Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'UK Packaging Supply Chain'
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Shi, Jing. "Design and evaluation of sustainable packaging in supply chain." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2018. http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3026201/.
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Sustainability is a multi-objective goal to achieve environmentally sound, socially just and economically viable. But existing packaging design research and practice usually does not cover all these aspects of sustainability. As the increasing demand of packaging is leading to more packaging induced problems, packaging-related impact on sustainability is gaining increasing concern and recognitions from consumers, organisations, and governments. Unlike conventional products, packaging's impact on sustainability does not reflect solely on itself at the product level; instead, comes from the logistics operations it involved, and from its interactions with packed goods and logistics operations at different phases of the supply chain. By exploring packaging and logistics interactions, this research proposed a framework for sustainable packaging system assessment, which integrates the packed goods, packaging and logistics into packaging logistics concept from holistic view. Then, a generic evaluation method was developed based on FMEA and QFD, to quantify the consideration of interactions between packaging, goods and logistic operations. It adds risk consideration into packaging's impact on sustainability. The proposed tool was then integrated into a simulation model for sustainable container supply chain evaluation, considering the container's similarity to packaging. Different case studies were conducted to validate and triangulate the proposed evaluation tools, illustrating how the proposed method help with decision-making support for sustainable packaging and container supply chain design. By help identifying sustainable packaging solution, and balancing cost/benefit for different supply chain parties, utilisation of sustainable packaging is also promoted by this study.
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Schwartz, Karen Christine. "Sustainable supply chain management in UK tour operations." Thesis, Leeds Beckett University, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.492945.
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This research furthers understanding of UK tour operator approaches to sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). Although the wider tour operating industry is only just beginning to demonstrate some responsibility and Interest in addressing business impacts, it is an increasingly important feature of the global business agenda. It is therefore important that an understanding is gained of how sustainability can be addressed in a way which meets both commercial imperatives and societal interests.
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Lloyd-Betts, Christine. "Supply chain integration in the UK bioenergy industry." Thesis, Aston University, 2017. http://publications.aston.ac.uk/31761/.
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This study is an investigation on supply chain integration in bioenergy. It takes a different approach from many contemporary studies found in the literature because most research in bioenergy treats technological performance, characteristics of feedstock, impact on energy consumption in relation to the carbon footprint as distinct and separate entities. None of these examples consider bioenergy from supply chain integration and thus, a business performance perspective. The study proposes that bioenergy is defined from the biomass-to-bioenergy, which is from the point of origin to the point of conversion, and that it is a developing industry. It was found that stakeholders play a prominent role throughout the various phases from planning approval to project implementation and are also involved during operational phases of a bioenergy business. In the study this is referred to as stakeholder integration. During handover phases process integration dominates operational activities within the bioenergy firm. By dividing characteristics in a bioenergy business as stakeholder and process integration it is possible to identify constructs that are applicable to bioenergy. These were investigated through secondary research as well as primary research approaches. Inherent within the configuration of bioenergy supply chains are issues and challenges that were different from established energy systems and factors peculiar to conventional supply chain approaches. The research finds bioenergy supply chains tend to be horizontally integrated from B2C, and as yet lack vertical integration, B2B found in mature supply chains. Contributions resulting from this factor, coupled with the research approaches, particularly by using qualitative methods extended knowledge and practice in operations management research as well identifying best practice in a novel and emergent industry.
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Fleckenstein, Thomas, and Eirik Pihlstroem. "Returnable Packaging in the Automotive Supply Chain : From a supplier´s perspective." Thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Centre of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-27414.
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Abstract Problem Little research has been conducted on how packaging and returnable packaging are managed within suppliers in the Scandinavian automotive supply chain. Sources also propose that returnable packaging is dealt with inefficiently within the automotive suppliers. Purpose The purpose of the thesis is to explore and analyze how packaging and returnable packaging are managed within suppliers in the ASC. It also aims to identify perceived important factors for efficient returnable packaging management from the perspective of suppliers, sub-suppliers and OEMs. Method The research is based on a holistic single case study. Further, it adopts the inductive approach and exploratory purpose. Data collection is facilitated by qualitative methods, using ten semi-structured interviews and four on-site observations. Conclusion Packaging was found to be managed somewhat differently in the internal, outbound and inbound flows. Non-returnable and returnable packaging was found used in all flows at different ratios. Further, several factors were regarded important for efficient returnable packaging management. These were found specific for the internal, outbound and inbound flows and further divided into fundamental and efficiency factors.
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Obatoyinbo, Adesunloye. "Supply chain packaging : packaging for optimal inter-region distribution center operations and damage prevention." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37238.
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Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (p. 65).
Honeywell International Corporation is a $27.5 billion [1] conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of businesses covering Aerospace, Automation and Controls, Specialty Materials and Transportation. Honeywell's Automation and Controls Solutions (ACS) business is the second largest business group with $9.4 billion in sales in 2005. This business group is further divided into the following strategic business units: * Security (Facilities) * Life Safety * Building Solutions * Process Solutions * Sensing and Control * Environmental and Combustion Controls The Environmental and Combustion Controls (ECC) business unit of Honeywell ACS maintains a global manufacturing and distribution presence. ECC delivers complex systems that control air, water and combustion for both homes and industrial customers. Historically, ECC plants in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region have either had their own warehouses or had a captive third party provider that provided warehousing services offsite. However, recent initiatives in the region have culminated in the adoption of a regional distribution center model. Essentially, clusters of plants are grouped into regions that are served by the same warehouse or distribution center.
(cont.) The regional warehouse in Heilbronn Germany (ERD) is the pilot for such a system. Plants in Emmen in the Netherlands, Brno in the Czech Republic, Nagykanisza in Hungary and Schoenaich and Mosbach in Germany, as well as some small Low Risk Distribution (LRD) centers - which stock emergency volumes - in western Europe will all be consolidated and served from the distribution center in Heilbronn. This essentially means that instead of storing their own inventory, all the affected plants will truck all production to the Heilbronn warehouse on a daily basis. The Heilbronn warehouse, which commenced operation in May, 2005 subsequently fulfills all customer orders associated with the locations listed above. During the consolidation exercise, while planning for receipt of goods from the different plants, it became clear that there were multiple packaging standards in use throughout Europe. There thus arose the need to consolidate the different standards into a coherent well-defined standard to enable the new distribution center established at Heilbronn, Germany, to properly handle goods from the different plants.
(cont.) Additionally, the newly built ERD had a need for an established set of packing guidelines that may include procedural changes or the establishment of new procedures, changes to the physical setup of the outbound lines (freight and parcel), presentation and replenishment of packaging material and suggestions for improvement for the long term. Receiving guidelines have also been newly instituted for products arriving at the ERD, which also creates a case for compliance for goods being shipped from suppliers including a counterpart warehouse - the Louisville Distribution Center (LDC) - in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition, the LDC had been having difficulty receiving freight from the European plants. The major problems included inadequate labeling, lack of overpacking, inconsistency in packing of mixed pallets and the non-usage of Honeywell 40" X 32" pallets. Since all European plant shipments that formerly shipped directly from each plant would be shipping from ERD in Heilbronn going forward, it became imperative that appropriate packaging standards be developed (in Europe) in order to ensure compliance with receiving guidelines in Louisville at the LDC. Fulfillment through the distribution centers is what drives customer satisfaction.
(cont.) No matter how efficient the plants may be, transit through the distribution centers is the proverbial "last mile" that delivers all the efforts of the firm to the customers. I have developed and recommended a packaging standard, which outlines the levels to which packaged products must be tested in preparation for safe shipping. I analyzed current packing practice at the ERD showing relevant cost drivers and made recommendations on ways to pack in order to improve service to the downstream distribution center while keeping costs contained. I developed a framework to guide warehouse management with regards to pallet shipping decisions between the ERD and LDC. Finally, I developed a carton replenishment framework for the ERD that can be adopted for other appropriate ECC warehouses.
by Adesunloye Obatoyinbo.
S.M.
M.B.A.
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Day, Marc. "Buyer-supplier relations in the UK tableware supply chain." Thesis, Keele University, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.251684.
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This thesis challenges the idea that buyer-supplier relations can be objectively 'managed' in all cases by firms in the same 'supply chain'. The study examines this argument in relation to a small network of buyer and supplier finns in one industry, ceramic tableware production. The first significant gap found in the 'supply chain management' literature was that the focus of research failed to examine in significant detail the intricacies of why organizations are often forced to 'react' to changes in inter-finn relations, rather than being able to 'manage' such events. A second gap in existing research was its bias toward researching a limited set of industries such as automotives and food production, where manufacturers or assemblers often hold pivotal roles in the supply chain. A final gap in supply chain research was the weak linkage between supply chain management and wider debates relating to productive and organizational change. In addition, the area of literature encapsulating discussions relating to the industrial agglomeration of finns within the 'industrial district' has been used in the past to chart shifting structures for buyer-supplier and infrastructural organization. A strong analytical approach is developed in this thesis that shows the 'softer' aspects of supply chain interaction. The research shows that, although it is possible to 'manage' the pattern of interaction in a network from a focal finn perspective, wider inter-personal, dyadic and network activities do present difficulties in this 'management' activity. This leads to the conclusion that 'supply chain management' may not be a clear cut activity which is simple to apply. At the aggregated network level of interaction, piecemeal evidence was found to support claims for any significant shift in buyer-supplier relations or productive organization that is encapsulated in any of the variant fonns of the Marshallian 'industrial district'.
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Hong-Minh, Severine. "Re-engineering the UK private house building supply chain." Mannheim : Mateo, Mannheimer Texte Online, 2002. http://www.uni-mannheim.de/mateo/verlag/diss/hong-minh/hong-minh.pdf.
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Purvis, Laura. "Agile supply chain management in the UK fashion sector." Thesis, Edinburgh Napier University, 2010. http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3839.
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Abstract More demanding customers and the globalisation of both markets and production have led to companies nowadays facing a highly volatile and uncertain environment. In this environment, the ability to react to environmental uncertainty is key for competitiveness. Long lead times and high levels of stock have higher and higher risks associated with and, as a result, producing just-in-time to customer specifications has become the key to succeeding in the market place. Efficient supply chains often become uncompetitive because they don't adapt to changes in the structures of markets. In this context, the area of agile supply chain management has gained increasing attention over the past few decades. It focuses on increasing the speed and flexibility of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the ultimate provision of product and service packages required by end customers. If extensive research has been previously conducted on various aspects of agility, the majority of previous studies focus on consumer acceptance of the strategy and not on operational issues. Building on this weakness, this thesis aims to construct a framework of agile supply chain management practices and, through two case studies, investigate the interactions between its components. The UK fashion sector was chosen as the focus of this research, due to its high levels of demand volatility. It also presents a set of challenges, as the high levels of globalization that characterises the sector and the complexity of the supply networks operated by fashion retailers, have previously been identified as barriers to responsiveness. The thesis' main findings are threefold. First, due to the fact that traditional supply chains are either too complex and cost-laden to distribute low-cost products effectively or too asset-intensive and inflexible to quickly harness and deploy innovation, companies need to build ‘fit-for-purpose' supply chain networks. This involves configuring supply networks in a tailored fashion to deliver innovation and responsiveness for premium brands and high efficiency for mass value products. Second, through high levels of process integration companies should accelerate the innovation process so that new products and promotions can be introduced into stores more cheaply and quickly. They should also reinvent the value chain by reconfiguring operations to radically cut costs and proactively meet customer demands. Third, to enable high levels of agility in a global sourcing context through rapid supply systems reconfiguration, new supply chain structures and actors, such as trade agents / intermediaries, need to be involved.
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Fatorachian, Hajar. "Electronic supply chain practice within SMEs manufacturer in the UK." Thesis, Sheffield Hallam University, 2014. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/19642/.
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The concepts of E-Business and Supply Chain Management (SCM) have been broadly investigated in the last 10 years. However, there have been limited insights into the integration of the two concepts - Electronic Supply Chain Management (ESCM). Also, there is limited information about the implementation of E-Business practices in the supply chain management of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Adopting an exploratory approach, this thesis investigated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and E-Business as practical and innovative approaches towards supply chain management. Following Tornatzky and Fleischer's (1990) 'Technology-Organisation-Environment' (TOE) theory, which has recently been used by Ifinedo (2011) in investigation of E-business in organisations, this research has attempted to provide a comprehensive view towards the adoption of ESCM. Having explored and extracted key factors influencing the adoption and implementation of ESCM from a literature review, a comprehensive ESCM model was developed. The model is focused towards understanding of the significance of various technological, organisational, environmental and strategic factors on successful adoption of E-Business technologies in supply chain management. Additionally, the advantages of the application of Information Technologies (IT) in supply chain management of SMEs, and possible obstacles are investigated in depth. Using a deductive approach, a questionnaire was designed to explore the research objectives. Consequently, 6 hypotheses were proposed and tested using data from 67 manufacturing SMEs in the UK. The findings of this study will enable comprehensive understanding of the concept of ESCM in SMEs, through exploring the integration of E-Business and supply chain management, and through an investigation of key elements of ESCM adoption. It is hoped that the developed model offers a better and stronger understanding of implementation of IT in SMEs, allowing managers of SMEs to evaluate the level of success and appropriateness of E-Business capabilities and IT strategies in their supply chains. Key words: Supply Chain Management (SCM), E-Business, E-Business capabilities, Electronic Supply Chain Management (ESCM), SMEs, Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
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Duckling, Christopher. "Customer-supplier relationships in the UK defence industry." Thesis, University of Brighton, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.273865.
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Williams, Sharon Jayne. "An investigation into supply chain management in the UK furniture industry." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.417794.
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Beneš, Martin. "Analýza a racionalizace zpětné logistiky u DHL Exel Supply Chain, Automotive UK." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2007. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-3876.
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This diploma thesis has been created based on the demand of the management of DHL Exel Supply Chain and Swindon Pressings Limited to increase the efficiency and utilization of resources employed within they operations. The theoretical introduction part is first of dealing with the terms "logistics" and "supply chain management" in the perspective of their use in the contemporary logistics theory, comparison of their meaning (are there differences) and explanation of their use in this thesis. Subsequently I am explaining "reverse logistic" and its position in the structures of corporations and logistics itself. Supply chain management and the concept of lean manufacturing combined with the six sigma approach are, from my point of view, essential for today's supplier-customer relationships. That is why those topics are examined in the last part of the theoretical chapter. Returnable packaging and the transport process are key elements of the second part -- practical part, the reengineering of logistics processes which occurred at Swindon Pressings Limited. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the give problem, develop problem solving options and critically comment them. Finally choose one of the options, implement it and document the process of "going live".
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Hök, Andreas, and Daniel Trygg. "INCREASE CONTROL IN PACKAGING HANDLING PROCESSES : ADDING VISIBILITY AND CONTROL THROUGH CLEARER RESPONSIBILITIES AND CATEGORIZATION OF PACKAGING." Thesis, Mälardalens högskola, Akademin för innovation, design och teknik, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-25845.
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The increased use of returnable packaging have given rise to the trend of packaging logistics.The operation of returnable packaging is challenging for global companies due to thecomplexity in the process and information flows. Companies invest in returnable packagingsystems in order to ensure quality throughout the supply chain. Despite the large investments inan returnable packaging fleet, it is often poorly controlled, leading to vast tied-up capital andshrinkage.This thesis proposes how the visibility and control of the system is affected by thecategorization of packaging and the allocation of responsibilities throughout the packaginghandling process. Theoretical and empirical studies were carried out, the theoretical part helpeddefine the problem. A case study were performed at Scania CV AB in Södertälje, Sweden.Results of this study shows that categorization of packaging is not sufficient to attain a suitablelevel of control in an packaging handling process. Although it could be used as a supporting orgoverning documents for standardization in the process. Findings showed that theresponsibilities in the process should be centralized in as large extent as possible. Although ifthe current process is lacking visibility and control, the benefits of centralized control may belost.
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Wilmot, Natalie. "Management of language diversity in international supply chain relationships of UK SMEs." Thesis, Sheffield Hallam University, 2017. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/16811/.
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Although language has claimed a place in the field of international business studies, the vast majority of research in this area has focused on language management practices in multinational organisations, and has therefore largely ignored the question of how small organisations cope with linguistic diversity in their international supply chain relationships. This doctoral research uses a case study methodology in order to explore language management practices at four British SMEs, aimed at understanding the practices used; the interplay between language practices and power; how practices vary depending on whether they are implemented in upstream or downstream supply chain relationships; and the perspectives of language agents on these issues. My findings highlight a number of issues which have implications for the international management literature. Firstly, I contribute to the literature on language management practices to show the methods used by smaller organisations, including language nodes, lingua francæ, body language, pictorial communication, translators, the extensive use of lean media, and Google Translate. The findings also revealed the unplanned nature of many of the decisions relating to language management practice at SMEs. Rather than having a strategic approach, the organisations had often arrived at their current practices through a process of bricolage, where they redeployed linguistic resources which had originally been acquired for other purposes, highlighting the emergent nature of strategy-making in smaller organisations. Additionally, the extensive use of the English language as a medium of communication in all the organisations studied was noted. However, in contrast to previous research on Business English as a Lingua Franca (BELF), I found that native speakers took ownership of the English language and positioned themselves as arbiters of correct usage, which had implications for how they related to linguistic Others in supply chain relationships of which the language users themselves were not necessarily aware. There was a marked difference found between the practices used between upstream and downstream relationships. The organisations were much more likely to engage in a wider range of practices, and be more accommodating linguistically, for their customers than they were their suppliers. This demonstrates the primacy of the customer relationship in international supply chains, in contrast to recent research which highlights supplier relationships as a source of competitive advantage. Finally, the study shows that small organisations largely focus their energies on language practices which address oral and informal communication with their partners, rather than on formal marketing tools such as websites and flyers. The study uses the lens of skopos theory in order to explore the efficacy of the translation practices which organisations use to translate written communication.
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Mian, Muhammad Masoud. "Green Packaging Development. : A way to efficient, effective and more environmental friendly packaging solutions." Thesis, KTH, Hållfasthetslära (Inst.), 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-103749.
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Growing pressure on the packaging design to enhance the environmental and logistics performance of a packaging system stresses the packaging designers to search new design strategies that not only fulfill logistics requirements in the supply chain, but also reduce the CO 2emissions during the packaging life cycle. This thesis focuses on the packaging design process and suggests some improvements by considering its logistics performance and CO 2emissions. A Green packaging development model was proposed for corrugated box design to explore the inter-dependencies that exist among compressive strength, waste and CO2emissions. The verification of the proposed model unveils the significance of a holistic view of the packaging system in the packaging design process and reveals the importance of packaging design decisions on the logistics performance and CO 2 emissions. The thesis finally concluded that the packaging logistics performance should be considered in a packaging design process to explore the Green packaging design solution.
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FILHO, HELIO ZANQUETTO. "KEY CAPABILITIES IN THE UK FRESH PRODUCE SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERSHIP AS COMPLEMENTARY ELEMENTS FOR THE FRESH PRODUCE SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT MODEL." PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO, 2003. http://www.maxwell.vrac.puc-rio.br/Busca_etds.php?strSecao=resultado&nrSeq=4296@1.
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COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DO PESSOAL DE ENSINO SUPERIORNas últimas décadas, a literatura sobre Gerenciamento da Cadeia de Suprimentos (GCS) tem ressaltado a necessidade de colaboração entre os diversos atores (empresas participantes) dentro da cadeia de suprimentos (CS). Assim, as empresas necessitam de novos instrumentos para monitorar não só o seu desempenho, mas também o desempenho da cadeia como um todo. O desenvolvimento da tese está formulado segundo duas óticas. A primeira, conceitual, refere-se ao tema avaliação de desempenho na cadeia de suprimentos. A segunda, gerencial, com a escolha da cadeia para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa empírica. Nesse caso optou-se pela cadeia de alimentos (frutas e vegetais) frescos e minimamente processados do Reino Unido. Para direcionar a pesquisa, dois objetivos principais foram formulados. O primeiro consiste em comparar os elementos operacionais das parcerias da cadeia de frutas e vegetais, identificados na pesquisa empírica, com os benefícios e processos de relacionamento observados na literatura. O segundo objetivo visa formular um modelo teórico de avaliação de desempenho para a cadeia de suprimentos de alimentos frescos - MADCS. Para alcançar o primeiro objetivo, uma hipótes principal, cinco hipóteses complementares e seis questões exploratórias foram formuladas e estatisticamente testadas. O segundo objetivo foi alcançado através da formulação do MADCS utilizando-se a revisão bibliográfica em conjunto com os resultados empíricos obtidos. A pesquisa amostral (survey) foi escolhida como estratégia de pesquisa, e como instrumento de pesquisa desenvolveu-se um questionário. Foram enviados 303 questionários com retorno de 99 (32%). Para o teste das hipóteses foram utilizados os seguintes testes estatísticos: análise fatorial, teste qui-quadrado, análise da variância, regressão logística e regressão linear simples. Como conclusão dos testes estatísticos tem-se que tanto os Benefícios, quanto os Processos de Relacionamento (Individuais e Conjuntos) foram parcialmente confirmados. Com relação às hipóteses complementares, três foram estatisticamente confirmadas e em duas não havia evidências estatísticas para confirmação. Na formulação do Modelo de Avaliação de Desempenho para a Cadeia de Suprimentos (MADCS) foi identificada a necessidade de incluir a avaliação dos processos de relacionamento nos modelos até então identificados na avaliação de desempenho das parcerias.
Supply chain management (SCM) has emerged as an important strategic weapon for manufacturers seeking sustainable competitive advantage. As a result, collaboration between trading partners is replacing confrontation as the preferred approach to buyer-supplier relationships. The focus of SCM is the coordination and control of key business processes throughout the supply chain, within and between firms. As a result, researchers have sought to develop integrated models of supply chain management in which firms are treated as integral parts of four distinct flows - information, value-added products, funds and knowledge . This thesis has two main objectives: the first is to identify and to compare the partnership capabilities (benefits and processes) from the UK fresh produce industry with the benchmark indicators from the literature. The second one is to create a theoretical framework contributing to the theory of supply chain performance measurement. One main hypothesis, five complementary hypotheses and six exploratory questions were formulated in relartion to the primary research objective. In pursuit of the second objective a performance measurement model for fresh produce - MADCS was formulated. This model is supported by the performance measurement theory and by empirical results. A survey was choosen as the empirical research strategy. To capture the data 303 questionnaries were sent in February 2002 to UK fresh produce suppliers with turnover of more than £ 1 million. To test the hypotheses, chi-square, simple linear regression, factor analysis and logistics regression techniques were used. Overall, the results support the main hypothesis and three of the remaining sub-hypotheses. However, there results do not support the other two hypotheses.
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Adigun, A. "To investigate the influencing factors for sustainable packaging in a multinational SME supply chain." Thesis, University of Salford, 2016. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/41101/.
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Sustainability has become a buzzword that occurs everywhere in this global economy. Governments continue to lay emphasis on its importance by steering policies favourably in that direction. Organisations, both public and private, are becoming more aware of the economic, social and environmental advantages it brings them in the global landscape in which they operate. Academic institutions have not been left behind, on the evidence of the volume of research in this area. The aim of this research has been to investigate the barriers and enablers to sustainable packaging within an international, closed loop supply chain of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the food Industry. It is important to mention that two-thirds of all packaging is used in the food industry, and the close relationship between the food sector and packaging explains the focus of this research on the food sector. Whilst there has been research into sustainability or sustainable development, emphasis has always been on Multinational Enterprises (MNE). The role of Small- to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the global economy is significant, according to the statistics available. SMEs represent more than 99% and 80% of enterprises in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, respectively, and provide over 75 million jobs in the European Union. Furthermore, 90% of global businesses are SMEs. The research is therefore focused on Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The use of a qualitative approach for the study was justified by the focus on gaining a profound understanding of the barriers and enablers for sustainable packaging, for SMEs, in the real world. A case study strategy was also deemed to be appropriate because of the importance of contemporary events, over which the researcher has no control. In addition, the use of interviews, direct observation and the examination of documents as methods of data gathering was also justified in as much as the use of a number of approaches supported data triangulation, which thus strengthened the research. The intention of this research was to highlight the issues SMEs face when embarking on a sustainable packaging journey. This research has therefore contributed to the existing body of knowledge by investigating the various barriers that this type of organisation faces, and why. Existing barriers identified within the literature, as detailed in Chapter 2, and new findings detailed in Chapter 5, concerning the system, corruption and culture, make a contribution to the existing body of knowledge.
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Holesova, Gabriela, and Ekaterina Ivashneva. "Supply chain collaboration as a facilitator of circular economy for bio-based food packaging." Thesis, Malmö universitet, Institutionen för Urbana Studier (US), 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-44202.
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The amount of food packaging waste is one of the issues associated with increasing global population and corresponding increase in consumption rate of packaged foods. Traditional plastic food packaging derived from fossil fuels imposes a significant environmental threat. There are sustainable bio-based alternatives developed to substitute traditional plastic packaging that are implemented in circular economy business models. These solutions often utilise collaboration to be implemented, however, there is a lack of research on the collaborative processes that enable circular economy in bio-based food packaging. In this thesis we examine what collaborative processes are being used in the bio-based packaging supply chain and how these processes help with facilitating the implementation of circular economy in the packaging production. Moreover, this thesis also investigates what are the barriers that the packaging producers face as they collaborate toward a circular economy. Therefore, we use qualitative interviews with representatives of bio-based food packaging companies and study the theories of supply chain collaboration and circular economy such as resource based view, transaction cost economics and various iterations of circular supply chain management models. We find that bio-based food packaging producers collaborate externally with customers, suppliers and internally among organisational teams to enable the circular economy of bio-based alternatives to conventional plastics. We also find that collaboration for circular economy in bio-based food packaging solutions is challenged by cultural differences, varying regulations among countries, opportunistic behaviour across the supply chain, insufficient organisation of communication between collaborators as well and misalignment of their interests. We contribute empirical evidence of collaborative processes across bio-based food packaging supply chains providing a ground for further research streams across the aspects of collaboration for circular economy.
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Fernie, Scott. "Making sense of supply chain management in UK construction organisations : theory versus practice." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2005. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/7740.
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Supply chain management is one of the newest and most fashionable managerial concepts to be sponsored by those organisations responsible for setting the change agenda in the construction sector. Its success elsewhere, its promise of productivity improvement and 'best practice' pedigree form the basis of arguments for its adoption in the construction sector. There are a number of assumptions that underpin this argument that are largely ignored by the promoters of such change and the construction management research community. Most notably, the transferability and utility of supply chain management in the context of organisations competing in the construction sector. However, it is argued in this thesis that these arguments fail to engage with the recursive relationship between context and practice. Managerial practice does not exist in a vacuum. The research therefore sets out to test the theory of supply chain management in the construction sector. In doing so, the research approach is informed by and draws on contextual approaches that are highly sensitive to the recursive relationship between context and practice. A multiple case study research strategy was chosen that sought to provide explanations for how practitioners make sense of supply chain management in the context of their organisations and forms the basis of theory testing. These explanations also provided a wealth of empirical evidence to test the assumptions that underpin calls for change in the construction sector. It is concluded that supply chain management does not make sense in the construction sector and that calls for its adoption lacked intellectual rigour and were indeed acontextual.
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Esfahbodi, Ali. "Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) : an empirical analysis of the UK automotive industry." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2016. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/7089/.
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Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) has garnered increasing attention from both academics and practitioners in the past two decades. However, a number of new debates have recently been opened up, throwing doubt on whether the adoption of SSCM practices really pays, and thus the commercial benefits of ‘going green’ in the context of SCM remain open to question. This thesis attempts to investigate whether SSCM practices can be both environmentally beneficial and commercially viable. In light of this, this research develops and empirically assesses a comprehensive SSCM drivers-practices-performance model. Data was collected from 186 UK automotive manufacturing firms, and analysed using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) method. The complementary driving force of organisation environmental management (OEM), was identified as a necessary precursor to the successful SSCM adoption. The findings further suggest that while SSCM implementation delivers environmental improvements, it does not necessarily lead to improved cost performance, as only sustainable procurement was found to have a positive effect on cost performance. This research contributes to the existing knowledge by asserting that the implementation of SSCM practices leads to improved environmental performance, while the economic performance is partially compromised, sustaining a negative trade-off in terms of cost performance. Lastly, this research provides useful insights for both managers seeking to adopt SSCM practices and policy-makers and regulators seeking to further promote an SSCM agenda.
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Doran, Desmond. "An examination of the impact of Japanese automotive investment upon UK-based component suppliers." Thesis, University of Portsmouth, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.323279.
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Spedale, Simona. "The emergence of the network supply-chain : a study of co-operation and performance in supply-chain relationships in the UK fibre-optics industry." Thesis, City University London, 2000. http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/8167/.
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This study focuses on the emergence of a new governance form, the network supplychain, in the UK optical communications systems industry. In doing so, it pursues two objectives. The first is to investigate the extent of the shift from market-oriented to co-operation oriented mechanisms in governing supply relationships. The focus is on the contingencies of this change and, in particular, on the impact of technology on the development of co-operative forms of governance. The second objective of the research is to test the linkage between governance forms in the supply-chain a nd organisational. Performance, particularly efficiency and innovation. Again, the impact of technology on this relationship is put to test. The study relies on a combination of secondary, survey and interview data. The key finding is that the degree of maturity of the technology has an impact on both the type of co-operative form governing supply relationships and its relationship with organisational performance. For performance, co-operative governance forms in the supply-chain have a positive impact on efficiency (both global and partial) and innovation when the core technology of the firm is mature. When a radically new technology is still emerging, the network supply-chain has a limited positive impact on efficiency (partial only) and a negative one on innovation. Moreover, in emergent industries, the network supply-chain can hamper and delay technological development. For the type of co-operative form, we identify two models of co-operative supply relationships, respectively named the exploitative and the explorative model. These are ideal-types that take into account the connection between technology, governance mechanisms, and organisational performance, and can be found in more or less pure form in real contexts. The exploitative model is consistent with environments where the technology is well established; 'exploitation' is the main strategic driver; and efficiency and incremental innovation the predominant objectives. The explorative model is consistent with environments where a specific technology has not yet established itself as the dominant one; 'exploration' is still a strategic priority; and the search for opportunities to diffuse the emergent technology is the fundamental objective. Both the exploitative and the explorative models need a 'trigger' to develop in contexts previously dominated by market-oriented mechanisms. In other words, the change in governance forms in the supply-chain only occurs in response to an external event or condition.
