Yes / This article explores the relationship between sustainability strategies and future energy needs, supply chains need to reduce their CO2 emissions through developing their green credentials and improving performance. Knowledge management (KM) is an enabler to support collaboration efforts. The SCM and KM areas have largely focused on improving organisational performance. While the latter has yielded successful outcomes in different sectors, there is still a scarcity of research on identifying influential factors highlighting those aspects which may enable green supply chain collaboration (GrSCC), thus leading to sustainable energy futures and carbon-efficient production. This paper examines the role of KM in facilitating GrSCC. Through the identification of key factors extrapolated from the literature, a model for implementing GrSCC using a futures-based perspective is proposed. This paper inductively demonstrates the relationship between identified GrSCC factors through fuzzy cognitive mapping technique. Findings support a futures-based perspective that enhances understanding and refines forward-looking strategies for GrSCC.

Supply chains have become more complex in the global economy, which has made supply chain disruptions inevitable. Disruptions can cause loss of profitability and hinder business growth. The goal of this multiple case study was to explore strategies to mitigate the effects of disruption in grocery store supply chains. The conceptual framework for this study was the resource dependency theory, which stipulates that firms rely on other businesses in the external environment for critical resources to create a competitive edge. Four purposively selected participants from 4 grocery store businesses in Northwest Arkansas participated in semistructured interviews and provided organizational documentation for this study. The participants were supply chain managers who had knowledge about disruptions and had successfully mitigated disruptions in their grocery stores' supply chains. Yin's 5-step process was used to analyze data, which involved compiling the database, disassembling data, reassembling data, interpreting data, and making a conclusion. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: supply chain partners' collaboration, multiple supply base and supplier qualification, inventory management, and information technology and communication. The uninterrupted flow of grocery merchandise to the community could result in a positive social change by helping to ensure that community members have timely access to food.

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[pt] Colaboração na cadeia de suprimentos (SCC) é um tema que tem sido amplamente discutido na literatura e é aceito que a criação de uma cadeia de suprimentos sincronizada leva ao aumento da capacidade de resposta e a menores custos de estoque. O Planejamento, Previsão e Reabastecimento Colaborativo (CPFR) é considerado por muitos autores como a mais avançada e abrangente iniciativa em SCC. Apesar do crescente número de publicações sobre CPFR, a literatura acadêmica revela a ausência de uma pesquisa que sintetize o estado da arte sobre CPFR. Desta forma, esta dissertação tem como objetivo, por meio da revisão sistemática da literatura, reunir e integrar o conhecimento sobre CPFR como um processo de negócio e como uma prática de gestão. Foram analisados 629 resumos e 47 artigos foram selecionados para a revisão e classificação. A dissertação analisa os modelos de CPFR, apresenta os principais facilitadores e barreiras para a implementação do CPFR e as diferenças entre CPFR e outras iniciativas de SCC e seus impactos no desempenho da cadeia de suprimentos (SC). Um modelo conceitual (framework) é proposto para guiar e organizar a revisão da literatura. A estrutura do framework abrange todos os elementos constitutivos necessários para descrever os elementos individuais do CPFR (contexto, insumos, estrutura e processos e resultados), suas relações e o impacto sobre o desempenho da empresa. O framework também mostra o papel funcional vertical do CPFR em construir uma ponte entre os negócios e planos estratégicos corporativos dos membros da SC com as operações conjuntas na SC. Apesar de existirem vários modelos para o CPFR, não há um consenso sobre as diferentes configurações para o CPFR. Estas diferenças são atribuídas ao estágio de desenvolvimento em modelos de maturidade, a diferentes contextos e estratégias de implementação, de acordo com a pesquisa da contingência em gestão de operações, e a singularidade dos recursos e dependências entre as empresas na cadeia de suprimentos, conforme a visão baseada em recursos e a visão baseada na dependência. A responsividade aparece como o principal objetivo na implementação do CPFR e o custobenefício do CPFR deve ser comparado com os de outras iniciativas de SCC para a escolha da mais adequada à cadeia de suprimentos. Apenas três estudos confirmatórios relatam o impacto do CPFR na cadeia de suprimentos. Esta dissertação contribui para uma melhor compreensão do tema e fornece indicações para futuras pesquisas e práticas em CPFR e SCC. / [en] Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) is considered by many researches to be the most advanced and the most comprehensive Supply Chain Collaboration (SCC) initiative. Despite its relevance and growing number of publications, efforts to synthesise the overall state of the art in CPFR have been rather limited to date. As an effort to fill this gap, this dissertation aims to go beyond the highly dispersed work on CPFR by providing a systematic review of the literature and the key findings on the topic. The dissertation analyses CPFR models, discusses main enablers and barriers for implementation and CPFR and other SCC impact on Supply Chain (SC) performance. A framework is also proposed as an aide to assemble and organise the literature review. The structure of the framework embraces all the constitutive elements required to describe individual CPFR elements (context, inputs, structure and processes, outcomes and results), their relationships and impact upon firm performance. The framework also shows the vertical functional role of CPFR in bridging business and corporate strategic plans from SC members to joint SC operations. This dissertation contributes to a better understanding of the field and provides directions for future research and practice in CPFR and SCC.

