The book provides an introduction to logistics and supply chain management and the application of evolutionary computation, focusing on specific fields related to supply chain issues, from strategic sourcing decisions, and production planning and control to inventory to logistics and its application using evolutionary / heuristics techniques. Bridging the gap between management research, decision-making and computer analysis, this interdisciplinary book features state-of-the-art descriptions of the corresponding problems and advanced methods for solving them.

This book presents a series of studies analyzing critical factors that promote and constrain textile & clothing (T&C) production and trade in the Belt & Road (B&R) countries, and forces that drive the restructuring and transforming of global T&C supply chain and operations in the B&R context. The book also offers insights into the challenges and opportunities for T&C manufacturing in B&R countries through interviews with T&C experts, and also examines how Hong Kong can strengthen its "super-connector" role by facilitating sustainable trade and development in the T&C industries, as well as discussion on the impact of global trade wars on T&C trade. In the studies presented in this book, they offer topics ranging from the macro-economy, international business environment and strategies, logistics and supply chain, policy changes, to sustainability. The studies offer descriptive, theoretical and empirical analyses that explore T&C business and management related opportunities and challenges that are derived from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Econometric analysis with the gravity model is applied to T&C trade and extended to cover other areas that have not been considered in previous studies, such as production costs, export supply chain costs, technologies, demographical factors, and factors related to the business environment and policies, including qualitative variables. Studies using in-depth interviews and linear regression analysis are also present to explore new factors for T&C trade and production relocation to B&R countries.

This book helps readers understand the main issues, challenges, strategies, and solution methods in Aggregate Planning (AP), an important part of Supply Chain Management. The design of the book supports readers in the fields of engineering and management to learn practical knowledge about AP in a short look. Moreover, it delivers materials that consider multiple criteria in an AP model that is also required in sustainable developments. In spite of the simple structure of the book, it approaches more complicated mathematical models with single/multiple objective functions to include more practical decisions in AP. It addresses those issues without increasing the complexity of the book to keep it useful for practitioners.

We are living in the middle of a Fourth Industrial Revolution, with new technology leading to dramatic shifts in everything from manufacturing to supply chain logistics. In a lively, developing field of academic, procurement is often neglected. Despite this, procurement plays a vital role, connecting the organization with its ecosystem. At a time of change and economic crisis, a new business model is called for, which this book aims to define. Based on the applications of Industry 4.0 concepts to procurement, this book describes Procurement 4.0 as a method and a set of tools, helping businesses to improve the value of their products, reduce waste, become more flexible, and address the business needs of the future. It will appeal to academics in the area, as well as practitioners.

This book introduces blockchain technology applications in supply chains. Blockchain is a relatively new tool, nevertheless, there have been considerable advances over the last five years, and blockchain is now poised to revolutionize the conventional supply chains with the offering of accountability and quality to the wider complex supply networks. Based on literature reviews and original research, this book serves as an essential introduction to blockchain and its applications in supply chain. The unique features of the book are empirical studies to demonstrate the application of blockchain technology in food, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation and retail sectors. Each chapter includes research framework and open research questions. Simple narration of concept and detailed insights from primary research information. Use case narrative will provoke the readers to demystify the myths in application of concepts in the supply chain . Overall, the book demystifies blockchain technology, reviews evolution and outlines its future applications by blending contents to meet the expectations of both academic and practice community.

This proceedings volume provides a fresh perspective on current challenges in cooperation and coopetition in the age of Industry 4.0. Featuring selected papers from the 10th Conference on Management of Organizations' Development (MOD) held in Zamek Gniew, Poland, this volume extends the knowledge of cooperation and coopetition, presents analytic tools used in the research, considers the potential impact of Industry 4.0 on collaboration, and provides recommendations for managerial practice. Interorganizational relations have been a relevant topic in the management sciences in recent years. Globalization, social, cultural, and technological progress are among the factors shaping the environment for collaboration, determining the conditions for development and defining a set of new challenges that managers have to face in today's knowledge-based economy. This book, therefore, explores emerging problems of organizational development in the light of the needs and challenges of Industry 4.0. Combining the latest theory and practice, the volume provides a realistic outlook on the network economy and interdependencies both within and between sectors.

This book provides an overview of recycled polyesters, which are an important sustainable raw material in textile production. It discusses the manufacturing methods and the unique properties of recycled polyesters manufactured using the different methods. It also highlights the various test methods and identification mechanisms for recycled polyesters, which are very essential for ensuring the traceability and conformity of usage of recycled polyester in the final product.

