Alessandro Perego

A reference framework for the application of MADM fuzzy techniques to selecting AMTS

In the last decade, there has been growing interest in the assessment and selection of investments in advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs). Several authors have pointed out the shortcomings of traditional financial techniques, proposing alternative approaches usually referred to as non-conventional approaches. Among them, some authors have recently proposed fuzzy multi-attribute decision making (MADM) techniques, which seem to be particularly suitable for dealing with the intangible effects of AMTs. However, no attempt has so far been made to analyse and compare the various MADM techniques included in the fuzzy theory with respect to their applicability to the assessment and selection of AMTs. The objective of this article is to give a reference framework for the application of a MADM fuzzy approach to AMT selection. In particular, the paper describes three major categories of fuzzy MADM approach and compares their results using a case study.

Surplus Food Recovery and Donation in Italy: The Upstream Process

Purpose of this paperThis paper offers quantitative evidence on how surplus food, i.e. safe food that is not sold to the intended customers, is generated and recovered within Italian manufacturing and retail firms. The ultimate aim is to enlighten the process through which the food supply chain firms come to donate surplus food to food banks.Design/methodology/approachSurplus food and recoverability were defined as the key terms of the problem. 12 exploratory case studies were conducted to segment the manufacturing and retail sectors, to assess recoverability in each segment, and to establish the protocols for descriptive case studies. A multiple case-study approach was used and 83 firms were investigated.FindingsThe primary source of surplus food is shown to result from products reaching the internal sell-by date, i.e. the date by which manufacturers and warehouses must supply perishable products. Donation to food banks is found to be a relevant management practice in the ambient and chilled manufacturing segments and at retail distribution centres, while frozen food companies and retail stores are found to rely nearly exclusively on waste disposal.Research limitations/implications The degree to which our findings are specific to Italy is an issue to investigate. Future research should target surplus food management in farming and food services, and assess the cost effectiveness of alternative management channels. Practical and social implicationsThe paper highlights the changes required to increase the amount of food recovered by food banks. It also summarizes the steps for establishing a structured procedure for managing surplus food within firms.What is original/value of paper The paper offers quantitative evidence on a relatively untapped yet socially relevant topic, i.e. the upstream process of food recovery and donation.

How to choose mitigation measures for supply chain risks

Properly managing supply chain risks is at the top of many supply chain managers’ agendas. However, the process of selecting preventive measures to mitigate supply chain risks is often unstructured in practice. This is also reflected in academic literature, where selecting appropriate mitigation measures is performed via qualitative and rather informal approaches. In order to fill this gap in industrial practice and academic research, the purpose of this study is to provide a quantitative DSS to select mitigation measures for supply chain risks. The support system is theoretically grounded via a decision framework and is consistent with previous studies adopting the risk management process. The analytical tool is based on a stochastic integer linear programming approach, including supply chain managers’ judgements by way of utility functions and fuzzy-extended pairwise comparisons. In comparison with previous studies, the support system explicitly models the relationships between risks and their expected impact and considers the risk prioritisation step and the measures selection step jointly to enable risk profile reduction. The usefulness of the tool proposed is shown via the application of the support system to the case of the global sourcing process of Chicco–Artsana, a large manufacturer and distributor of baby care products.

Supply chain finance: a literature review

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to classify the research to-date on Supply Chain Finance (SCF) according to the main themes and methods, and to propose directions for future research.,The review is based on 119 papers mainly published from 2000 to 2014 in international peer-reviewed journals and in the proceedings of international conferences.,The articles that provide a definition of SCF reflect two major perspectives: the ‘finance oriented’ perspective - focused on short-term solutions provided by financial institutions, addressing accounts payable and receivable - and the ‘supply chain oriented’ perspective - which might not involve a financial institution, and is focused on working capital optimisation in terms of accounts payable, receivable, inventories, and sometimes even on fixed asset financing.,While efforts were made to be all-inclusive, significant research efforts may have been inadvertently omitted. However, the authors believe that this review is an accurate representation of the body of research on SCF published during the specified timeframe, and feel that confidence may be placed on the resulting assessments.,The paper presents a comprehensive summary of previous research on this topic and identifies the most important issues that need to be addressed in future research. On the basis of the identified gaps in the literature, four key issues have been highlighted which should be addressed in future research.

Distribution network design: a literature review and a research agenda

Purpose n n n n– The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, it classifies research on distribution network design (DND) according to the methodologies adopted and themes tackled. Second, it discusses the main implications for practitioners. Finally, it proposes a few promising directions for future research. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n– The review is based on 126 papers published from 1972 to 2013 in international peer-reviewed journals in the Business, Management and Economics field. The academic papers have been analyzed and classified based on the main research methods used and the themes tackled. n n n n nFindings n n n n– It was found that most of the earlier research adopted quantitative models to deal with different decisions on DND, whereas the number of conceptual papers, proposing frameworks and classifications, is still limited. In all, 42 factors that affect DND have been identified and classified into five groups, and the relationships between factor groups and strategic decisions have been investigated. This study revealed that some important areas have not received much attention in the literature and, therefore, three potential directions for further research have been identified. n n n n nResearch limitations/implications n n n n– Due to the extremely large number of papers on DND, it is possible that a few papers may have inadvertently been missed. Despite the possibility of not being all-inclusive, the authors firmly believe that the general picture presented in this paper is precise and trustworthy. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n– This review offers valuable insights for practitioners: a clear understanding of the main decisions related to DND; a comprehensive analysis of the main factors that affect the distribution network structure; a clear understanding of the relationships between factor groups and key decisions; and a guide to the models that can be used to support the different phases of DND.

