Journal articles on the topic 'Logistics and supply chains not elsewhere classified'

The purpose of this article is to propose a framework for assessing the agile of manufacturing companies. Three supply chain logistics factors (capacity, transportation, and stock) along with three cross-functional factors (information, suppliers, and pricing) are selected as core sets to classify all required agility actions. In addition, supply chain contracts, as an important indicator of supply chain agile, are also considered for activity classification. These activities are ranked using the Hierarchy Analysis method and then classified according to the main agility factors. Using a cyclic approach to the supply chain, the developed activities are classified as the main strategies of the supply chain links.

The article explores theoretical and methodical aspects of managing dual relationships that arise between participants in logistic cooperation in the process of formation and functioning of supply chains. The use of a behavioral approach to defining supply chains has allowed identifying and justifying the priority role of behavioral factors that influence modern logistics entities and determine the effectiveness and long-term satisfaction with logistics cooperation. Given the literature summary, the study has classified types of cooperation in logistic activity and proved that among the behavioral factors influencing the of logistical cooperation efficiency, the trust is of particular importance, which remains a limitation, a bottleneck in the process of formation and development of dual relationships in logistics chains. It is proposed to introduce a generic indicator, namely the level of confidence in the supply chain to assess the social, economic and strategic aspects of logistics interaction. A methodological approach to assessing the level of trust in logistic cooperation was adjusted based on determining the composition of criteria that directly affect this indicator and using the expert survey of supply chain participants. The study proposes to use the confidence indicator to form and improve networks and supply chains, taking into account its value when constructing a generalized outsourcing model.

Recently, it has become an important issue to ensure sustainability, especially in food supply chains, against the rapidly growing population, increasing demand, and sudden disruptions caused by uncertain times such as that caused by COVID-19. Since food supply chains has vulnerable products and processes, it is critical to understand the sustainability factors of food supply chains especially in uncertain times such during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to determine sustainability factors of food supply chains. An Interpretive Structural Modelling method is used to state the relations between sustainability factors of food supply chains. As a result of the study, Information Sharing and Managerial Approaches are classified as driving factors; Food Safety and Security, Know-How Transfer, Logistics Networking, Risk Mitigation, Employee Commitment, Innovation, Traceability and Responsiveness are categorized as linkage factors. This article will be beneficial for managers in helping them develop sustainable food supply chains during uncertain times by focusing on traceability, information sharing, know-how transfer, food safety and security.

When Industry 4.0 technologies are utilized in logistics practices, they create a Logistics 4.0 environment, and the key to successfully implementing Logistics 4.0 practices is the human capital of the logistics industry. The human capital of the logistics industry was found to be classified into four major categories, namely operative, supervisor, management, and government. This study aims to develop a new human capital framework that guides the logistics industry towards successfully implementing and managing Logistics 4.0 practices. The significance of this study is to utilize a new framework to shorten the gap between current basic logistics practices into Industry 4.0 practices. An integrative literature review technique was used thoroughly and reviewed and analyzed in order to create the Logistics 4.0 human capital development framework in a manner that satisfies the categories of logistics human capital. A combination of the business logistics management (BLM) framework and Industry 4.0 elements creates a new human capital development (HCD) framework in logistics and supply chains.

Commercial operations of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) are expanding, with medical logistics using UAVs as part of health service supply chains being targeted. The ability to transport cargos that include items classified as Dangerous Goods (DG) is a significant factor in enabling UAV logistics to assist medical supply chains, but DG regulations for air transport have developed from the perspective of crewed aircraft and not UAVs. This paper provides an important audit of the current DG regulations, best practice in their application and the development of much-needed new governance that will be required to fully exploit UAVs for the safe transport of DG in medical logistics. Findings from the audit provide a summary of the circumstances and potential challenges resulting from the application of DG regulations as they stand to UAV operations, particularly for medical logistics, and convenient guidance on the practical implications of DG regulations for UAV operators. The main conclusion is that this is an under-researched domain, not yet given full consideration in a holistic way by regulators, governments, industry bodies, practitioners or academia.

