En försörjningskedja är en komplex process som majoriteten av företaget tampas med, både medvetet och omedvetet. Vid närmare granskning av en försörjningskedja kan denna process brytas ner i flertalet delar, vilket gör begreppet försörjningskedja oerhört stort att behandla i sin helhet. Denna studie avser att undersöka vilka faktorer som är av betydelse vid konstruktion av en ny försörjningskedja samt hur aktörer inom den påverkas. Studien initierades genom att ansamla generell ämneskunskap för att skapa en överskådlig bild av påverkande faktorer kring konstruktion och leverantörer. Vidare skapades en teoretisk referensram av litteraturinsamlingen vars syfte är att definiera begrepp, modeller och metoder samt skapa en övergripande förståelse kring hur denna kunskap kan appliceras och användas. Genomförandet av en fallstudie blev en naturlig fortsättning i studien för att skapa en verklighetsanknuten situation varav begrepp, modeller och metoder kunde appliceras. Den empiriska data som presenteras har samlats in genom både observationer och semi-strukturerade intervjuer med fallföretaget och dess nuvarande samt potentiella leverantörer. Intervjuernas syfte var att alla parter skulle ges möjlighet att belysa sin synvinkel, samtidigt som observationerna var tillför studiens författare att få en kännedom om produktspektra, prototyper och verksamheten som fallstudien återspeglade. När den empiriska data hade ansamlats, analyserades detta material utifrån den teoretiska referensramen där syfte och frågeställningarna kunde besvaras. Resultatet som presenterats identifierar kritiska faktorer i innovationsstadiet som supply chain strategy (SCS) och leverantörvalsprocessens inverkan. Studiens huvudsakliga slutsats identiferar att samspelet mellan SCS, leverantörvalsprocessen och supplier relationship management (SRM) är av yttersta vikt vid en organisations arbete med försörjningskedjor. / A supply chain is a complex process that the majority of companies combat with, both consciously and unconsciously. When observing a supply chain, it becomes evident that this process can be broken down into multiple parts, which makes the concept comprehensive to handle as a whole.  This study aims to investigate which factors are important in the development of a new supply chain and how the stakeholders within are impacted. The study was initiated by accumulating general subject knowledge in order to establish a comprehensive overview of the factors that influence the development of a supply chain and its suppliers. A theoretical framework was created through literature collection, with the purpose of defining concepts, models and methods, but also to establish a holistic understanding of how this knowledge can be put into practise. The implementation of a case study became a natural continuation of the study to create a factual situation from which concepts, models and methods could be applied. The empirical data presented was collected through both observations and semi-structured interviews alongside the case company and its current and potential suppliers. The main purpose of the interviews was to allow all parties to enlighten their point of view, while the observations was up to the study's authors to gain an understanding of the product catalogue, prototypes and activities that the case study reflected. Once the empirical data had been collected, the findings was analysed based on the theoretical framework where the purpose and questions could be answered. The result presented identifies critical factors in the innovation phase such as supply chain strategy (SCS) and the impact of the supplier selection process. The study concludes that the interplay between SCS, the supplier selection process and supplier relationship management (SRM) are of paramount importance in an organisation’s work with supply chains.

Bisher sind die Planungsebenen des Supply Chain Management (SCM) konzeptionell, personell und softwaretechnologisch getrennt und oft hierarchisch organisiert. Geschäftsprozesse definieren die Übergänge von und Rückkopplung zwischen Ebenen grober, strategisch/ taktischer Planung und Ebenen feiner, operationaler Planung. Diese Trennung führt zu konzeptionellen, prozessualen und temporalen sowie zu systemtechnischen Defiziten im Supply Chain Planning (SCP). Kerngedanken des neuen Konzepts sind, alle heute üblichen Planungsebenen vollständig auf das operative Modell zu gründen die neuen Softwaresysteme vollständig im RAM zu verankern sowie mit neuen Nutzeroberflächen auszustatten, die den Aspekt der virtuellen Aggregation und Disaggregation der Daten zur Laufzeit befördern. Durch die Ergebnisse der Arbeit wird das den Stand der Technik darstellende Paradigma der sequenziellen, hierarchischen Planung verändert zu einem Konzept einer jederzeit ausführbaren (Anytime) Planung, welche Planungsergebnisse innerhalb sehr kurzer Antwortzeiten (Real-Time) liefert. Durch die schnellen Antworten können zudem ganz neue interaktive, simulationsbasierte Planungsprozesse anstelle bisheriger batchorientierter Prozesse eingeführt werden. Es werden Vorteile gegenüber dem alten Konzept und die praktische Machbarkeit anhand von Softwarefallstudien bewertet.

