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Lean Six Sigma (LSS) implementation follows a structured approach called define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC). Earlier research about its application in emergency healthcare services shows that it requires organizational transformation, which many healthcare setups find difficult. The Kotter change management model facilitates organizational transformation but has not been attempted in LSS settings till now. This study aims to integrate the LSS framework with the Kotter change management model to come up with an integrated framework that will facilitate LSS deployment in emergency health services.

Two-stage Delphi method was conducted by using a literature review. First, the success factors and barriers of LSS are investigated, especially from an emergency healthcare point of view. The features and benefits of Kotter's change management models are then reviewed. Subsequently, they are integrated to form a framework specific to LSS deployment in an emergency healthcare set-up. The elements of this framework are analyzed using expert opinion ratings. A new framework for LSS deployment in emergency healthcare has been developed, which can prevent failures due to challenges faced by organizations in overcoming resistance to changes.

The eight steps of the Kotter model such as establishing a sense of urgency, forming a powerful guiding coalition, creating a vision, communicating the vision, empowering others to act on the vision, planning for and creating short-term wins, consolidating improvements and producing still more change, institutionalizing new approaches are derived from the eight common errors that managers make while implementing change in the institution. The study integrated LSS principles and Kotter’s change management model to apply in emergency care units in order to reduce waste and raise the level of service quality provided by healthcare companies.

The present study could contribute knowledge to the literature by providing a framework to integrate lean management and Kotter's change management model for the emergency care unit of the healthcare organization. This framework guides decision-makers and organizations as proper strategies are required for applying lean management practices in any system.

The proposed framework is unique and no other study has prescribed any integrated framework for LSS implementation in emergency healthcare that overcomes resistance to change.

Over the next decade, humanity is going to face big environmental problems, and considering these serious issues, businesses are adopting environmentally responsible practices. To put forward specific measures to achieve a more prosperous environmental future, this study aims to develop an environment-based perspective framework by integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) technology into a sustainable automotive supply chain (SASC).

The study presents a conceptual environmental framework – based on 29 factors constituting four stakeholders' rectifications – that holistically assess the SASC operations as part of the ReSOLVE model utilizing IoT. Then, experts from the SASC, IoT and sustainability areas participated in two rigorous rounds of a Delphi study to validate the framework.

The results indicate that the conceptual environmental framework proposed would help companies enhance the connectivity between major IoT tools in SASC, which would help develop congruent strategies for inducing sustainable growth.

This study adds value to existing knowledge on SASC sustainability and digitalization in the context where the SASC is under enormous pressure, competitiveness and increased variability.

Supply chain management (SCM) has evolved to fulfill the demands of the dynamic global business environment. The development of the Internet of Things (IoT), which offers unmatched connectivity and real-time data insights, has further transformed SCM. This chapter provides an overview of SCM development and its integration with IoTs. This integration led to improved inventory control, supply chain optimization (SCO), and visibility which further enhances the conventional SCM and provides benefits, such as more accurate real-time tracking and monitoring, improved data analytics, more efficient logistics and transportation management, and reduced costs and wastages. However, despite these benefits, there are various associated challenges and concerns, like privacy and data security, compatibility and interoperability, implementation costs, returns on investment, trained workforce, and training requirements, which are required to be addressed. Additionally, the outcomes of this study and managerial implications are provided along with the future research scope. Overall, this chapter provides valuable insight into the transformative potential of IoT in SCM and practical suggestions on how managers can successfully navigate difficulties and get benefits from the IoT-SCM integration. Organizations can enhance their supply chain operations, efficiency, and innovation by actively confronting challenges and taking advantage of the opportunities provided by IoT technologies. This will ultimately result in the delivery of greater value to both stakeholders and customers.

