Analysis of the influential pressures for green supply chain management adoption—an Indian perspective using interpretive structural modeling

Presently, industries face tremendous pressure from customer’s environmental awareness and stricter environmental regulations to incorporate ethical and environmental considerations in all facets of traditional supply chain management (TSCM). Green supply chain management (GSCM) is a well-known and established concept to incorporate ethical, environmental considerations in TSCM which satisfies the needs of environmental policies and customers and restricts hazards. The objective of this paper is to identify the key pressures of motivation for adoption of GSCM in TSCM. This paper, initially identified 25 pressures from previous literature sources, secondly influential pressure was determined with help of interpretive structural modeling technique through expert’s opinion. This technique identified five level of influential pressures from recommended 25 pressures based on the impact. The result of this paper inferred that Indian auto component manufacturing industries are facing pressure from government and regulation policies categories. The study result is helpful to visualize which pressure provides more motivation to GSCM practices and which pressure is motivation-less to engage GSCM in traditional activities, especially to maintain environmental regulation policies. This approach was conducted with 16 auto components manufacturing industries in Tamilnadu, South India.     

An exploration of green supply chain practices and performances in an automotive industry

During recent years, the natural environment has become a challenging topic that business organizations must consider due to the economic and ecological impacts and increasing awareness of environment protection. Globalization and the increased number of countries entering the World Trade Organization (WTO) have promoted green supply chain management (GSCM) practices in manufacturing organizations. GSCM has emerged as an important organizational philosophy and a proactive approach to reduce environmental risks. Increasing pressures such as stricter regulations, increased community, and consumer pressures, and the developing country’s aim to enter the WTO have caused automotive supply chain managers to consider and to implement GSCM practices to improve both their economic and environmental performances. This paper explores the practices and performances of the GSCM based on the GSCM literature, and it considers the relationship between green supply chain practices (initiatives) and performance outcomes. In this paper, two questionnaires were developed and a survey conducted to assess the importance of GSCM practices and performances in an automotive company in a developing country using a fuzzy multiple criteria decision-making method. The result of this paper presents practical guidance for managers in performing GSCM practices by ranking GSCM practices according to their importance which leads to improving GSCM performances.     

Analysis of interaction between the barriers for the implementation of sustainable supply chain management

In the contemporary marketplace, it is essential for industries to offer environmentally conscious, “green” products. Because industries are aware of demands from both customers and from government policies towards environmental products, Indian industries are particularly pressured regarding issues of environmental adoption. At this point, they presently have less detailed research on the effects of the adoption of environmental practices using traditional supply chain management (TSCM). One sector that is less aware of environmental initiation practices in the TSCM is the fastener manufacturing industry, but they are in a good position to adopt and to improve their environmental performance. Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is an important concept to improve environmental performance in TSCM and to provide a useful green image in industrial products. However, there are many barriers to the successful implementation of SSCM, and it should be noted that not all the barriers carry an equal impact. We need to identify the dominant factors required to adopt the SSCM concept, so that industries need to analyze the barriers and their impacts. The main aim of this paper is to determine the relationship between the barriers and to identify the most influential barriers from the recommended barrier list with the help of interpretive structural modeling. In this study, 13 barriers are considered from the extensive literature available. This study has been conducted in two fastener manufacturing industries that are located in the southern part of India.     

基于Agent的绿色供应链研究

目前 ,环境的恶化和资源的日益匮乏使制造业承担环境保护的压力越来越大。如何降低在产品生命周期中自己应承担的责任已成为企业关注的问题。实施绿色供应链管理是有效的解决途径。本文在分析绿色供应链属性的基础上 ,基于供应链管理模式和移动Agent的思想构建绿色供应链模型 ,讨论了基于Agent的绿色供应链的运作过程 ,分析了绿色供应链管理实施应解决的关键问题 ,以实现动态响应市场和降低产品生命周期对环境影响的目标。     

Advanced manufacturing techniques and information technology adoption in India: A current perspective and some comparisons

