Sanjoy Kumar Paul, Priyabrata Chowdhury, Md. Tarek Chowdhury, Ripon Kumar Chakrabortty and Md. Abdul Moktadir
The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses numerous challenges to supply chains. This pandemic is quite unique when compared to previous epidemic disruptions…
Abstract
Purpose
The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses numerous challenges to supply chains. This pandemic is quite unique when compared to previous epidemic disruptions and has had a severe impact on supply chains. As a result, the operational challenges (OCs) caused by COVID-19 are still unknown among practitioners and academics. It is critical to comprehensively document current OCs so that firms can plan and implement strategies to overcome them. Consequently, this study systematically identifies and ranks COVID-19-related OCs.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses an integrated methodology combining expert interviews and the best-worst method (BWM) to analyze the results. The data have been collected from the electronics industry of Bangladesh, an emerging economy. This study also conducts a sensitivity analysis to check the robustness of the results.
Findings
The results reveal 23 COVID-19-related OCs under five categories: sourcing, production and inventory management, demand management and distribution, return management and after-sales service, and supply chain-wide challenges. The quantitative investigation reveals that overstock in finished goods inventory, low end-customer demands, order cancellations from dealers and retailers, high inventory holding costs and lack of transportation are the top five OCs.
Practical implications
The findings will help practitioners to understand the OCs and allow them to prepare for future major disruptions and formulate long-term strategies for operations during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature on supply chain complexity and challenges by considering a major pandemic outbreak. Moreover, the study also contributes to the knowledge on emerging economies, which have been largely neglected in the current literature.
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Sandesh Kanhu Gaikwad, Ananna Paul, Md. Abdul Moktadir, Sanjoy Kumar Paul and Priyabrata Chowdhury
The purpose of this study is to investigate the barriers for implementing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and present a framework that provides…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the barriers for implementing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and present a framework that provides prioritized strategies to overcome the barriers.
Design/methodology/approach
The barriers and strategies are identified via a comprehensive literature review and validated by industry experts. The study uses the fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (fuzzy TOPSIS) to analyze the barriers and strategies for determining the prioritized list of strategies.
Findings
The findings reveal that there are sixteen barriers to LSS implementation in Indian SMEs. To overcome these barriers, this study reveals twelve strategies. The analysis shows that “effective management” is the most crucial strategy to overcome the barriers for implementing LSS in Indian SMEs.
Research limitations/implications
This research guides SMEs practitioners to efficiently and effectively implement LSS, which, in turn, can enhance the performance of SMEs.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by integrating the strategies with the barriers for implementing LSS in Indian SMEs. Besides, this study provides the prioritized list of strategies to overcome the barriers for implementing LSS in Indian SMEs.
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Sanjoy Kumar Paul and Priyabrata Chowdhury
A recent global pandemic, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), affects the manufacturing supply chains most significantly. This effect becomes more challenging for the…
Abstract
Purpose
A recent global pandemic, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), affects the manufacturing supply chains most significantly. This effect becomes more challenging for the manufacturers of high-demand and most essential items, such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer. In a pandemic situation, the demand of the essential products increases expressively; on the other hand, the supply of the raw materials decreases considerably with a constraint of production capacity. These dual disruptions impact the production process suddenly, and the process can collapse without immediate and necessary actions. To minimize the impacts of these dual disruptions, we aim to develop a recovery model for making a decision on the revised production plan.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors use a mathematical modeling approach to develop a production recovery model for a high-demand and essential item during the COVID-19. The authors also analyze the properties of the recovery plan, and optimize the recovery plan to maximize the profit in the recovery window.
Findings
The authors analyze the results using a numerical example. The result shows that the developed recovery model is capable of revising the production plan in the situations of both demand and supply disruptions, and improves the profit for the manufacturers. The authors also discuss the managerial implications, including the roles of digital technologies in the recovery process.
Originality/value
This model, which is a novel contribution to the literature, will help decision-makers of high-demand and essential items to make an accurate and prompt decision in designing the revised production plan to recover during a pandemic, like COVID-19.
