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Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 32380

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. S. Mahdi Homayouni

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Guest Editor

INESC TEC - Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Interests: operations management; supply chain management; production planning and scheduling; operational research; (Meta)heuristics; simheuristics; simulation; sustainability

Dr. Hamid Reza Panjeh Fouladgaran

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 5UG, UK
Interests: operations management; supply chain management; sustainable supply chain; reverse logistics; risk management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable operations and supply chain management attracted the research community and industrial practitioners’ attention, specifically in the past two decades. Extreme climate conditions increased societal awareness, and unevenly distributed economic growth in recent years triggered sustainable practices in every section with no exceptions for operations and supply chain management. It directly deals with goals 7, 8, and 9 of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Developments Goals; i.e., cleaner energy, economic growth, resilient infrastructure, and innovative industry.

Recent advancements in cyber-physical production systems, the internet of industrial things, blockchain technology, and the big data available in the context of Industry and Supply Chain 4.0 are reforming conventional decision-making processes in operations and supply chain management mainly through the integration of entities and functionalities which brings new issues and problems. Thus, operational decisions are tougher to be made, particularly to attain sustainability.

This special issue looks for fresh research to comprehend the impacts of such advancements on sustainable operations and supply chain management practices encompassing product design, process improvements, purchases, supply chain management, performance measurement, and risk management.

We welcome original research articles and reviews in areas that include (but are not limited to) the following:

production & inventory planning, scheduling, and control;
logistics, transportation & supply chain management;
constructions & project management;
quality planning, control, and management;
risk analysis & management; reliability & maintenance management;
process management & technology management.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. S. Mahdi Homayouni
Dr. Hamid Reza Panjeh Fouladgaran
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainable operations management
supply chain management
Industry 4.0
internet of industrial things
operational research
planning and Scheduling
metaheuristics
big data

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 7087 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Managing Disruptions in a Biomass Supply Chain: A Decision Support System Based on Simulation/Optimisation

by Henrique Piqueiro, Reinaldo Gomes, Romão Santos and Jorge Pinho de Sousa

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7650; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097650 - 6 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1960

Abstract

To design and deploy their supply chains, companies must naturally take quite different decisions, some being strategic or tactical, and others of an operational nature. This work resulted in a decision support system for optimising a biomass supply chain in Portugal, allowing a more efficient operations management, and enhancing the design process. Uncertainty and variability in the biomass supply chain is a critical issue that needs to be considered in the production planning of bioenergy plants. A simulation/optimisation framework was developed to support decision-making, by combining plans generated by a resource allocation optimisation model with the simulation of disruptive wildfire scenarios in the forest biomass supply chain. Different scenarios have been generated to address uncertainty and variability in the quantity and quality of raw materials in the different supply nodes. Computational results show that this simulation/optimisation approach can have a significant impact in the operations efficiency, particularly when disruptions occur closer to the end of the planning horizon. The approach seems to be easily scalable and easy to extend to other sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

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23 pages, 7890 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Simulation Approach for the Design of More Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains in the Pharmaceutical Industry

by Ana Carolina Silva, Catarina Moreira Marques and Jorge Pinho de Sousa

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7254; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097254 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2025

Abstract

In a world facing unprecedented challenges, such as climate changes and growing social problems, the pharmaceutical industry must ensure that its supply chains are environmentally sustainable and resilient, guaranteeing access to key medications even when faced with unanticipated disruptions or crises. The core goal of this work is to develop an innovative simulation-based approach to support more informed and effective decision making, while establishing reasonable trade-offs between supply chain robustness and resiliency, operational efficiency, and environmental and social concerns. Such a decision-support system will contribute to the development of more resilient and sustainable pharmaceutical supply chains, which are, in general, critical for maintaining access to essential medicines, especially during times of crises or relevant disruptions. The system will help companies to better manage and design their supply chains, providing a valuable tool to achieve higher levels of resilience and sustainability. The study we conducted has two primary contributions that are noteworthy. Firstly, we present a new advanced approach that integrates multiple simulation techniques, allowing for the modeling of highly complex environments. Secondly, we introduce a new conceptual framework that helps to comprehend the interplay between resiliency and sustainability in decision-making processes. These two contributions provide valuable insights into understanding complex systems and can aid in designing more resilient and sustainable systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