This book discusses applied life cycle and supply chain management approaches for the sustainable development of tourism in Asian countries. The book describes the current state of the tourism industry in Asia from a perspective of sustainability, and analyzes the trade-offs between the three pillars of sustainability (environment, society, economy) as they pertain to the implementation of sustainable tourism. In 5 chapters, this book offers guidance for students, researchers and corporations interested in applying sustainability in tourism related activities. Chapter 1 introduces readers to the life cycle and supply chain approaches to driving sustainable development in tourism, and discusses the need for these strategies in the face of current issues with the tourism industry in Asia. Chapter 2 provides more details on the role of life cycle approaches in the sustainable development of tourism, including proper practices and implications. Chapter 3 presents how knowledge and best practices among stakeholders in the tourism sector can be shared. Chapter 4 discusses how promoting sustainable tourism can improve tourists' experience, and chapter 5 concludes the book by addressing how life cycle and supply chain approaches can be used together for tourism enterprises.

This book provides a framework for integrating information management in supply chains. Current trends in business practice have made it necessary to explore the potential held by information integration with regard to environmental aspects. Information flow integration provides an opportunity to focus on the creation of a more "green" supply chain. However, it is currently difficult to identify the impact of information integration on greening a supply chain in a wide range of practical applications. Accordingly, this book focuses on the potential value of information integration solutions in terms of greening supply chain management. It covers the following major topics: Application of information flow standards in the supply chain Information systems and technological solutions for integrating information flows in supply chains The Internet of Things and the industry 4.0 concept, with regard to the integration of supply chains Modeling and simulation of logistics processes Decision-making tools enabling the greening of supply chains

This book provides a critical overview of technologies that are used within the fashion industry and supply chain, with a special emphasis on how they engender sustainability and the circular economy. The chapters present contemporary case studies alongside new research on technologies such as 3D printing, 3D scanning and recycling technology to assess the effect they will have on the future of fashion and its global supply chain.

This book is the ninth volume in "Contemporary Logistics in China", authored by the researchers in Logistics Research Center at Nankai University. In the spirit of the eight preceding annual volumes, this book carries on the ideal of providing a systematic exposition on the logistics development in China for the English-speaking community at large. Specially, this volume captures China's logistics development at a crucial turning point. This present report consists of nine chapters, organized into three sections. The introductory section, consisting of two chapters, depicts the current development status of the China's logistics market and the logistics facilities and technology. The second section addresses the characteristics of logistics industries in China including the transportation logistics, the manufacturing logistics, the commerce logistics, and the agricultural products logistics. The final section, consisting of three chapters, discusses some hot logistics topics in China. Chapter 7 describes the emerging service models and innovation of China's highway freight platforms. The next chapter deals with the development and innovation of the Belt and Road cross-border logistics service system. The last chapter presents China's Logistics development and prospect under the context of sharing economy. As with the previous eight volumes, the ultimate aim of this book is to present a timely portrayal of the rapid pace of growth of China's logistics market and the status of its logistics industry's evolution. In so doing, the book offers an in-depth analysis of critical issues involved in the ongoing dynamic and multi-faceted development, and provides a valuable reference resource for interested readers in the academic and professional fields.

This book explains supply chain management (SCM) using the strategy-structure-process-performance (SSPP) framework. Utilizing this well-known framework of contingency theory in the areas of strategic management and organizational design, SCM is firmly positioned among management theories. The author specifically proposes a theoretical foundation of SCM that will be relevant to such areas as operations management, logistics management, purchasing management, and marketing. Both the static and dynamic sides of SCM are reported. On the static side, supply chain strategies are divided into three patterns: efficiency-oriented, responsiveness-oriented, and the hybrid efficiency- and responsiveness-oriented pattern. For each strategy, suitable internal and external supply chain structures and processes are proposed. On the dynamic side, the big issue is to overcome performance trade-offs. Based on theories of organizational change, process change, and dynamic capabilities, the book presents a model of supply chain process change. On structure, the focus is on the role of an SCM steering department. Illustrative cases are included from such diverse industries as automobiles (Toyota and Nissan ), personal computers (Fujitsu), office equipment (Ricoh), air-conditioning (Daikin), tobacco (Japan Tobacco), chemicals and cosmetics (Kao), and casual fashion (Fast Retailing and Inditex).The strategy and organization of SCM is systematically presented on the basis of the SSPP framework. In particular, the relationships among three management elements-strategy, structure, and process-can be identified in an SCM context. From many of the cases contained in this volume, there emerges an understanding of how to analyze the success and failure factors of SCM using the SSPP framework. In addition, the reader sees not only the static side SCM such as process operation but also its dynamic side such as process innovation and process improvement.

