Practitioner Journals

Supply Chain "Mega-Trends": Current Status and Future Trends

Edward Sweeney — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:51:12 PDT

The supply chain management (SCM) concept has become embedded in the thinking of many organisations in recent years. Originally introduced by management consultants in the early 1980s, SCM has a strong focus on integration of processes across functions within firms, as well as between the organisations that comprise the wider extended enterprise. There is a significant body of research to support the notion that the consistent delivery of value to customers is predicated on higher levels of intra-firm and inter-firm integration. Putting the supply chain integration (SCI) concept into practice is critically dependent on the ability of firms to manage material, money and information flows in a holistic manner. It also depends on the way in which relationships between key supply chain actors are managed. This article explores the “mega-trends” that are evident across most sectors and which have a potentially significant impact on the ability of organisations to put SCM theory into practice. The late Don Bowersox and his colleagues from Michigan State University introduced the idea of supply chain “mega-trends” over a decade ago in their widely cited article in the Journal of Business Logistics (Bowersox et al., 2000). This article explores the current status of these “mega-trends” in an Irish context based on research being undertaken at the National Institute for Transport and Logistics (NITL). It also identifies some key factors that are likely to impact upon progress in these key areas in the medium term.

The Rhetoric and Reality of Supply Chain Management in Irish Business

Edward Sweeney — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:20:50 PDT

A strong focus of NITL’s research activity is on monitoring the extent to which SCM principles and concepts are adopted by organisations based in Ireland. For more than a decade this work has aimed to develop a profile of SCM adoption, as well as identifying some of the critical success factors and barriers influencing firms in their attempts to improve supply chain capability and performance. This article explains the role of SCM in Ireland’s economic recovery and provides an overview of NITL’s latest findings in relation to the adoption of SCM practices by firms in Ireland.

Putting Supply Chain Management (SCM) Theory into Practice: the Role and Importance of the People Dimension

Edward Sweeney — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:03:14 PDT

This article deals with a number of supply chain management (SCM) issues:

SCM’s “Big Idea” – integration
Divergence of Theory and Practice - the limitations of “hard-wiring”
The “Human Chain”
The Way Forward – asking the right question?

Supply Chain and Logistics Technology Investment in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Edward Sweeney — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:23:54 PDT

Supply Chain Management: SCM Key to Competitiveness

Edward Sweeney — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:46:55 PDT

Any meaningful attempt to eliminate waste and improve cost competitiveness in the Irish packaging sector must have a strong focus on how the supply chain is designed and managed.

Improving Supply Chain Performance

Edward Sweeney — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:25:21 PDT

Supply Chain Learning:the Role of Games

John Cotter et al. — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:25:20 PDT

The Role of Sustainability in SCM: the Case of the Sustainable Packaging Supply Chain

Edward Sweeney — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:25:18 PDT

Supply Chain Management and the Value Chain

Edward Sweeney — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:25:16 PDT

Supply Chain Management in a Recession

Edward Sweeney — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:25:14 PDT

Ireland’s Economic Environment:the SCM context

Edward Sweeney — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:25:13 PDT

SCM's Vital Role in B2B

Edward Sweeney — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:25:11 PDT

Enterprise Strategy Development: a Three-Dimensional Approach to the Role of SCM

Edward Sweeney et al. — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:25:09 PDT

The Irish economy has grown strongly in recent years. This, combined with other factors in the international trading environment, has sharpened the focus on the need for innovative strategies at a national level which can contribute positively from an enterprise strategy development perspective. As traditional manufacturing activity has migrated to lower labour cost economies questions have been raised concerning the role of supply chain management (SCM) in the evolving Irish business environment. This article describes some of the main drivers in terms of both SCM and the changing economic and business environment. It goes on to propose a three-dimensional approach to understanding the potential role of SCM in the new scenario. This in turn informs the logistics and SCM research agenda from a national policy point of view.

The Systems Approach to Supply Chain Re-Engineering

Edward Sweeney — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:24:44 PDT

B2B e-marketplaces in the airline industry: a study on process drivers and performance indicators

Claudia-Maria Wagner et al. — Wed, 18 May 2011 08:31:49 PDT

Critical Success Factors in the Re-Engineering of 21st Century Supply Chains

Edward Sweeney — Wed, 11 May 2011 04:13:58 PDT

Effective Adoption of ICT in the Supply Chain:Guidelines on Developing Strategy and on the Planning and Implementation of Projects

Edward Sweeney — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:41:27 PST

What the Transport and Logistics Industry Needs Going Forward

Bernd Huber et al. — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:35:32 PST

Supply Chain Management: the Key to Achieving Value for M

Edward Sweeney — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:26:10 PST

Managing the Supply Chain: the Role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a Key Enabler of the Process

Edward Sweeney — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:21:32 PST