by steepening the curve and shifting the turning point left. Information transparency strengthens the effect of SCC on the sustainability performance by steepening the curve. Originality/value: This investigation provides a comprehensive view of the SCC– sustainability performance relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to address a significant and previously unanswered question for both academics and practitioners: how do organizations learn to apply Blockchain technology to support modern slavery (MS) supply chain capabilities? Specifically, this study examines whether employees' digital dexterity (EDD) and strategic investment in Blockchain technology (SIBT) can support three MS supply chain capabilities: internal MS capability (IMSC), MS capability with customers (MSCC) and MS capability with suppliers (MSCS). Design/methodology/approach: This study uses resource accumulation and deployment perspective to explain how EDD promotes SIBT, which then drives the development of MS supply chain capabilities. Survey data collected from the Chinese manufacturing industry were used to test the proposed theoretical framework and hypotheses through structural equation modelling and moderated regression analysis. Findings: EDD has a positive relationship with SIBT. SIBT has a positive relationship with IMSC. IMSC fully mediates the relationships between SIBT and MS capability with customers and suppliers. Originality/value: By conceptualizing MS supply chain capabilities as a multi-dimensional construct for the first time, this study discovers the significant mediating roles of IMSC. The empirical findings also clarify digital dexterity of employees that drives investment in Blockchain technology to foster MS supply chain capabilities as resource accumulation and deployment processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Digital transformation misalignment refers to disparities in digital transformation levels between suppliers and buyers across the production and operation process. It has negatively affected supply chain stability. However, the existing research concerning the economic consequences has not been adequately addressed. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate whether such digital transformation misalignment increases supplier financial risk and to identify the factors influencing this relationship. Design/methodology/approach: This paper examines binary combinations of suppliers and buyers listed on China's A-share market between 2011 and 2021. This group constitutes a sample to empirically test the influence of digital transformation misalignment on the supplier's financial risk, as well as the moderating effect of the geographical and organizational distances. Findings: The paper's findings demonstrate that digital transformation misalignment has indeed a significant increase in the supplier's financial risk. Moreover, the impact is more intense when the geographical or organizational distance between the supplier and the buyer is relatively large. Originality/value: The existing literature rarely explores the potential risks arising from digital transformation misalignment between supply chain partners. Therefore, this paper fills a notable gap as it is the first to study the impact of digital transformation misalignment on the supplier's financial risk and the specific applied mechanisms. The contribution significantly improves the field of corporate digital transformation, particularly, within the context of supply chain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society and policy demand greater sustainability of food systems, driving practitioners to improve the transparency of supply chain networks through digital innovation. Uncertainties regarding the structuring of relationships with primary and secondary stakeholders for sharing intangible data and information diminishes the potential for exploitation of digital transparency. While businesses are accustomed to organizing efficient flows of tangible goods, management research integrating digital transparency considerations to investigate and conceptualize structural changes in agri-food supply chain networks (AFSCNs) is scarce. This gap motivates the following four questions of this study: (1) Who are the primary and secondary stakeholders in the AFSCNs of the digital era? (2) What are their transparency interests? (3) How do AFSCN structures change with the emergence of digital innovations that can facilitate sustainability transition through greater transparency? (4) How to conceptualize those structural changes to AFSCNs? The netchain approach and respective transparency concept are integrated with classical stakeholder theory. Data was collected via a series of 21 semi-structured pilot interviews with technology providers in the EU agri-food sector and analyzed using structured content analysis. Results paint a complex picture of contemporary primary and secondary stakeholders of AFSCNs and their interests. Primary stakeholder interests lead to coopetition in vertical and horizontal relationships of the netchain and low transparency efforts by intermediaries. Both hamper the dissemination of digital innovations and the exploitation of their potential to improve AFSCN sustainability. Among secondary stakeholders, policymakers and governments, NGOs, and technology providers excel in being drivers of digital transparency for sustainability, with social media as a strong direct communication tool to reach netchain stakeholders, consumers, and research institutes/universities as collaborators and customers. The emergence of "information AFSCN" and "digital AFSCN" increases the complexity of the whole supply chain network through intermediation, reconfiguration, and emergence modes of change to underlying structures. Agri-food business managers, scientists, and policymakers should innovate in private and public governance to facilitate collaborative advantage and sustainability in a combination aligned with innovative digital transparency solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimization of auto parts supply chain logistics plays