Implementing strategies and polices and maintain standards are essential to improving supply chain systems. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies miniconvenience store managers used to mitigate supply chain disruptions to sustain productivity and increase profits. The population was 4 managers of miniconvenience stores within gas stations located in the southeastern region of the United States who successfully maintained productivity during a supply chain disruption. The conceptual framework for this study was resource dependency theory. Data were collected using company documents, face-to-face interviews and semistructured, open-ended questions. Two themes were identified from the data analysis: building relationships and effective communication. The findings from this study could contribute to positive social change by providing miniconvenience store managers with strategies to increase supply chain capabilities while reducing the impact disruptions have on business performance, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Store managers who minimize supply chain disruptions might improve organizational operative purchasing, decrease prices, increase customer gratification, and improve the standard of living for customers in the communities served.

Inefficient supply chains result in unsold inventory and unfilled customer orders, posing a significant risk to company profitability and consumer satisfaction. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies supply chain managers in the manufacturing industry used to match the level of unsold inventory in the supply chain with customer demand consistently. Porter's value chain provided the conceptual framework for the study. A sample of 5 experienced supply chain managers from a global manufacturing company headquartered in the midwestern United States participated in semistructured interviews. Each participant provided company supply chain documentation for triangulation. Data analysis followed Yin's 5 stages of data analysis and yielded 4 themes: define policies and processes, develop collaborative partnerships, leverage technology, and consider the end-to-end supply chain. The themes are the foundation of successful supply chain management strategies that have improved matching of unsold inventory in the supply chain to customer demand. Study findings benefit both supply chain leaders and consumers by providing the potential to improve consistency in meeting customer demand with less inventory in the supply chain, resulting in customer satisfaction, business growth, and stable employment. The findings may contribute to positive social change by helping supply chain leaders create thriving businesses with satisfied employees and customers who are willing to spend their time and money contributing to community growth, economic stability, and enhanced social conditions.

Indirect procurement is becoming one of the most challenging function in food processing organizations, which need strategies to enhance supply chain sustainability. Food processing organizations could expect more than 50% maverick indirect costs out of the 80% procurement cost from total annual costs. The focus of the research question was on strategies procurement managers responsible for food processing indirect procurement could use to enhance supply chain sustainability. The conceptual framework for this study was resource dependency theory, and the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies some procurement managers responsible for food processing indirect procurement could use to enhance supply chain sustainability. Face-to-face semistructured interviews were used from 2 procurement managers from food processing organizations in Nairobi, Kenya, who were recorded and gave responses to 9 interview questions. Data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed into themes. Data were triangulated and then subjected to member checking to ensure reliability and strengthen credibility of collected data. The data revealed 2 major themes, which included, indirect procurement strategies, and resource availability. The identification of indirect procurement strategies was important because participants believed stakeholder partnering and collaboration in formulating procurement strategies could enhance value for money in indirect procurement. The resource availability was important to enhance supply chain sustainability. Implications for social change include cost reduction in the supply chain, increasing organization profits, lower products costs, which could improve economic, and social benefit.

D. Tech. (Logistics management, Faculty of Management Science), Vaal University of Technology / Nowadays, the business environment is characterised by faster technological development, customer satisfaction, shorter product life cycles, and more intense global competition. This new competitive landscape has forced firms to acquire new ways to achieve competitive advantage actively since a firm's competitive advantage is now dependent on operating efficiency and productivity across functional areas of the firm. The most successful manufacturers seem to be those that have carefully linked their internal processes to external suppliers and customers in unique supply chains. The manufacturing sector represents 15 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) of the South African commercial industry. Competitive challenges in the modern business environment have resulted in the need for firms to collaborate their business processes strategically across other business units within the supply chain. Supply chain network theory, dynamic capabilities theory, and the resource-based view theory are discussed to better understand the importance of firms' supply chain capabilities, supply chain agility, and firm performance. The primary objective of this research study was to investigate the association between supply chain capabilities (supply chain network design, supply chain information competency, and supply chain integration) and supply chain agility on firm performance in the manufacturing sector of the Gauteng province in South Africa. It also aimed to ascertain the kind of relationships between supply chain network with supply chain agility, supply chain network with firm performance, supply chain information competency with supply chain agility, supply chain integration with supply chain agility, supply chain integration with firm performance, and finally supply chain agility with firm performance. Structured questionnaires were distributed to various manufacturing firms in the Gauteng province. The data were collected from manufacturing firm managers and owners. SPSS 25.0 was used to analyse the data, and AMOS 25.0 used to perform the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and path analysis. The structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to assess the proposed model fit and to test the statistically significant relationship between the various hypotheses. The research study results revealed that supply chain technologies and supply chain vi agility positively influence firm manufacturing performance. This study contributes new knowledge to the existing literature by providing a research framework that can enhance manufacturing firms' performance and also offer practical recommendations based on the research findings for manufacturing firms and future research. Furthermore, as one of the first studies to address the association between supply chain capabilities and supply chain agility on firm performance in the Gauteng province, this study generates new insights and information, as well as outlines the strategic reasons for manufacturing firms' managers and owners to improve on their organisational relationships. Hence, the study found that firms have realised significant supply chain coordination through supply chain capabilities and supply chain agility and that firms have been able to attain strategic goals, reduce risks and improve internal and external coordination of operational processes. Keywords: supply chain network design; supply chain information competency; supply chain integration; supply chain agility; firm performance.