Purpose In the present context of a health-concious society, management of pharmaceutical supply chains has become more complex because it involves the life-saving interest of human being and requires the participation of different stakeholders such as pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, customers, information service providers and regulatory agencies. Limited research is available in the area of pharmaceutical supply chains. This paper aims to find the gaps in the literature by reviewing research papers on different strategic issues of supply chain management in the pharmaceutical sector. Design/methodology/approach In total, 136 research papers, mainly from refereed international journals, were reviewed to identify the issues of supply chain management (SCM) in the pharmaceutical supply chain. On the basis of a review, gaps are identified and research agenda is proposed. Findings It is observed from review that the pharmaceutical sector is not widely researched in developing countries because of many complexities in this supply chain. The share of pharmaceutical firms in the global market is also not very significant. Based on an extensive review of pharmaceutical supply chains, research gaps are identified in different areas such as inventory management, new product development, process development, capacity planning, network design, plant design, pipeline and development management, outsourcing logistics activities, reverse logistics, Lean manufacturing, green SCM and implementation of E-business processes and performance management. These strategic issues have been further classified into three broad categories, i.e. resources, processes and performance. Originality/value This paper explores major strategic areas of pharmaceutical supply chains for research. Findings of the paper will be highly useful for researchers to decide direction of future research.

<p class="FonteResumo">This paper discusses transport modes supporting Uncertainty Supply Chain Model (USCM) in the case of Manaus Industrial Pole (PIM), an industrial cluster in the Brazilian Amazon that hosts six hundred factories with diverse logistics and supply chain managerial strategies. USCM (Lee, 2002; Fisher, 1997)develops a dot matrix classification of the supply chains considering several attributes (e.g., agility, cost, security, responsiveness) and argues that emergent economies industrial clusters, in the effort to keep attractiveness for technological frontier firms, need to adapt supply chain strategies according to USCM attributes. The paper takes a further step, discussing which transport modes are suitable to each supply chain classified at the USCM in PIM´s case. The research´s methods covered the use of PIM´s statistical official database (secondary data), interviews with the main logistical services providers of PIM and phone survey with a sample of firms (primary data). Findings confirm the theoretical argument that different supply chains will demand different transport modes running at the same time in the same industrial cluster (Oliveira, 2009). In the case of PIM, this implies investments on port and airport infrastructure and a strategic focus on air transport mode, due to (1) short life cycle of products, (2) distance from suppliers, (3) quick response to demand and (4) the fact that even PIM´s standard products use, in average, forty per cent of air transport at inbound logistics.</p>

Sustainable development is now the focus of researchers and organizations worldwide. Several concepts, such as reverse logistics (RLs) and closed-loop supply chains, have been introduced to encourage sustainability in supply chains. RLs refers to the set of activities needed by consumers to collect the product used for reuse, repair, remanufacturing, recycling, or disposal of the used product. There are various processes involved in RL, and one of them is collection systems. Collection refers to a company obtaining custody of specific items. We review the literature on RLs collection systems. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to provide better insight into the field and establish any trends. Firstly, we present the classification methods used in the field, based on available review papers. Secondly, we evaluate literature from several fields that are related to either the problem setting or the technical features. Different perspectives are presented and classified. This method facilitates the identification of manuscripts related to the reader’s specific interests. Throughout the literature review, trends in measuring the performance of collection systems are identified, and directions for future research are identified and presented.

Sustainable development is now the focus of researchers and organizations worldwide. Several concepts, such as reverse logistics (RLs) and closed-loop supply chains, have been introduced to encourage sustainability in supply chains. RLs refers to the set of activities needed by consumers to collect the product used for reuse, repair, remanufacturing, recycling, or disposal of the used product. There are various processes involved in RL, and one of them is collection systems. Collection refers to a company obtaining custody of specific items. We review the literature on RLs collection systems. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to provide better insight into the field and establish any trends. Firstly, we present the classification methods used in the field, based on available review papers. Secondly, we evaluate literature from several fields that are related to either the problem setting or the technical features. Different perspectives are presented and classified. This method facilitates the identification of manuscripts related to the reader’s specific interests. Throughout the literature review, trends in measuring the performance of collection systems are identified, and directions for future research are identified and presented.

The food supply chain (FSC) is made up of producers, traders and processors who bring the product from supply to demand through logistical processes. Food supply chains require specific methodologies for their current diagnosis, evaluation and improvement. Logistics in food supply chain requires to be managed according to its nature. This article identifies the different methodologies through a systematic literature review of publications from 2005 to 2022, using Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar search engines, in order to establish the state of the art. As a result of this review, a new taxonomy is proposed and includes the following methodological groups: management, qualitative, quantitative, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), statistics, machine learning, mathematical modelling, discrete simulation, system dynamics and others. The methodologies of characterization, evaluation and improvement are classified into two main groups of logistical means and modes. The performance measures most commonly used in the methodologies by the researchers were also identified. From the article, discussions, challenges and trends are generated to identify possible future research and different gaps.

The supply logistics of energy biomasses generally involves a complex system of supply chains, which aim to achieve timely and cost-efficient feedstock deliveries to biomass demand points. The performance of supply chains is often examined in case studies where spatial data about biomass sources and transportation networks are deployed in varying resolutions and to different geographical extents. In this paper, we have reviewed 94 publications, in which spatial data were used in case studies that focused on analysing and optimising energy biomass supply chains. The reviewed publications were classified into 16 categories, according to the publication year, study methods and objectives, biomass types, supply system complexity and the spatial features of each study area. This review found that the use of geographical information systems in this context has increased in popularity in recent years, and that and the multiformity of the applied methods, study objectives and data sources have increased simultaneously. Another finding was that most of the studies that we reviewed focused on countries in which spatial biomass and transport network data of high quality were unrestrictedly available. Nevertheless, case studies, including spatial data from multiple countries, were represented marginally in the papers that we reviewed. In this paper we also argue that a standard way of reporting geographical contents in biomass case studies should be developed to improve the comprehension and reproducibility of the publications in this field of research.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are crucial for human health. Their fibrous structure and high nutritional value are essential for people’s well-being. This study aims to provide a review of the current state of knowledge and practices regarding fresh fruit and vegetable supply chains (FFVSC). The reviewed papers are divided into categories according to their findings, research purposes, tools and messages used. Our objective is to guide both academics and practitioners by pointing out significant streams of research with respect to these categories. For a better understanding, these subgroups are essentially based on their common research purpose, and the tools and methods they adopted are explained. Therefore, this study sheds light on research related to FFVSCs for those who are new to this area or planning to conduct in-depth research on directions suggested by studies in this area. The related literature was classified into eight categories: namely, (1) value chain indicators of FFVSCs, (2) food-related problems/postharvest losses along FFVSCs, (3) roles of parties involved in the FFV value chain, (4) review papers, (5) technological trends in FFVSCs, (6) packaging issues of FFVSCs, (7) logistics solutions of FFVSCs, and (8) sustainable FFVSCs. Details on the tools and methods employed in these studies are summarized in Appendix B. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the related literature lacks a comprehensive review that investigates different aspects of FFVVCs in detail. Thus, this study contributes towards a better understanding of the related literature and can be used as a guide for future studies.

This study aims at identifying the key agile, lean, resilient and green practices that influence capability of cold supply chain (CSC) using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) technique. Various measures of lean, green, resilient, and agile practices in CSC were identified from previous studies and experts’ opinions. Contextual relationships between practice measures were established via brainstorming session. Measures were then classified based on their driving and dependence powers. The results showed that measures of lean, green, resilient, and agile practices in CSC can be organized in a six-level structural model. Moreover, highly dependent measures at top level in CSC model are operational costs and customer satisfaction, whereas the highly driving at most bottom level of this model are ISO 14001 implementation and government support system for green cold supply chain. Validity of CSC model was assessed in three CSC firms; food, pharmaceutical, and Third Party logistics firms. In conclusion, measures emerging with higher driving power and those with high dependence in ISM hierarchy contribute significantly to enhancing capability of CSC. The proposed ISM may support decision makers in prioritization improvement efforts and achieving effective CSC.

Because the transport and logistics system (TLS) of the business enterprise is exposed to obvious and hidden high risks for the owners, its business processes need effective management throughout the value added chain. The purpose of the article is to present theoretical and methodological justification of TLS operation at enterprise level from the perspective of integrated management of business processes involved in the transport and logistics services. The article focuses on elaborating and constructing a diagram of the three-vector approach to building up TLS in the business enterprise, based on the compliance with the regulatory norms (national and international regulatory framework, intramural regulations, compliance with contract terms), risk orientation (economic forecasting of TLS performance, optimization of TLS capacities, analysis of contracting parties operation, computerization of business processes, economic projecting and strategic management), and client orientation (high quality of the provided services, infrastructure improvements, free competition, effective marketing, rationalization of supply chains, provision of guarantees; price policy). It is proposed to group the key business processes involved in TLS by transport and logistics activities, with account to the activity specifics and size of the enterprise, terms of service delivery and other factors of value added creation. A set of indicators for performance assessment of TLS is constructed, classified in the following groups: quality of transport services, efficiency of freight transport, business indicators of diagnostics of the transport activities as a component of the logistics system, assessment of logistics rules, transport efficiency. These indicators will provide an effective tool for performance assessment of TLS at enterprise level.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the distinction and relationships between the significant strategic capabilities for managing risks in supply chains. This intersectional review exposes a substantial conceptual contradiction between the perspectives reported by various researchers. Further, the current paper classifies the literature into four categories according to the broad objectives investigated by the research papers. Design/methodology/approach Initially, a bibliometric analysis aligned with the concepts of a systematic literature review is conducted followed by a descriptive review focusing on models and methods. The software called BibExcel is utilized to extract and analyze the bibliographic information in a textual form from the research articles associated with strategic capabilities of the logistics sector. The results are exported to the software known as Gephi to visualize keyword co-occurrence analysis as networks. A well-structured descriptive review is also conducted to identify avenues for future research. Findings Despite conventional supply chain capabilities like efficiency and effectiveness, eight significant strategic capabilities of supply chains for managing risks are identified from the literature. These capabilities with positive connotations include flexibility, reliability, resilience, robustness, agility, adaptability, alignment and responsiveness. Considering the vast literature on flexibility/reliability along with its numerous dimensions and scope, the authors found that resilience, robustness, agility, adaptability, alignment and effectiveness are achievable through flexibility/reliability. Accordingly, it is appropriate to state reliability and flexibility as supply chain capabilities to achieve the other six supply chain competencies. Furthermore, the entire literature in this domain can be classified into four genres according to the addressed objectives, namely, concept development/validation, capability assessment, network design and performance evaluation. Research limitations/implications The information revealed from the keyword co-occurrence analysis along with the research implications provided in the penultimate section will assist budding researchers in framing novel and promising research objectives. Supply chain administrators and policymakers can utilize the literature classification and the notable references provided in this review for locating potential methods for assessing supply chain strategic capabilities, designing the supply chain and evaluating the performance of the supply chain. Originality/value An integrated bibliometric and descriptive literature review procedure is utilized in this paper. Furthermore, this critical review is the first work on comprehensively mapping the research relationships among various strategic capabilities required for mitigating supply chain risks.

Spare parts are held as inventory to support product maintenance in order to reduce downtime and extend the lifetime of products. Recently, spare parts inventory management has been attracting more attention due to the “right-to-repair” movement which requires that manufacturers provide sufficient spare parts throughout the life-cyle of their products to reduce waste so as to achieve sustainability. In this review, 148 papers regarding spare parts inventory management published from 2010 to 2020 are examined. The studies are classified based on two groups of perspectives. The first group includes the characteristics of spare parts, products, inventory systems, and supply chains, while the second group focuses on the characteristics of research methodologies and topics in the reviewed studies. The novelty of this literature review is three-fold. Firstly, we focus on analyzing the supply chain structure of different inventory networks for managing spare parts. Secondly, we classify the current literature based on analytics techniques, i.e., descriptive analytics, predictive analytics, and prescriptive analytics. Finally, the research gaps in this field are discussed from the perspective of reverse logistics, consumer durable goods, inventory network structure and policy, spare parts demand pattern modeling, and big data analytics.

Conventional supply chain has been shown to be incapable of meeting the ever-increasing demands of customers as well as the requirements of innovation. Due to various uncertainty volatility, ambiguity, and intricacy, the sustainability of supply chain becomes a major topic for organisations. Now there is need to integrate the digital technologies like cloud computing, internet of things, artificial intelligence, big data analysis etc. which improve the performance of supply chain in efficient and responsiveness manner. Due to this digital integration, the system undergoes various changes at organisational, operational, performance and technological level. This study aims to identify nine major critical factors which are enablers to achieve the sustainability in digitally integrated supply chain. A TISM model is developed to address their interrelationship among them. The factors are classified as dependent and independent factors according to their driving and dependence power through the use of the MICMAC analysis. If is confirmed in MICMAC analysis that the factors Agile Organisational structure, Smart logistics Capabilities, Smart Manufacturing Process and financial planning enhance the sustainability of digitally enabled supply chain. This study provides a comprehensive list of enablers that are necessary to achieve sustainability of digitally integrated supply chains; nevertheless, the list is not exhaustive. This paper was written with the intention of contributing a pool of knowledge on achieving sustainability in digitally integrated supply chain. This study has the potential to make it possible for market specialists and executives to focus on critical elements that lead to tactical decisions and maximise value for companies. It establishes a baseline from which future studies can build.

Sustainability is one of the main challenges of the recent decades. In this regard, several prior studies have used different techniques and approaches for solving this problem in the field of sustainability engineering. Multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) is an important technique that presents a systematic approach for helping decisionmakers in this field. The main goal of this paper is to review the literature concerning the application of MCDM methods in the field of sustainable engineering. The Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection Database was chosen to identify 108 papers in the period of 2008–2018. The selected papers were classified into five categories, including construction and infrastructure, supply chains, transport and logistics, energy, and other. In addition, the articles were classified based on author, year, application area, study objective and problem, applied methods, number of published papers, and name of the journal. The results of this paper show that sustainable engineering is an area that is quite suitable for the use of MCDM. It can be concluded that most of the methods used in sustainable engineering are based on traditional approaches with a noticeable trend towards applying the theory of uncertainty, such as fuzzy, grey, rough, and neutrosophic theory.

In the rapidly evolving business landscape, effective inventory management and meeting customer demands rely heavily on accurate forecasting. While technology automates parts of inventory control, human expertise remains vital in decision-making for forecasting. Building supplier relationships, monitoring market trends, and adaptable supply chains are crucial too. Accurate demand forecasting reduces costs, streamlines operations, and boosts customer satisfaction. Therefore, companies must carefully review their forecasting methods to stay competitive. Researchers are addressing the lack of data on inventory and forecasting by focusing on implementing time series algorithms, recognizing their crucial role in optimizing these processes. This academic pursuit has led researchers to develop a user-friendly system tailored for improved inventory management, integrating a feature set dedicated to demand forecasting. The project aims to streamline user operations by offering an intuitive platform that facilitates seamless navigation. By encompassing forecasting capabilities, the system empowers businesses to accurately predict their future product requirements. The primary objective of this initiative is to simplify inventory procedures while enabling users to proactively meet upcoming demands effectively. While conducting the study, the researcher considered the first problem in how the user will use the inventory system in a more user-friendly manner. The second problem that the researchers conducted was manual input, and it will cost more when the documents are not organized. Lastly, the highest problem that the inventory management conducted was the overseers of the products by excessive inventory, low stocks, and expired products. The researchers use some of the sub-characteristics of ISO 25010 that are appropriate for evaluating inventory management. After evaluation, the sub-characteristics of functional stability garnered an overall weighted mean of 3.90. The compatibility and usability garnered an overall weight of 3.89. Reliability garnered an overall weight of 3.66. Lastly, maintainability was overall weighted at 3.63. The confusion matrix was used with the help of the tool of Weka Software using the scheme of function. Simple Logistics. The evaluation on the training set has a summary of correctly classified instances of 89.4737% and incorrectly classified instances of 10.5263%, which indicates that the application has an accurate algorithm.

Introduction What is inflation-orthopedic perspective In orthopedic surgery, inflation is characterized as the gradual increase in the cost of surgical materials and medical services. This drop in buying power implies that the same amount of money may buy fewer medical products and services. For example, if inflation raises the cost of essential materials and services, a conventional knee replacement operation may become more expensive. Inflation-adjusted insurance reimbursements to doctors have also fallen, implying that orthopedic surgeons may be paid less in actual terms for the same surgeries over time. How inflation affects us Inflation has a considerable impact on orthopedic physicians’ personal fortunes. It can reduce buying power, raise the cost of medical equipment and services, and lower the true worth of savings and investments. This can lead to greater operational expenses and less profitability for surgeons in private practice. Inflation can also impact debt payments, since many doctors with large debts may face increasing interest rates on variable-rate loans. Furthermore, if salaries and other revenues do not keep up with inflation, orthopedic surgeons’ time-adjusted income declines, limiting their capacity to save and invest for future aspirations. **Understanding Inflation** Understanding factors of inflation for India Supply and demand forces combine to generate inflation in India. On the supply side, changes in agricultural output caused by irregular monsoons have a considerable impact on food costs, which account for a large portion of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For example, unseasonal rains in late 2023 caused a jump in vegetable prices, resulting in a 7.5% CPI inflation rate in November 2023. Furthermore, global issues such as crude oil price swings influence transportation and production costs. In 2022, the Russia-Ukraine conflict prompted crude oil prices to skyrocket, resulting in increased petrol costs in India and inflation of more than 6%. On the demand side, increasing consumer spending and government stimulus measures, notably during the COVID-19 recovery period, have contributed to inflation. The Indian government’s numerous relief packages and direct cash transfers raised disposable income, driving up demand for goods and services. Furthermore, structural problems, such as inefficient supply chains and excessive logistics costs, contribute to inflationary pressures. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) strives to control inflation between 2% and 6%, but chronic supply-side constraints and unpredictable global markets make this a difficult undertaking. How is inflation calculated India’s inflation rate is calculated by the RBI using the CPI. The formula is: Inflation Rate = (CPI Current – CPI Previous) × 100. The current base year is 2012. The main components and their estimated weights are as follows: • Food and beverages: 45.86% • Housing: 10.07%. • Clothing and footwear: 6.53% • Fuel and light: 6.84% • Miscellaneous (includes services, such as healthcare, education, and transportation): 28.32%. To contain inflation and stabilize the economy, the RBI sets interest rates and monetary policy based on the CPI inflation rate. Investment Strategies to Beat Inflation Inflation-silent eroder of money power Inflation has a substantial influence on the value of money since it raises prices over time, lowering the buying power of money. Assuming a 5% inflation rate, products and services that cost ₹100 this year will cost ₹105 next year. Furthermore, money held in a savings account normally generates just 4% interest, which can result in a loss of buying power if the interest rate is less than the inflation rate. In recent years, inflation rates in India have frequently exceeded 6%, resulting in a gradual loss in the capacity to purchase goods and services and a detrimental impact on long-term financial goals. Furthermore, over the years, this loss of purchasing power on your money is compounded exponentially. Example Let’s take an example of 1 lakh rupees invested for a 30 years horizon in banks and in equity stocks. ● Bank savings (4% interest rate): ○ Initial investment: ₹1,00,000 ○ After 30 years at 4% interest: ○ Future Value = 1,00,000 × (1 + 0.04)30 = ₹3,24,339 ● Equity investment (15% Return – these returns may vary on a yearly basis, but on a long-term average come to around 15%): ○ Initial investment: ₹1,00,000 ○ After 30 years at 15% return: ○ Future value = 1,00,000 × (1 + 0.15)30 = ₹66,21,596 ● Adjusting for 6% Inflation: ○ Real value after 30 years (using bank savings): ○ Adjusted value = 3,24,339 ÷ (1.06)30 = ₹50,438 ○ Real value after 30 years (using equity): ○ Adjusted value = 66,21,596 ÷ (1.06)30 = ₹10,30,801. Direct equity Individual doctors setup demat accounts and buy equities based on their own research. The ideal approach is to invest in high-quality firms with honest management and consistent price growth, such as Asian Paints, Pidilite, and Reliance (please bear in mind that this is not a stock suggestion). The disadvantage is that if an investor books losses during a market downturn, they may lose a large sum of money. World events such as wars, natural catastrophes, and stock market rumors can all generate price volatility. This might produce panic and uncertainty in the minds of investors, resulting in substantial losses. Mutual funds Mutual funds simplify investing through integrating the investments of many people to form a diverse portfolio. Direct mutual funds are less expensive than ordinary funds, with frequently lower expense ratios. Index funds, such as the Nifty 50, offer even lower expense ratios, often ranging from 0.1% to 0.3%, and efficiently follow indexes. Most actively managed mutual funds fail to outperform the Nifty 50 index. Thus, Nifty index funds, which closely mirror index performance, frequently prove to be a better investing option for many individuals. However, mutual funds face the danger of significant losses in market collapses. Nevertheless, a long-term investment horizon of around 7–10 years yields high returns. Real estate Real estate is frequently seen as a good inflation hedge due to rising property values and rentals. However, real estate investments need significant resources and carry hazards such as market volatility and property upkeep fees. Real estate investments are classified into three types: Residential, commercial, and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Residential investments include homes and apartments, whereas commercial investments include office buildings, retail spaces, and industrial sites. REITs provide liquidity and diversity without owning real property, but they are susceptible to market hazards. Commodities Investing in gold, silver, and other commodities such as gold and silver are classic inflation hedges that hold their value during inflationary periods. Gold is chosen for its safety and liquidity, but commodities are volatile and do not provide income in the same way that dividends or rents do. Commodities normally do well during inflation as prices rise, offering a hedge against currency depreciation, but they can be impacted by global supply and demand forces. Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) are a secure and income-generating alternative to purchasing actual gold. They provide an annual interest rate of 2.5%, payable semi-annually, which increases the investment value. The interest earned is taxable, while capital gains on redemption are tax-free. SGBs have an 8-year lock-in term, with the opportunity to depart after the 5th year. Investing ₹1 lakh in SGBs over the past 8 years yields a return of around 128%, culminating in a final value of ₹2.28 lakhs, surpassing conventional gold at around 100%. Bonds Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are government-backed investments that safeguard investors against inflation. They adjust their principal value with inflation and decrease with deflation, providing a safe, government-backed alternative with lesser yields than regular bonds. TIPS alter their principal value, offering a buffer against inflation but often with lower beginning interest rates. In a 10-year timeframe, a ₹1 lakh investment in TIPS would increase to around ₹1,81,940, whereas the same money in a bank FD at 6% interest would rise to roughly ₹1,79,085. TIPS generate a somewhat higher return, due to the inflation protection component, which enhances total yields. Practical Guidelines for Investors 1. An actionable approach for doctor investors would be to invest in mutual funds using platforms such as Kuvera and Coin, which provide direct investing in mutual funds. This helps to lower the expenditure ratio 2. Invest around 10–20% of your monthly income on a monthly basis (Systematic investment plans) rather than just accumulating in your bank 3. Prefer index mutual funds, such as the Nifty index funds 4. Make recurring investing in high-quality stocks with a strong reputation. This research must be conducted by the investor himself or through portfolio management services 5. Continue to purchase SGBs rather than physical gold wherever feasible 6. Commercial real estate should be preferred over residential real estate since it generates higher rents and appreciates more quickly 7. Do not keep a lot of cash, as it erodes its value. Instead, try to invest in real estate 8. Pay taxes regularly and try to use all the sections of tax deductions with the help of a good chartered accountant. (These guidelines are suggestions and recommendations and authors are not liable for any losses incurred by following these tips) Conclusion In India, orthopedic doctors may fight inflation by properly distributing assets across asset classes. These include equities, mutual funds, stocks, and debt instruments, such as SGBs, real estate, and REITs, as well as inflation-indexed bonds. By combining these assets with a balanced portfolio, doctors may establish a solid financial foundation while navigating inflationary challenges, assuring their financial future.

Background: Despite risk management efforts, supply chains have become increasingly vulnerable to disruptions. Disruptions should be successfully managed if organisations are to thrive in today’s ever-changing world.Purpose: This study explored supply chain disruptions of third-party logistics service providers (3PLs) and their clients based in South Africa by investigating the disruptions these organisations face, and how they go about managing them.Method: A generic qualitative research approach was used to gather data by conducting semi-structured interviews with 22 participants, which comprised 11 3PLs and 11 client organisations operating in South Africa.Findings: This study classified disruptions as intra-, inter- and extra-organisational. South African 3PLs and their clients face the majority of their disruptions either intra- or inter-organisationally. The focus of 3PLs and clients has shifted from risk management to disruption management. The findings show that 3PLs and their clients based in South Africa prefer disruption learning over traditional risk management as a method to better manage future disruptions.Conclusion: This study contributes to existing literature by providing insight into the specific supply chain disruptions that 3PLs and their clients based in South Africa face, according to the disruption location in the supply chain and how 3PLs and clients manage supply chain disruptions.

Purpose China has emerged as an undisputed leader of global business and as a preferred hub for global value chains. However, recent threats of the trade war, the allegation of violation of intellectual property rights and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have dampened China’s attractiveness. Multinational corporations may be contemplating diversifying their dependence on China – a strategy known as “China-Plus-One”. What could be possible destinations in Asia for such a diversification strategy? Design/methodology/approach Towards understanding the “China-Plus-One” phenomenon, the authors use a methodology of arriving at an aggregate ranking of the major economies of emerging Asia. This is built on a few standard indices such as World Bank's Logistic Performance Index; World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Indicator; World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index; Economic Complexity Index of the Harvard University; Economist Magazine’s Country Rating of Financial Strength; and Corruption Perception Index compiled by the Transparency International. Accordingly, the authors rank seven countries (namely, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Bangladesh) next to China as possible destinations for selecting the “Plus one” country. Findings In the aggregate ranking, China ranks first followed by Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and then Bangladesh. This sequence gives some pointers on the possible shifts from China as potential hubs of global value chains. The authors observe the following: first, it is challenging to move away from China in the short run; second, corporations could pursue a “China-plus-One” strategy, whereby they may move marginally from China and relocate part of their supply chain elsewhere; third, in looking for alternative locations, corporations may look for the following countries in emerging Asia, namely, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Bangladesh. Originality/value The aggregate ranking method applied in this paper is one of the first applications in the context of ranking developing Asian economies based on economic, logistics, supply chain, financial and corruption metrics. It is one of the first conceptual works in the domain of identifying possible diversification options for the “China-Plus-One” strategy that can be extended to include many context-specific rankings.