This paper explores the issues of measurement and comparison of the current state of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) adoption in India, including important information technology (IT) factors, and, surprisingly, this appears to be the first such attempt. For a worldwide perspective, comparison is made between Indian firms, firms in a developed country (Canada), and in a developing country (China). Contrary to expectation, the average score of AMT adoption degree of Indian companies in our survey is higher than that of all Canadian companies (when unadjusted for size) and of Chinese companies in one of the highly industrialized regions of China as measured in other surveys. While this suggests considerable strength of the Indian manufacturing sector, there should be further evaluation by other studies in this area to refine and develop these results. This study finds the top six AMTs currently adopted in India are plant certification, computer aided design, local area network, quality circle, MRP/ERP, and wide area network. Clearly four of these top six are directly in the IT area (CAD, LAN, WAN) or directly dependent on it (MRP/ERP systems), indicating a strong IT adoption rate as well as its underlying supportive role in the overall AMT adoption in India. The comparison between Indian firms and Canadian firms indicates that Indian firms adopted computer networks less and MRP/ERP and rapid prototyping systems more. Tests in our survey also reinforce the hypothesis that larger companies are more likely to adopt AMT than the smaller ones.     

Manufacturing Flexibility: Assessing Managerial Perception and Utilization

This paper presents an empirical study of how consumer electronics companies in Brazil deal with the issue of manufacturing flexibility. The main purpose is to provide an understanding into how flexibility is being perceived and utilized in a newly industrialized country. It begins by explaining the relevance of this study. The participation of Brazil in the world economy is important. Here, companies can be very flexible, based on low cost and an abundant skilled work force, yet flexibility has not been addressed. The paper explains how indicators were established to obtain an analytical structure with which to assess the managerial perception and the actual industrial use of flexibility. Finally, we show the most relevant results of our investigation of 16 leading firms in Brazil, including multinational ones. The findings are divided according to managerial perception of flexibility and effective utilization of flexibility in the organization. The paper concludes that firms in the consumer electronics industry in Brazil do not use flexibility practices in the same proportion that they perceive its importance.     

A reverse logistics diagnostic tool: the case of the consumer electronics industry

The consumer electronics (CE) industry has high turnovers and a growing demand, such as on the home entertainment segment. At the same time, it generates e-waste of the order of a dozen million tons, about one quarter of the world's total. With the purpose of improving the environmental performance of businesses, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive was put in place in Europe. Given the high competitive environment of this industry, WEEE could be a clue for competitive edge. To create an environmental and economic win-win situation, however, companies have to master reverse logistics (RL). This is particularly challenging in fast clockspeed environments, as it is the case for the CE industry. In this paper, we develop a theoretically and empirically grounded diagnostic tool for assessing a CE company's RL practices and identifying potential for RL improvement, from a business perspective. To theoretically ground the tool, we combine specific CE literature with general theory on reverse logistics management and performance improvement. To empirically ground the tool, we collect field data by combining quantitative (a multiactor survey) with qualitative (interviews and company visits) methods. We demonstrate how our tool can be used to create awareness at senior management about the reverse logistics maturity state.     

Measuring environmental improvements image in companies implementing green manufacturing, by means of a fuzzy logic model for decision-making purposes

Green manufacturing is becoming an important strategy that manufacturing companies are implementing in their facilities to differentiate themselves from competitors. Several research efforts have been done aiming to understand the improvements achieved with green manufacturing. However, additional research needs to be conducted on how companies differ from each other, and how they can compare themselves to leading companies in environmental terms. The objective of this research was to design, verify, and validate a model able to deliver a positioning index (environmental improvement index, EII_GM) that measures the environmental image of a company as a function of their environmental improvements, and as compared to achievements in the same areas by leading companies implementing green manufacturing. The model was developed using a fuzzy logic approach. Main findings indicate that the highest levels in the EII_GM are achieved when simultaneously improving the four variables considered (water, waste, energy, and CO₂ emissions), with energy savings being the most important variable for companies improving only one variable. The environmental improvement index developed shows its importance as a planning and decision-making tool for manufacturing companies pursuing a higher environmental image, and a differentiation strategy from competitors based on environmental improvements.     