a decisive role in the development of the automotive industry. To reduce logistics costs and improve transportation efficiency, this paper addresses the joint optimization problem of multi-vehicle pickup and delivery transportation paths under time window constraints, coupled with the three-dimensional loading of goods. The model considers mixed time windows, three-dimensional loading constraints, cyclic pickup and delivery paths, varying vehicle loads and volumes, flow balance, and time window constraints. Evaluation rules for the three-dimensional loading test of goods are also set, resulting in constructing a comprehensive optimization model for the inbound logistics of auto parts and components. In this study, a Greedy-Tabu Dual-Heuristic algorithm is proposed, which integrates an Improved Greedy Algorithm with an Enhanced Tabu Search Algorithm based on the -sampling strategy. The overall problem-solving process for the Improved Greedy Algorithm and the Tabu Search Algorithm is outlined. The superiority, efficiency, and stability of the improved algorithm are verified by solving cases of various sizes and analyzing the algorithm's results before and after improvement. A case study involving the third-party logistics company R Enterprise compares the pickup and delivery-separated Milk-Run mode with the simultaneous delivery and pickup Milk-Run mode. The proposed method shows a 26.67% reduction in total distance traveled and a 46.60% decrease in waiting time compared to the traditional Milk-Run approach. Additionally, when evaluated against the standard 3D loading inspection method, the proposed approach improves average vehicle load utilization by 17% and vehicle volume utilization by 15%. These findings verify the applicability and superiority of the proposed algorithms and models in practical scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 80% of biologic drugs, and 90% of vaccines, require temperature-controlled conditions throughout the supply chain to minimize thermal inactivation and contamination. This cold chain is costly, requires stringent oversight, and is impractical in remote environments. Here, we report chemical dispersants that non-covalently solvate proteins within fluorous liquids to alter their thermodynamic equilibrium and reduce conformational flexibility. This generates non-aqueous, fluorine-based liquid protein formulations that biochemically rigidify protein structure to yield thermally stable biologics at extreme temperatures (up to 90 °C). These non-aqueous formulations are impervious to contamination by microorganismal pathogens, degradative enzymes, and environmental impurities, and display comparable pre-clinical pharmacokinetics and safety profiles to standard saline protein samples. As a result, we deliver a fluorochemical formulation paradigm that may limit the need for cold chain logistics of protein reagents and biopharmaceuticals. Majority of biologic drugs and vaccines require temperature-controlled conditions throughout the supply chain to minimize thermal inactivation and contamination, which is costly and impractical. Here, the authors report chemical dispersants that non-covalently solvate proteins within fluorous liquids, resulting in non-aqueous, fluorine-based liquid protein formulations that biochemically rigidify protein structure to yield thermally stable biologics that are also resistant to degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel is an important key resource and plays an increasingly important role in new energy technologies. The stability of its worldwide supply chain is crucial for addressing country risks and unforeseen events. To explore the impact of country risks on the stability of the global nickel supply chain, this study conducts a complex network analysis and panel regression analysis on nickel ore, ferro-nickel, and the stainless-steel trade data from 2000 to 2022. The study reveals the mechanisms by which economic and political risks affect the trade structure of nickel commodities and identifies the drivers of global nickel supply chain patterns. The study finds that an increase in economic risk promotes diversification of supply sources, while political risk hurts export scale and resource control ability. Industrial structure adjustments and R&D investments have a significant impact on trade structure, especially on the stainless-steel trade. China is a major consumer and importer, and occupies a central position in the global nickel trade network, while Indonesia and the Philippines' policy changes have a significant impact on the market. This study provides an empirical basis for the risk management of the global nickel supply chain and a scientific basis for policy formulation and strategic planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a critical financing method, supply chain finance (SCF) plays a vital role in addressing the financing challenges faced by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and in promoting collaborative development within supply chains. However, SCF systems inevitably encounter complex risks of default contagion. Effectively detecting and assessing these risks, along with formulating reasonable financing strategies, are issues of common concern to both the academic and business communities. This study utilizes complex network theory to investigate the guaranteed warehouse financing model in supply chain finance. First, a complex network model of supply chain finance is constructed to analyze the transmission mechanisms of default contagion risk. This model effectively measures the ways and mechanisms of risk propagation. Second, a default probability model is developed to assess the risk magnitude for enterprises following default contagion. This model facilitates risk assessment and control, providing a scientific basis for financing decisions. Third, by constructing an SCF financing model, this study examines the financing decision-making behaviors of banks, manufacturers and retailers under various conditions. It reveals the interactions and interest trade-offs among participants in the guaranteed warehouse financing