Does finance solve the supply chain financing problem

Purpose n n n n nRecently, in response to the credit crunch and the increased costs of financing, new solutions for supporting the financial management of supply chains, known as supply chain finance (SCF), have been developed. They exploit the strengths of supply chain links to optimise working capital. The purpose of this paper is to provide a reference framework that links together the objectives leading to the adoption of SCF solutions and several moderating variables. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nThis paper adopts a multiple case study methodology, analysing 14 cases of the application of SCF solutions among Italian companies. n n n n nFindings n n n n nThe main findings are the identification of the different objectives leading to the adoption of SCF; the analysis of the impact of moderating variables (the level of inter- and intra-firm collaboration, the level of the trade process digitalisation and the bargaining power and financial strength of the leading firm) on SCF adoption; and the formulation of a reference framework supporting the effective adoption of SCF solutions. n n n n nResearch limitations/implications n n n n nThis contribution is exploratory in nature; theory-testing contributions should be the focus of further research. Also, the sample is limited to Italian companies. Finally, the service provider’s point of view has been marginally taken into consideration in this study. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nThe article addresses the need for more empirical research on SCF. It provides a reference framework focused on the objectives and moderating variables leading to effective SCF adoption, providing a theory-building contribution on the general topic of SCF and on the specific topic of the adoption process of different SCF solutions.

A comprehensive view of intelligent transport systems for urban smart mobility

ABSTRACT Information accuracy and decision-making speed are of paramount importance in managing today’s mobility of goods and people inside the city. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) can provide road users with updated information and forecasts on both traffic and weather conditions. The result is a higher efficiency in the use of resources and a better management of physical flows. The purpose of this paper is to conduct an in-depth review on the role of ITS supporting urban Smart Mobility, in order to identify the main gaps in the literature and propose future research streams. In total, 71 papers have been thoroughly analysed: they are mainly focused on technology, with limited attention to value creation. Even though some benefits have been examined, a general lack of quantitative models emerged. Eventually, there is a lack of contributions considering both people and freight transport, even if they are strongly related, especially in an urban environment.

Measuring the benefits of tracking medical treatment through RFId

Purpose – Radio frequency identification (RFId) technology has a great potential to improve process efficiency and effectiveness. However, because of the variety of application areas and achievable benefits, structured assessment models are needed to support managers in the adoption decision. The purpose of this paper is to describe a structured method to support the evaluation of the benefits enabled by RFId technology in medical treatment support in the healthcare industry. The method, and its application to an Italian case study, are deeply illustrated so as to increase the knowledge available to decision makers. Design/methodology/approach – The research underlying this paper has modelled the relationship between the technology and the performance driver of the target process, and then between the performance driver and the measurable key performance indicators of that process. This knowledge, focused on the healthcare industry but still quite general, has been formalised into 12 causal maps. Starting...

Surplus Food Redistribution for Social Purposes: The Case of Coop Lombardia

Abstract nPurpose nThis chapter highlights factors, such as stakeholder engagement and changes in operating processes, which can enable retailers to implement an alternative approach to recovering and redistributing fresh surplus food. n n nMethodology/approach nA successful fresh surplus food redistribution program was identified as part of a larger research project on food waste and redistribution. The “Buon Fine” program of a large Italian retailer (Coop Lombardia) was described by two senior executives who were interviewed for four hours using a semi-structured questionnaire. Collected information was triangulated with corporate reports and other publications. n n nFindings nCoop Lombardia implemented an expanded supply chain by cooperating with municipalities and food aid organizations. Such a process differed in important ways from the traditional “food bank” model. The latter organizations collected and distributed surplus food to disfavored populations. n n nOriginality/value nThe findings of this chapter will help senior executives of retail trade companies to improve the sustainability of their supply chain and help policymakers address food poverty to improve food security in their territory.

Cross-border B2C e-commerce to Greater China and the role of logistics: a literature review

Purpose n n n n nThis paper reviews scientific publications in the field of logistics underlying cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) to China. A focus on the role played in this complex process by other countries of the Greater China is carried out. The purpose of this paper is to outline directions for future research to encourage CBEC development. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nThe review is based on 32 papers published from 2002 to 2016 in international peer-reviewed journals or proceedings of international conferences, retrieved from bibliographic databases and science search engines. n n n n nFindings n n n n nCBEC to China is gaining increasing interest, as shown by the rising amount of publications from 2013 onwards. Within these contributions, however, studies specifically investigating the relation between logistics and e-commerce, commonly acknowledged as critical, seem to lack. Many contributions are descriptive and do not provide specific insights on how to manage the complexities of CBEC logistics in this region. Stemming from the review, a set of possible development areas are identified, including distribution network design, i.e. deciding how to shape the CBEC distribution structure, and logistics outsourcing, i.e. determining whether to manage logistics activities in-house or through third parties. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nTo the extent of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one to classify the existing body of knowledge on logistics supporting CBEC. Its main contribution is the critical identification of current research gaps and the proposal of key themes for future research. From a managerial perspective, it helps export and logistics managers identify the key challenges of managing CBEC logistics to Greater China.