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22 pages, 3210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inventory Transshipment Considering Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Sustainable Cross-Filling in Cold Supply Chains

by Hang Thi Thanh Vu and Jeonghan Ko

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7211; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097211 - 26 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1853

Abstract

In recent years, sustainable supply chain management has gained increasing attention, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout supply chains have been identified as one of the most important sustainability issues. This paper presents an investigation of the problem of transshipment among distribution centers (DCs) in a cold supply chain to achieve sustainable inventory cross-filling. Although transshipment is an effective tool for supply chain pooling, the possibility of increased GHG emissions raises environmental concerns. This study establishes a sustainable cold-chain logistics model that considers GHG emissions from DC storage and transshipment trucks. The new sustainable cold-chain model also reflects laden status and cargo weights of trucks for accurate emission assessment. An optimization model is also developed to minimize both GHG emissions and costs in the cold chain. Numerical simulations are conducted for diverse problem cases to examine important problem characteristics. The result analysis identifies that inventory service levels and demand variability have a strong impact on GHG emissions in transshipment; small p-values in the statistical analysis verify the significance of this effect. The different effects of demand variability and service levels on each emission source are also analyzed. The results demonstrate that transshipment among DCs can effectively reduce both GHG emissions and costs in cold supply chains. This study provides useful models and tools to assess GHG emissions and optimize decisions for the design and operation of transshipment. The proposed models will enable the assessment of sustainable alternatives and achieve sustainability objectives effectively for cold supply chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

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29 pages, 2147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Mixed-Method Approach to Determine the Successful Factors Affecting the Criticality Level of Intermediate and Final Products on National Basis: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia

by Aiman Fadil, Paul Davis and John Geraghty

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6023; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076023 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2613

Abstract

COVID-19, Brexit, war, and some other similar cases will leave/have left us with a lesson that has had an impact on the supply chains of almost all product types. Countries have now recognized that some products cannot be sustained in a situation of uncertainty. This research covers the gap in understanding and identifying the successful factors affecting the criticality level of supply required of intermediate and final products (IFP) at the national level. It investigates the relationship between two factors: the casual factor supply risk (independent factor); and the impacted (dependent factors) political, economic, sociocultural, and technological (PEST) factors in terms of identifying critical products using the principle of Resource Dependency Theory (RDT). A literature review was conducted, followed by a mixed-method approach. Semi-structured interviews with 23 Saudi experts were carried out initially; then, a questionnaire was shared with 152 Saudi experts in different sectors. The qualitative study identified 30 key measurement variables for both factors, in which 19 variables were confirmed using the factor analysis (FA) technique. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

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16 pages, 315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Missing Attention to Power Dynamics in Collaborative Multi-Actor Business Models for Sustainability

by Konstantina Skritsovali, Sally Randles and Claire Hannibal

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2022; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032022 - 20 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1324

Abstract

Advances within the Sustainability Business Models (SBMs) literature from the perspective of boundary-spanning business models have received limited attention. Further, discourse within the SBMs literature exploring collaborative practices adopts the perspective that collaborative forums are always a ‘force for good’. This paper reviews important theories and relevant literature and calls into question the dearth of research examining business models for sustainability and focuses on the role that power, and power relations, play in the shaping and steering of value creation. In advancing research on sustainable operations, we assess the implications of ignoring uneven power, and draw attention to the affects and consequences of this omission in the study of SBMs. By embracing an alternative, deliberative democracy perspective, we challenge the sub-literature on collaborative multi-actor business models. In taking an inquisitive and critical stance on omnipresent power dynamics, we shine a light on the consequences of uneven power across multi-actor structures by augmenting research with practical insights from selected vignettes. Our proposed concept of a democratic business model for sustainability offers a new strand of theoretical development and a fresh perspective on the sustainability and business models literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

