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.

Yes / This study has addressed and identified the problems in managing the existing emergency supply chain of Bangladesh in all phases of operation in terms of the primary drivers of the supply chain. It has also attempted to conceptualize and suggest an effective emergency supply chain. In this context, a thorough field investigation in several districts was conducted among the employees of the organizations sharing common information with similar protocols and implications (interoperable). Information was collected from the employees of all the participating organizations involved in disaster management through a semi-structured questionnaire based survey. The respondents addressed and illustrated several interconnected reasons which are inhibiting proper forecasting, procurement, storage, identification of affected people, and distribution. The respondents pointed out that the mismatching of objectives in the different organizations resulted in non-interoperability among the participating organizations. These issues are related to the malfunctioning of management with multidimensional organizational conflicts. Reflecting those issues, an emergency supply chain for disaster management is proposed in this study

Yes / Purpose: The COVID-19 outbreak has imposed extensive shocks embracing all stages of the food supply chain (FSC). Although the magnitude is still unfolding, the FSC responds with remarkable speed, to mitigate the disruptive consequences and sustain operations. This motivates us to investigate how operationalising supply chain agility (SCA) practices has occurred amid the COVID-19 crisis and expectations for how those practices could transform the supply chain in the post-COVID-19 era. Design: Following an exploratory case-based design, we examine the various agile responses that three supply chains (meat, fresh vegetables and bread) adopted and elaborate using the dynamic capability (DC) theoretical lens. Findings: First, the findings demonstrate how, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, each affected case pursued various agile responses through sensing and seizing capabilities. Sensing includes identifying and assessing the relevant opportunities and threats associated with the specific supply chain context. Seizing involves acquiring, combining and modifying the tangible and intangible resources at the firm and supply chain levels. Second, supply chain transformation is likely if firms and their supply chain develop the sustaining capability to ensure that the desirable changes outlast the crisis. Originality: This study provides a novel and unique perspective on the role of SCA in crisis—in this case, the pandemic. We synthesise the empirical stories of the agile responses in the FSC and elaborate on the DC framework, to identify theoretical and practical implications. We establish the sustaining capability as the missing DC capability for enabling transformation in the post-COVID-19 era. Practical contribution: This study provides an actionable guide for practitioners to develop agile responses to systemic changes in times of crisis and to sustain favourable changes so as to enable their outlasting the crisis. / Project 777742: EC H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017

No / Supply chain resilience has been suggested to curb the impact of disruptions on supply chains. While this proposition seems coherent in theory, empirical evidence supporting this is limited, as existing literature has centred on exploring the impact of supply chain resilience on disruptions which are based on set time frames, non-supply chain specific as well as examining non-dynamic disruptive events. This study contends that resilience strategies are dynamic and as such their applications within supply chains differ. Therefore examining the impact of resilience will be appropriate on a dynamic disruption within a specific supply chain. In view of this, the paper examines through existing literature the applicability of agility within the pharmaceutical supply chain when dynamic disruptions like drug shortages occur. The study finds alertness, accessibility, connectivity and visibility as dimensions of supply chain agility that are capable of reducing the impact of drug shortages.

Recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked a large interest across various sectors, where it has been praised for its capabilities of transforming the way businesses operate. The food supply chain (FSC) is a particularly complex and unique supply chain due to its nature of dealing with perishable products. With sustainability becoming an increasingly important aspect for stakeholders, it stresses the importance of the FSC optimizing their operations to ensure minimal environmental impact while maximizing efficiency. Although the topic of AI is widely discussed in society, research concerning the topic remains limited. While the existing literature frequently discusses AI’s potential in broad terms, it is lacking in showcasing the practical effects it can entail within specific industries. Therefore, investigating the implications of the technology in the FSC is highly relevant from both a practical and theoretical standpoint. The study’s purpose is to contribute with insights into how the implementation of AI has affected food supply chains in Sweden. It holds an exploratory research design and an inductive research approach, taking the perspective of the inbound logistics part of the FSC. To gain a clear understanding of what practical effects AI has entailed, the study highlights both the dynamics of the FSC before implementing AI, as well as its dynamics after implementing it. This study used a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews to obtain its empirical data. The interviews were conducted with two of the large food retailers in Sweden, and a thematic analysis was then employed to identify a few key areas that the empirical findings showed.  The results show that the main areas where AI has affected the FSC is in (1) time-savings, (2) inventory management, (3) waste management, and (4) internal supply chain efficiency. The common denominator between these areas was identified to be the improved forecasting ability that AI provides. Forecasts play a significant role in improving efficiency since they entail a supply chain-wide impact where both suppliers, warehouses, and ultimately the end-customer are impacted from them. However, the findings indicate that although AI is an effective tool, it remains to have certain limitations and still requires human maintenance to properly function.

