Evi Hartmann

Supply Risk Management: Model Development and Empirical Analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a model for upstream supply chain risk management linking risk identification, risk assessment and risk mitigation to risk performance and validate the model empirically. The effect of a continuous improvement process on identification, assessment, and mitigation is also modeled.

Research on the phenomenon of supply chain resilience

Purpose – This paper provides a robust and structured literature review on supply chain resilience (SCRES), the supply chain’s ability to be prepared for unexpected risk events, responding and recovering quickly to potential disruptions to return to its original situation or grow by moving to a new, more desirable state. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the extant research through focussed questions and provide an insightful framework with propositions to guide further publications and identify future research needs. Design/methodology/approach – The findings underlie a systematic literature review methodology requiring a robust method of literature analysis. The sand cone model is adopted to develop a comprehensive SCRES framework. Findings – The literature review reveals a strong need for an overarching SCRES definition and a clear terminology for its building elements. It indicates that most research has been qualitative and lacks in assessing and measuring SCRES performance. Originality/value –...

Cross‐functional integration and functional coordination in purchasing and supply management: Antecedents and effects on purchasing and firm performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a set of nine hypotheses linking four purchasing and supply management (PSM) practices directly to purchasing performance and indirectly to financial performance.Design/methodology/approach – The authors collected data in a global cross‐industry survey of 148 companies, combining primary interview and survey data with secondary data on firm performance, in order to minimize the impact of common method variance.Findings – Support was found for eight of the nine hypotheses. In particular, a positive impact was found of cross‐functional integration and functional coordination on purchasing performance, and of purchasing performance on firm performance. Both talent management and performance management have a positive impact on cross‐functional integration and functional coordination. Talent management also has a direct impact on purchasing performance, in contrast to performance management.Originality/value – The association of enhanced PSM maturity levels wi...

THE FLEXIBILITY OF LOGISTICS SERVICE PROVIDERS AND ITS IMPACT ON CUSTOMER LOYALTY: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

The use of logistics outsourcing and the degree of competition in the logistics service industry have significantly increased over the past decade. In order to reach and maintain an important role in such a business environment, logistics service providers (LSPs) have to find ways to achieve competitive advantage. In this regard, the role of flexibility as a potential source of competitive advantage for an LSP is unclear, as empirical research on flexibility in an industrial services context and specifically in logistics outsourcing relationships is lacking. Therefore, using the resource-based view (RBV) theory as the theoretical foundation, this study develops a conceptual model of flexibility as a capability of an LSP and its impact on customer loyalty, a central outcome for LSPs in a competitive business environment. Further, taking a relational as well as a knowledge perspective with respect to the antecedents of flexibility, the relational capability collaboration and the knowledge resources supply chain partner insight and communication are integrated into the model. Finally, the relationships of collaboration as a capability with knowledge resources as well as with customer loyalty are considered. This study analyzes 155 logistics outsourcing relationships using a survey method and partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling to empirically assess the proposed relationships. The results reveal that LSP flexibility is a strong driver of all core dimensions of customer loyalty (i.e., retention, extension, and referrals) and thus a source of competitive advantage for LSPs. Further, collaboration positively influences LSP flexibility and also the loyalty dimensions, supporting its significant role in a supply chain relationship. Finally, knowledge resources have a positive effect on LSP flexibility as well as on collaboration, indicating the importance of such resources in facilitating crucial capabilities.

Human resource management issues in supply chain management research

Purpose – With todays increasing globalization and associated growing demand for talented supply chain managers, human resource management (HRM) in supply chain management (SCM) has emerged as a top priority for firms. However, a thorough analysis of HRM issues in SCM research has not been made so far. To address this gap this paper provides a systematic and comprehensive literature review. The purpose of this paper is threefold: to analyze HRM/SCM issues published in leading SCM journals, to identify different HRM research streams in the SCM literature and to propose areas for future research. Design/methodology/approach – This paper employs a systematic literature review methodology. The selected journal articles are categorized on the basis of an analytical framework that contains seven HRM/SCM research streams derived from the extant literature. Findings – The systematic literature review indicates a growing focus on HRM/SCM issues in recent years, a trend that is predicted to continue. Additionally,...