Industry 4.0 (I4.0), the Fourth Industrial Revolution, integrates Big Data analytics, blockchain, cloud computing, digitisation and the Internet of Things to enhance supply chain (SC) activities and achieve sustainable growth through dynamic capabilities (DCs). This approach equips businesses with the necessary tools to optimise their operations and remain competitive in a dynamic business environment. The value proposition of a business encompasses a wide range of activities that add value at each stage. By leveraging DCs, a firm can achieve innovation, gain a competitive advantage and enhance its adaptability. Conversely, effective value chain management can amplify the influence of a firm's DCs on SC sustainability, by reducing waste, optimising resource utilisation and fostering strategic partnerships. This mutually beneficial connection takes the form of a dynamic interaction in which I4.0 technologies act as a catalyst to help organisations become more resilient, adaptive and responsive. The adoption of these technologies denotes a comprehensive approach to business shift, not merely technical integration. I4.0 has an impact on several organisational disciplines outside of manufacturing, from automation and efficiency advantages to quality enhancements. This chapter offers an extensive literature review to explore the level of SC sustainability that a business can achieve by combining its DCs and implementing strategic I4.0 adoption. The function of value chain management in moderating the effects of I4.0 and DCs on SC sustainability is also assessed. This study proposes a theoretical model that is grounded in the insights extracted from the literature review.

This study aims to explore and address critical aspects of IoT adoption within supply chains by identifying the key enablers and barriers, examining the drivers and challenges, and assessing the benefits and drawbacks associated with IoT implementation. Additionally, the study aims to provide insights into how organizations can leverage IoT to enhance supply chain performance across economic, operational, social, and environmental dimensions.

This study employed a systematic literature review strategy to identify relevant research published between 2009 and 2024. Using the Scopus database, an initial search yielded 369 publications. Preliminary selection criteria were then applied to narrow down the articles for further detailed evaluation. This process led to an in-depth review of 123 publications, from which data were meticulously extracted, organized into tables and analyzed. Finally, the authors developed a categorization system based on the scope and temporal aspects of IoT implementation.

This study developed a comprehensive model that identified six themes influencing IoT implementation in supply chains: pre-implementation enablers and barriers, drivers and challenges during implementation, and post-implementation benefits and drawbacks. Recommendations were mapped into four performance dimensions: environmental, social, operational, and economic. The analysis showed that IoT can enhance supply chain risk management, process integration, sustainability, collaboration, resilience, and performance measurement. Key technologies aiding IoT implementation include blockchain, radio frequency identification (RFID), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and cloud computing.

This study is one of the few to conduct a comprehensive review of widely cited papers on IoT adoption in supply chains. It systematically summarizes the enablers, barriers, drivers, challenges, benefits, and drawbacks associated with such adoption. Furthermore, it proposes a distinctive model designed to assist organizations in successfully implementing IoT technologies, thereby filling a critical gap in the existing literature.

From a supply chain perspective, logistics firms collaborate with other supply chain members to extend their business scope. Investment in circular economy projects in the supply chain can not only broaden the scope of business but also increase the value of the entire supply chain. Third-party logistics companies are gradually participating in the construction and operation of many circular economy projects. How to coordinate multiple circular economy supply chain projects is at the core of its operation.

This paper first analyzes some typical supply chain projects in China and summarizes the main features of these projects. Secondly, considering the benefits of the project and the stakes of each project, a multi-stage stochastic programming model is established. Finally, Cplex, nested decomposition, LocalSolver and other methods are adopted to simulate and analyze the model.

The final experimental results find that the importance of coordinating multiple circular economy supply chain projects to increase the value of the entire supply chain. The multi-stage stochastic programming model presented in this research can provide a useful tool for logistics enterprises and third-party logistics companies to optimize their investment decisions and maximize their profits in the context of a circular economy.

There are still some limitations to this study; for example, it is limited to the analysis of circular economy supply chain projects in China. The study focused on third-party logistics companies, and other enterprises in the circular economy supply chain were not considered. The research also assumed that the benefits of each circular economy project and the stakes of each project were known, which may not always be the case in real-world scenarios.

This manuscript found that investing in other circular economy projects in the supply chain can broaden the scope of business and increase the value of the entire supply chain. Third-party logistics companies are gradually participating in the construction and operation of many circular economy projects, such as recycling and repurposing initiatives. It highlights the importance of coordinating multiple circular economy supply chain projects to increase the value of the entire supply chain. The multi-stage stochastic programming model presented in this research can provide a useful tool for logistics enterprises and third-party logistics companies to optimize their investment decisions and maximize their profits in the context of a circular economy.

The objective of this paper is to investigate how Industry 4.0 technologies can contribute to solve the problems of managing materials and medicines in the hospital supply chain, identifying opportunities for their adoption, evaluating their potential and impacts on this segment. This paper also plans to investigate the challenges involving change management, financial impacts and major changes in the process with the introduction of new technologies.