基于ITIL的变更和发布管理在ERP系统中的应用

根据ERP应用系统的特点和业务要求,结合大型跨国公司的应用实践,分析了基于信息技术基础架构库的变更和发布管理流程在ERP应用系统中的应用特点,并讨论了最佳实践方法。     

Human critical success factors for kaizen and its impacts in industrial performance

This article presents the results of a survey with 13 main activities related to human factors that are executed during kaizen implementation process and were integrated in four independent latent variables (management commitment, education, communication and motivation) that are associated to 14 benefits obtained after its implementation that were grouped in three dependent latent variables (process, workers and customers). The survey was applied to persons with responsibilities in continuous improvement programs and projects in companies located in Mexico. Independent and dependent variables were integrated in a structural equation model that was evaluated using partial least squares algorithms WarpPLS® for finding causal relations among them. Results indicate that management commitment and education are the main factors that guarantee the success for kaizen implementation programs, but that is moderated by a good communication for having good operational process performance for better workers and customer satisfaction.     

Robotic woes

Increased automation has long been mooted as a way to keep manufacturing jobs in the UK. But there are several factors that hinder the adoption of automation in the UK, primarily short-term accounting practices and lack of belief in the viability of manufacturing. According to an expert, some is driven by the fact that all manufacturing companies in the UK are publicly owned and they are trying to show short term gains for their shareholders rather than taking a longer-term view. If UK manufacturing is to compete on a global basis, factories need to invest in simple automation so that they can take on the low-cost countries in terms of labour. This paper discusses the reasons why the manufacturing sector in UK is still doubtful about installing robots along with the advantages of robotics in the manufacturing industry.     

Beyond lean [supply chain management]

Ever increasing competition, progressive internationalisation, acquisition and mergers, and the dawn of supply chain management (SCM) into the mainstream of industrial thinking has broadened the mindset of management to appreciate that one has to think business-wide in order to really define a plan that will drive operations forward. SCM has emerged to demonstrate an answer to the need to bring demand- and supply-side management to fruition. The author investigates supply chain management resources and techniques.     

Using data envelopment analysis in comparing the environmental performance and technical efficiency of selected companies in their global petroleum operations

This study examined the environmental performance and economic efficiency of global operations of selected companies in the petroleum industry by analyzing the technical and technical efficiency. The selected companies were chosen from the 2008 GLOBAL 500 in the petroleum industry based on their 3-year average value of assets. Data of environmental pollutant emissions were obtained from the companies’ sustainability reports. Environmental indices were used to conduct the eco-efficiency analysis using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) to obtain the overall eco-efficiency of the company. Economic data were obtained from the 2008 GLOBAL 500. Another DEA was performed to obtain the overall technical efficiency. Eco-efficiency scores and economic scores were analyzed using the Pearson’s coefficient of correlation and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient Performance is gauged through the eco-efficiency indicator which is interpreted by environmentalists, economists and scientist to assess the reduction of adverse impacts on the environment. Results show a weak positive relationship between eco-efficiency and technical efficiency. The eco-efficiency indicator is a useful management tool in that it provides a means for managers and consumers alike to conduct environmental housekeeping.     

基于CK-GPR的多应力环境智能电表剩余寿命预测

针对智能电表科学定期更换需求,建立一种基于智能电表基本误差数据的剩余寿命(RUL)预测方法.首先采用Person相关系数筛选对智能电表基本误差数据影响较大的环境应力作为模型输入;然后采用高斯核、Matern32核及周期核匹配多应力环境下智能电表基本误差趋势;利用贝叶斯方法和蒙特卡洛马尔科夫链(MCMC)求解模型.实验结...     

