P. Childerhouse and D.R. Towill
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the theoretical foundations, development, and application of the quick scan audit methodology (QSAM) for comparative evaluation of supply…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the theoretical foundations, development, and application of the quick scan audit methodology (QSAM) for comparative evaluation of supply chains via uncertainty codification and material flow assessment.
Design/methodology/approach
Charts the evolution of QSAM via the Parnaby concept of a manufacturing system leading to a control model representation of a value stream. Monitoring in process and critical interface material and information flows provide the substantive data to evaluate supply chain health. The authors show how QSAM satisfies the six desirable attributes previously established as advantageous when value stream auditing.
Findings
Basing QSAM on this particular systems approach readily leads to transferability of approach to new market sectors and new companies within the same sector. It ensures comparability via uncertainty levels to be established. Hence, using statistical cluster analysis “best practice” may be identified and annotated.
Research limitations/implications
There may yet be specific supply chain regimens where uncertainty codification is insufficient to reach a definitive conclusion. However, QSAM is now sufficiently mature that it has been applied successfully and widely beyond its original systems‐friendly European automotive sector.
Practical implications
A systematic, non‐industry‐specific audit method based on systems modelling builds confidence into comparability studies and identification of “exemplars” exhibiting best practice. The importance of understanding and satisfying the expectations of the four “players” in the QSAM balanced scorecard is discussed and exemplified.
Originality/value
QSAM is an original contribution which fits well into the spectrum of excellence measurement techniques. The two established extremes are vertical case studies (European style) and horizontal surveys (US style). QSAM brings together certain strengths of each so that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
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P. Childerhouse and D.R. Towill
This paper aims to provide an answer to the important question of how can accurate assessment of supply chain practice and performance be conducted? By conducting audits across a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide an answer to the important question of how can accurate assessment of supply chain practice and performance be conducted? By conducting audits across a sample of value streams it is thereby possible to identify the components of “good practice” via evidence‐based procedures.
Design/methodology/approach
Quick scan audit methodology (QSAM) is a site‐based, team‐oriented action research‐led investigative technique for establishing meaningful “snapshots” of value stream behaviour. The participants cover both academic researchers and host organisation staff.
Findings
QSAM is found to output repeatable results enabling the transfer of technique between companies, between businesses, between market sectors, and between countries.
Research limitations/implications
Care must be taken when training new auditors and QSAM teams to ensure the required degree of consistency. There is no substitute for operating a “watch one, share one, do one” regimen.
Practical implications
The research purpose is to establish the performance vectors to enable effective value stream health comparisons to be made. Additionally “quick hits” (not “quick fixes”) may well be identified specific to an individual host organisation.
Originality/value
QSAM has already made an important contribution in enabling the gap between case‐based and survey‐based logistics research to be properly bridged.
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Samanthi Ekanayake, Paul Childerhouse and Peter Sun
Social network perspective to interorganizational relations focuses on the effect of organizations’ external relationships in collaboration as opposed to their internal resources…
Abstract
Purpose
Social network perspective to interorganizational relations focuses on the effect of organizations’ external relationships in collaboration as opposed to their internal resources and capabilities. It presumes that effectively managing such relationships is vital to gaining collaborative synergies. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the growing interest in the social network perspective to explain supply chain collaboration.
Design/methodology/approach
Literature from the network field is discussed in the context of interorganizational collaboration. A logistics service provider’s network is explored in depth leading to the inductive construction of a multi-level model of social network collaboration.
Findings
The conceptual model provides a useful lens to evaluate supply chain collaboration. The symbiotic relationship between interorganizational and interpersonal networks is highlighted as vital for effective collaboration.
Research limitations/implications
The conceptual model has only been developed from a single network. Wider application is required to ensure generalizability. The critical role of the personal networks of boundary spanning actors at different levels wants further investigation.
Practical implications
Partners’ intra-organizational structures and personal ties of boundary spanners, both at the senior and operational level, have a profound effect on supply chain operations.
Originality/value
Personal networks interact with organizational networks and complement each other in yielding interfirm collaborative synergies.
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D.R. Towill and P. Childerhouse
The purpose of this paper is to exploit site‐based research evidence from a range of value streams so as to prioritise the industrial engineering (IE) foci necessary to move…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to exploit site‐based research evidence from a range of value streams so as to prioritise the industrial engineering (IE) foci necessary to move towards the goal of a seamless demand chain.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 40 real‐world value streams have been audited to produce codified scores assessing the usage of 12 Simplicity Rules leading to streamlined material flow. The rules are partitioned into “local” (Internal) and “holistic” (External) actions. Exploratory statistics are used to explore the different uptake of these two groups.