To effectively analyze and design a flexible supply chain (FSC), a variety of variables need to be considered. This research presents a framework, an extension of Chan et al. (2009) that identifies a more extensive yet salient set of variables for designing FSCs. This framework provides a basis for using simulation to better understand, and to better design, FSCs. Conceptual simulation models are developed to represent general flexible supply chains in terms of using design and system variables. The proposed conceptual model incorporates many elements from the framework considering a wide variety of variables to demonstrate the approach for building a FSC model. This research provides a general FSC simulation model, built in FlexSim, that implements many variables from the framework and aspects of the conceptual framework. Variability plays an important role in FSC model. Two key supply-chain performance measures are lead time and variability in lead time. One way that has been proposed to improve both measures is to increase supplier flexibility. Through simulation this research provides a means to assess the effects of various manufacturing and logistics flexibility-related variables on lead time and its variability. This research includes effect of several experiments that consider the effect of supplier flexibility level, proportion of process time that is production and transportation time, and level of variability in process time on lead time. The triangular distribution is used often in simulation when process data are not available. Thus, the triangular distribution is used in the FSC simulation model. This research provides a means to effectively consider alternative values of the parameters of the triangular distribution during experimentation. The method facilitates specification of both moment and location parameters.

This research considers a single-item two-echelon supply chain facing a sequence of stochastic bulky customer demand with random order inter-arrival time and random demand size. The demand process is a general renewal process and the cost functions for both parties involve the renewal function and its integral. The complexity of the general renewal function causes the computational intractability in deciding the optimal order quantities, so approximations for the renewal function and its integral are introduced to address the computational complexity. Asymptotic expansions are commonly used in the literature to approximate the renewal function and its integral when the optimal decisions are relatively large compared to the mean of the inter-renewal time. However, the optimal policies do not necessarily fall in the asymptotic region. So the use of asymptotic expansions to approximate the renewal function and its integral in the cost functions may cause significant errors in decision making. To overcome the inaccuracy of the asymptotic approximation, this research proposes a modified approximation. The proposed approximation provides closed form functions for the renewal function and its integral which could be applied to various optimization problems such as inventory planning, supply chain management, reliability and maintenance. The proposed approximations are tested with commonly used distributions and applied to an application in the literature, yielding good performance. By applying the proposed approximation method to the supply chain cost functions, this research obtains the optimal policies for the decentralized and the centralized cases. The numerical results provide insights into the cost savings realized by the centralization of the supply chain compared to the decentralized case. Furthermore, this research investigates coordination schemes for the decentralized case to improve the utilities of parties. A cost sharing mechanism in which the vendor offers the retailer a contract as a compensation of implementing vendordesired inventory policy is investigated. The sharing could be realized by bearing part of the retailer’s inventory holding cost or fixed cost. The contract is designed to minimize the vendors cost while satisfying the individual rationality of the retailer. Other forms of coordination mechanisms, such as the side payment and delayed payment, are also discussed.

Plantilla para elaborar Trabajo de investigación de Maestría en Supply Chain Management para optar el grado académico de Maestro en Supply Chain Management en el Programa de Maestría en Supply Chain Management. Escuela de Postgrado. Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas.

South Africa has complex environmental and economic challenges as part of its sustainable development. These include depleting natural resources, significant waste generation and high carbon emissions, compounded with an economic growth rate below global growth. Organisations within the supply chain play a key role in purchasing and distributing goods that underpin the economy. Waste generation and carbon emissions drive climate change which has been singled out as a significant risk to humanity. The negative environmental impacts of climate change, resource depletion, waste generation and carbon emissions have compounded the bleak economic outlook for South Africa. Developed countries have implemented circular economy policies that support green innovation within the supply chain. The circular economy is a model that supports waste reduction while improving the economy and the use of natural resources through reducing, reusing and recycling at a basic level. The research area of circular economy in the supply chain is trending globally and is still relatively new from a South African context, particularly around circular business models in the supply chain. Circular economy principles work hand in hand with driving green innovation, as the technology allows for the identification of new ways to reduce waste and cost across the supply chain. The research is qualitative and exploratory within the area of supply chain, with a focus on green innovation and circular economy from a developing country perspective. It intends to understand the key drivers that contribute to companies adopting green innovation strategies. The benefit of the research is for practitioners to understand how South Africa can achieve green in the supply chain and overcome economic issues by adopting circular economy principles. Twelve semi-structured interviews were carried out with managers of large organisations that have embarked on green initiatives within the supply chain. The study established commonalities with existing research on external and internal drivers supporting green innovation and the circular economy in the supply chain. The research established new insights around South African organisations' differences in the supply chain, particularly around operational risk being a critical driver considering water scarcity and electricity instability. It also identified internal drivers to changing business models from linear to circular, particularly around sustainability strategies, network collaboration, sustainability culture and changing the way companies are measured. Recommendations support how business models could be adapted to drive circular business models across supply chain organisations in South Africa. / Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted