Pollution optimisation study of logistics in SMEs

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 731-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anand Jaiswal ◽  
Cherian Samuel ◽  
G. Abhishek Ganesh
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Pollutant Emission ◽  
Vehicular Pollution ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Network ◽  
Pollution Emission ◽  
Optimisation Model ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a solution for greening the supply chain of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by minimising the vehicular pollutant emission in the logistics network. Design/methodology/approach The paper proposes an optimisation model to reduce the pollution emission in the logistics of supply chain network in SMEs. The work considers vehicle routing and selection of suppliers, manufacturers and assemblers according to the availability of various Bharat Stage Emission Standards type vehicles. Introsort sorting based selection algorithm is used to solve the problem. The proposed solution is implemented using C++ on an experimental data set for analysing the model. Findings The outcome of the study is a pollution optimisation model for logistics of SMEs. The finding shows an approach to reduce total vehicular pollution emission in the logistics network in meeting the demand. The model is tested over an experimental study, and the result findings show which supply chain entities, type of environmental standard vehicles and vehicle routes are selected for the specific demand. Research limitations/implications The proposed model is confined to pollution optimisation with limited parameters only and does not consider cost and other factors that can be included in future work. Practical implications The work can be used for limiting pollution in logistics system as the corporate social responsibility of enterprises. Originality/value Proposed work presents a sustainable and green solution for pollution control in logistics activities of the SMEs.

Effects of cloud computing assimilation on supply chain financing risks of SMEs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Lu ◽  
Jinliang Chen ◽  
Hua Song ◽  
Xiangyu Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Financing ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how cloud computing assimilation reduces supply chain financing (SCF) risks of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study also investigated the mediating roles of internal and external supply chain integration between cloud computing assimilation and the SCF risks of SMEs, as well as the moderating role of environmental competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from surveys of SMEs located in China. Multiple regression analysis was used to validate the proposed theoretical model and research hypotheses. Findings The findings show that cloud computing assimilation could reduce the SCF risks of SMEs directly. The results also indicate that both internal and external supply chain integration mediate the relationship between cloud computing assimilation and SCF risks. Furthermore, environmental competitiveness inhibits the effects of cloud computing assimilation on SCF risks. Originality/value To our best knowledge, this is the preliminary study to explore the role of cloud computing assimilation in reducing the SCF risks of SMEs. Also, this study attempted to investigate the process by which cloud computing assimilation affects the SCF risks of SMEs.

Big data-driven supply chain and performance: a resource-based view

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shampy Kamboj ◽  
Shruti Rana
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Firm Age ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Performance ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeThe main objective of this paper is to study the role of supply chain performance (SCP) as a mediator between big data-driven supply chain (BDDSC) and firm sustainable performance. In addition, the role of firm age as a moderator between BDDSC and SCP as well as between SCP and firm sustainable performance has also been explored.Design/methodology/approachThe 200 managers of medium or senior level positions in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) located at Delhi-NCR have been contacted. Further, collected data have been confirmed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In this paper, structure equation modeling (SEM) has been employed to empirically check the proposed hypotheses and their relationships.FindingsThe findings confirmed that SCP mediates the link between BDDSC and firm sustainable performance. Additionally, firm age moderates the association between BDDSC and SCP as well as between SCP and firm sustainable performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe role of SCP and firm age between BDDSC and sustainable performance have been examined in the context of MSMEs in Delhi-NCR and thereby limit the generalization of results to other industries and country contexts.Originality/valueThe present study adds to the existing literature via recognizing the blackbox using SCP and firm age to comprehend BDDSC and firm sustainable performance relationship.

Modeling the barriers of green supply chain management in small and medium enterprises

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1110-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhijit Majumdar ◽  
Sanjib Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Green Supply Chain Management ◽  
Green Supply Chain ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Practices ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) of Indian clothing industry have become one of the most important cogs of global fashion supply chain. However, the implementation of green practices is still in the nascent stage. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the important barriers of green supply chain management in Indian clothing SMEs.Design/methodology/approachA total of 36 barriers related to green supply chain management (GSCM) practices were identified through exhaustive literature review. Then ten important barriers were shortlisted through questionnaire survey among supply chain practitioners using five-point Likert scale. Finally, interpretive structural modeling technique was used to decipher the contextual relationships among these barriers.FindingsComplexity of green process and system design and lack of support from regulatory authorities were found to be the barriers having the maximum driving power. Lack of consumer support and high investment and low economic benefits were also found to be important barriers in the way of green practices implementation in clothing SMEs. In contrast, lack of reward systems for suppliers, uncertainty of green outcome, lack of green materials, process and technology and lack of flexibility to switch over to green system were the dependent barriers.Originality/valueThe important barriers of GSCM practices in Indian clothing SMEs have been identified and analyzed. The finding will be helpful in making the Indian clothing SMEs environmentally sustainable by eliminating the important barriers.

India-based versus UK-based SME owners’ perspectives on inter-firm collaboration

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Unhale ◽  
André Slowak
Keyword(s):  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Business Associations ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Grounded Theory Research ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Theory Research ◽  
Indian Perspective ◽  
Country Specific

Purpose This study aims to inquire about pre-requisites and benefits of collaboration in the UK and India, testing for significance of country context. Design/methodology/approach The survey data set includes 118 UK-based and 175 India-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This paper applies a grounded theory research design, given that to date, no sufficient SME sector-specific, quantitative frameworks have been published. Findings India-based SMEs are more inclined towards frequent collaboration. Soft variables such as perceived trustworthiness or past commitment, appear to be significant when explaining whether or not SMEs in India enter into a collaboration. Operations-driven motives play the most significant role for them, whereas for UK-based SMEs, product design-related collaboration motives are of more importance. Research limitations/implications The developed cross-country and country-specific collaboration variables will facilitate SME studies under a consistent and complete framework. Practical implications Business associations and SME owners in the UK can use the research to gain an Indian perspective and vice versa. This study concludes a stylised framework for SME owners and managers to classify collaboration patterns in a country. Originality/value While previous research established concepts and practices of SME collaboration, this is the first paper that quantitatively addresses the attitudes and experiences that SME owners hold when initialising inter-firm collaboration.

Socially responsible supply chain management in small and medium enterprises in the GCC

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bader Al-Esmael ◽  
Faisal Talib ◽  
Mohd. Nishat Faisal ◽  
Fauzia Jabeen
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Gulf Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gulf Countries ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine variables and their relationships that hinder socially responsible behaviours in the supply chain of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). countries. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the mixed-method approach that includes the survey method and soft mathematical modelling. Empirical data were collected from 130 SMEs and their suppliers based in Qatar and Oman. Furthermore, to understand the barriers and their interrelationships, interpretive structural modelling approach is applied. Findings The results of empirical study reveal lack of coherence among SMEs and their suppliers in prioritising social responsibility issues in their supply chain. The hierarchy-based model reveals that shortages of incentive, short-term objectives, the lack of cooperation and willingness among supply chain partners, constraints (financial, managerial and technological) and the pressure from customers were the independent barriers and have strong driving power. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study are expected to provide an insight to further improve and promote socially responsible supply chain in emerging economies in Gulf region. Future research could compare the socially responsible activities of SMEs from different Gulf countries and expand the understanding of the barriers that outline the responses of suppliers situated in different Gulf economies. Originality/value The results contribute to the field of supply chain sustainability as the first academic attempt to shed light on how SMEs in GCC are dealing with supply chain social responsibility issues and one of the few in the emerging economy perspective that probes the key role of barriers to improve the socially responsible behaviour of Gulf-based SMEs.

A stakeholders’ perspective on barriers to adopt sustainable practices in MSME supply chain

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swayam Sampurna Panigrahi ◽  
Nune Srinivasa Rao
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Purpose Enterprises face the wrath of the government for taking part in environmental conservation and adoption of sustainable initiatives along with customer demands. Therefore, enterprises are forced to adopt sustainable supply chain practices (SSCPs), which leads to competitive advantage. Now, sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is a management process that promotes the adoption of eco-friendly activities in conventional supply chains (SCs). Enterprises in India are under tremendous pressure to include SSCPs into their conventional SCs. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the barriers for the implementation of SSCPs into Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Design/methodology/approach This study aims to identify critical barriers for adoption of SSCPs in the textile MSME SCs located in Eastern India, Odisha with the help of interpretive structural modeling (ISM). Findings The paper develops a framework for the evaluation of barriers to the adoption of SSCP in the textile SC. This paper also provides appropriate suggestive measures to deal with the barriers and overcome the same to attain a sustainable textile SC. Research limitations/implications Opportunities exist for extension of this research on wider geographical area. In addition to this, some other quantitative modeling approaches can be applied, like analytical hierarchy process, to prioritize the barriers. Practical implications The framework offers help to SC managers in their decision-making process by enabling them to analyze the barriers and ways to overcome them. Originality/value The paper deals with a particular geographical area where such kinds of studies are rare. The proposed framework provides a foundation for further research.

scholarly journals Modelling owner’s physiognomies & incitements for the adoption of enterprise application architecture for supply chain management in small and medium enterprises: A case of Capricorn District Municipality

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kingston Xerxes Theophilus Lamola ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Enterprise Application ◽  
Application Architecture ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The adoption of enterprise application architecture (EAA) for supply chain management (SCM) in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) was influenced by the owner’s physiognomies and incitements (OPIs) on a routine basis. The study employs a quantitative approach based on a linear regression model, which uses diagnosis tests “Cronbach's Alpha, normal distribution, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test” that makes descriptive statistics possible on Pearson correlations, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson's Coefficients, and linear regression. The study examines whether OPIs affect the adoption of EAA for SCM in SMEs within Capricorn District Municipality. The paper exploits the original data set of 310 SMEs, targeting predominantly both SMEs’ owners and managers to run linear regression models with the dependent variable “actual adoption of EAA” and independent variable “OPIs”. A novel piece of authenticity for the models is the incorporation of OPIs within the SCM activities and whether there were any, collaborative influences affecting the adoption of EAA. The findings have a bearing on SMEs’ SCM growth strategies, directed towards the technology acceptance model.

Adoption of supply chain finance by small and medium enterprises in China

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaobo Li ◽  
Bao Jiang ◽  
Jian Li
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Supply Chain Finance ◽  
Influence Mechanism ◽  
Behavioural Factors ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Adoption Intention

PurposeSupply chain finance (SCF) is a promising financing solution for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The study aims to highlight the determinants of the adoption of SCF and the theoretical implications for SCF in SMEs.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), the authors develop a model and test hypotheses about the factors (1) SE, (2) attitude toward SCF, (3) social influence (SI), (4) adoption intention (AI) and (5) actual adoption (AA) of SCF. Data collected from a survey of 211 managers in SMEs in China were used to conduct a partial least squares (PLS) estimation.FindingsThe empirical results indicate that attitude toward SCF and SI positively affect AI towards SCF, whereas AI positively affects the AA of SCF. Specifically, the authors find that AI plays a mediating role in the relationship between SE and AA of SCF, whereas attitude toward SCF plays a mediating role between SI and AI.Originality/valueFirst, the authors use the TPB to study the adoption of SCF in SMEs. Second, the authors apply PLS to clarify the influence mechanism of behavioural factors on the adoption of SCF. The authors provide a useful approach for practitioners in examining the adoption of SCF by SMEs.

Modeling the supply chain finance (SCF) barriers of Indian SMEs using BWM framework

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandra Prakash Garg ◽  
Vishal Kashav
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Expert Panel ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Finance ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose The presence of barriers in the supply chain finance (SCF) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) cripples the productivity and efficiency of SMEs and makes it challenging to execute strategies. SCF barriers can be internal and external which tend to impede the desired performance and profitability of the SMEs. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to discern the possible SCF barriers and analyze the criticality of the barriers to understand how they impact on the SMEs market of India. Design/methodology/approach This study proposes a novel hybrid approach called best worst method (BWM) to evaluate the discerned barriers. BWM technique is espoused to appraise the SCF barriers, so that the decision-makers can rationally comprehend the reason behind dominance of one barrier over other. Although such an assessment may possibly vary for different industries, that is why proposed approach is generic in nature and can be applied in real-world cases. The robustness of the suggested model is also assessed through sensitivity analysis. Findings SCF barriers are identified through extensive literature review and inputs from the industry. The results derived through BWM approach concludes that the “Financial Barriers” are censorious and foremost inhibitors for SMEs to flourish, therefore, require special attention by the top management. Likewise, “Supply and Suppliers Barriers” are ranked second, conversely, “Market and Policy Related Barriers” are found least critical in nature in SMEs of India. Research limitations/implications This work is specific to SCF barriers and other barriers have not been touched upon. The study is based on expert panel opinion for seeking information which is restricted to Indian context, as the members of the expert panel belong to same geography. Practical implications This research could aid decision-makers and strategists to comprehend the deep-rooted initiatives to achieve a comprehensive implication of SCF across SC network. By assessing SCF barriers, this study helps SMEs to understand their shortfalls and in answering the pertinent question of how to gain excellence in this intensely competitive market. Originality/value SMEs are considered as engines of economic development worldwide. India too is striving for increasing the growth and development of SMEs in every aspect, to gain operational excellence, to make profits or employment generation but presence of SCF barriers makes it difficult to achieve this in Indian SMEs. Therefore, it is imperative to analyze the criticality of the SCF barriers to understand how they impact on SMEs market of India. The paper illustrates the modeling of SCF barriers among SMEs using BWM approach, exhibiting how comprehending barriers can improvise productivity and efficiency of the SCs in SMEs.

Predicting supply chain effectiveness through supply chain finance

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 488-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zulqurnain Ali ◽  
Bi Gongbing ◽  
Aqsa Mehreen
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Strategic Alliance ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Fixed Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Finance ◽  
Structural Relationships ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

PurposeDue to globalization, textile small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operations have become complex which raised the needs of risk-free financing solutions to support the SMEs’ daily processes. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of supply chain (SC) finance, a risk-free financing solution, on SC effectiveness (SCE) in the context of textile SMEs by employing transaction cost (TC) approach.Design/methodology/approachThe participants of the study were recruited from textile SMEs through a structured questionnaire. The proposed model and structural relationships were assessed by employing AMOS 24.0.FindingsThe results of this paper indicate that supply chain finance (SCF) has a significant effect on SCE. Furthermore, all proposed factors of SCF adoption have a positive and significant effect on SCF.Practical implicationsThis study helps the SMEs executives or owners to adopt SCF as a secure financing scheme to reduce the credit TCs, optimize the firm working capital, reduce the risk of default, and improve SC effectiveness. SMEs and suppliers can build strong relationships while adopting the findings of this study. SMEs can engage the suppliers to work under strategic alliance through negotiation, collaboration, and work digitization, and extend their payment terms while providing an opportunity to the suppliers to get their payment back before a fixed time through discounting from financial institutions as needed.Originality/valueThe present study covered the gap related to SCF and SCE by identifying unique factors of SCF adoption which was ignored in the previous literature by employing TC approach.

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