International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

Subramaniam, Prema Latha; Iranmanesh, Mohammad; Kumar, Kavigtha Mohan; Foroughi, Behzad

2020 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-01-2019-0002

In the literature on sustainable supply chain management, the social pillar of sustainability has received relatively little attention, especially in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to test empirically the impacts of supplier development practices on suppliers’ social performance. Furthermore, the impact of suppliers’ social performance on MNCs’ social performance was investigated and corporate reputation was proposed as a potential explanation for the relationship between MNCs’ social and financial performance.Design/methodology/approachData were obtained from a survey of 141 multinational companies (MNCs) in Malaysia which were listed in the Federation of Malaysia Manufacturers’ directory 2017. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results show that among the four proposed practices, supplier development and supplier collaboration have significant effects on suppliers’ social performance and consequently on the multi-national companies’ social performance. According to these results, multi-national companies’ corporate reputation mediates the relationship between their social and financial performance.Practical implicationsThese results will be useful in helping managers of MNCs to realize that simply monitoring suppliers and giving them incentives are not effective ways of enhancing social responsibility among suppliers; instead, supplier development and collaboration such as technical support and training are needed.Originality/valueThe results extend the literature on socially responsible supplier development practices by testing empirically the impacts of four popular practices in the literature and showing that supplier monitoring and incentives have no effect.

Mkansi, Marcia; de Leeuw, Sander; Amosun, Olatoye

2020 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-10-2018-0358

The purpose of this paper is to present a mobile application supported townshipand urban e-grocery distribution models that uses a software application (app) to bridge the infrastructural barriers, costs and complexities associated with e-grocery delivery operations in rural township areas.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative multi-case approach and semi-structured interviews, the study explored distribution practices of eight national emerging e-grocery retail businesses to demonstrate how mobile applications can facilitate South African urban and township e-grocery delivery models.FindingsThe study reveals how the need to scale the use of new mobile application innovations fuels value-added services that power new e-grocery distribution models. Of interest is how the application aggregates demand rapidly, respond to demand within a short lead time and how e-grocers use competitors’ stores as their fulfilment centres. The use of apps reveals a slow transformation of society towards an inclusive model that integrates different types of workers in an informal context.Practical implicationsThe mobile application value-added service business model offers a new wave of scaling e-grocery retail to rural and township areas constrained by technological, economic and road infrastructure. The apps transcend e-grocery barriers and enables small businesses with limited resources to leverage e-grocery market opportunities that are unimaginable in townships and rural areas.Originality/valueThe innovative mobile platform-base model offers emerging contextual insight of a pull e-grocery distribution model that demonstrates the supply chain innovations for addressing under-resource and under-developed logistics infrastructure.

Luomaranta, Toni; Martinsuo, Miia

2020 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-10-2018-0337

Additive manufacturing (AM) involves the renewal of production systems and also has implications for firms’ supply chains. Innovations related to AM supply chains are, so far, insufficiently understood, but their success will require firms’ awareness of their systemic nature and their firm-specific implications. The purpose of this paper is to explore the supply chain innovations dealing with AM in business-to-business supply chains.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory qualitative research design is used. Interviews were conducted in 20 firms, workshops were organized to map AM-related processes and activities, and supply chain innovations were analyzed.FindingsThis study reveals practical changes in supply chains and requirements for AM-related supply chain innovations. While earlier research has centered on technology or firm-specific AM implementations, this study shows that fully leveraging AM will require innovations at the level of the supply chain, including innovations in business processes, technology and structure, as well as supportive changes in the business environment. These innovations occur in different parts of the AM supply chain and are emphasized differently within different firm types.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was conducted in one country in the context of the machine building and process industry with a limited data set, which limits the generalizability of the results. The results offer an analytical framework and identify new research avenues for exploring the innovations in partial or complete AM supply chains.Practical implicationsThe results offer a framework to assess the current state and future needs in AM-related supply chain innovations. Practical ideas are proposed to enhance AM adoption throughout firms’ supply chains. These results are important to managers because they can help them position their firms and guide the activities and collaborations with other firms in the AM supply chain.Originality/valueThis study draws attention to the supply chain innovations required when firms adopt AM in their processes. The generic supply chain innovation framework is enhanced by adding the business context as a necessary component. Implementation of AM is shown to depend on the context both at the level of the supply chain and the firm’s unique role in the supply chain. The holistic view taken reveals that successful AM technology adoption requires broad involvement from different firms across the supply chain.

Chunsheng, Li; Wong, Christina W.Y.; Yang, Ching-Chiao; Shang, Kuo-Chung; Lirn, Taih-cherng

2020 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-02-2019-0041

Building supply chain (SC) resilience is crucial for business continuity given the ever-changing environmental conditions. Based on the resource orchestration and organizational culture theories, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the business value of SC resilience with the consideration of the roles of internal integration (II) and external integration (EI), risk management culture (RMC) and SC flexibility (SCF).Design/methodology/approachThis study investigates how RMC, SCF and intra and interorganizational integration affect the performance of SC resilience. It collects primary and secondary data from 194 manufacturing firms listed in the Taiwan Stock Exchange and Taipei Exchange.FindingsResults validate the authors’ hypothesis that RMC, SCF and II improve the financial performance of firms through SC resilience efforts.Research limitations/implicationsThis study uses firms from Taiwan manufacturing industry, which might introduce country and industry bias.Practical implicationsThis study helps managers improve the financial performance of their SC resilience efforts by developing RMC, SCF, II and IE across functions and partner firms.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by empirically testing the relationship between SC resilience and financial performance, and how the relationship is moderated by RMC, SCF, II and EI based on the theories of organizational culture and resource orchestration.

Song, Shaohua; Shi, Xianliang; Song, Guang

2020 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-04-2019-0115

The purpose of this paper is to apply the dynamic capability view to identify relationships between human capital (HC), supply chain integration (SCI) and firm’s performance. It also examines the moderating effect of product variety (PV) on these relationships in the context of omni-channel retailing (OCR).Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study was conducted based on survey research. In total, 230 retailers in China’s market adopting omni-channel strategy were surveyed to examine the hypotheses proposed in our conceptual model using statistical techniques.FindingsThis study reveals that HC has a positive impact on SCI, and the impact of employees’ capital is greater on the success of SCI than that of managers’ capital. Moreover, the results confirm that SCI facilitates the achievement of superior performance. Organization integration contributes the most to performance improvement in OCR. Additionally, this study identifies the positive moderating effect of PV on the relationship between HC and SCI, while the moderating effect is insignificant to the influence of SCI on performance.Research limitations/implicationsWe obtained valuable insights for both academicians and practitioners. On the one hand, this could be an early attempt as an interdisciplinary study to empirically analyze supply chain management in OCR from human resource perspective. It reveals the importance of human resource management (HRM) and the contribution of SCI to OC retailers. Therefore, this study fills current research gaps. On the other hand, this study provides several practical insights to top management: the importance of improving an individual’s competency to sustain a retailer’s dynamic capability; and the importance of strengthening the organization’s integration to better achieve effective SCI in OCR. Additionally, this study proposes future research based on its limitations.Originality/valueSCI is investigated in the context of OCR from the HRM perspective. Moreover, this study reveals the importance of HRM and discusses the moderator’s effect in OCR.

Carter, Craig R.; Hatton, Marc R.; Wu, Chao; Chen, Xiangjing

2020 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-02-2019-0056

The purpose of this paper is to update the work of Carter and Easton (2011), by conducting a systematic review of the sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) literature in the primary logistics and supply chain management journals, during the 2010–2018 timeframe.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology which follows the methodology employed by Carter and Easton (2011). An evaluation of this methodology, using the Modified AMSTAR criteria, demonstrates a high level of empirical validity.FindingsThe field of SSCM continues to evolve with changes in substantive focus, theoretical lenses, unit of analysis, methodology and type of analysis. However, there are still abundant future research opportunities, including investigating under-researched topics such as diversity and human rights/working conditions, employing the group as the unit of analysis and better addressing empirical validity and social desirability bias.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings result in prescriptions and a broad agenda to guide future research in the SSCM arena. The final section of the paper provides additional avenues for future research surrounding theory development and decision making.Originality/valueThis SLR provides a rigorous, methodologically valid review of the continuing evolution of empirical SSCM research over a 28-year time period.