The research carried out a literature review using the CAPES Periodicals portal, which includes renowned scientific bases, like Scopus and Web of Science. The intention was to identify problems in the logistics of materials and medicines in hospital pharmacy. In addition, a second search was carried out in papers related to Industry 4.0 and the supply chain. Subsequently, it was listed how Industry 4.0 technologies could influence the management of the hospital supply chain, on materials and medicines.

The new technologies of Industry 4.0 identified in the research can contribute to the improvement of the hospital management supply chain, benefiting from a higher level of automation, control and security presented in the research. Thus, the article addresses a new perspective in the management of materials and medications in hospital pharmacy, adding value to the topic, as new technologies can provide more safety to patients, savings for hospital management, reducing waste and environmental impacts.

The automation of the supply chain, in the materials and medicines segment, in hospital environments, adopting Industry 4.0 techniques, will make it possible to differentiate hospital management, generating great added value, benefiting the entire chain. The combination of technologies such as IoT, BigData and artificial intelligence, applied to the management of materials and medicines, will allow real-time management; consumption and stock estimates; more agile and reliable decision-making process; greater economic efficiency, in addition to contributing to patient safety.

The present study identifies and analyses the circular supply chain (CSC) enablers concerned with industrial organizations to understand the interconnectedness of CSC enablers.

Conducting a thorough literature review and utilizing a hybrid approach involving Robust-Best-Worst-Method (RBWM) and Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) methodologies, we assess the intensity and connectivity of Circular Supply Chain Enablers (CSCEs), incorporating expert opinions. Additionally, we employ fuzzy-MICMAC analysis to determine the driving-dependent power of the CSCEs.

The study identifies 30 CSCEs in a framework, excluding three low-impact enablers at the initial stage. An additional 30 CSCEs are introduced to enhance the framework for improved implementation. The Fuzzy MICMAC study underscores the high instability of four enablers in the linkage quadrant, signaling that minor adjustments negatively impact organizational performance.

This work holds practical significance for industry researchers and practitioners alike. The initial study introduces a structural hierarchy of CSCEs, aiming to provide a model for academics studying CSC and facilitate its practical implementation.

Circular supply chain management (CSCM) is considered a promising solution to attain sustainability in the current industrial system. Despite the exigency of this approach, its application in the food industry is a challenge because of the nature of the industry and CSCM being a novel approach. The purpose of this study is to develop an industry-based systematic analysis of CSCM by examining the challenges for its application, exploring the effects of recognised challenges on various food supply chain (FSC) stages and investigating the business processes as drivers.

Stakeholder theory guided the need to consider stakeholders’ views in this research and key stakeholders directly from the food circular supply chain were identified and interviewed (n = 36) following qualitative methods.

Overall, the study reveals that knowledge, perception towards environmental initiatives and economic viability are the major barriers to circular supply chain transition in the UK FSC.

This research provides a holistic perspective analysing the loopholes in different stages of the supply chain and investigating the way a particular circular supply chain stage is affected by recognised challenges through stakeholder theory, which will be a contribution to designing management-level strategies. Reconceptualising this practice would be beneficial in bringing three-tier (economic, environmental and social) benefits and will be supportive to engage stakeholders in the sustainability agenda.

This study aims to discover the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the agricultural cold supply chain (ACSC) and analyze their consequences on the performance of ACSC within the bounds of Indian topography.

The KPIs have been explored based on the literature review both in global and Indian context and domain expert's opinions. The interdependency characteristics and cause–effect relationship among the KPIs have been analyzed using a fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (f-DEMATEL) approach.

The findings extracted from the empirical assessment of the problem find strong compliance with the notions of theoretical model assessment. The results highlight that the cost of product waste and operating and performance costs are the two most important performance indicators of an Indian ACSC. Furthermore, governmental policies and regulations and the effectiveness of cold chain (CC) equipment also have a high degree of influencing characteristics on ACSC performance.

To connect the study with practicalities, the assessment of the KPIs is allied with real-time practices by clustering the beliefs of Indian professionals. Therefore, the decision-making behavior of the experts might be influenced by geographical constraints. However, the key findings provide advantages to the ACSC players, a bright hope for future food security and a significant profit for farmers.

The presented paper encompasses various aspects of the ACSC, including theoretical and empirical perspectives exercised to contemplate the system dynamics, which inculcates the essence of the associated practicalities. Thus, this study has various practical contributions relevant to managerial and societal perspectives.