Supply-chain management is the practice combining theory from logistics, operations management, production management and inventory control. Therefore, it is often associated exclusively with manufacturing or materials management industries. Application of supply-chain management to other industries often results in implementations that do not satisfy the needs of the involved enterprises. To improve the implementation of supply-chain solutions outside of the materials management and manufacturing industries there is a need for industry specific standards. One industry sector in need of a standard is the services industry. The current problem facing the services sector is the inability to adapt current frameworks to the provisioning of a service. Provisioning a service translates into the supply-chain for the services industry since it influences the services supply and demand. A solution to the problem is development of a supply-chain standard specific to the provisioning of a service. Objectives of the research are to define comprehensively, a new services supply-chain model that is applicable to the United States government classification of a service and to ensure the scalability and integration capability of the model. To satisfy these objectives, it is necessary to understand the characteristics describing the services supply-chain process. The characteristics are the input into deriving the processes and terminology of the generalized services supply-chain. Terminology and processes are then used to create a supply-chain framework using input from the Supply-Chain Council's Supply-Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model. SCOR provides a foundation for describing the processes and defining the terminology in an already accepted format. A final verification of the model by industry experts insures conceptually that the framework is applicable to the current problem. This research developed a three-level framework similar in structure to the SCOR framework. Presentation of the framework is a specification that defines and sequences the processes for implementation. A detailed case study applies the model using the framework and the definition of a comprehensive supply-chain.

An intense trauma in the UK farming industry was caused by the foot-and-mouth disease. The Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, chaired by Sir Donald Curry CBE, diagnosed that farming was detached from the other sectors of the economy and was “serving nobody well”. The final recommendations of this commission were focused on efficiency, adding value and diversification. Among the specific recommendations, there was an important emphasis on the need to increase collaboration and cooperation because it “is the best way for small farm business to get the benefits of being a large farm business” (Curry, 2002:34). UK experts in farmer collaboration such as, Parnell (1999a), and The Plunkett Foundation (1992) had previously made clear the need for bigger, better, more effective and efficient Farmer Controlled Businesses. English Farming and Food Partnerships (2004a), also, set the challenge to explore and evaluate new approaches to develop farmer controlled enterprises more imaginatively. Therefore, the main aim of this research was to identify new forms of collaboration between farmers, which might lead to gain greater scale and flexibility in farming operating in an increasingly global food chain. Using an inductive grounded theory approach comprising a series of Delphi iterative face to face interviews, three rounds of guided interviews were completed. These involved 55 experts in the field of business collaboration, selected using a purposive sampling approach. Interviewees included leading academics, government officials and advisors, senior managers and business proprietors of the most profitable and/or innovative UK-based collaborative ventures. The outcome of the research has been to develop three discreet but combinable models of collaboration. Each model requires different levels of commitment from its members and would suit different business situations. All the proposed models offer a business structure flexible enough to be easily adapted in response to changes in the market place, but they also offer the opportunity of combining into much bigger organisations with the potential to integrate small-scale businesses into networks of international companies. This research also reaffirms that the traditional cultural barriers and divisions between the different stages and participants of the food and farming industry were still present and hinder the development of a more competitive sector. Whilst there has been progress in the assimilation of the supply chain concept, most of the businesses involved did not see the other stages of the chain as their potential partners.

No / The purpose of this study is to investigate the customer’s perception of service quality within the context of the pharmaceutical supply chain, and look specifically at the supplier/customer relationship. The research in question focuses on the trading relationship between a pharmaceutical wholesaler and its pharmacy customers. Existing literature shows that quality of the overall service is determined by the customer’s perceptions of that service; therefore it is important that the supplier measures the customer’s perception of service quality and understands what factors influence that perception and build this into their service delivery. The data were collected via a series of qualitative semi-structured interviews with hospital and retail pharmacies located in the North West of England. The findings show that pharmacy customers have a range of vitally important to less important criteria associated with good service quality and that pharmaceutical wholesalers as suppliers should aim to excel at the vital and important issues and meet those of lesser importance to satisfy customers expectations of service quality. This reinforces the importance of measuring customer expectations and incorporating outputs into service design to ensure a customer focus to the service provided. Further consideration should be given to adopting the SERVQUAL tool in conducting future research and analysis. Suppliers should be aware that there are vital activities that customers expect to have performed/delivered and that they need to know what these are and excel at these, whilst managing less important criteria effectively. This paper provides an insight into the customer-supplier relationship within the pharmaceutical supply chain in the NHS, which will be of benefit to practitioners and academics in this field.

