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Over the last decade, supply chain coordination has attracted much attention in the context of industrial logistics systems, because of the role played in production support logistics. There is a growing interest in the analysis and measurement of performances, because performance analysis allows us to build supporting decision tools for the design, planning and management of the supply chain. This paper presents an analytical approach for performance analysis based on a decomposition principle. The approach is applied to a serial supply chain that consists of two levels of suppliers, a production plant and a distribution centre, and operates as a pull system. This configuration is typical for bulk materials such as grain. The method allows us to approximately calculate performance indicators (such as customer satisfaction and inventory levels) taking into account all the interactions between the different echelons of the supply chain. The accuracy of the approximations is confirmed by the results obtained via a simulation model. Numerical analysis allows us to outline interesting and non-intuitive behaviour of the performance indicators for different stages of the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purchasing arrangements for repetitively used industrial supplies assume many different forms. Drawing on transaction cost analysis, the authors advance a conceptual framework that organizes these arrangements along a continuum of relationships. They use data from a survey of 140 OEM purchasers of bearings to demonstrate that performance in terms of acquisition costs is enhanced when, under conditions of uncertainty, firms introduce more relational elements into their purchasing arrangements. Possession cost performance improved when larger volumes of bearings were purchased. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a synthesised conceptual framework for global sourcing (GS) strategy and structure.Design/methodology/approach The authors adopt a systematic literature review method and analyse through content analysis techniques 52 peer-reviewed journal articles focussed on GS strategy and structure. Based on these analyses, a conceptual model is developed.Findings A synthesised construct of GS strategy, consisting of three dimensions, i.e., supply internationalisation, internal integration and external integration, is proposed. The GS structure construct is further broken down into structural design and control and coordination, consisting of three dimensions for each. Propositions for GS strategy, GS structure and, in particular, the relationships between them are developed for future empirical validation.Originality/value This is the first study which synthesises various dimensions of GS strategy and GS structure and advances/extends the theory of the strategy-structure nexus to a GS context. The conceptual model provides a comprehensive framework for future empirical work and opens avenues of research on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green procurement is the integration of both environmental and social elements with traditional procurement practices. Green procurement is truly the pressing call of the day and has recently gained attention of both researchers and supply chain practitioners globally. However, there are scant research studies available in the direction of unethical practices and its influence on key green procurement variables. The aim of the current study is to explore the relationships between buyer-deceitful practices, buyer-subtle practices, buyer-supplier relationships, supplier development, and green design. Here, SPSS AMOS version 24.0 has been used to simultaneously assess the measurement instrument and hypothesized model. The findings show that relationship between buyer deceitful activities and supplier development is significant. Secondly, relationship between buyer-supplier relationship and green design is also found to be strong. The study provides some unique contributions to the theory and further extends the knowledge base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa may have a generation capacity shortage in the near future. The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is playing an important role in creating generation capacity to fulfil future demand requirements. This investigation focused primarily on identifying the problems that have been experienced with projects in the programme (e.g., to reach financial close). The research showed that there is good alignment between the requirements in the request for proposals and those from financiers. Several issues caused delays in projects reaching financial close. However, respondents to this study indicated that the REIPPPP is well thought out and that several problems are being addressed successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which considers demand forecast updating and lead time uncertainty in line with optimizing corporate procurement. The study explores how to reach the optimal procurement timing and quantity decision based on the supply risk and forecast updating. It shows that as updating of demand forecast becomes more efficient, firms become less sensitive to lead time variability that improve its procurement process.

Purpose - The aim of this article is to identify the motivations driving the process of changing sourcing strategy from single sourcing to multiple sourcing or vice versa. Design/methodology/approach - Ten cases of sourcing strategy change were investigated. A qualitative research method is used to uncover the richness of these change processes. Findings - Most of the advantages and disadvantages stated in the literature were confirmed. Identical objectives (cost cutting and quality improvement) were present in all cases, although changes took place in opposite directions. Contextual factors, such as standardisation and supplier base reduction efforts shape purchasing strategy more than previously thought. The dynamic nature of the product lifecycle also seems to be an important determinant. Research limitations/implications - Although the results of qualitative case study research can only be "generalised" in a limited way, the case details help to identify the dynamics of sourcing strategy switches and to interpret the rationale behind these moves. Confirmatory follow-up research covering both the demand and supply side of the market is needed. Practical implications - Switching sourcing modes is of strategic relevance to managers as lifecycle costing strategies are influenced by them. Managers should plan these decisions more effectively, evaluating the factual pros and cons of a proposed sourcing mode switch and taking the dynamics of supply markets into account. Originality/value - The importance of the different motives for sourcing strategy changes clearly varies with the dynamism of the context (market situations and strategic intentions of buyers). A model linking the buyers' portfolio matrix to the product life cycle on the supply market is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite some movement toward consensus on the definition of supply chain management (SCM), there are multiple perspectives on the concept - and its association with logistics. This paper reports results of a survey of SCM professionals regarding their views of SCM, along with its facilitators and barriers. In general, these executives prefer broad, multi-functional perspectives as opposed to more narrow perspectives of SCM. According to the survey, the leading facilitators of SCM implementation were relational rather than technological. In addition, internal or employee resistance appears to be more of a barrier to SCM implementation compared to external (customer and supplier) resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In multi-echelon inventory systems that cover extensive geographical regions, emergency lateral transshipment between bases is commonly practiced to provide improved service support for products. In these systems, since neighboring bases are at shorter distances than to the depot, the base may seek stock from them to satisfy its demands when it is out of stock. In this paper we develop a continuous-review multi-echelon model for repairable items when emergency lateral transshipments between identical bases are allowed. Approximations are derived and tested for the expected level of backorders and the quantity of emergency lateral transshipments in cases where fairly high service levels are required. These approximations are used to determine the optimal stocking levels in such a system. A procedure to find these stocking levels is given. Numerical examples illustrate the application of the procedure and the tradeoffs involved in emergency lateral transshipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on articles published in the 2007 issue of the "Journal of Business Logistics," Volume 28, Number 1. Particular attention is paid to the journal's publication of articles on both logistics and supply chain management (SCM), which deals with identifying some of the important facilitators and obstacles of successful SCM implementation. Study findings report that internal or employee resistance appears to be more of a hindrance to SCM implementation than external customer or supplier resistance. Additional article topics include logistics, product development, vendor-managed inventory, and technological readiness.