This book comprises select proceedings of the International Conference on Production and Industrial Engineering (CPIE) 2018. The book focuses on the latest developments in the domain of operations management and systems engineering, and presents analytical models, case studies, and simulation approaches relevant to a wide variety of systems engineering problems. Topics such as decision sciences, human factors and ergonomics, transport and supply chain management, manufacturing design, operations research, waste management, modeling and simulation, reliability and maintenance, and sustainability in operations and manufacturing are discussed in this book. The contents of this book will be useful to academics, researchers and practitioners working in the field of systems engineering and operations management.

On the backdrop of the institutionalisation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, and the emergence of multi-stakeholder-driven voluntary regulation, this timely collection places special emphasis on India and explores its international voluntary sustainability standards. The authors analyse the adoption and implementation of voluntary governance initiatives across a range of industries, offering insightful sectoral discussion and evaluation of voluntary sustainability standards as forms of transnational private regulation. This book will be of interest to anyone researching CSR, sustainability and supply chain management in emerging markets.

This book presents the latest developments concerning techniques, tools, and methodologies in supply chain ecosystems. It gathers contributions from a variety of experts, who analyze a range of case studies and industrial sectors such as manufacturing, energy, agricultural, healthcare, humanitarian logistics, and urban goods distribution, to name but a few. The book is chiefly intended to meet the needs of two sectors: firstly, the academic sector, so as to familiarize students, professors, and researchers with the tools that are now being used to optimize supply chains; and secondly, the industrial and managerial sector, so that supply chain management practitioners can benefit from methods and tools that are yielding valuable results in other contexts.

This book examines the environmental footprints of recycled polyesters, highlighting the benefits and impact of recycling polyester waste and preparing it to replace virgin polyester in the raw material stage. It also discusses the importance of recycled polyester as a sustainable raw material in textile production.

This book provides an insight of relevant case studies and updated practices in "PharmaceuticalSupply Chains" (PharmSC) while addressing the most relevant topics within the COST Action "Medicines Shortages" (CA15105).The volume focuses on the most recent developments in the design, planning and scheduling ofPharmSC, broadening from the suppliers' selection to the impact on patients and healthcaresystems, addressing uncertainty and risk mitigation, and computational issues. It is directed at MSc/PhD students and young researchers (Post-Docs) in Pharmaceutics/Pharmaceutical sciences, Engineering fields, Economics/Management, as well as pharmaceutical decision makers, managers, and practitioners, and advanced readers demanding a fresh approach to decision making for PharmSC. The contributed chapters are associated with the homonymous COST Training Schools (TS), and the book creates a better understanding of the Action "Medicines Shortages" challenges and opportunities.

This book discusses the risks of information concealment in the context of major natural or industrial disasters - offering detailed descriptions and analyses of some 25 historical cases (Three Mile Island nuclear accident, Bhopal disaster, Challenger Space Shuttle explosion, Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear disaster, Enron's bankruptcy, Subprime mortgage crisis, Worldwide Spanish flu and SARS outbreaks, etc.) and applying these insights to selected on-going cases where such information concealment is suspected. Some successful examples of preventive anti-concealment practice are also presented. In the book, the term 'concealment' is used to represent the two distinct behaviors uncovered in the investigations: (i) facts and information about an organization and its functioning being hidden from those that need them - here the concealment can be due to various factors, such as complexity and miscommunication, to name but two - and (ii) the conscious and deliberate action of keeping important information secret or misrepresenting it. This second meaning makes up a surprisingly important part of the evidence presented. Accordingly, emphasis has been put on this second aspect and the approach is more pragmatic than academic, remaining focused on evidence-based practical and useful factors. It raises awareness and provides valuable lessons for decision- makers, risk specialists and responsible citizens alike. This work is also intended as a fact-based reference work for future academic and scholarly investigations on the roots of the problem, in particular regarding any psychological or sociological modeling of human fallibility.

The last decades have seen an increasing diversity of customer expectations and growing competitive pressure for a wide variety of industries. Customer segmentation and subsequent inventory rationing provide a way to cope with those customer demands while maintaining a competitive offer. The general idea resembles the yield management practised in the airline or hotel industries: Demand fulfilment for low priority customers might be refused or delayed in order to reserve stock for more important clients. This dissertation thesis from Karin Moellering provides a comprehensive introduction to inventory rationing. It gives an overview of the different approaches studied and identifies state-of-the-art rules. In a second step, the book particularly focuses on an easy-to-implement but highly efficient rationing strategy. For this strategy, a mathematical model is developed that allows for optimization under different objectives. Potential readership includes scholars of inventory control and management science, students interested in these areas as well as practitioners involved in formulating and implementing rationing strategies.

