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Large vessels that call at European ports will have to pay for their CO2 emissions from transporting cargo that enters or goes from a European port since January 2024. The costs will increase with increasing global trade. This results in a higher pollution level, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions like CO2.

Purpose – This article aims to map the expectations of manufacturing companies towards suppliers in terms of implementing improvement activities. The article poses two research questions: RQ1: What kind of improvement of activities do the surveyed producers expect from their suppliers? RQ2: Do factors such as size, capital or implemented systems influence different assessments of the analyzed requirements toward suppliers? Design/methodology/approach – The Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) technique was used to collect data. The sample consists of 150 producers (employing over 50 people) who were suppliers for enterprises from the automotive, electromechanical and chemical sectors operating in the Polish business-to-business (B2B) market. We analyzed 11 improvement activities, while their correlation structure was examined by exploratory factor analysis. Findings – We have identified three latent factors – risk reduction, product innovation and increasing efficiency – which summarize the main expectations of manufacturing companies towards suppliers. Expectations for these factors are independent of the implemented management system, although the analysis showed higher expectations for product innovation in organizations with the implementation of Kaizen. Originality/value – The article fills the research gap in the literature. The research results presented in the literature so far have focused on the expectations of enterprises towards suppliers in terms of meeting the criteria for their initial and periodic assessment. The research gap in the article is the result of empirical research presenting the expectations of manufacturers towards suppliers in terms of improving their processes. Based on the findings of the presented study, development trends and implications for managers responsible for purchasing processes and relationships with suppliers can be determined.

Purpose – This paper aims to present the vertical integration state-of-the-art and propose an expansion of the operations and supply chain management (OSCM) field by identifying gaps and bottlenecks. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses a systematic literature review based on a sample of 173 OSCM field articles, collected from Scopus and Web of Science databases. Findings – There are no single factors, such as future costs, structures or skills development, in the decision to vertically integrate operations. It is necessary to combine the vision of production costs with the perspective of governance and transaction costs. In addition, it is essential to consider the competency perspective and its impact on capability building. Research limitations/implications – Few studies have attempted to understand how vertical integration is used in terms of OSCM research themes and theories. Vertical integration can help companies face challenges and serve as a potential solution for achieving better prices, demand control and quality management. Practical implications – The significant role of vertical integration mechanisms in supply chains is crucial for managers evaluating a firm's reconfiguration with more vertical operations. Policymakers interested in supporting the smoothness of vertical integration decisions in regulatory agencies play a key role as contingencies. Social implications – In times of global challenges, vertical integration is a strategy known to be more effective for firms to obtain a competitive advantage, making them more resilient. Originality/value – This paper addresses gaps in the vertical integration theme and provides insights for future research development.

This study investigates how to integrate sustainability into indirect procurement and develop an efficient sustainability audit process. Using a qualitative approach, the research analyzes relevant articles, reports, and regulations from various countries. In today's business environment, incorporating sustainability into procurement is essential for enhancing corporate responsibility and efficiency. The study highlights the importance of audits in identifying and mitigating environmental and social risks in indirect procurement. Comprehensive audit procedures, including supplier evaluations, compliance checks, and performance monitoring, are crucial for promoting sustainable procurement practices. The findings show that a well-structured audit approach ensures adherence to sustainability standards, promotes transparency, and fosters continuous improvement in the supply chain. The paper concludes with recommendations for effective audit strategies to achieve sustainable indirect procurement. Global economic development varies, and corporate governance sets rules to ensure transparency and security for investors. Non-financial reporting is increasingly important, with companies evaluated on social and financial metrics, leading to more sustainability reports following GRI standards.

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate delegation decisions in supply chains, exploring the metaphor that consumers who make environmentally and socially responsible choices are equivalent to voters in an election. Design/methodology/approach – This theoretical paper relies on the principles of agency theory to shed light on fundamental challenges that shape our ability to transform supply chains. Findings – This paper unravels two puzzles linked to delegation decisions within sustainable supply chains. It shows that as firms adopt sustainable production systems, their ability to convey relevant information that convinces consumers to enter in a delegation relationship diminishes, ceteris paribus; and once a delegation relationship is established, complementarity within the dimensions of the contract is necessary to guarantee the delivery of sustainability attributes. Research limitations/implications – The findings of this paper offer insights that can inspire empirical research on sustainable supply chain management. Practical implications – Policymakers and entrepreneurs willing to incentivize the transformation of supply chains must think about the nature of the relationship between firms and consumers. This paper provides a metaphor that can help practitioners to reinterpret their role as providers or consumers of products and services with sustainability attributes. Social implications – This paper provides insights that may enhance the understanding of how individual consumption decisions may contribute to transforming supply chains. Originality/value – This paper expands the repertoire of theoretical tools that can be applied to study the emergence and resilience of sustainable supply chains.

This study aimed to identify and prioritize risks within the tuna supply chain on the South Coast of East Java, focusing on factors that impact the overall efficiency, sustainability, and economic viability of the industry. The research employs the PROMETHEE method, a multi-criteria decision-making tool, to systematically evaluate and rank risks associated with tuna production, particularly those related to product quality, work safety, and logistical efficiency. The findings reveal that product quality is the most significant risk, primarily driven by the perishability of tuna and inadequacies in cold chain infrastructure. This poses a substantial challenge to maintaining quality from catch to market, threatening the competitiveness of East Java's tuna industry in both local and global markets. The study also emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration in managing these risks. By engaging fishermen, middlemen, traders, and other key players in the supply chain, the research provides a comprehensive analysis that captures the diverse challenges faced by different groups. Prioritizing risks enables stakeholders to focus their efforts on the most critical areas, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable supply chain. This research offers valuable insights into risk management within the tuna supply chain in East Java, with practical implications for improving industry practices. By addressing the identified risks--particularly through enhanced cold chain management and stakeholder cooperation--the study provides actionable strategies for strengthening the region's tuna industry. These findings align with broader goals of the blue economy, promoting sustainable practices that support economic development while preserving marine resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 epidemic has had a significant effect on China's economy and mainly on foreign trade enterprises. This virus has affected the social economy and business performance, becoming a primary test of governance aptitude and the national governance system. As a result, a neural network can be used to study and analyze the economic and social development during the COVID-19 epidemic. Good nonlinear forecasting can be achieved using neural network techniques since they overcome the limitations of traditional forecasting methods. Economic forecasts usually have great uncertainty and are affected by factors with complex relationships. However, using the B.P. network on economic forecasts can have a good forecasting effect. Economic analysis in the context of the new crown epidemic will provide more reference to future complex emergencies. However, countermeasures have been established based on financial institutions, governments, and enterprises. These measures are formulated to cope with the challenges faced by foreign trade enterprises based on the scrutiny of international public emergencies. They include exploration of international cooperation, advancing the new open economy system, speeding up transformation and upgrading, and perfecting the public safety emergency system. Other measures include cooperatively promoting high-quality development of foreign trade enterprises, enabling internal capacities to improve management capabilities, and establishing an external environment based on environmental perfection of the rule of law and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay of cooperation and competition (“coopetition”) in supply chains is well studied. However, little is known about the established and evolving scenarios that exist among supply-chain actors in the presence of coopetition. The paper draws on the resource-based view and game-theoretic reasoning to develop an integrative framework with two aims. First, to classify coopetition-based scenarios with varying levels of complementarity and lastingness and to enhance the analysis of the scenarios. Second, as theoretically argued and demonstrated with a focus group discussion, the framework is developed to assist supply chain actors in strategically managing coopetition—by identifying a particular scenario and adjusting their resources and capability structuring, bundling, and leveraging accordingly.