18 pages, 3297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supply Chain Emission Reduction Decisions, Considering Overconfidence under Conditions of Carbon Trading Price Volatility

by Jinhan Yu and Licheng Sun

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15432; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215432 - 20 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1477

Abstract

To investigate the effects of carbon trading pricing and overconfidence on supply chain emission reduction decisions, this paper establishes a supply chain model consisting of a manufacturer and a retailer and applies the Stackelberg game model. The objective is to explore the effects of carbon trading pricing and overconfidence on supply chain members’ decisions and profits. The study shows that carbon trading prices can be a good guide for low-cost manufacturers to reduce emissions when manufacturers are rational under carbon trading policies. However, the ability of carbon trading prices to act as a guide starts to fail as the cost of emission reduction increases. When manufacturers are overconfident, this causes manufacturers to increase the emission reduction rate of their products under carbon trading policies. In addition, this effect increases in line with increases in carbon trading prices. When manufacturers face different emission reduction costs, higher carbon trading prices do not necessarily always generate benefits for rational manufacturers. For overconfident manufacturers, however, overconfidence is always detrimental, especially when the price of carbon trading increases. Retailers tend to choose to work with manufacturers who are less overconfident, when the higher price of carbon trading results in higher gains for the retailer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

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16 pages, 831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supply Chain Integration and Its Impact on Operating Performance: Evidence from Chinese Online Companies

by Xiaoyan Zhang, Rita Yi Man Li, Zhizhong Sun, Xin Li, Sarminah Samad, Ubaldo Comite and Liviu Marian Matac

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14330; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114330 - 2 Nov 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5323

Abstract

The present study explores the effect of supply chain integration on the operational performance of an internet-based online business based in China. The study is based on primary data collected through a questionnaire distributed to supply chain professionals of the stated companies. After distributing the questionnaire and collecting the responses, an exploratory factor analysis is conducted to validate the instrument. Afterward, the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) analysis is conducted, and finally, the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique is used to determine the validity of the research hypotheses. The results indicate that integrating different aspects of the supply chain positively impacts the operating performance, improving the financial performance of the companies involved in the integration process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

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20 pages, 2524 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A System Thinking Normative Approach towards Integrating the Environment into Value-Added Accounting—Paving the Way from Carbon to Environmental Neutrality

by Robert Miehe, Matthias Finkbeiner, Alexander Sauer and Thomas Bauernhansl

Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13603; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013603 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5128

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is increasingly being applied in corporate accounting. Recently, especially carbon footprinting (CF) has been adopted as ‘LCA light’ in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. According to the strategy ‘balance, reduce, substitute, compensate’, the approach is intended to provide the basis for optimization towards climate neutrality. However, two major problems arise: (1) due to the predominant focus on climate neutrality, other decisive life-cycle impact categories are often ignored, resulting in a misrecognition of potential trade-offs, and (2) LCA is not perceived as an equal method alongside cost and value-added accounting in everyday business, as it relies on a fundamentally different system understanding. In this paper, we present basic considerations for merging the business and life-cycle perspectives and introduce a novel accounting system that combines elements of traditional operational value-added accounting, process and material flow analysis as well as LCA. The method is based on an extended system thinking, a set of principles, a calculation system, and external cost factors for the impact categories climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, air pollution, eutrophication and acidification. As a scientifically robust assessment method, the presented approach is intended to be applied in everyday operations in manufacturing companies, providing a foundation for a fundamental change in industrial thought patterns on the way to the total avoidance of negative environmental impacts (i.e., environmental neutrality). Therefore, this is validated in two application examples in the German special tools industry, proving its practicability and reproducibility as well as the suitability of specifically derived indicators for the selective optimization of production systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

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17 pages, 2155 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Multi-Level Hierarchical Structure of the Enablers for Supply Chain Resilience Using Cloud Model-DEMATEL–ISM Method

by Jih-Kuang Chen and Tien-Yu Huang

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12116; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912116 - 25 Sep 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2230