Robust capacitated facility location model for acquisitions under uncertainty

Abstract We study a new robust formulation for strategic location and capacity planning considering potential company acquisitions under uncertainty. Long-term logistics network planning is among the most difficult decisions for supply-chain managers. While costs, demands, etc. may be known or estimated well for the short-term, their future development is uncertain and difficult to predict. A new model formulation for the robust capacitated facility location problem is presented to cope with uncertainty in planning. Minimizing the expectation of the relative regrets across scenarios over multiple periods is the objective. It is achieved by dynamically assigning multi-level production allocations, locations and capacity adjustments for uncertain parameter development over time. Considering acquisitions for profit maximization and its supply-chain impact is new as well as the simultaneous decision of capacity adjustment and facility location over time. The solution of the novel robust formulation provides a single setup where good results can be achieved for any realized scenario. Hence, the solution may not be optimal for one particular scenario but may be good, i.e. the highest expected profit to gain, for any highly probable future realization. We show that robust mixed-integer linear programming model achieves superior results to the deterministic configurations in exhaustive computational tests. This dynamic robust formulation allows the supply-chain to favorably adapt to acquisitions and uncertain developments of revenue, demand and costs and hence reduces the potential negative impacts of uncertainty on supply-chain operations.

Lateral transshipments: an institutional theory perspective

Purpose – Are lateral transshipments an effective instrument to ensure the safe and efficient supply of blood? This paper will use the lens of institutional theory to determine how the blood supply chain can benefit from lateral transshipments and what requirements are necessary for their implementation. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The research design comprises two stages. First, 16 case studies clustered into two case groups were conducted with transfusion laboratories in UK hospitals resulting in the derivation of eight key themes which were tested using a follow-up survey. Findings – The blood supply chain acts under the influence of significant institutional pressures. Coercive pressures result from regulations enforced to ensure the safe supply of blood, normative pressures are imposed by society, demanding wastage is minimized and mimetic pressure from other hospitals fosters efficient supply chain operation. Lateral transshipments offer a powerful organizat...

Reverse factoring in the supply chain: objectives, antecedents and implementation barriers

Purpose – Reverse factoring (RF) can generate win-win situations for buyers, banks and suppliers. However, the supply chain management literature generally tends to ignore financial influences and accounting support structures. Research in the area of RF is relatively new and considerably fragmented. The purpose of this paper is to address this research gap and provide an analysis of the objectives, antecedents and barriers of implementation. Design/methodology/approach – The study contributes fundamental new insights derived from 11 case studies. In total, 28 interviews were conducted from the perspective of buyers, banks and suppliers and analyzed regarding influencing factors of different RF approaches. Findings – RF predominantly is used to extend days payable outstanding. However, secondary objectives such as the reduction of supplier default risk and process simplifications also play an important role. The number of integrated suppliers, dependence of suppliers on their buyers, spread between intern...

Supply chain services from a service-dominant perspective: a content analysis

Purpose – This paper aims to apply service-dominant logic thinking to the field of supply chain management (SCM) in order to classify, structure, and analyze different types of supply chain services (SCS) collected from interdisciplinary literature. The authors investigate how value is co-created between supply chain actors and develop research propositions regarding the influence of service type on value co-creation. Design/methodology/approach – Content analysis is employed to research SCS across 218 articles from 28 journals of logistics and SCM, service, finance and accounting, and information systems research. Findings – The occurrence of SCS within the literature is rising, and most SCS mentioned have a relieving as opposed to an enabling function. Also, SCS related to material and information flows dominate the field, whereas finances-flow-related services receive less attention. Finally, the paper provides evidence that different types of SCS require different management approaches. Research limit...

Co-creating value in the automotive supply chain: an RFID application for processing finished vehicles

The aim of this study was to investigate the capability of a radio-frequency-identification (RFID)-based information system in the international distribution process of a car manufacturer. This innovative cross-company RFID application has been developed, implemented and evaluated in practice and reported here in the form of a case study. The results show that RFID applied to this application is mature enough for use in a manufacturing industry setting and furthermore that it generates significant benefits for the entire distribution supply chain. This research provides practitioners with insights into a successful RFID application by presenting criteria for hardware selection and the design of the system and testing phase. It also highlights the shared benefits available to supply chain partners. Further research is needed to develop greater standardisation for a network-wide data exchange and to develop cost-benefit sharing concepts.