Organizations frequently rely on the support of external parties to access necessary resources. In many cases, the resulting buyer-supplier relationships last for decades; some might even become indispensable for one or both parties in achieving its desired business goals. These dependencies between organizations are ubiquitous. This book focuses on such instances, discussing them in a cumulative manner: It begins with an introduction of previous research on the issue, before empirically explaining the emergence of dependencies, their different forms of existence and management approaches as well as its development over time. This book is of special interest for scholars focusing on dyadic partnerships within the domains of industrial marketing, supply chain management or strategic purchasing. Practitioners involved in managing long term buyer-supplier relationships in goods- as well as service-oriented industries might find it insightful as well.

This book reveals the hidden potential of emerging economies to become the new industrial hubs in existing global value chains. Pursuing a data-centric approach, it investigates the presence of foreign direct investment as an instrument for emerging economies to promote active participation in global value chains. This approach is based on time series analyses conducted at the national and industry level, and on datasets retrieved from international databases such as EORA, ICIO, and World Integrated Solutions. The outcomes of robust statistical models indicate that export-related innovations can improve trade openness and transform emerging economies into active players in global value chains. Researchers, developers, and professionals in the field will find a comprehensive and self-contained guide to the topic.

This book provides a rare historical analysis on the development and importance of marketing channels to Supply Chain Management (SCM) in Northern America. In particular, the book looks at the period 1850 to the present, to understand the evolution, the trends and the current status. It aims to bring back this forgotten area of research, to the mainstream marketing thought process. A general overview of developments in marketing channels will help the reader understand what changes occurred and how some of these changes impacted marketing education and practice. First, the book provides an overview of the historical background of how manufacturing and distribution evolved in the 19th century. Next, the marketing channels and supply chain networks are defined. Then the three time periods within 1850- present are covered. The book explains how supply chain has become prominent in organizations, the movement to non-store retailing and the omnichannel is discussed to focus on recent developments in distribution. Finally, developments that relate to the academic discipline and implications for the future are examined. The book concludes by describing the relationship between marketing channels and supply chain today, based on historical analysis.

The book focuses on key emerging areas concerning flexible systems management as an approach for transforming organizations. It is divided into three parts, discussing Enterprise Flexibility and Performance Management; Transformational Strategies and Organizational Competitiveness; and Supply Chain Flexibility. Part I addresses the integration aspects of learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship for organizational success, performance gains through cross-border acquisitions, flexibility measurement, and organizational competitiveness, impact of disinvestment, employability gaps and sustainable growth. Part II then examines risk governance structure, supporting culture, channel collaboration, waste management, IT-based process re-engineering, HR flexibility and adoption of big data as transformational strategies. Lastly, the third part investigates the development of a framework for a green flexible manufacturing system, measuring the effect of supply chain design on firm performance, exploring and ranking logistics service providers' best practices, and exploring the relationship between optimism and career planning in the context of manufacturing sector, and analyzes customers' emotional engagement and their inclinations towards the brand. The concept of flexibility is a common thread running through the three parts. The book is supported by both quantitative- and qualitative-based research as well as case applications relating to different areas of government and profit and not for profit organizations. Written by leading academics and practitioners, it is a useful resource for management students, scholars, consultants and practicing managers in both government and corporate sectors.

This book explores food traceability in raw materials, additives and packing of the dairy sector and it provides an accessible and succinct overview of the new Extended Traceability (ExTra) software. In this work, the authors present several practical examples of extended food traceability for edible products and food-contact materials in the cheese-making industry. Readers will also discover a summary of the existing legal and regulatory requirements for food traceability in Europe. This book will appeal to a wide readership, from academic researchers to professionals and auditors in industry working in quality control, food and packing traceability, and international regulation.

This book belongs to the Port Economics and Global Supply Chain Management strand of the Palgrave Studies in Maritime Economics book series, commissioned by Hercules Haralambides. This book discusses the main drivers that affect the introduction and growth of short sea shipping services. It describes and analyses the main operational concepts of short sea shipping and introduces relevant administrative and strategic approaches that enable its sustainable execution. Short Sea Shipping (SSS) comprises freight and passenger mobility by waterborne transport at a limited range, without crossing an ocean. Being a direct competitor to land-based transport modes, it uses ports and inland waterways to complement traditional transportation systems, increase capacity, improve flexibility, and contribute towards the goal of sustainable mobility. The reader will be introduced to various aspects of short sea shipping including benefits and shortfalls, relevant regulations and policies, and the applicability of short sea services within a given case or scenario.