Background: With an increasing population and volume in global trade, pressures on supply chains have escalated immensely. Over the past five years, multiple events have caused disruptions in supply chains, affecting economies and products not arriving on time. It is essential for managers to understand why a crisis might arise and how to handle it most efficiently to minimize the impact on the organization.  Purpose: Establish what managers in Sweden have learned from recent supply chain disruptions and how they are responding to the current disruption caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Method: The research was grounded on the interpretivism paradigm with convenience and purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews with seven participants were conducted and reviewed through thematic analysis with an inductive and deductive approach induced by exploratory research that led to qualitative data.  Conclusion: The findings in this report resulted in an understanding of the mechanisms used to handle recent disruptions. The focus was on securing the flow of materials through local and multiple suppliers, as well as warehouses with safety stock. Communication, transparency and other intangible competencies were also important. During the ongoing disruption, results showed that more emphasis was placed on local and multiple suppliers, mapping, and world assessment.

The purpose of this thesis was to analyze how the length of the supply chain and theinterorganizational relation between the suppliers within a construction project affects theoutcome of social sustainability with a focus on workplace safety and accidents. A qualitativestudy was conducted through semi-structured interviews with nine respondents from differentparts of the supply chain. An analytical model was created based on the theoretical framework ofinterorganizational relation factors (communication, collaboration, coordination and cooperation,organizational culture, and knowledge sharing) and sustainable supply chain management tounderstand how the length and the relationships affect safety on construction projects. The thesisidentified that the multiple tiers of subcontractors, increases the complexity of implementing aneffective interorganizational relation and sustainable supply chain management. Therefore, thelength of the supply chain and the interorganizational relations influence the degree of safety.Other findings included how the changing workforce, with increased foreign workers, is a newchallenge for the industry, and the long supply chain makes the safety work more difficult. Thefindings could be of interest to actors in the construction industry since it adds aninterorganizational perspective to the long supply chain's influence on workplace safety

Yes / Purpose This study explored the effect of power-based behaviours on pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) resilience. Design/methodology/approach This study used a mixed-method approach to explore the role of power-based behaviours in PSC resilience. Qualitative interviews from 23 key PSC stakeholders, followed by thematic analysis, revealed the underlying perceptions regarding PSC resilience. Quantitative propositions were then developed based on the themes adopted from PSC resilience literature and the qualitative findings. These were tested via a survey questionnaire administered to 106 key stakeholders across the various levels in the PSC. Structural equation modelling with partial least squares was used to analyse the data. Findings The data analysed identified proactive and reactive strategies as resilience strategies in the PSC. However, power-based behaviours represented by quota systems, information and price control influenced these resilience strategies. From a complex adaptive system (CAS) perspective, we found that when power-based behaviours were exhibited, the interactions between PSC actors were mixed. There was a negative influence on reactive strategies and a positive influence on proactive strategies. Our analysis also showed that PSC complexities measured by (stringent regulations, long lead times and complex production) moderated the effect of power-based behaviour on reactive strategies. Thus, the negative impact of power-based behaviours on reactive strategies stemmed from PSC complexities. Research implications Our research particularly reveals the role of power-based behaviours in building PSC resilience. By evaluating the nexus from a CAS perspective, the analysis considered powerbased behaviours and the moderating role of PSC complexities in developing resilience strategies. The study considers the interactions of PSC actors. It shows that power asymmetry is a relational concept that inhibits the efficacy of reactive strategies. This study thus advocates the importance of power in achieving a more resilient PSC from a holistic perspective by highlighting the importance of the decision-making process among supply chain partners. Our findings are particularly relevant if PSC resilience is viewed as a complex adaptive system (CAS). All the interactions and decision-making processes affect outcomes due to their inherent complexities. Although this study focused on the PSC, its implications could be extended to other SCs (supply chains). Practical implications We identified that power-based behaviours influenced resilience strategies. It was detrimental to reactive strategies due to the complexities of the PSC but beneficial to proactive strategies through resource-sharing. PSC actors are therefore encouraged to pursue proactive strategies as this may aid in mitigating the impact of disruptions. However, power-based behaviours bred partner dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction may occur even within strategic alliances indicating that power could be detrimental to proactive strategies. Therefore, it is pertinent to identify conditions that lead to dissatisfaction when pursuing strategic partnerships. This study provides insight into actual behaviours influencing resilience and quantifies their effects on the PSC. These insights will be valuable for all supply chain partners wanting to improve their resilience strategies. Originality/value Previous PSC management and resilience studies have not examined the role of power in building resilience in the PSC. This paper thus provides a unique contribution by identifying the role of power in PSC resilience, offers empirical evidence and a novel theoretical perspective for future practice and research in building PSC resilience strategies.