This study conducts a comparative analysis of two prominent generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools, ChatGPT and Bard, specifically in the context of supply chain management. Using a dataset of 150 certified supply chain professional questions, the models are evaluated on the basis of accuracy, relevance, and clarity, and t tests are employed to assess differences between the tools. ChatGPT outperforms Bard in both accuracy and relevance, with statistically significant results, whereas Bard demonstrated a slight edge in readability, scoring higher on the Flesch readability ease scale. Both models exhibited moderate to high cosine similarity for the majority of the questions, indicating closely aligned outputs. However, variations in their performance arose from differences in their underlying architectures – ChatGPT’s iterative improvement process balances utility and safety, whereas Bard is designed with stricter safeguards to minimize misuse. These findings have important implications for the integration of GAI tools in educational settings, such as developing supply chain curricula and training materials requiring high accuracy and relevance. Additionally, the results suggest broader applications of the GAI in supply chain decision-making, operational efficiency improvements, and enhanced stakeholder communication. The study also highlights the importance of continuous model adaptation to ensure the ethical, safe, and effective use of AI technologies in professional settings. Future research could explore how real-time feedback loops impact AI performance and how diverse training datasets influence model accuracy and relevance across different industries, further advancing the role of AI in complex domains such as supply chain management.

Supply chain management is recognized as a crucial element in boosting organizational performance and competitiveness. However, the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that many corporations were unprepared and lacked a recovery strategy, which led to significant supply chain disruptions. Hence, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the Supply Chain Performance Measurement System (SCPMS) lifetime under unforeseen situations, particularly in developing nations like Egypt, and its relevance during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods. A systematic questionnaire was used to gather data from 100 manufacturing firms (supply chain and retailers) with large business volume who provided a total of 562 questionnaires. The findings indicated that there were four main measurement systems: SCPMS Design, SCPMS Implementation, SCPMS Use, and SCPMS Review. The results of the AHP method found that the SCPMS implementation was the most important system, while the least important was SCPMS design.

Soyabean is produced mainly in small holder farms in Baruteen LGA of Kwara State, but the soybean marketers in Baruteen are faced with a lot of challenges ranging from high transaction costs, fluctuations in soybeans prices, limited storage capacity, access to credit, down to inadequate distribution networks. This making profit maximization difficult. This study examines the market margin and efficiency of wholesaler soybean supply chain in Baruteen, Nigeria. Data for study were obtained from primary sources with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. The study used cost-benefit analysis to estimate market margin and marketing efficiency of soybeans. Our results show that an average of 17.5bags were sold by marketers at every market day with average profit margin per marketer of ₦5,188, and a market margin of 33.14%. However, the marketing efficiency of soybean in the area is relatively low, at 15.37%. These findings suggest that while the sales of soybeans are profitable in Baruteen, there are inefficiencies in the marketing channel that need to be addressed in order to improve the performance of the soybean marketers. The study recommends strategies to improve marketing efficiency, such as reducing transaction costs, improving market access, and enhancing the productivity of soybean marketers.

In current competitive market, efficient supply chain management is essential to achieving sustainable business success. This paper explores the integration of lean principles into supply chain operations and its impact on enhancing the value creation stream. Lean principles, originally developed in the manufacturing sector, focus on waste reduction, continuous improvement, and value maximization from the customer perspective. By applying these principles to supply chain management, organizations can streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency. The study investigates key lean methodologies, such as Just-In-Time inventory, Total Quality Management and the 5S system, and examines their application in various stages of the supply chain, including procurement, production, and distribution. Through a combination of case studies and empirical data, the research highlights how lean initiatives lead to significant improvements in supply chain performance metrics, such as lead time, inventory levels, and defect rates. Findings demonstrate that lean supply chain practices foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration among supply chain partners, ultimately enhancing the responsiveness and agility of the supply chain. Furthermore, the paper discusses the challenges and best practices for implementing lean principles in supply chain management, providing a roadmap for organizations seeking to optimize their supply chain value creation. The application of lean principles in supply chain management not only drives operational excellence but also contributes to greater customer satisfaction and competitive advantage. This paper underscores the strategic importance of lean thinking in creating a robust and value-driven supply chain.

The global demand for organic produce has surged, with notable growth among Thai consumers. However, within Thailand's organic agricultural sectors, supply chain obscurity has impeded the understanding and resolution of emerging challenges associated with meeting this rising demand. Public interest has traditionally centered on mainstream economic sectors, resulting in inadequate attention to the sustainable organic farming supply chains. This study aims to explore the complexities of current sustainable organic supply chain configurations in Thailand, addressing gaps that lead to suboptimal planning and non-sustainable practices. Utilizing the Integration Definition for Function Modeling (IDEF0) framework, this research collected data from key stakeholders through in-depth interviews. Participants included representatives from each stage of the supply chain, providing comprehensive insights into the operational dynamics. The analysis identified several critical challenges within the supply chain, including insufficient collaborative planning, reduced productivity, inaccurate demand forecasting, ineffective budgetary planning, and inadequate cold chain management. These challenges highlight the fragmented nature of the current supply chain and the need for strategic improvements. To address these shortcomings, the study suggests integrating technological advancements in demand planning, operations, and budgeting, fostering collaboration among supply chain members, and forming strategic partnerships with cold chain management service providers. These recommendations aim to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of Thailand's organic produce supply chain, ensuring it can meet increasing global and domestic demands effectively.

