Angappa Gunasekaran

World Class Sustainable Supply Chain Management: critical review and further research directions

Purpose n n n n nSustainable supply chain management (SSCM) has attracted considerable interest among academics and practitioners. The purpose of this paper is to present a critical review of the literature, to identify missing links, to argue for the use of world class SSCM (WCSSCM) through a framework, and suggest further research directions. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nIn the paper the authors have undertaken an extensive review of literature and classified articles using a novel classification scheme. n n n n nFindings n n n n nThrough the extensive review and identification of research gaps, the paper identifies significant differences between definitions and methodologies in the SSCM literature; and argues for “WCSSCM.” This term is elaborated on via a theoretical framework in which 18 dimensions are classified under six constructs of SSCM. Furthermore, a list of potential research directions for WCSSCM is discussed. n n n n nResearch limitations/implications n n n n nThe research is an attempt to critically review literature, argue for WCSSCM, and develop a theoretical framework. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nThe paper offers a new approach to SSCM literature, arguing for WCSSCM through a framework, and providing further research directions.

Supply Chain Agility, Adaptability and Alignment: Empirical Evidence from the Indian Auto Components Industry

Purpose: To examine when and how organizations create agility, adaptability, and alignment as distinct supply chain properties to gain sustainable competitive advantage. n nDesign/methodology/approach: The current study utilizes the resource-based view (RBV) under the moderating effect of top management commitment. To test our research hypotheses, we gathered 351 usable responses using a pre-tested questionnaire. n nFindings: Our statistical analyses suggest that information sharing and supply chain connectivity resources influence supply chain visibility capability, which, under the moderating effect of top management commitment, enhance supply chain agility, adaptability and alignment. n nOriginality/value: Our contribution lies in: (i) providing a holistic study of the antecedents of agility, adaptability and alignment; (ii) investigating the moderating role of top management commitment on supply chain agility, adaptability and alignment; (iii) following the RBV and addressing calls for investigating the role of resources in supply chain management, and for empirical studies with implications for supply chain design.

Agile manufacturing practices: the role of big data and business analytics with multiple case studies

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of big data and business analytics (BDBA) in agile manufacturing practices. Literature has discussed the benefits and challenges related to the deployment of big data within operations and supply chains, but there has not been a study of the facilitating roles of BDBA in achieving an enhanced level of agile manufacturing practices. As a response to this gap, and drawing upon multiple qualitative case studies undertaken among four UK organisations, we present and validate a framework for the role of BDBA within agile manufacturing. The findings show that market turbulence has negative universal effects and that agile manufacturing enablers are being progressively deployed and aided by BDBA to yield better competitive and business performance objectives. Further, the level of intervention was found to differ across companies depending on the extent of deployment of BDBA, which accounts for variations in outcomes.

Big data analytics capability in supply chain agility: The moderating effect of organizational flexibility

The purpose of this paper is to examine when and how organizations build big data analytics capability (BDAC) to improve supply chain agility (SCA) and gain competitive advantage.,The authors grounded the theoretical framework in two perspectives: the dynamic capabilities view and contingency theory. To test the research hypotheses, the authors gathered 173 usable responses using a pre-tested questionnaire.,The results suggest that BDAC has a positive and significant effect on SCA and competitive advantage. Further, the results support the hypothesis that organizational flexibility (OF) has a positive and significant moderation effect on the path joining BDAC and SCA. However, contrary to the belief, the authors found no support for the moderation effect of OF on the path joining BDAC and competitive advantage.,The study makes some useful contributions to the literature on BDAC, SCA, OF, and competitive advantage. Moreover, the results may further motivate future scholars to replicate the findings using longitudinal data.

Supplier relationship management for circular economy: Influence of external pressures and top management commitment

With considerable international awareness of circular economy (CE), the purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical framework, informed by institutional theory and upper echelon theory (UET), to explain how top management commitment (TMC) mediates the relationship between external pressures and supplier relationship management (SRM) practices for CE.,The authors test the hypotheses using cross-sectional data gathered using a survey of companies involved in sustainability practices.,The results of the hierarchical regression and mediating regression analyses suggest that TMC positively mediates the effect of external institutional pressures on SRM.,The authors advance existing theory by integrating institutional theory and UET to explain SRM practices in sustainable supply networks. Furthermore, the authors offer guidance to managers who would like to engage in leveraging SRM in sustainable supply networks and outline future research directions.

