1,721,084 research outputs found
Blockchain Systems in Food Supply Chains: An Interpretation Through the Lens of Agency and Technology–Organization–Environment Theories
Full text linkBlockchain (BC) systems are increasingly used by consortia to monitor ex-post opportunism in food supply chains. BC systems differ for BC technical characteristics, complementary technologies, and organizational tools. Yet, little is empirically known about the link between different BC system designs and the context where they are implemented and how contextual factors influence the adoption of each BC system. This study analyzed different BC systems in 11 principal–agent dyads within one food supply network. Each dyad is composed of a consortium of fruit producers and packers (the principal) and a supply network actor (the agent). Inspired by agency theory, this research associates BC system design choices with levels of system trust (trust in the technology) that are consistent with the risk level of ex-post opportunism. Compared to previous studies, a new studying perspective regarding the concept of ‘BC trust’ arises. Starting from technology–organization–environment (TOE) theory, this paper also offers an interpretation of how TOE factors intervene in the adoption of different BC systems by agents. By distinguishing between different BC systems, it offers a diverse perspective in grounding TOE in BC research. Together with relevant future research directions, these findings provide adopters and policymakers with important practical insights
Improving the path to align sales, production planning and engineering in high-variety versatile environment
No full textVersatile manufacturing companies typically manufacture high variety, mainly
customized products in relatively low volumes, competing for each order with
other supplier companies on the basis of price, technical expertise, delivery time
and punctuality. In this environment, the combination of high variety and
frequent product changes/modifications entangles planning, designing, purchasing
and manufacturing activities, thus exacerbating the conciliation of the contrasting
goals of Sales, Production Planning and Engineering. This paper aims to
explain how planning bills—traditionally adopted to coordinate Sales and
Production Planning—can be used to improve alignment among these functional
areas in a versatile manufacturing context. In particular, a path is proposed to
align not only Sales and Production Planning requests, but also those of the
Engineering function. Interestingly enough, such an approach is particularly
suited to cope with the frequent product changes characterizing a high-variety
versatile environment, and makes it possible to achieve greater advantages than
those conventionally attributed to the planning bills
The moderating role of supply network structure on the customer integration–efficiency relationship
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to study whether a fast supply network structure interacts with customer integration (CI) by positively moderating the relationship between CI and efficiency performance. Design/methodology/approach: The authors developed two hypotheses, incorporating dimensions of CI, fast supply network structure and efficiency performance. The hypotheses are tested through a hierarchical regression analysis using data from a sample of 200 manufacturing plants. Findings: CI alone is not enough to guarantee cost reductions because a fast supply network structure acts as a moderator of the CI-efficiency relationship. The role of this moderator is twofold. On the one hand, it interacts with CI, strengthening the positive impact of CI on efficiency through a positive complementary effect. On the other hand, if the supply network structure is not intended to support fast lead times, the impact of CI on efficiency can be hindered and, in extreme cases, CI can even make efficiency worse. Practical implications: Efficiency maximization requires levering simultaneously on CI and the supply network structure, rather than investing and acting on CI only. Managers should carefully weigh up the supply network structural context before embracing a CI program, because adopting CI in a wrong context could amplify a series of problems (e.g. nervousness of plans) and offset CI benefits in terms of efficiency. Originality/value: This study provides an original contribution to the literature on the relationship between CI and efficiency by adopting a contingency perspective, namely assuming that the relationship between supply chain practices and performance is contingent upon how supply networks have been designed. Accordingly, this research questions the assumption that CI always improves efficiency, by analysing the complementary effect between CI and a fast supply network structure. This provides a number of original implications for the interpretation of the relationship between CI, supply network structure and efficiency. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
The role of the forecasting process in improving forecast accuracy and operational performance
No full textSeveral operations decisions are based on proper forecast of future demand. For this reason, manufacturing companies consider forecasting a crucial process for effectively guiding several activities and research has devoted particular attention to this issue. This paper investigates the impact of how forecasting is conducted on forecast accuracy and operational performances (i.e. cost and delivery performances). Attention is here paid on three factors that characterize the forecasting process: whether structured techniques are adopted, whether information from different sources is collected to elaborate forecasts, and the extent to which forecasting is used to support decision-making processes. Analyses are conducted by means of data provided by the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing Research Group survey. Data was collected from 343 companies belonging to several manufacturing industries from six different countries. Results show that companies adopting a structured forecasting process can improve their operational performances not simply because forecast accuracy increases. This paper highlights the importance of a proper forecasting-process design, that should be coherent with how users intend to exploit forecast results and with the aim that should be achieved, that is not necessarily improving forecast accuracy. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Performance Measurement Systems and Downstream Integration. A study on their combined impact on supply network efficiency
No full textDownstream integration (DI) is a key managerial area to improve performance in supply networks. Though most studies agree that DI positively influences performances, literature also reports cases of failures in achieving significant improvements. This evidence suggests that some factors may act as moderators on the DI-performance relationship. This paper analyzes the impact of DI on supply network efficiency and the moderating effect on this relationship of supply network performance measurement systems. Data from a sample of 200 manufacturing firms settled in several countries around the world demonstrates that the moderating effect exists. Therefore managers to strengthen the impact of DI on supply network efficiency should module interventions on DI and supply network performance measurement systems, rather than investing and focusing on DI onl
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