No / The purpose of this paper is to theorise and develop seven dimensions (strategic supplier partnership, level of information sharing, quality of information sharing, customer service management, internal lean practices, postponement and total quality management) into a supply chain management (SCM) practices (SCMPs) construct and studies its causal relationship with the conceptualised constructs of supply chain performance (SCP) and manufacturing firms’ performance (MFP). The study also explores the causal relationship between SCP and MFP. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire responded by 249 Jordanian manufacturing firms. The relationships proposed in the developed theoretical framework were represented through three hypotheses: H1 – there is a significant relationship between SCMPs and SCP; H2 – there is a significant relationship between SCMPs and MFP; and H3 – there is a significant relationship between SCP and MFP. Linear regression, ANOVA and Pearson correlation were used to test the hypotheses. The results were further validated using structural equation modelling. The results indicate that SCMPs have a positive effect on SCP (H1), which in turn also positively affect MFP (H3). Despite this intermediary positive effect of SCMP on MFP through SCP, the study also suggests that SCMPs have a direct and positive effect on MFP (H2). This study provides hard evidence indicating that higher levels of SCMPs can lead to enhanced supply chain and firms’ performance. It also provides SC managers of manufacturing firms with a multi-dimensional operational measure of the construct of SCMPs for assessing the comprehensiveness of the SCMPs of their firms. This study is among the very first SCM researches conducted on the Jordanian manufacturing sector, particularly, in relation to the practices that manufacturing firms in this country need to adopt to make their supply chains a solid competitive vehicle for their development. The results have broader implications for all manufacturing companies, particularly in developing economies where the growth of manufacturing and the development of integrated supply chains are key stages in economic development.

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Thesis. (D. Tech. - Business, Faculty of Management Sciences)--Vaal University of Technology, 2010. / The study explored the South African coal mining industry and it’s role players to establish the causes of the bottlenecks/constraints experienced in the coal mining industry supply chain. A qualitative research paradigm methodology was used. Both theoretical and philosophical assumptions were utilised with inferences from and references to works by other researchers to broaden the knowledge horizons for the study. Thirteen supply chain executives and professionals from the key role players in the coal mining industry were interviewed and provided invaluable input for the study. The study determined the presence of communication barriers between the industry role players in the public and private institutions that culminated in main themes and sub-themes being established from which the industry constraints were uncovered. The study identified six main constraints affecting the various role players within the coal mining supply chain and it culminated in the model that would enable the industry to minimise such constraints. To this end, the study proposes the development of an Integrated Strategy for the Development of Coal Mining (ISDCM).The model is based on the public and private partnership arrangement that would alleviate most of the prevailing constraints when implemented. The model would furthermore have the capacity to rectify most of the existing constraints. It would be funded from the commercial sector and would operate on triple bottom lines of economic, social and environmental factors, with equal weight. This is a desirable direction for the future in order to maintain sustainable development. Emanating from the study are policy and research recommendations for the South African coal mining industry, covering the coordination of the critical areas of the proposed integrated strategy for the development of the coal mining industry. Such recommendations include further research into new coal mines and power stations as well as perceptions and expectations of potential investors in the industry, among others.

台灣隨著聯電與台積電陸續成立晶圓製造廠以來，帶動了整個半導體高科技產業的蓬勃發展，也因而創造了台灣的經濟奇蹟。以電子資訊業為首的高科技產業，無論在營收成長、獲利力或個人產值等方面均有傑出的表現。雖然過去，台灣高科技產業能持續在市場上生存並佔有一席之地，乃在於擁有完善的製造能力與完整的產業供應鏈。但今日，高科技產業長期的經營與運作模式已面臨嚴重挑戰。企業間過度擠壓所造成的削價競爭、產業外移，供應鏈失調等問題，正是高科技產業停滯不前瀕臨生存威脅的最大因素。因此，台灣企業該如何提升其自身的競爭優勢與經營管理能力，並且妥善運用有限的資源進而轉化成對外的競爭策略，將是企業是否能安然渡過該波擠壓洪流，而得以永續經營的關鍵成功因素。 因此，本研究將探討『台灣電腦晶片組設計業經營問題與競爭優勢分析』，藉由分析探討國內兩大電腦系統晶片組設計廠商－矽統科技與威盛電子公司的實際經營狀況，來了解台灣電腦系統晶片組設計業現今所面臨的經營問題。 針對上述探討研究方向，除了參閱多方理論文獻與次級文獻資料外,吾人亦以十多年來實際參與電腦產業經營運作的經驗，並收集分析矽統科技與威盛電子公司發展推動市場的手法，試圖來解釋分析本論文所發現的問題，同時在總結各方面的研討後，提出可能性的對策與方案，使之能在既有的核心能耐與有限的資源下，對其所擁有的核心能力加以強化及發揮，進而產生另一層的經營優勢並提昇該產業的核心競爭力。 本研究結果發現台灣電腦系統晶片設計業： 一、 台系電腦晶片組廠商目前所面臨經營上的機會與問題 劣勢與威脅部分： 1. 新產品的創新能力、類比技術及系統整合能力較差，加上電腦系統晶片組功能整合開發難度與日俱增，在國際競爭上始終無法超前國際大廠（如Intel與nVIDIA）。 2. 由於新技術能力的不足，造成產品推出時程落後；沒有新穎產品的創新能力，無法提供附加價值，不得不採取低價策略。 3. 同業間惡性競爭、下游廠商代工成本提高、獲利不佳引發財務資源不足。 競爭優勢部分： 1.台灣半導體產業專業分工，群聚效果顯著，產業供給鏈完整，對電腦晶片組產品開發設計幫助大。 2.人力素質佳，上下游產業垂直分工，能力強。 3.專業晶圓代工關係密切，並帶動上下游產業發展。 4.營運彈性大，效率高，以達經濟規模，具成本競爭優勢。 5.下游PC資訊產業為堅強支援。 6.設計技術高、能力強、產品運用靈活、整合力佳。 其機會在於： 1.大陸PC/數位消費性電子市場胃納大，台灣具同文同種優勢。 2.IA產品衍生的零組件商機。 3.業界聯盟、技轉和併購增加實力。 4.台灣矽島計畫（IP Mall）成立。 5.與中國市場提供規格制定的可能，進而能利用中國人才加強研發能力。 6.低價電腦需求持續成長，帶動低價的台灣晶片組產品出貨量。 關鍵性成功因素： 台灣廠商應持續強化其競爭優勢，使此優勢有持續性與不可取代性。因此，台灣廠商應憑藉著自身有限的資產與技術能力為競爭的基礎，採用最佳的競爭手段來對抗後進的ATi與nVIDIA的激烈競爭，如：提供更多的產品組合以發揮其綜效的產品策略、最低價產品的定位策略、利用台灣產業群聚效益的優勢發掘最有效率的製造策略等；採用正確的競爭方式以避開正面與外商優勢產品的直接競爭，如：基於目前擁有成熟的技術，運用其技術延展性的特性，積極開發新產品並鎖定中國、印度、印尼、俄羅斯及巴西等新興電腦市場之選擇。 二、 台灣廠商的整合核心技術能力普遍不及外商，尤其在整合性產品中的繪圖核心邏輯部分與類比技術；不過值得慶幸的是新技術的市場推廣往往必須花費許久時間，台灣廠商可藉此發展較便宜的產品，一旦新技術被市場接受時，迅速推廣至市場達到後發先至，後來居上的成功策略，畢竟類似的產品其價格仍佔優勢。 三、 近年來，電腦晶片組所賴以為生的上下游產業，多數廠商雖被迫遷至中國設廠以降低製造成本來爭取較高獲利，原以為此種現象將會造成台灣電腦產業群聚效益的喪失，但所幸的是新的產業群聚效益逐漸於中國的上海地區形成，就如同台灣的竹科與南科一般；因此，台灣電腦晶片組廠商仍擁有較國際大廠較佳的電腦產業群聚效益的優勢。除了該優勢外，台灣廠商若能在有限的資產與技術能力的基礎下，更持續強化其自身的競爭優勢，使此優勢具有持續與不可取代性。如此方能統合己身的資源優勢，進而得有能力來對抗後進的ATi與nVIDIA等廠商的激烈競爭。 / Following the establishment and operations of TSMC（Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited）and UMC（United Microelectronics Corporation）in Taiwan, the high-tech industry of wafer production flourished and created a reputation nothing short of an economic miracle for Taiwan. In the electronic information field, it became the leading business; outperforming in all aspects showing outstanding profits, income, growth, and personal production value. The high-tech industry of Taiwan then occupied a strong-hold of the market continuously, owing to its manufacturing capability and complete supply chain. Today however, the long time operational model of this industry confronts a serious challenge because of compression among local enterprises. Prices have been cut, factories have been moved abroad, creating a disorder in the supply chain and all can be seen as life or death threatening risks to this systematic industry. The key success factors for sustainable management objectives is going to be how the Taiwanese enterprisers promote their competitive advantage; utilize their business management ability for better efficiency of factories; manipulate the limited resources; and further divert all of the above into a competitive strategy. Through analysis of actual practice and business operations of two PC chipset design house companies（Silicon Integrated Systems Corporation and VIA Technologies, Inc.）, this study will examine and predict『The operational problems related to business management and competitive advantages analysis which are in front of the PC chipset design industry in Taiwan』. Aiming at directions of above stated examinations and analysis by using my experience of participating in management and review of all aspects in PC industry for more than ten years and by reading of papers at sublevels; also by collecting marketing methods of the above two companies; I will explain the problems I have revealed. At the same time, I will provide applicable stratagem and programs for PC chipset industry of Taiwan to upgrade its core competencies and strengthen its competitive force. Results of this study are stated below: A. The operational problems related to business management and competitive advantages in front of the PC chipset design industry of Taiwan A/1: Weaknesses and Threats 1. The PC chipset vendors of Taiwan cannot compete or overtake Intel or nVIDIA in the international market until the following is addressed. In addition to extended difficulties in PC chipset integration, there is an inferior ability in the following aspects: the invention or creation of new products; analogy techniques, and system integration. 2. Due to inadequate new technologies, the new products cannot put into market on schedule. Further, without innovation of products to create added value to a product low price policy has become the only strategy. 3. Vicious competition among similar enterprisers and an increase of labor cost of factories in the production line may induce monetary crises at any point of the chain of the PC industry. A/2 : Competitive Advantages 1. Specialty divisions, clustering of the Taiwan Semiconductor industry and good supply chains all contribute a lot to the development of PC chipset products. 2. Good quality of labor and vertical division of top to bottom production are the factors which enforce the industry. 3. Close ties to the chip production manufacturers promote development of top to bottom enterprisers. 4. Flexibility of management facilitates higher efficiency to reach the economics of scale. A definite cost competitive advantage. 5. The PC information industry constitutes concerted support. 6. Design technology at high level, good capability, splendid flexibility on product applications and fine integration of these elements. A/3: Opportunities 1. Markets for PC and digital consumer appliances for Taiwan and the mainland China is huge because of population and economic growth there in recent years. Consumers share the same culture; belonging to same race also is an advantage. 2. Opportunity deriving from IA products for companies to produce peripheral parts. 3. Through alliance of enterprisers, transit of techniques and business merging is an opportunity. 4. Establishment of Taiwan IP mall. 5. To formulate protocols and define specification together with enterprisers in mainland China for a market there. Further to utilize local professionals to promote research and development. 6. Demand for low cost PCs will increase steadily which will enable Taiwan to export more PC chipset products. A/4: Key Factors for Success The Taiwan companies should continue to strengthen their competitive advantages to maintain their continuity and non replaceable character. Also apply the limited resources and technical know-how as a base of competition. Furthermore by adopting better competitive measures to confront the new more advanced competitors such as ATi and nVIDIA. These measures may include a greater product portfolio synergy; the assembly of more complex and efficient products made in Taiwan; a low cost product positioning strategy in order to avoid face to face competition; a redirection of the current mature technologies into technology extensions for products aimed at the emerging PC markets such as China, India, Indonesia, Russia and Brazil. B. The ability to integrate core technologies by the Taiwan industry is less efficient than foreign companies especially the graphics core-logic and analog techniques. It is fortunate that it often needs a long time for a new technique to appear in a market. The Taiwan companies can use this time gap between the existing mature technique and another generation of know-how to develop modified low price alternative products. Once the new technique is accepted by the market, it can be spread to the market with a faster speed to achieve a better result. After all, prices of similar products still occupy the good position for profit. C. In recent years many factories, from top to bottom producers were forced to move to the mainland China in order to lower the cost of their production for higher profits. At first it was thought that these phenomena may cause the disappearance of industry clustering in Taiwan adversely affecting the supply chain. Fortunately the outgoing factories were clustered in the Shanghai area very similar to Hsienchu Science Park and Southern Taiwan Science Park in Taiwan. The PC chipset design industry of Taiwan can thus still maintain their clustering advantages to confront the big factories world wide.