Purpose Unforeseen events can disrupt the operational process and negatively impact emergency resources optimization and its supply chain. A limited number of studies have addressed risk management issues in the context of emergency supply chains, and this existing research lacks inbuilt and practical techniques that can significantly affect the reliability of risk management outcomes. Therefore, this paper aims to identify and practically analyze the specific risk factors that can most likely disrupt the normal functioning of the emergency supply chain in disaster relief operations. Design/methodology/approach This paper has used a three-step process to investigate and evaluate risk factors associated with the emergency supply chain. First, the study conducts a comprehensive literature review to identify the risk factors. Second, the research develops a questionnaire survey to validate and classify the identified risk factors. At the end of this step, the study develops a hierarchical structure. Finally, the research investigates the weighted priority of the validated risk factors using the fuzzy-analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) methodology. Experts were required to provide subjective judgments. Findings This paper identified and validated 28 specific risk factors prevalent in emergency supply chains. Based on their contextual meanings, the research classified these risk factors into two main categories: internal and external risk factors; four subcategories: demand, supply, infrastructural and environmental risk factors; and 11 risk types: forecast, inventory, procurement, supplier, quality, transportation, warehousing, systems, disruption, social and political risk factors. The most significant risk factors include war and terrorism, the absence of legislative rules that can influence and support disaster relief operations, the impact of cascading disasters, limited quality of relief supplies and sanctions and constraints that can hinder stakeholder collaboration. Therefore, emergency supply chain managers should adopt appropriate strategies to mitigate these risk factors. Research limitations/implications This study will contribute to the general knowledge of risk management in emergency supply chains. The identified risk factors and structural hierarchy taxonomic diagram will provide a comprehensive risk database for emergency supply chains. Practical implications The research findings will provide comprehensive and systemic support for respective practitioners and policymakers to obtain a firm understanding of the different risk categories and specific risk factors that can impede the effective functioning of the emergency supply chain during immediate disaster relief operations. Therefore, this will inform the need for the improvement of practices in critical aspects of the emergency supply chain through the selection of logistics and supply chain strategies that can ensure the robustness and resilience of the system. Originality/value This research uses empirical data to identify, categorize and validate risk factors in emergency supply chains. This study contributes to the theory of supply chain risk management. The study also adopts the fuzzy-AHP technique to evaluate and prioritize these risk factors to inform practitioners and policymakers of the most significant risk factors. Furthermore, this study serves as the first phase of managing risk in emergency supply chains since it motivates future studies to empirically identify, evaluate and select effective strategies that can eliminate or minimize the effects of these risk factors.

During past decade, following the increase in the diversity of the patterns of client expectations and its consequent rise of industrial competition for better productions and services, organizations increasingly paved the ground for higher flexibility in production lines and product development to meet the costumers' needs. But managers of many industries learned that in order to survive in the market, improving internal procedures and company's flexibility is not solely enough but material and parts suppliers must also match the company's market development policies. Competitive environment faced companies with several challenges such as reduction of production cycles, decrease in distribution time, decrease in inventories and also waiting time, which are all of high importance to maintain profitability in the market. In order to solve these problems, the process which is now referred to as Supply Chain Management was introduced; meanwhile the notion was soon spread that the real competition was not between companies but was between supply chains indeed and logistic as a part of it was remarked. In the first step, through a critical review of the literature the constituent elements of logistics costs were integrally identified and content classified. The output of this stage developed a model that represents the main structural constituent of logistics costs with associated variables. By using a questionnaire and interviewing elites the general model was then turned into a native model in the ceramic and tile industry. Then based on conceptual cost model, consisting of structures and variables, a case study on Khayyam Ceramic and Tile Company was conducted and using financial statements and interviewing relevant units within the company, a cost framework was extracted and following results were obtained. According to the study, 11% of the total costs of the company accounted for logistics costs of which, 33% was transportation costs , 39% inventory costs, 16% storage and handling costs, and 12% costumer related services and order processing.

Context: the emergence of TB (Blockchain Technology), interesting gains for the economy, helping companies, governments and customers with integration and reliability of information without intermediaries. Objective: Through a systematic literature review analyzing the use of applied TB in the areas of logistics and Supply Chain (SC) to first verify the benefits of using applied TB, as well as the study of the main areas of TB use, classifying in articles from searched databases which are the main relevant areas for the application of TB due to the number of articles found and the quality of the studies generated. Second, analysis of the impacts of this technology on the corporate environment, generating solutions that help in the operational part and in the resolution of communication with partners. Third, how can TB help companies to have a sustainable SC without natural impacts, food contamination problems and where everyone in SC has a healthy business without interference from agents that do not add value to the production chain. Fourth, to analyze how TB can help in the process of genetic improvement from animal protein SCs. Challenges: Challenges posed to global TB and SCs. Method: the systematic literature review (SLR) among articles from 2017 to 2020. Result: the results of the systematic literature review indicate that some of the main benefits are the traceability and reliability generated by the use of TB in logistics and CS, among the impacts raised 62% were classified as positive and aggregators for the use of TB in SCs, when it comes to having efficient socio-environmental SCs, TB can maximize the transparency of manufacturing processes and agricultural production without the use of harmful toxins and genetic improvement. Perspectives: what is expected from the use of TB in supply chains and integration with other 4.0 technologies.