En los últimos años la Logística Inversa se ha hecho relevante no solo para el mundo académico sino también para el empresarial. Las empresas dan cada día más importancia a esta área, debido a los factores medioambientales y a los beneficios derivados del mejoramiento de su proceso de devoluciones. Así mismo, para tener unos procesos de Logística Inversa eficientes y exitosos, es necesaria la colaboración entre los miembros de la cadena de suministro. Esta tesis se concentra en ambos aspectos, Colaboración y Logística Inversa.El propósito de esta tesis es doble; primero, analizar los problemas que sufren hoy en día las empresas en esta área, partiendo de una perspectiva general, y posteriormente analizando la industria editorial española. En segundo lugar, nosotros proponemos cuatro modelos matemáticos concernientes a los problemas de planificación que presentan las empresas cuando incorporan las devoluciones, y finalmente proponemos unas metodologías para solucionarlos. / During last years Reverse Logistics has become a relevant topic not only for academics but also for the business world. Companies are giving each day more and more importance to this field, because the environmental issues and the benefits that the company can obtain by the improvement of their return's processes. To obtain a successful and efficient Reverse Logistics processes there exist the need to collaborate along the supply chain. This thesis focuses on both of these two topics, Collaboration and Reverse Logistics. The aim of this thesis is twofold; first, we try to understand the returns processes' problems that companies are facing today from the management point of view, from a general perspective and afterwards on the editorial industry. Secondly, we propose some mathematical models and solution methods related to real planning problems faced by the companies when the returns are incorporated.

Background: Today’s organizations operate in a competitive and dynamic business environment in which the attainment of economic, social and environmental sustainability targets has become crucial for firms. Supply chain collaboration is considered as a strategic issue for the fulfillment of these targets. Thus, studies on supply chain collaboration for sustainability have increased, especially for manufacturing firms. However, there is a lack of research of the perspective of logistics service providers in this context, requesting scientific investigations. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explore vertical supply chain collaboration between logistics service providers and their partners with regards to improving economic, environmental and social sustainability at logistics service providers. Method: Within this multiple case study and a deductive research approach, qualitative data from three logistics service providers is gathered by conducting interviews and analyzed. Firstly, each individual case is investigated by using an explanation building, and thereafter compared and generalized by means of a cross-case analysis. Findings and Conclusion: Considering the improvement of sustainability at logistics service providers, the research reveals that economic, environmental and social sustainability can be improved by vertical supply chain collaboration jointly conducted by logistics service providers and their key suppliers as well as key customers. However, strong interdependencies between the three sustainability dimensions are noticeable as they overlap in-between. Besides, the findings indicate that the executed vertical supply chain collaboration practices mostly have the potential to improve economic sustainability at logistics service providers. Environmental and social sustainability are less improved or sometimes even negatively affected.

