Luís Miguel D. F. Ferreira

The influence of supply chain on the innovation process: a systematic literature review

Purpose The importance of innovation as a generator of competitive advantage and the collaborative nature of this process are recurring themes in the literature. This paper aims to contribute to the improvement of knowledge about the relationship between supply chains and the innovation process by means of a systematic literature review. Methodology/approach The method used consists of the identification, selection, analysis and synthesis of existing research on the subject and aims to ensure that the review is transparent, auditable and replicable. This paper presents the analysis of 94 papers from 37 journals and the major contributions are explored. Findings The identification and analysis of relevant articles showed the complexity, timeliness and the wide-ranging character of the theme. The analysis of articles allowed the identification of facilitators of the innovation process, as well as five approaches applicable to supply chains to drive the innovation process. From these analyses, a model synthesising the main practices identified for improving innovation performance is presented. Research limitations/implications When carrying out literature reviews, the selection of articles might be considered subjective. To circumvent this limitation, the papers have been assessed by three researchers. Practical implications The results presented can be applied in the decision-making process by managers in the areas of innovation and supply chain. Originality/value This paper synthesises knowledge involving the relationships between supply chains and the innovation process. The analysis is based on quantitative and qualitative criteria.

Development of a purchasing portfolio model for the construction industry: an empirical study

Purchasing is one of the core activities of most industries and performance in this area directly impacts the overall performance of a company. The purchasing portfolio model used in this paper, based on the Kraljic approach, assumes a relevant role in defining purchasing strategies, although its application in the construction industry has been limited or undocumented. This research is exploratory in nature, with the methodology based on action research combined with a single empirical study in a large Portuguese multinational construction company. The AHP technique was used for criteria prioritisation in both dimensions and direct measurement employed for rating construction item classes. A multidimensional scaling approach was employed to place the items in the purchasing portfolio matrix. Through the development for, and application of the model to a construction company, this study aims to contribute to expanding the domain of applicability of purchasing portfolio models. The results of the application confirmed the value of the model in helping to define construction company purchasing strategy and gave guidelines for its application.

An environmental balanced scorecard for supply chain performance measurement (Env_BSC_4_SCPM)

Purpose – Companies need to excel in many areas to achieve a competitive advantage. This, together with pressure imposed by regulators and customers regarding sustainability concerns, leads companies to address sustainability in an integrated fashion across all management processes. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a model for the assessment of the environmental performance of a supply chain, based on four perspectives used in the balanced scorecard. Performance indicators are proposed based on the literature, as well as on the ISO 14031 and GRI standards, and were validated by a panel of experts. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a literature review on models for environmental performance management a novel model to assess the environmental performance of the supply chains (Env_BSC_4_SCPM) is proposed. Data collected from the first tier suppliers of an automotive industry case study are used to test the proposed model. Findings – The model developed was tested in a case study company, showing...

Is the construction industry aware of supply chain management? The Portuguese contractors’ perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the understanding and behaviour of construction companies in relation to supply chain management (SCM) and how those relationships can impact the adoption of the SCM concept. Design/methodology/approach – This paper adopted a descriptive study method based on a cross-section survey. A literature review and focus group interviews were used to design the survey questionnaire. The focus group interviews were also used to discuss the results of the survey and draw conclusions. Findings – The results show that the global awareness level of SCM and the relationships level among the entities in the Portuguese construction industry are low, which is in alignment with previous research work. These results also show that SCM in the construction industry is a complex task due to the fact that the relationships between the entities are different, and also often contractors and subcontractors change roles from project-to-project. Research limitations/implications – Th...

Monitorization of sea sand transport in coastal areas using optical fiber sensors

Novel optical fiber sensors for monitoring the dynamic variations of the sea bed level in the nearshore were developed. The sensors are based on fiber Bragg gratings embedded in a polyurethane resin. For this solution sensitivities of 0.50±0.02 nm/m were achieved. The sensor was tested under controlled laboratory conditions and during an observational survey on the Algarve (Portugal) coastline.

Application of a Purchasing Portfolio Model in a Construction Company in Two Distinct Markets

The Kraljic purchasing portfolio matrix (KPM), which is based on the dimensions of strategic impact (SI) and supply market complexity (SMC), is a valuable instrument for defining purchasing strategies. This paper combines action research with a single case study to apply the KPM, which was developed at the head offices of a multinational construction company, in two branches located in markets with different characteristics. The application makes use of analytical hierarchical process techniques for criteria prioritization and employs direct measurement for criterion rating and multidimensional scaling to pinpoint the items in the KPM. The results, on one hand, confirm KPM as a valuable tool to support the development of purchasing strategies in the construction industry; on the other hand, they align with the expected behavior of a company in emerging markets, which tend to be more conservative than more mature markets in relation to supply risk management.

Delays in construction projects - causes and impacts

The main aim of this paper is to identify the main causes for the delays in the Portuguese construction industry and its impact, with the purpose of increasing knowledge on the causes and impacts of delays in construction projects. The Relative Importance Index was adopted to classify the importance of the 47 causes and six impacts identified causes of delays. Results show the main causes of delay are slow decision-making, changes to orders, unrealistic timescales and poor contract specifications, financial constraints on the contractor and the type of bidding and contract award process. The main impacts are time and cost overruns and disputes. Factor analysis revealed eight high-level causes that result in 26 of the original causes. Finally, Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to find the relationship between the extracted factors (latent causes) and impacts, revealing that lack of commitment and substandard contracts are positively correlated with all impacts, and poor consultant performance is negatively correlated with time overrun. These findings are expected to improve the scientific communitys knowledge of construction management.

Discontinued Products - An Empirical Study of Service Parts Management.

The procurement and inventory management of service parts for discontinued products has often been overlooked by companies, resulting in several problems such as stock outs, rush orders or obsolete stocks. Accordingly, the main aim of this work is to develop a methodology to deal with these issues following product discontinuation. To this end, an empirical study – based on action research principles – was carried out in a producer of household appliances, which is bound by law to provide service parts for its products for a period of 15 years after they have been discontinued. The work was developed in three stages: characterization of the company situation; definition of a procedure to eliminate obsolete stocks; and definition of a procedure to manage active service parts. The resulting methodology and respective procedures are presented and the results obtained with the implementation are discussed.

Integrating Sustainability Metrics in the Supply Chain Performance Measurement System

Sustainability impact of business activities, taking in account the three dimensions of the triple-bottom-line (economical, environmental and social), has become an important issue in the last years due to growing public awareness, and the introduction of legislations mainly in developed countries. From an industrial perspective, sustainable development must be extended beyond organizational boundaries to incorporate a supply chain approach.

Using the Six Sigma DMAIC Methodology to Improve an Internal Logistic Process

Six Sigma is a data-driven approach using specific tools and methodologies that lead to fact-based decisions. It employs a well-structured methodology to reduce process variability and eliminate waste within the business processes by applying statistical tools and techniques. This paper presents a case study highlighting how a manufacturer of domestic water heating equipment has used the Six Sigma Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) methodology to improve one of its internal logistical processes; the replenishment of supermarket in production lines. The paper describes how a company can use a systematic methodology to improve an internal logistical process, moving it toward a world class quality level. The application of the Six Sigma methodology resulted in a reduction of those routes taking more than 30 min to be completed from 25 to 3 %; a reduction in the coefficient of route time variability from 40 to 14 % and a reduction of the mean route time from 31 to 24 min. These results had a significant financial impact, allowing the elimination of one of the three existing routes—without any negative impact in the supermarket replenishment process—leading to a drop in man hours and costs through the elimination of two milk runs.