Research limitations/implications
The sample is neither random nor fully representative of all supply chain scenarios. This paper confirms, via site based research, the validity of first actioning the improvements necessary to enable “our process” to deliver efficiently and effectively, in response to internal demands.
Practical implications
Expending effort into effective engineering of “our process(es)” as first priority offers a double advantage compared to starting at the systems level. Such a strategy generates both competence and confidence. Once this level is achieved the business is in a good position for upgrading the external interfaces.
Originality/value
This paper shows that modern industrial engineering concepts transpose into two groups of Simplicity Rules, which can move a business forward towards the seamless demand chain goal. The rich field data confirm a logical industrial engineering sequence when enhancing demand chain performance.
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Samar Al Adem, Paul Childerhouse, Temitope Egbelakin and Bill Wang
The purpose of this paper is to identify the key drivers and challenges to supply chain collaboration in the humanitarian sector; to appraise the relationships between…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the key drivers and challenges to supply chain collaboration in the humanitarian sector; to appraise the relationships between international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and local non-governmental organizations (LNGOs) during disaster relief; and to explore the humanitarian context in regard to supply chain collaboration.
Design/methodology/approach
Literature from both the commercial and humanitarian sectors is discussed in the context of vertical partnerships. A Jordanian study spanning a network of 26 international and LNGOs is explored via semi-structured interviews.
Findings
The research provides valuable insights on the challenges facing LNGOs and INGOs when developing partnerships. Contextual factors, including host governmental policies and the social-economic setting of a disaster directly affect the motivations for supply chain collaboration between LNGOs and INGOs.
Research limitations/implications
The research is built on interviewees with 30 humanitarian professionals working in one country during an extended crisis. The majority of the empirical data are only from one actor’s perspective, thus further research into dyadic and network relationships is required. Approaches to addressing the diverse cultural and decision-making perspectives of LNGOs and INGOs warrant further investigation.
Practical implications
Recognizing the motives and challenges to vertical partnerships between LNGOs and INGOs will assist the managers, both at the strategic and operational levels, to find solutions and evolve strategies to build effective partnerships. Compromise and consideration for partner’s drivers and cultural views are essential for effective joint humanitarian relief initiatives.
Originality/value
This paper extends supply chain collaboration to a humanitarian context. Overcoming the challenges facing collaborative efforts and complementary nature of the drivers provide a means to achieve effective partnerships. Despite the uniqueness of the humanitarian context, such as the secondary nature of cost and dynamic demand, the core principles of collaboration still hold.
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Bill Wang, Yuanfei Kang, Paul Childerhouse and Baofeng Huo
The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of interpersonal relationships (IPRs) in service supply chain integration (SSCI) in terms of strategic alliance, information…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of interpersonal relationships (IPRs) in service supply chain integration (SSCI) in terms of strategic alliance, information integration, and process integration.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employs an exploratory/investigational approach to multiple case studies and empirically investigates effects of IPRs in SSCI. The data were mainly collected through semi-structured interviews with senior management staff from four service companies and their suppliers or customers in New Zealand. Archival data from the Internet and company documentations were also applied.
Findings
The authors find that three dimensions of IPRs influence SSCI in different ways. The effect of IPRs on SSCI is indirect: personal affection acts as an initiator, and personal credibility works as a “gate-keeper” and strengthens the confidence of interactive partners, while personal communication, a facilitator, plays a more important role in SSCI than personal affection and credibility.
Practical implications
The research provides managers in service supply chains the awareness of the importance of IPRs, as well as the characteristics of IPRs, in order to best utilize available resources. Managers should synergize all three dimensions of IPRs’ resources: make efforts to cultivate personal affection to avoid the instinctive isolation modern technology brings; attempt to accumulate positive personal credibility profiles; focus more on the role of personal communication and retain physical contact in SSCI processes.
Originality/value
This study contributes to SSCI literature by extending from the inter-organizational relationships (IORs) to interpersonal level relationships to explore the inner influence mechanism. Also, it explores the role of IPRs on all three dimensions of SSCI simultaneously rather than individual dimensions independently. Finally, it contributes to resource orchestration theory (ROT) by synthesizing three dimensions of IPRs resources, and IORs resources in order to achieve capabilities of SSCI. The study develops the individual-level research in supply chain integration (SCI) to a further depth.
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Thi Thanh Huong Tran, Paul Childerhouse and Eric Deakins
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how managers perceive risks associated with sharing information with trading partners, and how they attempt to mitigate them.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how managers perceive risks associated with sharing information with trading partners, and how they attempt to mitigate them.