Water is both a human right and a valuable commodity. Access to water for the rural poor is an international development concern that has been highlighted by the Millennium Development Goals adopted at the Millennium Summit in 2000 in Dublin, Ireland. South Africa's Free Basic Water policy is the government's response to assuring access to water for all - especially those who cannot pay. The policy, however, is required to work within an economic framework that promotes cost recovery and privatisation. The Free Basic Water Policy was officially implemented in July 2001. The policy was rolled out in most urban areas on or near this date. However, in rural areas it has proven much more difficult, and there are many areas that have not yet seen the implementation of Free Basic Water (FBW). This is partly due to varying financial, technical, political and logistical problems at the local and district municipality level. This research investigates the current situation in rural municipalities, looking specifically at FBW policy, institutional arrangements, operation and maintenance costs, cost per capita and affordability in relation to the Equitable Share allocations. Five case studies - compiled through interviews, document analyses, Participatory Rural Appraisal, and workshops provide a broad scale research base from which to analyse the current implementation of FBW in rural municipalities and ascertain whether this policy is affordable at this level. Water Service Authorities (WSA) are at varying levels of implementation, with few having a fully operational policy that is reaching rural areas. A costing exercise revealed that the service delivery price of water varies, but does follow a trend. From this trend a benchmark cost per capita of R5.84/month was determined. This price, although low, is not currently affordable in some municipalities due to insufficient government grants from National Treasury. These grants are fundamental to the sustainability of FBW and the situation must be resolved if FBW is to reach its target market - the poorest of the poor. The mixed success in the implementation of Free Basic Water in rural areas of South Africa should not be taken as indicative of future trends. As the local government transition to newly devolved powers and functions is completed, the capacity at this level to resolve the challenges is more likely. Subject to the continued strength of the South African economy, this policy could be a solution to the historical failure of service delivery to rural areas. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Studien är utförd på ATEA logistics med syftet att skapa förståelse för hur man kan kombinera två olika plockmetoder i materialförsörjningen. Målet med arbetet är att ta fram en modell som beslutsunderlag för hur denna kombination ska se ut med hjälp av kunskap angående påverkande faktorer. Resultatet är framtaget genom litteraturstudie kring plockmetoder samt egna mätningar och observationer på fallföretaget. Det konstaterades med hjälp av ett faktabaserat beslutsunderlag i form av jämförelsetider att man kunde spara upp till 295 sekunder på en given plockrunda hos fallföretaget. Det har då konstaterats att man med hjälp av kvantifierbara beslutsmodeller kan skapa kortare ledtider i materialförsörjningen med hjälp av en kombination av plockmetoder. / This report is a case study, which was conducted at ATEA Logistics AB. It’s purpose was to create understanding of how a combination of two picking methods can be used in materials supply. From this understanding the goal was to design a decision making model for when each of the methods is to be used. Literarry research, time studies, observations and interviews have been used to reach this goal. By calculating comparative times for each method, with the use of a factual decision making model, it was determined that the case company could save up to 295 seconds in a single picking round. From this result it was concluded that by using quantifiable and factual decision models, materials supply can be made more efficient by the use of a combination of picking methods.