Examining Top Management Commitment to TQM Diffusion using Institutional and Upper Echelon Theories

Total Quality Management (TQM) is an enduring approach for enhancing firm competitiveness. Still, there is dearth of research regarding organisational diffusion (post-adoption) of TQM. To address this gap, this research proposes a theoretical model rooted in institutional and upper echelon theories that explain TQM diffusion via top management commitment. We surveyed 300 senior quality managers representing 300 auto-components manufacturers in India to collect data to test the proposed model using variance based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings suggest that institutional pressures significantly influence top management commitment to TQM. Subsequently, top management commitment influences organisational diffusion of TQM via acceptance, routinisation and assimilation. Managers can use the findings of this research to better understand how to assimilate TQM so that anticipated benefits can be fully realised.

Decarbonisation of operations management – looking back, moving forward: a review and implications for the production research community

This paper systematically analyses the vital motivations, drivers and barriers to the adoption of low-carbon operations management practices in response to climate change, highlighting the implications for the International Journal of Production Research (IJPR)’s community, which has contributed significantly to discussion of and research into sustainable production. Based on a thorough review of key articles on low-carbon operations management published in a number of prestigious journals, seven propositions for future research are suggested. Additionally, a unique classification of the barriers to and motivations for low-carbon production is put forward. These areas, which deserve further investigation, are (a) economic issues, (b) policy, (c) technology, (d) governance and (e) the market. The research agenda proposed for low-carbon production and operations may prove useful to the production research community in planning future developments and research projects, increasing knowledge and designing teaching modules on the topic. The study concludes by shedding light on the main research opportunities that IJPR’s community will encounter.

Analysing the interaction of factors for resilient humanitarian supply chain

Emergencies and disasters place an exceptional demand on the managerial skills of the humanitarian aid community. Most of the developing countries lack in such kind of resilience and effective humanitarian supply chain. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse the factors to develop the resilience in the humanitarian supply chain. Based on the literature review, total 12 factors related to resilient humanitarian supply chain have been identified. Some of these factors are process oriented and some are result oriented. Interpretive structural modelling with Fuzzy MICMAC analysis is used to develop structural relationships among these factors and to find the driving and the dependence power of these factors. Government support, strategy and capacity planning; and continuous assessment of project progress have emerged as the major drivers for the development of resilient humanitarian supply chain. By managing these driving factors, humanitarian aid programme can be made resilient and agile. The findings will be useful for the humanitarian aid agencies to develop effective and sustainable aid relief programme.

Sustainable operations modeling and data analytics

This editorial introduces the unique attributes of this special issue in the era of climate change, modern slavery, and big data. This special issue envisages the depth of penetration of sustainability, from strategy to the operations level, to understand the extent to which sustainability has attracted researchers and practitioners in dealing with various facets of operations management. Overall, it is encouraging to notice the research developments in all facets of operations management except process type, layout type, forecasting, and queuing. Out of three sustainability dimensions, this special issue received substantial contributions on economic and environmental aspects. All the contributions had at least two sustainability components in their decision models as well as newer analytical solutions. At the end, this piece outlines future research challenges and potential research opportunities.

Role of decoupling point in examining manufacturing flexibility: an empirical study for different business strategies

Manufacturing flexibility has been the subject of scholarly debate for decades. The literature investigated the relationship between manufacturing flexibility (MF) and business strategy realisation. However, scholars are yet to establish the relationship between these two constructs as mediated by the position of decoupling point (DP), which plays a key role in the design and management of supply chains. To address this gap, this paper develops a theoretical model grounded in strategic choice theory, which investigates the direct relation between MF and the position of DP, as well as the indirect relation between MF and business strategy as mediated by the position of DP. Based on a sample of 257 responses from a survey with Indian organisations, we test the model using structural equation modelling. The findings reveal that the level of MF varies with the position of DP within supply chains. This position of DP differs in different types of business strategies and accordingly affects their MF.