A company cannot be more sustainable than its supply chain. Given their complexity and the need for collaborative, strategic action for sustainability across supplier networks this research takes a systems perspective to answer, “How can a Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) lens support supplier network collaboration towards sustainability?”.The application of the SSD lens includes mapping barriers and enablers to collaboration for sustainability found in literature and a case company along with the Five-Level Model (5LM) to which we add complex adaptive system elements. Based on this a thematic analysis of the barriers and enablers is performed paper presents results of the 5LM and thematic analysis, finding that taking an SSD perspective shows interconnections across the multiple enablers and barriers to collaboration. The challenges encountered during 5LM along with the results implications for the Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) academic field and practitioners are discussed. We conclude that the variety and complexity of barriers and enablers for collaboration make it important to approach sustainability strategically across the supplier network. The SSD perspective supports collaboration for sustainability by providing an opportunity to examine it from a systems perspective and to formulate prescriptive considerations for the case company and guiding questions for SSCM practitioners.

During the last decade, research related to Supply Chain Management has got a great deal of attention. The focus has especially circulated around supply chain integration and centralisation due to the increasingly competitive global market. The aim of this thesis has been to investigate how the supply chain performance in international manufacturing companies could be improved. By having a qualitative approach, this thesis contributes to earlier conducted research by providing a holistic view on supply chain management. This is by the authors considered crucial to manage the complexity of supply chain management and supply chain change. The specific context examined in this thesis concerns the spare parts distribution of large international manufacturing companies. The methods used during the case study consisted of a thorough literature review, external interviews and workshops with experts within supply chain management and supply chain change, and several interviews with employees at different levels and functions at the focal company, Toyota Material Handling Europe. Two of the interviewed external experts were managers at the supply chain function at Volvo Construction Equipment and Ericsson. To answer the main research question, three sub-queries have been examined. The first one concerns what main areas of difficulty that can be identified in the current supply chain of the focal company and in international manufacturing companies in general. The second sub-query concerns which supply chain policies that could be used to solve identified areas of difficulty. Finally, the third sub-query concerns which prerequisites that could be identified to successfully manage change within supply chains. The results imply that Information and Inventory Management are the main supply chain related areas in need of improvements at the focal company, as well as in international manufacturing companies in general. Thereby supply chain performance could be improved if performance within these areas is enhanced. To solve these two identified areas of difficulty, four theoretical supply chain policies related to supply chain integration have been examined due to complexity, need of investments during an implementation, as well as each policy’s possibility to solve the identified areas of difficulty. The supply chain policy Vendor-Managed Inventory was considered the most appropriate policy for the focal company to implement. As a consequence, an evaluation of the focal company’s readiness to implement a Vendor-Managed Inventory policy was also conducted by using a supply chain readiness framework developed by Niranjan, Wagner and Nguyen (2012). Based on the literature review, including the theoretical evaluation of the appropriateness of implementing Vendor-Managed Inventory, together with the findings from the external expert interviews, the focal company is recommended to implement a Vendor-Managed Inventory strategy. However, the focal company is also recommended to see such an implementation as an opportunity to later investigate the possibility to also include large suppliers in the collaboration. This would increase the level of integration among supply chain members further and thereby secure the company has the possibility to receive the advantages associated with sharing information (including Points-of-Sales data) with all supply chain members.   From a theoretical perspective the conclusion is that Vendor-Managed Inventory, with its focus on supply chain integration through collaboration and information sharing among supply chain members, is considered appropriate to implement when companies want to improve performance in one or all of these areas. Furthermore, the usage of a consignment stock agreement might be an appropriate complement to Vendor-Managed Inventory due to the international context. However, the authors suggest that international manufacturing companies should strive towards including large suppliers in the supply chain collaboration to increase performance further. Thereby they should move towards capabilities promoted in the supply chain policy Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment, which advocate a higher level of integration than Vendor-Managed Inventory. Another main finding pinpoints the importance of a well-formulated and communicated vision in the beginning of a transformation, to manage supply chain change successfully. As a consequence, the authors of this thesis expanded the supply chain framework developed by Chopra and Meindl (2010) to also include vision. In addition, legal has been added as an important supply chain driver since it affects supply chain possibilities and decisions. The added parts are considered critical for the framework to be applicable in an international and rapidly changing business environment. Furthermore, the authors suggest the extended framework should be used to support companies evaluate the current and a desired future supply chain in accordance with examined change management literature. / Supply Chain Management har under det senaste decenniet fått mycket uppmärksamhet. På grund av en ökande internationell handel har forskningen framförallt behandlat Integration och Centralisering inom distributionskedjor. Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka hur man kan förbättra prestandan av distributionskedjan hos internationella tillverkningsföretag. Genom ett kvalitativt angreppssätt bidrar denna studie med ett holistiskt synsätt av Supply Chain Management, vilket av författarna är ansett kritiskt för att kunna hantera komplexiteten relaterad till Supply Chain Management och förändringsarbete inom detta område. Studiens forskningsfråga har kunnat besvaras genom att undersöka tre delfrågor. Den första behandlar att identifiera huvudproblemområden i distributionskedjan hos fokusföretaget samt internationella tillverkningsföretag generellt. Den andra delfrågan behandlar vilka teoretiska supply chain policies som skulle kunna användas för att lösa de identifierade problemområdena, medan den tredje och sista delfrågan handlar om att identifiera förutsättningar för att kunna hantera förändringsarbete av, och inom, distributionskedjor på ett lyckat sätt. Samtliga delfrågor och huvudfrågan har kunnat besvaras genom genomförandet av en litteraturstudie, intervjuer och workshops med externa områdesexperter inom Supply Chain Management och Supply Chain Change, samt interna intervjuer med anställda på olika avdelningar och nivåer inom fokusföretaget, Toyota Material Handling Europe. Två av de intervjuade experterna utgjordes av chefer på logistikavdelningen på två stora internationella tillverkningsföretag. Företagen i fråga utgjordes av Volvo Construction Equipment respektive Ericsson. Resultaten visar att Informations- och Lagerhantering anses vara de huvudområden inom Supply Chain Management, vilka är i störst behov av förbättringar och förändringar på fokusföretaget samt i stora internationella tillverkningsföretag generellt. Därmed kan prestandan av distributionskedjan förbättras om företag fokuserar på dessa två områden. För att förbättra Informations- och Lagerhanteringen har fyra teoretiska supply chain policies utvärderats, vilka alla mer eller mindre fokuserar på att öka integrationen mellan medlemmar inom distributionskedjan. Genom att utvärdera dessa supply chain policies med avseende på komplexitet, implementationskostnader samt möjlighet att lösa de identifierade huvudproblemområdena, har författarna kunnat dra slutsatsen att policyn Vendor-Managed Inventory bör vara mest passande att implementera på fokusföretaget. I och med detta resultat utvärderades fokusföretagets lämplighet att implementera Vendor-Managed Inventory utifrån en teoretisk modell utvecklad av Niranjan, Wagner och Nguyen (2012). Resultatet av denna utvärdering stödde det tidigare antagandet att Vendor-Managed Inventory är lämpligt för fokusföretaget att implementera. Författarna rekommenderar dock att en VMI-implementation ska ses som ett första steg varefter förtaget även skall utvärdera möjligheten att inkludera sina större leverantörer och därmed öka integrationen av distributionskedjan ytterligare. Detta för att verkligen uppnå de fördelar informationsdelning kan medföra om information delas med samtliga medlemmar i kedjan. Författarna har med hjälp av dessa resultat kunnat dra den teoretiska och generella slutsatsen att Vendor-Managed Inventory, med dess fokus på att öka integrationen i distributionskedjan genom ökat samarbete och ökad informationsdelning mellan distributionskedjans medlemmar, anses lämplig att implementera då företag vill eller behöver förbättras inom dessa områden. Vidare kan avtalsmodellen Consignment Stock komplettera Vendor-Managed Inventory i en internationell kontext genom användandet av en legal ägare av lager, oavsett lagerposition. Författarna rekommenderar även att stora internationella tillverkningsföretag bör sträva mot att inkludera sina större leverantörer och därmed öka integrationen av, och samarbetet inom, distributionskedjan. Detta skulle medföra att prestandan av distributionskedjan förbättras ytterligare. Därmed bör de utvecklas mot supply chain policyn Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment, vilken förespråkar en högre nivå av samarbete än Vendor-Managed Inventory. Vidare visar studien vikten av en välformulerad och kommunicerad Vision i början av större förändringsprojekt. Detta för att öka chanserna till lyckade och välmotiverade förändringar. I och med identifieringen av visionens vitala del i förändringsprojekt, vidareutvecklade författarna modellen; Supply Chain Decison-Making Framework, utvecklad av Chopra & Meindl (2010), till att även inkludera Vision. Dessutom adderades Legala aspekter, då de påverkar både beslutsfattande och möjligheter inom en internationell kontext. Både Vision och Legala aspekter anses av författarna vara kritiska delar för att modellen skall vara applicerbar i en internationell och föränderlig miljö. I linje med forskning inom förändringshantering som identifierats i litteraturen, anses Chopra & Meindl’s vidareutvecklade modell nu vara lämplig att användas som en hjälp för företag att utvärdera sin nuvarande och önskade framtida distributionsstruktur.

