European Journal of Supply Chain Management

Robotic Process Automation in Supply Chain

Will Stevens — 2024-01-24

This study investigates the transformative impact of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) on supply chain performance, analyzing its implications across diverse regions, including the USA, Canada, Europe, and African countries. The research explores key dimensions of supply chain performance, considering metrics such as order fulfillment cycle time, inventory turnover, on-time delivery, and sustainability initiatives. Drawing on examples from leading companies in North America and Europe, the study highlights the adoption of advanced technologies, such as RFID and automation, to optimize supply chain processes. In African countries, despite facing unique challenges, innovative approaches like leveraging mobile technology showcase adaptability and resilience. The study delves into the role of government policies, emphasizing how regulatory frameworks influence supply chain performance, with examples like the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in the USA. The second part of the study focuses on RPA, outlining its fundamental principles and applications within supply chain management. Case studies from companies like Walmart and Canadian Pacific Railway demonstrate RPA's impact on operational efficiency, data accuracy, demand forecasting, and supplier relationship management. The study emphasizes RPA's adaptability to diverse supply chain structures, addressing challenges in different contexts. While acknowledging the potential benefits, the study also highlights challenges associated with RPA adoption, including the need for skilled personnel and potential job displacement. The research concludes by underlining RPA as a continuous improvement tool, fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability within organizations. The study contributes to theory by extending Resource Dependence Theory (RDT), emphasizing RPA as a critical technological resource influencing organizational behavior and decision-making in supply chains. Practical implications include valuable insights for supply chain practitioners, offering a phased implementation strategy and aligning RPA with specific needs. From a policy perspective, the study advocates for supportive regulatory frameworks and policies facilitating RPA integration. Overall, the study positions itself as a comprehensive reference, addressing regional nuances, technological implications, and policy considerations, providing insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers navigating the dynamic landscape of supply chain automation.

Supply Chain Risk Management in the Era of Globalization

Sarah Jones — 2024-01-25

Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) is crucial in the contemporary era of globalization, where organizations face diverse risks that can disrupt the flow of goods and services across their supply chains. This study explores the interconnectedness between globalization and SCRM, examining practices in the United States, Canada, Europe, and African countries. The research delves into regional variations, technological integrations, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SCRM. It adopts the Resource-Based View (RBV) to analyze how firms cultivate and leverage unique resources for resilient SCRM. The findings emphasize the need for holistic, collaborative, and tech-savvy approaches to address risks arising from geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and regulatory changes. The study contributes to theory by extending RBV to SCRM, offering practical insights for businesses engaged in global supply chains, and providing policymakers with guidance for regulations that support sustainability and risk-aware decision-making. Overall, the study advances our understanding of SCRM in the globalized era and guides future research and policy development.

Optimizing Inventory Management through Advanced Forecasting Techniques in Supply Chains

Eunice Keith — 2024-01-25

Inventory management performance is a critical aspect of supply chain operations, impacting cost, customer satisfaction, and overall efficiency. Practices vary globally, with examples from the USA showcasing benefits of advanced forecasting, Canada emphasizing technology like RFID, Europe adopting JIT systems, and African countries leveraging technology for data accuracy. The general purpose of the study is to investigate how changes in advanced forecasting techniques influence inventory management performance. Despite technological advancements, businesses grapple with suboptimal inventory management, leading to excess costs and stockouts. The literature primarily focuses on traditional forecasting methods, lacking a comprehensive exploration of advanced techniques' impact. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating how advanced forecasting optimizes inventory management, providing empirical evidence and practical insights. Studies across regions emphasize the positive impact of advanced forecasting. In the USA, advanced techniques enhance supply chain responsiveness. Canada benefits from RFID technology, Europe from JIT systems, and Africa from cloud-based inventory systems. Collaborative forecasting improves outcomes, and resilience strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic are crucial. Sustainable practices contribute to both environmental and economic goals. Research gaps include a need for a more extensive geographic scope, conceptual integration with emerging technologies, and longitudinal studies to assess sustained impacts of advanced forecasting techniques. The study involves a comprehensive examination of existing scholarly works, encompassing books, journal articles, and publications, to understand the current state of knowledge within the field. Companies embracing advanced forecasting techniques experience substantial improvements in inventory management performance. Real-time data, machine learning, and collaborative approaches are critical components. The study highlights the positive impact of advanced forecasting on different industries, emphasizing its versatility. The study contributes to the Theory of Constraints, offering a framework for understanding advanced forecasting's impact. Practical implications guide practitioners, and policy recommendations advocate for widespread adoption. The study contributes to sustainability discourse and addresses industry-specific policy considerations. Overall, it advances our understanding of how advanced forecasting enhances inventory management within supply chains.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Chain Management

James Mandla James Mandla — 2024-01-25

The study delves into the intricate landscape of global supply chain management (SCM) and its dynamic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. With a foundation in Resilience Theory, the research explores disruptions, adaptations, and ethical considerations within supply chains across diverse regions, including the USA, Canada, Europe, and African countries. Leveraging insights from various studies conducted between 2012 and 2022, the analysis encompasses technological transformations, sustainability initiatives, regulatory frameworks, and the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis emerges as a catalyst for rethinking and reshaping SCM strategies globally, emphasizing the interconnectedness, disruptions, and lessons learned during this crisis. The study contributes theoretically by validating and extending Resilience Theory, conceptually by synthesizing the interplay of resilience, technology adoption, and ethics, practically by offering actionable insights for supply chain practitioners, and policy-wise by guiding policymakers in designing effective measures. The findings address contextual, conceptual, and methodological research gaps, fostering future investigations. This study's beneficiaries include businesses, academics, policymakers, and the broader public, all poised to gain nuanced perspectives on the intricate challenges and opportunities in the post-pandemic SCM landscape.

Supplier Relationship Management in the Era of Industry 4.0

Editha Glory — 2024-01-25

This study investigates Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) in the Era of Industry 4.0, focusing on the integration of advanced technologies and their impact on supplier relationships. The background establishes SRM as a strategic approach crucial for competitive advantage in global markets, with examples from the USA, Canada, and Europe showcasing effective SRM practices. The advent of Industry 4.0 technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and blockchain, has reshaped SRM practices worldwide. The study examines the challenges faced by SRM, such as information asymmetry and cultural differences, particularly emphasizing the need for localized research in African countries. Comparative analyses reveal variations in SRM practices across the USA, Canada, and Europe, considering regulatory environments and cultural nuances. Sustainability emerges as integral to SRM effectiveness, aligning with the global trend of environmentally responsible practices. Case studies illustrate how technological innovations, such as those employed by Amazon in the USA, enhance SRM. Continuous improvement, exemplified by organizations like Nestlé in Europe, is highlighted as essential for effective SRM. The objective is to explore how Industry 4.0 technologies influence SRM, focusing on smart manufacturing and collaborative supply chain networks. The problem statement identifies a critical gap in understanding the specific implications of Industry 4.0 on SRM, with a focus on emerging trends and the lack of research in African countries. The literature review discusses Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) and empirical studies, revealing knowledge gaps in industry-specific analyses, human-centric elements, and longitudinal studies. The research design outlines a comprehensive literature review methodology, and findings emphasize the transformative impact of Industry 4.0 on SRM practices, highlighting challenges and economic benefits. The conclusion underscores the strategic shift in supplier relationships, emphasizing the role of technological integration and the need for continuous adaptation. The study contributes theoretically by bridging SRM theories with Industry 4.0 dynamics, offering practical insights for organizations, and providing policy recommendations.