model. Finally, through simulation analysis, the study investigates the impact of different parameters on supply chain finance strategies. The results offer quantitative guidance for banks in setting loan quotas and provide a theoretical foundation for enterprises to formulate reasonable financing strategies in the guaranteed warehouse financing model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green innovation in the logistics industry is critical to mitigating environmental crises and ensuring sustainable development. In this study, a two-echelon logistics service supply chain (LSSC) is constructed consisting of a logistics service provider (LSP), a logistics service integrator (LSI), and customers. The LSP and the LSI collaborate to provide high-quality green logistics service products (GLSPs) to customers. Strategic cooperation is established between upstream and downstream enterprises in the form of supportive investment and cost-sharing to strengthen inter-organizational relationships; the LSI may show overconfidence in both the impact of his green innovation effort on demand expansion and control power in the vertical LSSC. By solving the LSI-led Stackelberg game, we find that: First, the innovation cost coefficients and the payment ratio affect optimal decisions, including the optimal level of GLSP design innovation, level of GLSP delivery innovation, price of the GLSP, and LSI's optimal expected utility. Second, relationship strength positively impacts optimal decisions; its impact on the LSI's optimal expected utility is related to the upper limit of the LSI's supportive investment for the LSP. Third, the LSI's overconfidence positively impacts the optimal decisions and the LSI's optimal expected utility, while it harms the LSI's optimal real utility; the impacts of the LSI's overconfidence and inter-organizational relationship strength are additive. Finally, a "green subsidy and loss-sharing" incentive contract is proposed, which can improve both the levels of design and delivery innovation, as well as the LSSC members' real utilities. The findings may provide new insights for LSSC green innovation practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the impact of the electric vehicle supply chain on the environment is crucial for determining the future development direction of the industry. We have developed a method for evaluating the impact of supply chains on the environment based on a lifecycle framework. This method innovatively seeks the connection between the lifecycle process of physical products and the supply chain, and organizes the environmental impact assessment factors of the electric vehicle supply chain from three aspects: physical resources, power energy, and waste emissions, in order to construct an LCA fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model for the electric vehicle supply chain. For the first time, the research method of transforming qualitative analysis into quantitative data was introduced into the life cycle environmental impact assessment, and empirical research was conducted using the supply chain of sightseeing electric vehicles as an example. The results indicate that the scrapping stage of electric vehicles has the most severe impact on the environment. Strengthening research on strategies or technologies for handling waste batteries and automobiles is key to improving the environmental performance of the supply chain. This method breaks through the requirements and limitations of traditional life cycle assessment methods on data sources and parameters, avoids large-scale calculations that cannot be separated from subjective factors in traditional methods, simplifies the process of supply chain environmental impact assessment, shortens the evaluation time, and improves the efficiency of environmental impact assessment. It is more practical and has good application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 5.0 (I5.0) builds upon Industry 4.0 by emphasizing the role of workers in production processes and prioritizing socio-economic-environmental sustainability. It has been shown that I5.0 can enhance sustainability within supply chains (SCs). However, companies in emerging economies, especially small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs), which are crucial to developing economies, face challenges in implementing these concepts. These SMEs are in the early stages of adopting I5.0 to foster sustainability in their SCs and require urgent identification of key I5.0 enablers. Unfortunately, the current literature lacks research on this topic specifically within the context of SMEs in emerging economies. To bridge this gap, this study identifies the enablers of I5.0 that promote sustainability diffusion in SCs, using China's SME manufacturing sector as a case study. The integrated framework for applying multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques in this study aims to assist decision-makers in evaluating different options and making optimal choices in a systematic and structured manner when faced with complex situations. The study employs the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) to identify 15 key I5.0 enablers and categorize them into three clusters. Grey-DEMATEL is subsequently utilized to determine the causal relationships, rank the importance of the enablers, and construct an interrelationship diagram. This study found that 'availability and functionality of resources'; 'top management support, active participation, and effective governance'; 'support from government, regulators, and financial resources'; and 'introduction of safer and more efficient robotic systems for human–robot interaction and collaboration' serve as the primary means of resolving issues. Overall, this study helps managers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in I5.0 applications to promote sustainability in the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by the servicing and digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises, product and service innovation for manufacturers and service providers to promote integrated solutions