Purpose. Supply chain visibility is among the top concerns expressed by many supply chain leaders. While the traditional enablers of supply chain visibility are information sharing, IT implementation, and relationships between supply chain partners; the role of global supply chain standards as an integral part of each of these enablers is often underestimated. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the adoption and applicability of global supply chain standards within the provisions of supply chain visibility among various supply chain designs. Methodology. With the aim of theoretical replication, three case studies within the retail industry were conducted. Axfood and IKEA cases were analyzed as examples of opposite types of supply chain design and as companies with different degrees of implementation regarding their global data identification standards. The Clas Ohlson case was analyzed to illustrate a company with open paths in regards to its adoption of future global supply chain standards. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were performed directly with company representatives as well as with GS1, which is one of the assignors of this project. Finally, an analytical model for the potential adoption of global standards was developed. Findings. The results of case analysis clearly illustrate that global data identification standards are one of the pillars of supply chain visibility. Different practices of global standard adoption in different supply chain designs are explained by a different need for supply chain visibility among various supply chains. Moreover, the higher the degree of adoption of global standards, the higher the possibility of gaining strategic benefits. Practical implication. The model developed in this research aims to help logistics and supply chain managers estimate the need for supply chain visibility within their supply chains, and to also assess the potential adoption of global data identification standards within their supply chain practices. Originality/value. This study contributes to theory in such areas of research as supply chain visibility, standardization in supply chain management, and supply chain design. The main contribution is made to the resource-based view (RBV) theory, which according to supply chain visibility can be seen as both a strategic resource and a tool for efficiency optimization. A new term in supply chain design which suggests many-to-many and exclusive supply chain classifications is proposed, as is a framework for assessing the need for supply chain visibility. An analytical model for the potential adoption of global standards is also developed. / Research project “The role of global standards for supply chain visibility” at the Industrial Engineering and Management department of KTH

We live in an era where markets are more dynamic and the product life cycle is shorter, an era where concepts such as smart manufacturing and mass customization form part of daily life in industries and where consumption rates of products and services are rising. All these result in more dynamic, global, complex and fragile supply chains. Disruptions are negative impacts on business continuity in companies and when a supply chain is disrupted there is only one way to tackle the challenges originated and is the ability to be resilient. Based on a systematic literature review, this thesis lay out a framework to position Vendor Managed Inventory digital solutions in order to provide full visibility in the supply chains, and enhance agility and flexibility skill sets in the organizations to be resilient after massive disruptions such as the COVID-19. The conclusions of this work provide a positive outlook of the capabilities of VMI solutions to create more resilient supply chains. / Vi lever i en era där marknader är mer dynamiska och produkters livscykel kortare. En era där koncept som smart tillverkning och mass-anpassning är en del av dagliga livet i industrier och där konsumtionsnivåer av produkter och tjänster ökar. Allt detta resulterar i mer dynamiska, globala, komplexa och känsliga försörjningskedjor. Störningar påverkar kontinuiteten i verksamheten negativt hos företag och när en försörjningskedja påverkas av störningar finns det bara ett sätt att hantera utmaningarna som uppstår och det är genom förmågan att vara motståndskraftig. Baserad på systematisk litteratursökning, lägger denna avhandling fram ramverk för att positionera Vendor Managed Inventory digitala lösningar för att förse full synlighet i distributionskedjan och förbättra rörlighetens och flexibilitetens förmågor i organisationerna för att bli mera uthållig efter massiva störningar som COVID-19. Slutsatserna av detta arbete ger en positiv syn på möjligheterna för VMI-lösningar för att skapa mer motståndskraftiga försörjningskedjor.