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Priyabrata Chowdhury, Kwok Hung Lau and Siddhi Pittayachawan
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how buyer–supplier social capital may help mitigate operational supply risk (OSR) of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how buyer–supplier social capital may help mitigate operational supply risk (OSR) of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It empirically examines a framework that posits the direct and mediated impacts of three dimensions of buyer–supplier social capital – structural, relational and cognitive – and supplier integration on the OSR of SMEs and consequently their operational performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses data collected via a questionnaire from 485 manufacturing SMEs in Bangladesh for analysis using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The analysis reveals that all the three dimensions of buyer–supplier social capital can effectively reduce the OSR of SMEs, either directly or indirectly through supplier integration. The mediating role of supplier integration in the relationship between social capital and OSR is confirmed and the negative impact of OSR on operational performances of SMEs is verified.
Research limitations/implications
Generalization of the findings needs to be prudent since the study gathered information only from manufacturing SMEs in Bangladesh on the buyer side of the buyer–supplier dyad.
Practical implications
Findings of this study can provide references for SME practitioners to formulate their OSR mitigation strategies for enhancing operational performance.
Originality/value
This study adds to the currently scarce literature on OSR of SMEs by combining antecedents and consequences of OSR in a single framework. It also extends the use of buyer–supplier social capital to risk mitigation research.
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Ashish Dwivedi, Priyabrata Chowdhury, Sanjoy Kumar Paul and Dindayal Agrawal
Circular economy (CE) practices are critical to achieving sustainable development goals. However, the recent global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly…
Abstract
Purpose
Circular economy (CE) practices are critical to achieving sustainable development goals. However, the recent global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted sustainable practices. The literature shows a significant research gap in analyzing factors that sustain CE practices in supply chains during a global disruption. This study fills the research gap by developing a mix-method approach to analyze factors for sustaining CE practices during a global disruption.
Design/methodology/approach
To fulfill the objectives of this study, the list of factors that sustain CE practices was first identified by conducting a literature review and finalized through an expert opinion survey. The survey finalized 18 different factors for sustaining CE practices. The finalized factors were further analyzed using the grey decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method. The quantitative analysis confirmed the priority of the factors and their cause-and-effect relationships.
Findings
The results revealed that continued stakeholder pressure, retention of CE and sustainability culture, continued implementation of cleaner technology, feedback system and ongoing CE training for resilience issues are the top five factors that sustain CE practices during a global disruption. The study also revealed ten factors as belonging to the cause group and eight to the effect group.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by exploring factors for sustaining CE practices during a global disruption. Moreover, the study’s findings are important in real-life situations, as decision-makers can use the findings to formulate strategies for sustaining CE practices during future global disruptions.
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Priyabrata Chowdhury and Sanjoy Kumar Paul
Corporate sustainability (CS) is becoming a popular research topic. In recent years, researchers have conducted a significant number of studies in this area. Although a number of…
Abstract
Purpose
Corporate sustainability (CS) is becoming a popular research topic. In recent years, researchers have conducted a significant number of studies in this area. Although a number of those studies have used a variety of multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, to date there is no systematic literature review of this area of research. This paper fulfills this research gap.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis approach to analyze the applications of MCDM methods in research on CS.
Findings
The authors have observed that both single and integrated MCDM methods have been used in this domain; however, single MCDM methods are dominant. Further, this review shows that most of the integrated methods use only two MCDM methods and that there has been no comparison of results obtained from different MCDM methods. After reviewing these developments and summarizing the findings, the authors propose directions for future research, including investigating and formulating strategies for specific CS initiatives, integrating three or more MCDM methods, integrating MCDM methods with optimization techniques, analyzing results from a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) perspective, reconsidering the tenets of existing theories via MCDM methods, and comparing the results of studies of CS in different kinds of economies, as well as the results of using different MCDM methods.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that has conducted a systematic literature review to analyze applications of MCDM methods to different aspects of corporate sustainability, including enablers of and barriers to CS, the evaluation and design of CS initiatives, system or strategy formulation, and performance evaluation, among others.