Blockchain technology enables innovative financing models in supply-chain finance. This research constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model that includes core enterprises as employers, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as contractors, and banks as financial institutions, where they have been simulated for their impact on blockchain technology, especially on the strategic choices of supply-chain financing behavior and the system’s evolutionary path under core enterprises’ guarantee mechanism. The findings show the application of blockchain technology can effectively reduce the regulatory and review costs for financial institutions, thereby enhancing the efficiency of supply-chain financing. Particularly, blockchain technology provides a more reliable credit endorsement platform for SMEs in reducing their tendency to default. The guarantee mechanism of core enterprises is more effective with the support of blockchain technology, which helps to build more solid supply-chain financial cooperation relationships. The research contributes to the theoretical research on the integration of blockchain technology into supply-chain finance, especially for improving the operational efficiency of financial services. It also highlights the need for blockchain-backed guarantees from core enterprises in optimizing supply-chain financial services.

The integration of multiple technical, economic, environmental, and social criteria establishes Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) as a dependable decision-making tool in the context of interdisciplinary research. This study employs a literature-based methodology to illustrate how MCDA, particularly utilizing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and TOPSIS models, has been utilized to tackle intricate decision-making issues. It also highlights the noteworthy discoveries derived from real-world applications, drawing upon previous research and case studies. This study explores the methodologies employed in the commonly utilized AHP and TOPSIS approaches, highlighting their broad applicability across various industries from 2000 to 2023. Additionally, a comprehensive examination of the applications of MCDA has been organized into five distinct sectors, namely supply chain, healthcare, business, resource management, and engineering & manufacturing.

The aim of the article is to highlight possible ways to improve the activities of transport and forwarding enterprises in the context of the development of information technology. In the course of the study, it was found that in the scientific sphere there is an active coverage of the introduction of information and innovative technologies in the field of transport and forwarding activities and it is emphasized that the dynamic and rapidly changing environment requires additional and constant updating in accordance with the latest trends. It is determined that the basis for the development of transport and forwarding activities is the growth of international trade and the expansion of the e-commerce industry around the world. The structure of export-import operations of Ukraine for 2023 is presented and it is noted that, in accordance with the current legislation of Ukraine, forwarding services are provided to the client for export, import, transit, as well as for domestic transportation through the territory of Ukraine. The services that can be provided by transport and forwarding enterprises are directly allocated, and the specifics of their activities are described. International organizations (UNCTАD, FIATA) are presented, which were among the first in the market to focus on the importance of introducing information technology in order to create a single international data exchange system for all participants in the transport and logistics market. The advantages of creating a single information space and digitalization of business processes of transport and forwarding enterprises are indicated. The latest trends in the international freight transportation market, which have simplified the procedures for issuing transport and accompanying documents due to their digitalization, are highlighted. The directions of use of blockchain technologies in the field of management of transport and forwarding enterprises are considered. It is determined that today not all enterprises are ready for the introduction of modern information technologies, which is caused by the outdated management culture, technological barriers, etc.

The integration of multiple technical, economic, environmental, and social criteria establishes Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) as a dependable decision-making tool in the context of interdisciplinary research. This study employs a literature-based methodology to illustrate how MCDA, particularly utilizing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and TOPSIS models, has been utilized to tackle intricate decision-making issues. It also highlights the noteworthy discoveries derived from real-world applications, drawing upon previous research and case studies. This study explores the methodologies employed in the commonly utilized AHP and TOPSIS approaches, highlighting their broad applicability across various industries from 2000 to 2023. Additionally, a comprehensive examination of the applications of MCDA has been organized into five distinct sectors, namely supply chain, healthcare, business, resource management, and engineering & manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology has promising benefits and provides robust solutions for managing business processes. While prior studies have primarily explored its potential in supporting logistics and supply chain management, many practitioners still lack a clear understanding of how to leverage blockchain technology, hindering its adoption within the industry. Bridging this gap and addressing critical barriers requires further empirical research. This study adopts a comprehensive approach, identifying potential barriers through a literature review and validating their significance through the Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC). The study then delves into the interrelationships among the significant barriers, utilising Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and MICMAC methods. The results highlight seven significant barriers within the logistics sector, encompassing a lack of government support, operational standards, top management support, limited public awareness, trust issues, technical challenges, and network collaboration difficulties. Notably, the lack of public awareness and inadequate governmental support form fundamental obstacles that drive various challenges. This research offers insights into the barriers that hinder the successful adoption of blockchain technology in logistics, proposing several mitigation strategies that are in line with the principles of open innovation.

Günümüzde, sürekli değişen ve gelişen teknoloji, bireyler ve işletmeler için birçok uygulamayı beraberinde getirmektedir. Ancak bu uygulamaları tedarik zinciri ve üretim süreci içerisine entegre etmek, ek maliyet oluşturmanın yanı sıra ek işgücü ihtiyacı da oluşturabilmektedir. Bu gibi nedenler teknolojiyi benimseme konusunda firmaların kararlarını etkileyebilmektedir. Bu bilgilere dayalı olarak çalışmanın amacı, Endüstri 4.0 uygulamalarının tedarik zinciri performansına olan etkisini test etmektir. Bu doğrultuda toplam 103 üretici firmaya anket uygulaması yapılmıştır. Toplanan anketlerin sonuçları, SPSS İstatistik 22.0 (IBM Corp.; Armonk, NY, ABD) programı kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Firmalardan toplanan verilere, açımlayıcı faktör analizi uygulanarak boyutlar elde edilmiştir. Bu veriler daha sonra yüzde – frekans analizi ve regresyon analizi testlerine tabi tutularak bulgular elde edilmiştir. Yapılan Regresyon analizi sonuçlarına göre yapay zekâ ve bulut bilişim boyutlarının maliyet performansı boyutu üzerinde, bulut bilişim boyutunun müşteri performansı boyutu üzerinde anlamlı ve pozitif bir etkisi olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