Design/methodology/approach
In this exploratory New Zealand study, qualitative research was conducted involving semi-structured interviews with boundary spanning managers who are responsible for inter-organizational interfaces. Multiple case studies in different industries are used to highlight managers’ perceptions of risks in data exchange process throughout the supply network, and their underlying reasoning.
Findings
Managers perceive several types of risks when exchanging information across external supply chain interfaces, and adopt different approaches to handling them. The research also reinforces the vital role played by interpersonal relationships and trust as key enablers of inter-organizational cooperation.
Research limitations/implications
The findings are based on a small sample of 11 case companies based in a single New Zealand province, thereby potentially restricting generalizability. Future work could usefully extend the sample size in order to investigate the correlations between firm sizes, levels of trust, and degrees of data integration within particular industry sectors.
Practical implications
The findings will help managers understand and evaluate different types of risks in the data exchange process, and enable them to make better decisions that enhance information sharing and supply chain performance.
Originality/value
Perceived information sharing risks are peculiar to the individual actors, and as such need to be mitigated through changes to their socially constructed perceptions. This work extends the literature on understanding the various dimensions of inter-organizational information sharing.
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D.R. Towill, P. Childerhouse and S.M. Disney
Real world supply chains differ not only in their current standard of performance, but also in the most effective actions required to move each towards world class supply. A…
Abstract
Real world supply chains differ not only in their current standard of performance, but also in the most effective actions required to move each towards world class supply. A generic approach for the identification of the appropriate re‐engineering programmes based on the uncertainty circle principle is presented. A total of 20 European automotive supply chains have been analysed via a “quick scan” audit procedure. The output is a clear portrayal of the present “health status” of those supply chains. Some 10 per cent of these are performing at the present day level of “best practice”, with a further 20 per cent within sight of this goal. Specific re‐engineering requirements are identified for the remaining 70 per cent dependent on present maturity levels.
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Bill Wang, Yuanfei Kang, Paul Childerhouse and Baofeng Huo
The purpose of this paper is to examine how interpersonal relationships (IPRs) and inter-organisational relationships (IORs) interact with each other as driving forces of supply…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how interpersonal relationships (IPRs) and inter-organisational relationships (IORs) interact with each other as driving forces of supply chain integration (SCI). More specifically (the) three dimensions of IPR – personal affection, personal credibility, and personal communication – are examined in regards to how they affect inter-organisational relationships during SCI.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employed an exploratory multiple case study approach with four New Zealand case companies selected as the empirical basis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews of managerial executives in relation to supply chain activities, which were triangulated with company archival data.
Findings
The authors found that IPRs are able to interact with IORs to influence the integration of supply chains. More specifically, IPRs influence IORs by initiating organisational relationships in the SCI context; and influences from IPR dimensions on IORs tend to be of differing magnitudes and have different evolutional paths across the whole SCI process.
Originality/value
This research contributes to knowledge about the roles and mechanisms through which IPRs shape and enable inter-organisational level relationships within the SCI context.
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Paul Childerhouse, Mohammed Al Aqqad, Quan Zhou and Carel Bezuidenhout
The objective of this research is to model supply chain network resilience for low frequency high impact disruptions. The outputs are aimed at providing policy and practitioner…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this research is to model supply chain network resilience for low frequency high impact disruptions. The outputs are aimed at providing policy and practitioner guidance on ways to enhance supply chain resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
The research models the resilience of New Zealand's log export logistical network. A two-tier approach is developed; linear programming is used to model the aggregate-level resilience of the nation's ports, then discrete event simulation is used to evaluate operational constraints and validate the capacity of operational flows from forests to ports.
Findings
The synthesis of linear programming and discrete event simulation provide a holistic approach to evaluate supply chain resilience and enhance operational efficiency. Strategically increasing redundancy can be complimented with operational flexibility to enhance network resilience in the long term.
Research limitations/implications
The two-tier modelling approach has only been applied to New Zealand's log export supply chains, so further applications are needed to insure reliability. The requirement for large quantities of empirical data relating to operational flows limited the simulation component to a single region
Practical implications
New Zealand's log export supply chain has low resilience; in most cases the closure of a port significantly constrains export capacity. Strategic selection of location and transportation mode by foresters and log exporters can significantly enhance the resilience of their supply chains.
Originality/value
The use of a two-tiered analytical approach enhances validity as each level's limitations and assumptions are addressed when combined with one another. Prior predominantly theoretical research in the field is validated by the empirical investigation of supply chain resilience.