Abstract

Companies must shift from traditional supply chain management thinking to addressing or preventing increases in vulnerability, uncertainty, and unforeseen supply chain disruptions facing complex global supply chains. Systems with a large number of elements may be susceptible to nonlinear interactions, perturbation of which may lead to serious impacts. Thus, there is an increasing need to determine the importance of individual elements and how these elements interact. Published studies of supply chain resilience (SCRes) do not clearly determine the hierarchical structure of factors, and the understanding of interactions between factors remains fragmented. In this study, we proposed a cloud model-DEMATEL−ISM method to overcome the disadvantages of traditional DEMATEL−ISM integration methods. The MICMAC method (cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification) was also used to classify the enablers of SCRes based on driving force and dependence force. We tested these approaches by studying the new energy vehicle industry in China. The results suggest that companies trying to strengthen SCRes should focus on enablers at the base layer with a high driving force, particularly the enablers of social capital, restructuring, risk management culture, information technology application, trust and collaboration, information sharing, and learning capability.. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

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28 pages, 4360 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relational Approaches Related to Digital Supply Chain Management Consolidation

by Gheorghe Minculete, Sebastian Emanuel Stan, Lucian Ispas, Ioan Virca, Leontin Stanciu, Marius Milandru, Gabriel Mănescu and Mădălina-Ioana Bădilă

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10727; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710727 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2971

Abstract

This study provides a specific theoretical–applicative approach, of economic content, containing information and reference data in a logical and relational structure centered on aspects deemed suitable for enhancing the digital performance of the current supply chain management. The objective of the study is to correlate as closely as possible the theoretical scientific content with the practical side, with an emphasis on modernity. This objective led to the scientific interpretation, from a methodological perspective, of a relevant approach that proposes the analysis of several mathematical relationships and a case study that justifies the significance of the essential characteristics in ensuring the viability and resilience of the digitally consolidated Supply Chain Management. The work is particularly of interest and utility to entrepreneurs and managers involved in the construction and effective administration of (already digital) supply chain management, which is undergoing continual digital transformation and consolidation. In addition, this research will enhance the number of specialized sources that may be used for future research in this topic’s area of interest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

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Review

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39 pages, 5539 KiB

Open AccessReview

Logistics Center Location-Inventory-Routing Problem Optimization: A Systematic Review Using PRISMA Method

by Lihua Liu, Lai Soon Lee, Hsin-Vonn Seow and Chuei Yee Chen

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15853; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315853 - 28 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3869

Abstract

A traditional logistics decision model mainly studies the location decision of logistics distribution centers, storage inventory management, vehicle scheduling, and transportation routes. The logistics location-inventory-routing problem (LIRP) is an integrated optimization of the three problems—a comprehensive optimization problem for the whole logistics system. This review paper uses the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) method to review the literature on LIRP systematically. A total of 112 LIRP-related studies published between 2010 and 2021 are reviewed and classified based on 10 abstract and citation databases. The classification includes four aspects: problem characteristics, demand data types, model-based solutions, and application fields. From this systematic review, a few observations are recorded. First, the most popular problems among researchers are the multi-period multi-product problem, the multi-echelon single-link problem, and the multi-depot multi-retailer problem. Based on the objective function, the minimization of total supply chain cost is the primary concern of the LIRP literature. Researchers also favor other problem characteristics such as multi-objective programming, inventory control replenishment policy, and a homogeneous fleet of vehicles. We found that stochastic data are a common factor in an uncertain environment and have broad coverage. When dealing with the LIRP, heuristic and metaheuristic algorithms are the most widely used solution methodologies in the literature. In the application field of LIRP, the perishable products logistics network is mentioned in most applications. Finally, we discuss and emphasize the challenges of and recommendations for future work. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature on LIRP based on the PRISMA method, which contributes vital support and valuable information for researchers interested in LIRP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)

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