In this study, the main emphasis is on the role of multimodal container transportation in global logistics and transport. The aim of the article is to consider important aspects and challenges associated with this form of transportation, including issues of efficiency, regulation and prospects for further development of this sphere and its infrastructure. The article discusses different definitions of the concept of «multimodal transportation»; the authors’ vision of the concept of «multimodal container transportation» is presented; the main participants and key factors influencing multimodal transportation are described; the advantages and disadvantages of multimodal container transportation are indicated; significance of these transportations for world trade is determined. Particular attention is paid to opportunities for improvement and innovative approaches, including the use of blockchain technology, to increase the transparency, efficiency and security of multimodal container transportation. Examples of the use of blockchain technology in the practice of world players in the container transportation market and ways to improve their work after its implementation are provided. It is noted that blockchain technology provides an opportunity to create a distributed database that guarantees the stability and inaccessibility of data for manipulation, and this makes it an ideal tool for tracking goods in multimodal transportation. This technology provides transparency, the ability to track every stage of the delivery and automated data verification, which helps to avoid errors and fraud in the logistics process. This approach to the use of blockchain technology in the logistics of multimodal container transportation can be a step towards creating more reliable, secure and efficient transport networks. This is in line with the main goal of improving and perfecting the global supply chain in the context of today’s challenges and technological possibilities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a paradigm shift in supply chain and logistics operations to respond to myriad disruptions. However, this paradigm shift has changed the supply chain to be more resilient, agile, flexible, and adaptable to upcoming disruptions. Hence, a comprehensive guide to understanding, implementing, and harnessing the power of digitization in the face of disruption, leading to a more resilient and adaptive global community, is greatly appreciated. Thus, this study aims to identify the strategies used in the complex and dynamic nature of the contemporary supply chain landscape for these disruptions. Among several strategies adopted and proposed, this systematic review examines overall efficiency and operational resilience, particularly supplier diversification, investment in digital supply chain technology, and adopting flexible manufacturing models. Following a rigorous four-step identification, screening, qualification, and inclusion process, this review focuses on real-time visibility, robust risk management, and data-driven decision making to determine whether future disruptions under digitization are conducive. Therefore, this systematic review, along with these enhanced resilience strategies, will provide a comprehensive resource for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers seeking to navigate and improve logistics and supply chain operations in the face of future disruptions.

Purpose. This research aims to determine the level of motivation of the target audience (group, farmer associations (Gapoktan) or farm) and factors that influence motivation in participating in the implementation of the Toko Tani Indonesia (TTI) program. Methodology / approach. This research was conducted by direct interview method with all Farmer Shops and Gapoktan / Poktan in three regions in Central Java, namely Semarang City, Sukoharjo Regency, and Grobogan Regency. Data collection is carried out using a questionnaire with a Likert scale measurement. The methods used for analysis are descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS). Results. The results show that the motivation level of TTI actors is high, meaning that program implementers in the field have a substantial boost from social, economic, and socio-economic factors. These results indicate that this food security program can be implemented well because field implementers can feel the overall positive impact. Furthermore, in SEM analysis, factors influencing motivation show that mediating variables for capacity and perception significantly correlate with motivation. Meanwhile, the government support and characteristics variables have a significant relationship with the mediation variables. Originality / scientific novelty. The novelty of this study is the analysis of research conducted on the motivation of food security program actors with the object of study that is rarely used as research, namely the PUPM Program through the Indonesian Farmer Shop (TTI). This program aims to stabilise prices and solve supply chain problems in Indonesia. This is so that rice prices do not harm farmers or the community. Therefore, the value of this study is that it attempts to answer the question of how to influence the motivation and sustainability of the program so that the government, together with the community and stakeholders, can ensure national food security. Practical value / implications. The research results can be a recommendation for related parties and policymakers to continue implementing the TTI program to implement national food security. This study shows that the government can use these factors to maintain and increase motivation to maximise program implementation; so that the objectives of this program can be implemented and the program can be continued for the following periods.

Purpose – The importance of sustainable supply chain management practices (SSCMPs) in the financial performance of firms is increasing significantly. However, the influence of SSCMPs on financial performance can vary across sectors and contexts. This research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the influence of SSCMPs on the financial sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food processing industry. For this, the influence of sustainable environment practices, customer and supplier relationships, social SCMPs and lean supply chain on the financial sustainability of food processing SMEs is studied. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from 56 food processing SMEs in Mbeya, Tanzania. The study employed a cross-sectional research design and a census approach to capture data from all eligible SMEs in the target population. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) were utilized as the primary data analysis techniques. Findings – The findings of the study revealed a positive and significant influence of various SSCMPs on the financial sustainability of food processing SMEs. Specifically, sustainable environment management practices (β = 0.147, p = 0.000), supplier relationship management (SRM) (β = 0.715, p = 0.001), customer relationship management (CRM) (β = 0.894, p = 0.016), social SCMP (β = 0.901, p = 0.005) and lean supply chain practices (β = 0.675, p = 0.003) were all found to have a significant effect on the financial sustainability of the surveyed food processing SMEs. Practical implications – The study recommends the need to plan and integrate SSCMPs in firms’ operation processes, promote collaboration and networking and offer capacity-building initiatives that equip food processing SMEs with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement SSCMPs effectively. These will nurture effective adoption of SSCMP, leading to improved operations, environmental performance, financial sustainability and long-term viability of the sector. Originality/value – While SSCMPs have gained attention in the literature, the specific focus on its impact on financial sustainability in the context of food processing SMEs adds originality to this research. Industry stakeholders and policymakers can utilize the findings of this study to develop supportive policies and programs that promote sustainable supply chain practices and enhance financial sustainability in the food processing sector.