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Ashish Dwivedi, Priyabrata Chowdhury, Dindayal Agrawal, Sanjoy Kumar Paul and Yangyan Shi
A digital supply chain (DSC) positively enhances circular economy (CE) practices. However, what factors and conditions lead to the implementation of DSC for transitioning toward…
Abstract
Purpose
A digital supply chain (DSC) positively enhances circular economy (CE) practices. However, what factors and conditions lead to the implementation of DSC for transitioning toward CE is not yet clear. Therefore, this study aims at identifying and subsequently analyzing the antecedents of DSC for CE.
Design/methodology/approach
The study identifies major antecedents of DSC for CE to achieve sustainability objectives through literature review and expert opinions. In this study, 19 potential antecedents of DSCs for CE are established from the literature and suggestions from industry professionals. A trapezoidal fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach is applied quantitatively to investigate the antecedents identified.
Findings
Conducted in the context of Indian automobile manufacturing industry, the findings of the study reflect that advanced information sharing arrangement, effective government policies for DSC and CE implementation and digitalizing the supply chains are the top three potential antecedents of DSC for a CE.
Originality/value
In the existing literature, few studies are specific to investigating the DSC and CE paradigm. The present study will help organizations develop a practical and integrated strategic approach that will foster DSC through improved knowledge of CE.
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Nandani Yadav and Priyabrata Sahoo
The chapter examines the employment status of women in the power loom sector by assessing their participation in this sector as well as in different major activities aside from…
Abstract
The chapter examines the employment status of women in the power loom sector by assessing their participation in this sector as well as in different major activities aside from power loom activities. The objective is to understand the time allocation of individuals who are related to the power loom sector and to evaluate the factors that affect the time spent in the sector. It has focused on women’s contribution to the power loom sector and discusses gender inequality in unpaid domestic chores. The study is based on primary data collected through in-depth interviews in the rural area of Benipur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This study found that women participate less than men across all age groups in the power-loom sector in the rural area of Benipur. Women have lower education qualifications than men at each level; however, they are more involved in education than men in their initial years of schooling. Women’s involvement in education declines with age, while men’s involvement does not. Due to low educational attainment, they face many difficulties in understanding this new technology of power loom. Domestic involvement of women might be a major reason behind their low participation in education as well as the power loom sector. Even today, ‘farming or agriculture’ is the most important major alternate activity for the livelihood of the people who are related to the power-loom sector. The key contribution of this chapter is to understand the employment status of women and evaluate the women’s contributions to the power loom sector.
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Priyabrata Mondal and Prabir Jana
Automation and the new buzzword, “Industry 4.0”, have dominated the media headlines in recent months. In this scenario, apparel manufacturers should not only install automatic…
Abstract
Purpose
Automation and the new buzzword, “Industry 4.0”, have dominated the media headlines in recent months. In this scenario, apparel manufacturers should not only install automatic machines but also standardise them based on specific industry requirements, and precise measures are required for daily target demands.
Design/methodology/approach
This study demonstrates the application of Predetermined Motion and Time System (PMTS) tools in various automatic and semiautomatic machines to obtain higher productivity and the highest utilisation percentage of operator and automats between the 1:1 and 1:2 man vs machine configuration models. In this study, timeSSD® was used to calculate the micro motions of humans. In addition, a video annotation and modelling software Tracker was used to calculate high-speed machine movements with loading frames of 30 FPS.
Findings
After the implementation of PMTS tools, it was found that for a 1:1 man vs machine configuration, the operator utilisation is 75% per shift and the operator idle time is 50% per cycle time, and the operator is sitting idle for 2 h per 8 h of shift. So, there is scope to improve the utilisation and idle time of operator.
Research limitations/implications
With the PMTS software, an industrial engineer professional with knowledge of the micromotion economy can only calculate micromotion.
Originality/value
Exploring the first time in the world to establish standard allowed minute (SAM) of a partly automated single-unit sewing machine with partial human intervention and a semiautomatic machine. Theoretical underpinnings indicate that manufacturers use the experience to determine the SAM of any operation over time, necessitating this work to calculate standard minutes automatically.