知识驱动协同创新的产品开发模型

为提高产品创新能力,提出了知识驱动协同创新的产品创新理念,并构建了具有6层结构的产品创新开发系统模型,包括协同平台、开发过程链、产品创新设计、分析评价、智能再设计和知识资源层等。研究了知识驱动协同创新的创成和吸纳相集成的原理、再设计建议的智能化生成方法及其过程链流程组织策略。产品协同创新的创成和吸纳过程通过集成推理实现;创新的产品方案再设计建议通过分析和仿真方法生成;产品创新开发过程链采用基于知识管理的流程组织方法。应用实例表明,已开发的系统体现了模型的基本功能,具有可操作性和实用价值。     

Interpretive structural modeling-based framework for VMI adoption in Indian industries

Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) is the latest supply chain management technology adopted by organizations to improve their business performance. In the recent years, many Indian organizations have also started adopting VMI in its supply chain. This paper identifies the variables that are important for VMI adoption. The variables are grouped as objectives, drivers, obstacles, and affected operations. The contextual relationship between the variables is established. This study employs an interpretive structural modeling approach to investigate the mutual relationship between the variables. These variables are then classified into four categories, namely, autonomous, driver, dependent, and linkage, to understand their relative impact. With the help of ISM, variables those which support other variables (driving variable) and those variables which are most influenced by other variables (dependent variables) are identified. The aim of this paper is to understand these mutual influences and develop a framework. Such an integrated framework would enable a better understanding of important issues while implementing VMI strategies in the Indian context.     

The use and impact of technology in factory environments: evidence from a survey of manufacturing industry in Spain

The aim of this paper is to examine information related to the implementation of shop floor technologies and information technologies. This will be complemented with data relating to different levels of usage of the technologies. In addition, we test whether implementation alone is able to improve company performance or whether a high level of usage is also important. The empirical evidence comes from a sample of 151 Spanish manufacturing companies surveyed according to the European Manufacturing Survey's methods in 2006. Our results show that the most widely adopted technology is computer-aided design (CAD), followed by enterprise resource planning (ERP) and industrial robots. When the focus is on the level of use, the most highly used technologies turn out to be very similar—CAD–computer-aided manufacturing, ERP, and industrial robots—. Multiple regression analysis shows a positive correlation between the variable “level of usage” and performance. The relationship between adoption and results is less strong. These results have some implications and the paper ends with an explanation of how these findings should be used by firms in the development of future policies or strategic plans.     

应变管理及其运行模式探讨

在激烈的市场竞争与飞速发展的科学技术面前，企业生存与发展的关键就是针对周围环境的变化，适时地改变经营目标、调整经营战略、重组制造资源等系列改革。如何成功地进行企业改革，是每一个企业管理人员及有关研究人员面临的共同课题。应变管理正是针对这一问题而提出的。本文以取得企业应变活动成功为目的，介绍了应变管理的基本概念及其发展过程，分析了目前企业内部的各种应变活动，探讨了应变管理的模式，提出了集成化应变管理的概念。     

Conceptual Interpretation of First and Second Kinds of Errors at Management Mode Selection under Conditions of Its Possible Crisis State

Errors in the selection of management practices at an enterprise confronting the prospect of crisis are considered: specifically, the adoption of standard management during a crisis; or crisis management when no crisis exists. By analogy with classical approaches in probability theory and operational research, such errors are interpreted as errors of the first and second kind. The basic problems arising from such errors are identified, and some measures are proposed for reducing their likelihood. The results should prove useful to managers at industrial enterprises, consulting firms, developers of management systems, and the faculty at universities and staff-training centers.     

Metrological assessment of LIDAR signals in water

Over the years many private companies and governmental institutions have adopted environmental monitoring as an effective practice to minimize harmful impacts on the environment. Remote monitoring is unquestionably a versatile alternative for detecting possible leaking of noxious substances before they become apparent. LIDAR provides a reliable technique for measurements of pigments in seawater. An investigation was carried out to: (i) assess different procedures to improve the signal-to-noise relationship; (ii) preserve the integrity of the wavelength bandwidth of the fluorescence spectrum; (iii) verify the repeatability of wavelength measurements associated with local maximum of the Raman scattering curve of seawater and chlorophyll-a. Two approaches were adopted to calibrate the equipment: in the laboratory, by evaluating fluorescence signal fluctuations of the Raman scattering in seawater for different equipment parameters and on-site, by measuring relative concentrations of chlorophyll-a in seawater for different schemes. An experimental arrangement was eventually set up as calibration standard.