The aim of this article is to study the logistical processes of management of supply chains for the export of goods in Ukraine under martial law and to propose the main directions of such management. The ongiong war in Ukraine is a problem that affects not only the economy and well-being of Ukraine itself, but also the whole world, so the analysis and optimization of logistical processes to ensure efficient exports and maintaining the economic stability of both Ukraine and the whole world is one of the most important issues of the present day. Ukraine, as a country with significant potential for exporting goods, faces numerous challenges in the field of logistics, especially in terms of war. The existing infrastructure and logistical systems are partially destroyed or not adapted to the export conditions during the war period. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of export logistics by improving transport routes, reducing delivery time and optimizing the supply chain. The relevance of the study lies in the consideration that the logistical aspects of the export of goods in military conditions are crucial for the efficiency and sustainability of the country’s economy. An in-depth analysis of the challenges faced by exporters during the military invasion is a key to developing new strategies and policies aimed at ensuring uninterrupted exports and strengthening economic resilience. The export supply chain management during a full-scale military invasion is defined as a solution to a set of problems arising from changes in the geopolitical and economic environment that affect logistical processes and the export infrastructure. These challenges include disruptions to transportation, revision of trade routes, changes in tariff conditions, and supply chain instability. The proposed article considers the main aspects of these difficulties, as well as predicts the further development of strategies for overcoming and avoiding logistical problems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most severe disruptions to normal life, impacting how businesses operate. The academic literature in the areas of supply chain and operations management has been trying to explain how this has affected decision-making in businesses. However, the existing literature has predominantly overlooked organisational culture and behavioural economic theories. This paper contends that considering the decisions made in supply chain disruption management involve groups and the individuals within them, the relevance of behavioural economic concepts becomes paramount. As such, the objective of this paper is to conduct an integrative literature review, utilising the purposive sampling method to explore the dearth of academic work connecting behavioural economic theories and organisational culture to supply chain disruption management. Additionally, the paper aims to offer guidelines for future research in this domain. Enhancing our comprehension of these domains concerning supply chain disruption management would empower firms to better anticipate their parties’ decisions, refine their decision-making models, and cultivate stronger relationships with suppliers and customers.

This research analyzes the procurement supply chain management of a Peruvian public institution, using the AHP approach and sustainable supplier selection criteria. The sample included 7,833 employees of the purchasing department, including managers, administrators, assistants and collaborators. The analysis revealed 5 subgroups, the largest representing 28.04% and standing out for its emphasis on the environmental factor with an average of 62.85%. The subfactors of economic sustainability, product useful life and maintenance cost did not show significant differences in weighting, with a high average impact, 11.69% and 11.76% respectively. Therefore, companies seeking to supply these municipalities must focus on offering solutions with low maintenance costs and long useful lives to ensure economic sustainability. These results support the effectiveness of the AHP method in identifying critical factors in decision making.

In the paper, we analyze the problem of information sharing in a green supply chain with two competing manufacturers selling environmentally friendly substitutable products in markets through a common retailer. We develop a game-theoretic framework of a network supply chain structure. The study shows that (a) the manufacturer is better off while the retailer is worse off when the retailer shares his private information with the manufacturer; (b) the equilibrium greening levels are the highest when both the manufacturers are informed; (c) under intense competition, the retailer has an incentive to share the information with the manufacturer; (d) the equilibrium greening levels decrease with information inaccuracy. This study shows the existence of a contracting mechanism the manufacturers can employ to induce information sharing. This study’s results will be helpful to managers of green supply chain structures to make marketing and operational decisions under uncertain situations. The main contribution of this study is that it explores the problem of information sharing in a green supply chain under competition.

The COVID-19 disruption of supply chains has motivated manufacturing companies in Nigeria to build and maintain supply chain visibility, robustness, and resilience to remain third-party logistics providers. It is vital to have an adequate understanding of third-party logistics performance drivers. Most studies have concentrated on third-party logistics capability, while few others explored the impact of relational governance structures on performance. However, studies examining the synergy between third-party logistics capability and relationship management are scarce. The purpose of this study is to investigate the stimulators of third-party logistics performance in the Nigerian manufacturing industry. A descriptive survey, e-mail questionnaire, and PLS-SEM approach was used to collect and analyze the data from a sample of 364 manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The findings indicated that relationship management has a significant positive association with third-party logistics capability (β= 0.785, t = 3.457, p < 0.001); relationship management has a significant negative association with supply chain risk (β= –0.209, t = 4.149, p < 0.001); third-party logistics capability has a significant negative association with supply chain risk (β = –0.620, t = 3.199, p < 0.001); supply chain risk has a significant negative association with logistics performance (β= –0.695 t = 5.396, p < 0.001). Hence, relationship management, third-party logistics capability, and supply chain risk are drivers of third-party logistics performance. Therefore, supply chain partners should manage their relationships to strengthen third-party logistics capability and reduce all kinds of uncertainties and risks.

In today's highly competitive business landscape, SMEs face the challenges of meeting customer demands and expectations. To remain competitive, attract and satisfy customers, manufacturing SMEs must adopt innovative practices within their supply chain. This research investigates the influence of supply chain innovative practices (SCIPs) on customer satisfaction within the context of manufacturing SMEs. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was utilised to collect the data from 172 customers of manufacturing SMEs in Mwanza, Tanzania to gain comprehensive insights into the influence of SCIPs on customer satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression (BLR) were used for data analysis. The research findings revealed that manufacturing SMEs adopt SCIPs, including digitalization and IoT integration, vendor-managed inventory, customisation, Just-In-Time, collaborative relationships, and lean manufacturing to a moderate extent. Moreover, the findings demonstrate a significant and positive correlation between SCIPs and customer satisfaction. We conclude that SMEs that successfully adopt SCIPs experience higher levels of customer satisfaction, which, in turn, positively influences customer loyalty and brand reputation. Therefore, manufacturing SMEs can capitalise on customer satisfaction, loyalty, and sustainable growth by strategizing SCIPs along their supply chain. The study contributes to the existing knowledge by providing valuable insights into the importance of SCIPs in improving customer satisfaction in manufacturing SMEs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions in global supply chains with unforeseen and unpredictable consequences. However, the pandemic was not the only reason why supply chain risk management has become more crucial than ever before. In the last decade, the occurrence of previously merely theoretical risks has emphasised the importance of risk management in supply chains. This has increased interest in risk assessment and management, COVID-19 and other disaster impact studies and proposals for more stable and resilient supply chains. This article addresses the problem of transport risk in supply chains in the context of COVID-19. Particular attention is paid to quantitative approaches. Identifying and quantifying risks and modelling their interdependencies contribute to the stability of the supply chains. The analysis presents the current state of knowledge and can serve as a guide for further research. It highlights transport risk management in supply chain management as an important area of investigation. In light of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the article proposes an approach to transportation risk assessment based on quantitative assessment and interconnection of risk factors.