collaboratively has become an important way for enterprises to maintain market competitiveness. Building on this foundation, this paper develops an innovation priority decision model for the product–service supply chain, which comprises manufacturers and service providers, considering the data mining and information sharing strategies of service providers. It analyzes the optimal decisions and profits of the members when product innovation is prioritized as well as when service innovation is prioritized, and subsequently explores the selection of innovation strategies for the product–service supply chain under varying conditions. The results of the study show that, firstly, service providers' data mining and information sharing strategies are not always favorable to the innovation decisions of both parties. Only when data resources can be transformed into real innovation value at a reasonable cost can data mining and information sharing play the role of 'external incentives' to promote collaborative innovation between the two parties. Secondly, when service providers do not adopt data mining and information sharing strategies, the efficiency of product and service innovation plays a decisive role in innovation prioritization. The party with high innovation efficiency adopts the sub-priority innovation strategy, which can lead to a larger market share for the innovation results. Finally, under the service provider's data mining and information sharing strategy, the innovation priority selection of the product–service supply chain depends on the information value transformation ability of the manufacturer and the service provider. Moreover, the profits of manufacturers and service providers under the same innovation priority do not always 'advance or retreat together', and there may be cases where one of them suffers a loss of profits. This study provides a theoretical basis for the choice of innovation strategies given to manufacturers and service providers, and promotes the development of collaborative innovation between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saudi Vision 2030 is a game-changer for all aspects of the economy, including healthcare. This article provides a comprehensive overview of healthcare financing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). It identifies key healthcare financing challenges that must be addressed to achieve the initiative's envisioned health system goals. The review also examines and demonstrates how healthcare funds in the KSA are allocated among different healthcare services, to offer a perspective on resource use efficiency at various healthcare levels. This research used a mixed-method design which includes a literature review and secondary data analysis. A literature review was conducted aligned with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. The secondary data were gathered from the reports and websites of government agencies, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Despite implementing significant reforms in its healthcare system, the share of private healthcare expenditure in total healthcare spending has seen only marginal growth. The current healthcare financing system appears insufficient to adequately support the chronically ill and the poor. There is a significant imbalance in the allocation of government budgets between hospitals and primary care, with four-fifths of financial resources directed towards hospital services. The Ministry of Health's budget allocation prioritizes personnel compensation, potentially reducing the available budget for medicines and other essential healthcare supplies. Ongoing reforms in the health sector, including privatization, public–private partnership initiatives, and the government's commitment to developing a robust primary healthcare network, are expected to play a significant role in controlling rapidly increasing public healthcare expenditures in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the market environment becomes increasingly complex, the demands for supply chain performance and security are continuously rising. Consequently, it is crucial to consider the role of trust factors within the system. This paper introduces a trust mechanism in the interaction between supply and demand within supply chain logistics and information flow. The supply chain system, characterized by varying degrees of trust, is modeled as multiple subsystems using the T-S fuzzy model. The challenge of mitigating the bullwhip effect, which refers to the amplification of demand variability within the supply chain, is reformulated as an H ∞ consistency problem. A productivity and distributed consistency protocol switching controller based on fuzzy rules is designed, providing sufficient conditions for the entire system to achieve consistency. The proposed method effectively suppresses the bullwhip effect and allows certain nodes in the system to be temporarily in an abnormal state. Finally, the method's effectiveness is validated through simulation examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under what conditions will digital activism elicit a response from industry? What is the nature of that response and how does it impact sustainable supply chain practices? I develop three hypotheses in response to these questions by examining a recent case of digital activism targeted at the use of a controversial bioproduct in the Canadian dairy industry. Drawing on 14 key informant interviews as well as a novel Twitter dataset, I hypothesize that digital activism can elicit a response from industry when it originates with a small number of activists, provided that it also spreads to traditional media. I further hypothesize that industry's response will be superficial and result in only token changes to sustainable supply chain practices due to the ephemerality and lack of cohesion inherent in some forms of digital activism. These hypotheses lay a foundation for broader cross-sectoral research on how industries respond to digital activism directed at their supply chains and add nuance to ongoing debates about the efficacy of digital activism as a means of changing industry practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roundabouts are widely used in road transport to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion by enabling continuous movement in a circular pattern, minimizing stops, enhancing safety, and reducing delays compared to that of signaled intersections. However, roundabouts are rarely used in marine traffic. This study investigates the feasibility of redesigning existing rectangular precautionary areas within traffic separation schemes (TSSs) into circular roundabouts using marine traffic data incorporating both the number of ships passing and crossing, as well as microscopic movement data to further analyze the follow-up times and gaps based on ship domains. This study further assesses the overall performance of the proposed design, drawing on notable formulas and best practices in road transport. The Lombok Strait TSS, in Indonesia, is used as the study area, which is a particularly sensitive sea area and one of the critical "chokepoints" in the maritime supply chain. The results indicate that replacing rectangular areas with circular roundabouts in a TSS can significantly improve traffic management and navigation safety. This study offers a practical approach for redesigning rectangular precautionary areas into circular roundabouts and provides valuable insights for maritime authorities and policymakers aiming to develop more efficient TSS designs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the interplay between a proactive attitude towards disruptions – supply chain disruption orientation – and supply chain resilience, increasing our understanding of their influence on reducing the impact of supply chain disruptions within the B2B context. Design/methodology/approach: As unexpected disruptions are closely related to a dynamic and changing perception of the environment, this research is framed under the dynamic capabilities lens, consistent with existing resilience literature. The authors used partial least squares-path modeling (PLS-PM) to empirically test the proposed research model using survey data from 216 firms. Findings: Results show that a proactive approach to disruptions alone is insufficient in mitigating their negative impact. Instead, a firm's disruption orientation plays a crucial role in boosting its resilience, which acts as a mediator, reducing the impact of disruptions. Originality/value: This paper sheds light on the mechanisms by which firms can mitigate the effects of supply chain disruptions and offers insights into how certain capabilities are needed so that firms' attitudes can effectively impact firm performance. This research thus suggests that dynamic capabilities, traditionally perceived as being enabled by other elements, act themselves as enablers. Consequently, they have the potential to translate strategic orientation or attitudes into tangible effects on performance, enriching our understanding of how firms combine their internal attitudes and capabilities to achieve sustained competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the growing environmental concerns and sustainability imperatives in the GCC and the world in general, companies are increasingly being urged to integrate environmental accountability into their core strategies and operations by accounting for environmental performance in their financial statements and the impact on supply chains and sustainable development. The problem of the study is to identify the impact of environmental accounting disclosure challenges on supply chains and sustainable development in companies. By taking the experiments of 20 companies and representatives of the study community interested in the topic and using the heuristic study approach through the questionnaire tool and a set of key variables, including the adoption of disclosure on environmental accounting performance (DEAP), supply chain sustainability performance (SCP), Sustainable Development Index (SD), and the (PLS) program, through statistical analysis, the study reached the most important results. The study revealed a positive relationship between the disclosure of environmental accounting performance, improved supply chains, and sustainable development in the companies represented by the study sample in the GCC, where both financial performance and environmental performance contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and supply chains. Accordingly, the study recommends many recommendations, the most important of which are: the need for companies to be encouraged to disclose the performance of environmental accounting as a strategic necessity, promote more sustainable supply chain management, improve financial performance, and effectively contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, thereby enhancing sustainability within companies and across supply chains. The study also recommends the need to continue studies in this aspect, especially in the GCC and East Asian countries, to urge companies to disclose the performance of environmental accounting in their financial statements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the context of hybrid e-commerce platforms with reselling mode and agency mode, this study considers the issue of channel management by manufacturers through recommendation strategies. Methods: For three dual-channel structures composed of e-commerce platforms, manufacturers, and third-party retailers, game models were constructed for manufacturer's non-recommendation, differentiated recommendation, and indiscriminate recommendation scenarios to investigate the optimal recommendation strategy for manufacturers. Conclusion: (1) For different dual-channel structures, compared to scenarios without recommendations, it is not always profitable for manufacturers to adopt a recommendation strategy as recommended parties may not necessarily gain higher profits from recommendations. (2) The optimal recommendation strategy for manufacturers is influenced by channel structure, commission rates, and relative scale in the recommended market. Recommending direct sales channels is the preferred choice for manufacturers with a higher relative scale in the recommended market prompting them to recommend all channels to consumers. (3) Numerical simulations reveal that retail prices, total market demand, and supply chain profits are positively correlated with relative scale within the recommended market. Additionally, any recommendation strategy can increase demand for recommended parties as well as overall supply chain profit levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to develop an in-depth understanding of how supplier selection helps social enterprises achieve their social missions while maintaining commercial viability. Design/methodology/approach: The paper applies a multiple-case design to study the supplier selection processes of 15 Dutch social enterprises. Findings: Social enterprises tend to build supply relationships through existing networks and evaluate suppliers based on value alignment, relationship commitment, resource complementarity, and cost. Depending on the possibility of social value creation in supplier selection, the importance of these criteria varies across different social enterprise models and between key and non-key suppliers. Moreover, suppliers' long-term relationship commitment can help reconcile tensions between the social and commercial logic of a social enterprise and facilitate impact creation. Research limitations/implications: Data collection is limited to the perspectives of buyers – the social enterprises. Future research could collect supplier-side data to explore how they engage with social enterprises during the selection process. Practical implications: Managers of social enterprises can use our research findings as guidance for selecting the most suitable suppliers, while organizations that want to collaborate with social enterprises should actively build network ties to be identified. Originality/value: We contribute to the cross-sector collaboration literature by showing the underlying reasons for the preference for network reinforcing and indirect networking in supplier identification. We contribute to the social impact supply chain literature by revealing the critical role of supplier selection in shaping collaboration outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore three operations and supply chain management (OSCM) approaches for meeting the 2 °C targets to counteract climate change: adaptation (adjusting to climatic impacts); mitigation (innovating towards low-carbon practices); and carbon-removing negative emissions technologies (NETs). We suggest that adaptation nor mitigation may be enough to meet the current climate targets, thus calling for NETs, resulting in the following question: How can operations and supply chains be reconceptualized for NETs? Design/methodology/approach: We draw on the sustainable supply chain and transitions discourses along with interview data involving 125 experts gathered from a broad research project focused on geoengineering and NETs. We analyze three case studies of emerging NETs (biochar, direct air carbon capture and storage and ocean alkalinity enhancement), leading to propositions on the link between OSCM and NETs. Findings: Although some NETs are promising, there remains considerable variance and uncertainty over supply chain configurations, efficacy, social acceptability and potential risks of unintended detrimental consequences. We introduce the concept of transformative OSCM, which encompasses policy interventions to foster the emergence of new technologies in industry sectors driven by social mandates but lack clear commercial incentives. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper is among the first that studies NETs from an OSCM perspective. It suggests a pathway toward new industry structures and policy support to effectively tackle climate change through carbon removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study presents evidence of the role of performance measurement and management (PMM) in sustainable supply chain governance. This study tests a model hypothesizing whether it is the PMM itself or the mediating effect of supply chain governance that is essential for both business and sustainability performance. Design/methodology/approach: This study builds on a survey of 274 SMEs in Finland. Findings: The findings indicate that PMM does not directly contribute to SMEs' business or sustainability performance. Supply chain governance mediates the relationship between PMM and business performance. Business performance also enhances sustainability. Practical implications: These findings can guide managers in managing company relationships with customers and suppliers. The mediating role of supply chain governance highlights the potential of PMM to enhance performance. Without supply chain governance, the PMM, while efficient in traditional business practices, may lose its effectiveness because of the pressure to advance sustainability values within firm operations. Originality/value: The role of PMM in enhancing supply chain sustainability is frequently overlooked in the existing research, necessitating an empirical evaluation of PMM's impact on supply chain sustainability. This study addresses this gap by focusing on the SME context, where the pressure to adopt sustainable practices is increasing, yet SMEs employ PMM less frequently than larger firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Addressing workforce shortages in operations and supply chain management (OSCM) necessitates adaptive measures by both individuals and organizations, with a pivotal role played by Human Resources (HR). This impact pathway delves into how healthcare organizations can effectively manage workforce shortages, informed by HR practices. Through an in-depth understanding of healthcare organizations, the authors pinpoint challenges and concerns linked to workforce shortages. Pathways are proposed to stimulate future OSCM research and collaboration, leveraging innovative and creative methods from the HR field. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected from various representatives from healthcare organizations to explore how healthcare organizations for people with intellectual disabilities address the challenges stemming from contemporary workforce shortages. Findings: Three pathways were outlined to address workforce shortages in healthcare supply chains, utilizing intellectual disability care as a representative example. These pathways comprise optimizing the potential of the current workforce, illustrating innovative HR practices for enhancing their performance, and proposing strategies for retaining these valuable workers. Originality/value: Despite its potential, the HR domain remains relatively underdeveloped within OSCM research. The authors show how HR practices can potentially mitigate impending workforce shortages. While utilizing intellectual disability care as a representative example, this paper proposes that the impact pathways identified can be extended to various other healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organization of sports events, while generating economic benefits, inevitably imposes significant environmental pressures. Conducting green and low-carbon sports events have become a global consensus. In addressing the carbon emissions and benefit coordination issues on the production end of infrastructure construction for large-scale sports events, we considers the significant role of digital platforms in the industry's low-carbon transformation and upgrade, and innovatively incorporates platforms as decision-making entities and investigates the equilibrium strategies for low-carbon cooperation under three different power structures: one led by the sports events materials supplier, one by the materials distributor, and one by the integrated service platform. Additionally, it designs related cost-sharing contracts. The findings suggest that: centralized decision-making is more conducive to aligning the interests of various entities within the sports events platform supply chain. Different power structures have distinct impacts on overall supply chain profits and carbon emissions. Specifically, the supply chain achieves the highest overall profit under the domination of the integrated service platform, while the lowest level of carbon reduction occurs under the domination of the materials distributor. These results provide strategic insights for the low-carbon development of sports events and the coordinated cooperation within platform supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

End-to-end traceability offers significant opportunities for product lifecycle visibility, sustainability enhancement, and regulatory compliance in product management. However, it faces challenges in data integration and management, supplier collaboration, cost and complexity, and the sharing of information across the supply chain. Productization refers to the representation of a product and connects commercial and technical aspects to the systemic perspective of product management. This includes a focus on the engineering lifecycle with inherent linkages to product data. The product management perspective, specifically in relation to the connection between end-to-end traceability and the productization concept, has not been extensively studied. This study explores the role of both productization and traceability in the context of end-to-end traceability. It combines an extensive literature review and an empirical example of applying productization logic across company borders to support end-to-end traceability. The key findings indicate that productization logic with a product structure focus can support end-to-end traceability in product management by providing consistency and a foundation for tracking both technical and operational data across the engineering lifecycle of a product. By focusing on productization, companies can overcome traceability challenges and unlock the benefits of end-to-end traceability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the dynamic complexity of chain-to-chain output decisions in a closed-loop supply chain system of cross-border e-commerce (CBEC), this study decomposes the system into four product–market (PM) chains, based on the e-commerce platform's information-sharing strategy and the manufacturer's selected logistics mode (direct mail or bonded warehouse). By combining game theory with complex systems theory, discrete dynamic models for output competition among PM chains under four scenarios are constructed. The Nash equilibrium solution and stability conditions of the models are derived according to the principles of nonlinear dynamics. The stability of the model under the four scenarios, as well as the impacts of the initial output level and comprehensive tax rates on the stability and stability control of the system, are analyzed using numerical simulation methods. Our findings suggest that maintaining system stability requires controlling the initial output levels, the output adjustment speeds, and tariff rates to remain within specific thresholds. When these thresholds are exceeded, the entropy value of the model increases, and the system outputs decisions to enter a chaotic or uncontrollable state via period-doubling bifurcations. When the output adjustment speed of the four PM chains is high, the direct-mail logistics mode exhibits greater stability. Furthermore, under increased tariff rates for CBEC, the bonded warehouse mode has a stronger ability to maintain stability in system output decisions. Conversely, when the general import tax rate increases, the direct-mail mode demonstrates better stability. Regardless of the logistics mode, the information-sharing strategy can enhance the stability of system output decisions, while increased e-commerce platform commission rates tend to reduce stability. Interestingly, the use of a non-information-sharing strategy and the direct-mail logistics mode may be more conducive to increasing the profit levels of overseas manufacturers. Finally, the delayed feedback control method can effectively reduce the entropy value, suppress chaotic phenomena in the system, and restore stability to output decisions from a fluctuating state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The logistics and transportation sectors are struggling to manage empty containers (ECs), resulting in unused resources, inefficiencies, and increased CO2 emissions. The Physical Internet (PI) concept provides an opportunity to improve container sharing and transportation by intelligently organising logistics resources. This paper shows how PI principles can address the EC problem in truck transportation. The objective is to reduce CO2 emissions with improved space-sharing strategies. The problem is formulated and solved using a two-stage optimisation approach (2Stage-Opt) to optimise container motion. The validity of the 2Stage-Opt solutions is tested using a developed multi-agent system simulation (MASS) model to replicate the behaviour of real multi-modal hubs. This approach is evaluated using a real-world case study from a multi-modal logistics centre in the north of France. The results indicate that utilising PI-container solutions offers significant sustainability benefits, especially in reducing the number of trucks used in the simulation and the CO2 emissions from ECs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implications of interconnected supply networks on product life, distribution, and production are significant. As businesses transition to a Circular Economy (CE), they embrace circular practices driven by the innovative nature of circular supply chain (CSC) models. However, adopting these models involves overcoming several barriers. This study delves into the factors that facilitate circular processes within businesses. Despite the growing interest, transitioning to CSCs can be challenging due to resource constraints and the complexities of implementation. In the literature review, we identified vital facilitators and further explored them with input from industry professionals. This investigation aims to analyze twelve notable facilitators and depict their interrelationships using ISM MICMAC Analysis. The results highlight the necessity of "Infrastructure for Circular Economy" (ICE), "Regulatory Policies and Government Support" (RPGS), and "Leadership Commitment and Strategies" (LCS) for the establishment of CSCs. These findings will be valuable insights for researchers and managers in the electronics industry pursuing circular processes within their business context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An explosion in a Chinese factory in 2016 caused a global shortage of essential broad-spectrum antibiotic piperacillin-tazobactam. Hitherto, no detailed, policy-relevant analysis has been conducted on this major shortage event. Thus, we aimed to (1) investigate causes; (2) describe supply chain challenges; and (3) uncover policy gaps to support possible mitigation actions. Methods: Applying an analytical framework for security of medical supply chains, we investigated the changing roles of Pfizer-led and Chinese API suppliers. We identified demand surge, capacity reduction and co-ordination failures. Triangulating between scientific literature, corporate, and regulatory documents, we analysed the impact of Western and Chinese policy contexts on supply chain resilience. Results: We uncovered 'red flags': geographically dispersed manufacturing failures due to complexity of sterile production; undetected supply chain concentration and interlinkages; and Chinese policy-led API supplier consolidation. We found these warning signals were ignored in the absence of a co-ordinated policy framework to identify and mitigate emerging global supply risks. Firstly, policy makers lacked visibility on growing 'volume dependency' in the chain. Secondly, national policy makers lacked a global view of supply risk. Thirdly, we show antibiotic API manufacturing economics were impacted by a number of non-pharmaceutical policy decisions (e.g. state aid, environmental standards, procurement rules) which contributed to supply chain vulnerability. Conclusions: Our findings suggest possible policy gaps in governance of supply chain resilience. Firstly, disclosure of API suppliers including degree of dependency may better pre-empt bottlenecks, facilitating priority setting for public investments in re-shoring where global API supply currently relies on few, or single plants; secondly, a whole-of-government approach may counter the potential impact of non-pharmaceutical policies on supply chain resilience. Our findings confirm suggestions from previous studies that international data sharing would be beneficial considering the global shortage effects which can emerge from a single point of failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Logistics resource allocation depends on the precise scheduling of Supply Chain (SC) agents. Coordination of management across all sites, products, and production divisions is essential for effective scheduling. For multi-agent systems in heterogeneous SCs, it is crucial to have a prior understanding of production, delivery, and connectivity. Hence, an innovative meta-heuristic optimization inspired by sparrow behavior is introduced as multi-agent-based scheduling and resource allocation (MA-SRA) to resolve delivery delays and errors during delivery in logistic SC management. Allocating resources efficiently and creating workable schedules in an SC with multiple agents are the primary significant problems focused on in this research. The MA-SRA algorithm provides an achievable solution to the problem of optimizing logistics operations by combining precise scheduling with production balance and multi-agent searchers. If the scheduling operations are inadequate, sparse agents are repurposed for production based on fitness. This maintains balance and connectivity by adjusting agent ratios. Delays are minimized, and connectivity is maximized because no adjustments need to be reversed. The research findings show that the proposed approach improves operational efficiency and brings significant advantages to the industry in terms of enhanced allocation of resources, connectivity, delivery efficiency, and fewer delays and scheduling errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]