Objective: This research aimed to analyze the main alternative routes to Suez Canal Route (SCR): North Sea Route (NSR) and Trans-Siberian Route (TSR). Method: A systematic literature review (SLR) was carried out using the Web of Science (WoS) database. Forty-eight related articles were found, of which 16 remained for further analysis after refinement. Main Results: It was identified that the TSR and NSR routes are economically viable compared to the SCR, given certain specific conditions, and that the railway mode is less studied in relation to the maritime mode. Relevance / Originality: Possible alternative trade routes for the transportation of goods, both via maritime and railway modes, were identified, with the highlighting of advantages and disadvantages. Theoretical / Methodological Contributions: The study is relevant for the international logistics field, since, by analyzing each transport mode, it was possible to highlight issues that need to be further explored in relation to existing routes. Social / Management Contributions: This study contributed to determining TSR as the most cost-effective route according to the articles analyzed in the SLR. It also clarified issues such as prices, costs, distances, advantages and disadvantages, sustainability issues, as well as updated data from other studies.

Health budget allocation choices are increasingly aided by medical technology's economic evaluation (EE). With thousands of new items launched each year, the medical device (MD) business is one of the most active domains of medical advancement among providers of innovation. Some of these considerations have to do with the specifics of how the gadget works. The paper examines the investment assessment of new medical devices from an industrial viewpoint. The strategy EE-MD presented should lead to more inventive and cost-effective surgical supplies for the medical industry. The study's purpose is to better the decision-making process for medical device development. Small and medium-sized firms are a crucial source of innovation for the future, and the research focuses mostly on them. Design economy and professional engineering literature are linked in the article. The proposed multi-attribute and team method to construct selection discusses the financial factor and provides a strong foundation for ongoing program management by identifying project-specific risks and strategic alliances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of supply chain resilience and robustness on firm performance and also examines the significance of supply chain risk management (SCRM) in minimizing the consequences of disruptions on supply chain performance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was gathered using convenience sampling technique through a survey from management staff (n=409) working in textile companies operating in Pakistan. Using SPSS software for data analysis, thisstudy proposes a mediation model where risk management practices are proposed as a mediator between supply chain resilience, robustness and firm performance. The findings highlight that supply chain resilience and robustness have positive significant effect on firm performance. The results also revealed that supply chain risk management mediates the relationships between supply chain resilience, robustness and firm performance. The findings show that managers should focus more on improving supply chain risk management operations and prioritize their SC resilience and robustness competencies for better firm performance. Furthermore, this is among the few quantitative studies dealing with supply chain risk management procedures, SC resilience and robustness in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The research limitations have been identified and suggestions for future research have been provided.

In an unstable global business environment, reconfiguring global supply chains is a necessary step. Supply chain reconfiguration gives the supply chain the ability to adapt quickly; new supply chain structures allow for increased responsiveness and flexibility to deal with disruptions. The main objective of this paper is to identify the research interest in the area regarding the supply chain reconfiguration. The study is based on a quantitative research method, namely bibliometric analysis. By querying the existing database on the Scopus platform, scientific papers (research articles, books, papers presented at conferences) containing the keywords in the title, abstract, or in the keywords of the documents have been identified. The research results confirm the increasing academic interest in supply chain reconfiguration.

The supply chain has gained prominence in recent years, both in specialized literature and in economic practice, being defined and analysed as an operational component of the behaviour of economic actors, both those with global activities and those with localized activities. The main aspects related to this thematic area are associated with complex concepts that have a quantifiable economic impact in terms of money, time, quality, and competitiveness. Supplier selection has become a matter of strategic partnership within global supply chains enabling customer performance and competitiveness, thus increasing supply chain leaders’ awareness to develop and implement complex tools and metrics for supplier comparison before business award, one of the representative being net present value comparison. Net Present Value is defined as the sum of the investment's expected cash inflows and outflows discounted back to their present value at a company-agreed risk-adjusted rate. This study is focused on showing how an assessment of comparative net present values can clarify a business case and improve the decision making process towards a particular supplier selection, together with meeting project budget, internal targets, financial risk assessment, and strategic planning.

A collaborative performance system focuses on sustainable performance management in a sustainable supply chain. This system was employed to determine the relationship between the farmer group association (Gapoktan) of Lembang Agri (LA) that produce fresh vegetables and supermarkets as purchasing partners to improve performance. This study is crucial due to the shift in farmers’ roles from merely producers to entrepreneurs. This study utilized the dependency theory to explore the impact of collaborative networks on information and resource sharing and supply chain performance, as well as determine the appropriate orientation for collaborative supply chain indicators. The study surveyed 80 respondents representing different types of partnership structures from a parallel or supplier-buyer supply chain structure perspective. Moreover, the model developed on collaborative networks, information sharing, resource sharing and supply chain performance was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results unveiled a positive and significant indirect relationship between collaborative networks and supply chain performance. The implication could be applied to identify the developing theories concerning collaborative network relationships and information and resource sharing related to supply chain performance on their networks, especially in producing fresh horticultural commodities. This study is essential to enrich the limited research in this industry.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) plays a crucial role for firms striving to maintain competitiveness amidst numerous competitors. In the contemporary business landscape, firms enhance their competitiveness by efficiently relying on their supply chain Moreover, an effective and efficient supply chain has become a vital and valuable means for staying vigilant in the evolving and competitive global business environment, contributing to overall organizational performance improvement. The term "supplier-manufacturer partnership" refers to the relationship established when a manufacturer and supplier mutually agree to collaborate based on a specific contract. This research study is quantitative in nature with population in the vicinity of Rawalpindi & Islamabad working either as manufacturer of goods or are providing the services or in the service business. Simple random sampling technique has been utilized in cross-sectional time horizon. SPSS version 22.0 was used as statistical software to carry out the analysis. The findings suggest that a stronger partnership correlates with improved supply chain performance. Furthermore, the statistical tests conducted in this research underscored the significance of business value addition, communication and trust as the most influential factors contributing to enhanced supply chain performance and overall profitability. The study also unveiled that the partnership strongly affects information flow. Moreover, when information is effectively managed, and its quality is enhanced, it fosters strong partner relations, ultimately leading to improved supply chain effectiveness and heightened performance.

The research aimed to identify the existence of a Management Control System (MCS) and it`s types of control in the immunobiologicals storage process of the National Immunization Program (NIP) from Ministry of Health of Brazil (MoH). Brazilian NIP is one of the largest universal, free-of-charge public health systems in the world. To identify the controls, we used the classification proposed by Kenneth A. Merchant and Wim A. Van der Stede: personnel, action, result and cultural controls. For that, semi-structured interviews carried out with employees and collaborators envolved with storage process of immunobiologicals of the Federal Government of Brazil and, as a result, were identified absence of a formal MCS, as well management controls suitable to manage the risks involved in the process. The study elucidates the relationship between the types of management control of the storage process of immunobiologicals from Federal Government of Brazil. Therefore, allowing future researches relating MCS and the NIP supply chain in Brazil.

With the development of the 4th Industrial Revolution technology, the digitalization of supply chain is also receiving a lot of attention. With various technological developments, the importance of digital transformation in a firm’s supply chain is increasing. Therefore, for a more comprehensive understanding of digital transformation in supply chain, we have implemented a rigorous systematic literature review by supplementing the shortcomings of existing literature and combining bibliometric analysis and network analysis with keyword network analysis. Using the SCOPUS database, we collected 182 papers addressing digital transformation in the supply chain published in renowned business administration journals, identified research trends. Then, we analyzed the connection of citations as well as the author’s keywords and their changes over time. Based on these results, this study presents the number of publications and changes in papers by period, influential authors and papers, key keywords and topics, etc. on digital transformation in supply chain. First published online 10 January 2024

The speed of movement of goods, information and services determines the success and the efficiency of a transport company that wants to meet the needs of the customer. Consumers want better quality services, greater variety of products, more innovation and better service, but at a lower price, and in a shorter time. To fully satisfy the expectations of the consumers, a very large part of the role in business enterprises is played by the supply chain, the management of its processes, and ensuring the efficiency of them. The study involved 8 experts. One of the most important characteristics of experts is competence, therefore experts were required to have competence and experience in the field under investigation. Everyone must have a higher education and work experience of at least 5 years. All experts have 5–10 years of management experience in the supply chain of Lithuanian transport companies and have a higher education. The experts were asked to evaluate the main factors that determine the effectiveness of technological integration of marketing in a supply chain of a transport company. According to the experts’ assessments and calculations, the list of the importance of the main criteria of the impact of marketing technological integrations in the supply chain of a transport company should be arranged in the following order: customer relationship management in the supply chain, fast transmission of the information in the supply chain, electronic auctions in the supply chain, product innovations in the supply chain, and electronic catalogs in the supply chain.

AbstractBased on three fundamental theories, commitment-trust theory of relationship marketing, transaction cost theory, and force field theory, this study has examined the factors affecting collaboration in the agricultural supply chain in the North Central region of Vietnam by analyzing EFA, CFA, and SEM. The research results have shown that trust and commitment are two important antecedents of collaboration, and they have a positive effect on collaboration in the agricultural supply chain. Risk has a negative effect on collaboration and is explained based on the concept of understanding the nature of risk and the characteristics of the research context. The dark side of collaboration is opportunistic behavior, testing the influence of this factor and concluding that it is necessary to limit opportunistic behavior to enhance collaboration in the agricultural supply chain. It is shown that there is a difference in the level of collaboration among specific agricultural sectors in the North Central region, in which collaboration in cultivation and livestock sectors has a low level, but in aquaculture, it is higher. Similarly, contractual relationships are essential for promoting collaboration in the agricultural supply chain. From these research results, the study has proposed some practical solutions to increase collaborations in the agricultural supply chain in the North Central region of Vietnam.

AbstractAlthough environmental orientation (EO) has gained surging recent scholarly attention, why, how, and when EO influences green purchasing adoption among firms is inchoate, lacking adequate theorisation and empirical analysis. This study draws on resource orchestration theory (ROT) to test the arguments that the influence of EO on green purchasing is a function of the transformative mechanism of green purchasing capability at differing levels of financial resource. The proposed model is tested on a sample of 165 small and medium-sized enterprises from a sub-Saharan African economy using structural equation modelling (Mplus v7.4) and Hayes’ PROCESS for IBM-SPSS. Findings from the study indicate that green purchasing capability mediates the effect of EO on green purchasing. The study further finds that the effect of EO on green purchasing, via green purchasing capability, is strengthened under the condition of greater financial resource. The findings contribute to the advancement of green purchasing research and the ROT by addressing the green purchasing attitude-behaviour gap from the supply chain perspective. Overall, the study informs supply chain practitioners that bundling EO with green purchasing capability and financial resource is critical for achieving environmental goals.

AbstractThe paper aims to estimate factors affecting supply chain efficiency in commercial banks’ operations in Vietnam. To achieve this objective, the study uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to define the determinants of supply chain efficiency in operational activities of commercial banks. The findings reveal the statistically significant factors influencing supply chain efficiency in commercial banks’ profitability, including information and communication technology, knowledge and information, quality trust, and culture. The research contribution opens an additional aspect into the supply chain in commercial banks’ operations that makes the managers and stakeholders reorient themselves in the banks’ developing operations. Besides, the authors implement SEM applications in testing and evaluating the multivariate causal relationships between supply chain efficiency and banks’ profitability.

AbstractThis paper aims to minimize the emissions in the supply chain consisting of a vendor and a buyer under carbon regulations. Emissions from the supply chain are generated by several operations, namely production, transportation and storage, and are sought to be reduced by implementing a carbon tax policy. To cope with the carbon policy, the vendor is actively looking for the best strategy to reduce emission rates, one of which is by investing in green technology. Besides being able to reduce the amount of carbon produced, the investment made can also save the amount of energy needed in the production process. To support the investment, the government provides green incentives, the amount of which is determined based on the achievement of emission reduction targets. The objective of the proposed model is to simultaneously determine the review period, safety factor, number of shipments and green investment such that the joint total cost is minimised. An efficient method is developed in this paper to obtain the optimum solution for the model. A numerical example and a sensitivity analysis are provided to illustrate the application of the model and to examine the impact of key parameters on model behaviour and performance. The result indicates that the implemented green policies, namely carbon tax, green incentive and green investment, can improve the economic and environmental performances of the supply chain.

The present paper aims to assess both the direct as well as the indirect effects of internal enablers on internal integration and business performance in the supply chain. A full managerial comprehension of the connection between supply chain integration (SCI) and business performance is missing so far and earlier results are inconclusive. To fill this gap, this study expands the growing body of research on SCI and contributes to the SCM field by explaining the direct and indirect effects of internal enablers on internal integration and business performance. Results show that hierarchical organizational culture influences internal integration and supply chain performance, that top management support and information technology department size influence internal integration, and, finally, that supply chain performance impacts operational performance. These findings confirm the relevance for firms to pay attention to those key internal enablers of internal integration, and their benefits on business performance. Considering our results, future research should deepen on the influence of internal integration on business performance by focusing on the links between internal integration and the other dimensions of SCI, that is supplier and customer integration, as well as with the external side of the supply chain performance.

The article considers the issue of competitiveness of supply chains in the context of digital transformations and constant economic changes. The interpretation of the concept of competitiveness may differ depending on the object under study, therefore, in addition to the general definition of the concept of «competitiveness», an analysis of the concept of competitiveness of supply chains and competitiveness of the supply chain link in the contemporary literature is carried out and an own generalized definition of the concept is presented. Methods for determining the level of competitiveness used to assess the level of competitiveness of a product or enterprise are not always applicable to supply chains because of the specifics of their operation. The publication presents possible qualitative and quantitative methods for determining the level of competitiveness, such as: points method, rank method, integral assessment method, SWOT-analysis, heuristic methods, and others. Some of the methods, including the points method and SWOT analysis, have been adapted for supply chains and demonstrated in practical application using conditional examples for visibility. The characteristics influencing the competitiveness of the supply chain, in particular flexibility, reliability, efficiency, integration, have been allocated. Possible ways to improve these characteristics are provided. It is determined that improving the level of competitiveness of an individual link in the supply chain leads to an improvement in the level of competitiveness of the entire supply chain, and while improving the level of competitiveness of several links in the supply chain, a synergy effect can be observed in the context of competitiveness. In terms of competitiveness of the supply chain, it is appropriate to take into account the specifics of the functioning of the participant in the supply chain, its business processes, the number of incoming and outgoing material flows and flows of information. The article analyzes the last link in the supply chain – the last-mile logistics in e-commerce, which is gaining momentum in Ukraine, owing not least to the COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale russian invasion in 2022. Ways to improve the level of competitiveness of the last link in the supply chain on the example of e-commerce are proposed.

Purpose – Regarding the premises of open innovation (OI) in terms of knowledge sources, this paper aims to discuss how to manage the existing sources of knowledge in supply chains. Design/methodology/approach – An integrative review was developed focusing on studies related to supply chain and OI, seeking to understand the relationships between them, supporting the innovative discussion. Findings – The SIPOC-OI was proposed as a tool to support the management of knowledge sources present in the supply chain, promoting efficiency to the company and improving its innovative capacity. Research limitations/implications – The conceptual proposal should be empirically verified to understand the management tool's obstacles and benefits for a company's innovation performance. Additionally, it would be useful to understand the results of this proposal in the relationships between agents of the chain, as well as the direction (inbound, outbound or coupled). Additionally, relevant points were highlighted as future agendas. Practical implications – The point of view based on OI treats the collaboration's aspects and its benefits to agents, which becomes an essential factor in improving the entire chain's integration and performance. Originality/value – The analysis of the flow of knowledge in supply chains from an OI perspective is an innovation in theory. Besides, the multidisciplinary proposal is expressed in the framework developed as it is based on a tool from engineering. Supply chain competencies/mindset is important to develop OI as well as is the contrary – there is a mutual practical and theoretical relevance between the integration of the concepts.

The producer can warehouse the perishable items and reuse them in the production line by creating an appropriate cooperation relationship and sharing information related to demand and stocks in order to provide the field to save money, reduce the environmental population, and use natural resources less. Therefore, it is also necessary to use the concept of the supply chain of perishable items in the supply chain. In this study a new approach will be provided to develop the agility of the supply chain to establish an integrated and agile supply chain to create an informational and operational linking bridge between different sections of the supply chain. Hence, a multi-objective mathematical model will be presented considering the maximization of the level of agility, the minimization of the perishing of goods, minimization of the time of distributing goods by systemizing the retail distribution system and since the agile supply chain model is considered as difficult problems, Epsilon- Constraint method and Benders Exact Solution method will be used to develop this research. Benders method is a decomposition algorithm that creates smaller sections of agility in solving the model by decomposing the mathematical model. First, the model is evaluated, and a problem is designed to assess the performance of the proposed model, and it is solved by using GAMS and CPLEX solver. Then the validity of the provided model is analyzed by the approach of the meta-heuristic algorithm Moka.

Most farmers are experiencing challenges and constraints in accessing agricultural inputs, thus leading to poor and underutilization of agro inputs and consequently low agricultural productivity in most part of sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the agro-input supply sector in Kogi state. A total of 157 input dealers were randomly selected across the twenty-one local government areas in the state. Data were collected using well-structured questionnaire complemented with interview schedule and were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. Findings reveal that agro-chemicals, fertilizer and feed were the major inputs supplied by most of the retailers and wholesalers that hardly engage in activities that create awareness about their products. Input prices were the most important preference and consideration factor in the purchase of agro-input by customers and form the basis for competition. Casual, family and child labours that proved to be cheaper, commonly accessible and do not require signing of formal employment contract with workers dominated both the retail and wholesale sectors. Poor government support, poor business condition in addition to poor capital base, high transportation cost, price fluctuations, adulteration were the identified major constraints affecting the agripreneurs. The study recommends capacity development on new marketing strategies, registration of businesses with relevant agencies, provision of credit and financial services; formation of formidable, strong and mutual-trust co-operative societies for input supply actors so as to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the agricultural inputs supply sector in the state.