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Andersson, Gabriella, and Eva Jonsson. "Transport Cartons' Impact on Supply Chain Efficiency." Thesis, KTH, Industriell ekonomi och organisation (Inst.), 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-261675.
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Large product assortments commonly lead to that fast fashion retailers have a large number of transport cartons, with varying sizes, to distribute products from manufacturing sites to distribution centers. Ultimately, the transport cartons have a large impact on the supply chain efficiency, as they affect several nodes in the supply chain network. Previous research has considered transport cartons’ impact on individual supply chain nodes, but little research has been devoted to evaluate the transport cartons impact on the supply chain network as a whole. Thus, this thesis aims to contribute with knowledge to bridge the gap in literature by investigating how a company’s transport cartons affect the overall supply chain efficiency, by applying a holistic perspective. The thesis was conducted as a case study in collaboration with Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), aworld-leading fast fashion retailer. The research identifies opportunities and challenges related totransport carton usage, and how the cartons impact supply chain efficiency. Moreover, the research evaluates the costs associated with different sets of transport carton sizes, based on acost estimation model constructed on data provided by H&M. It is concluded that a small set oftransport carton sizes could increase supply chain efficiency and generate potential cost savingsdue to mainly two reasons. First, a small set of transport cartons could lead to efficient containerloading. Second, it could lead to efficient carton handling and optimal space utilization in thedistribution centers.Till följd av stora produktsortiment har snabbmodeaktörer ofta ett stort set av transportkartonger, med varierande storlekar, för att distribuera produkterna från tillverkning till varuhus. Eftersom transportkartongerna påverkar fler noder i försörjningskedjan, har de följaktligen stor påverkan på hur effektiv försörjningskedjan är. Tidigare forskning har utvärderat hur transportkartongerna kan påverka enskilda noder i försörjningskedjan, men lite fokus har ägnats åt att utvärdera kartongernas effekt på försörjningskedjan, sett ur ett helhetsperspektiv. Detta examensarbete syftar till att bidra med kunskap för att överbrygga detta gap genom att undersöka hur ett företags transportkartonger påverkar den totala försörjningskedjans effektivitet genom att tillämpa ett helhetsperspektiv. Examensarbetet genomfördes som en fallstudie i samarbete med Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), som är en av de världsledande aktörerna inom snabbmode. Studien identifierar möjligheter och utmaningar relaterade till transportkartonganvändning, och hur kartongerna påverkar försörjningskedjans effektivitet. Vidare utvärderades kostnaden av att ha olika uppsättningar av transportkartonger, baserat på en beräkningsmodell grundad på data från H&M. Resultaten visade att ett litet set av transportkartonger kan ha positiv påverkan på försörjningskedjans effektivitet och generera kostnadsbesparingar till följd av två huvudsakliga anledningar. Den första anledningen är att ett litet set förenklar effektiv containerladdning. Den andra anledningen är att det kan leda till mer effektiv kartonghantering på lager och bättre utnyttjande av lagerutrymme.
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Adewole, Adebisi. "Information sharing and supply chain relationships in SME garment manufacturing firms in the UK." Thesis, Open University, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.397917.
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Rafi-ul-Shan, Piyya Muhammad. "Exploring supply chain sustainability risk in the UK fashion industry : a multiple case-study." Thesis, University of Hull, 2015. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:14340.
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Much has been written about fashion supply chains in recent years pertaining to the offshoring of production and sourcing by the companies in the UK fashion industry to other countries including inter alia Asia, as well as the attendant risks to such activities. Evidence suggests that businesses can experience disruptions from sustainability issues in their supply chains. In addition, there is an increasing focus on sustainability issues in global businesses and the UK fashion industry is not immune to these issues. Nevertheless, consideration of sustainability and its impact on risk pertaining to the supply chains in the UK fashion industry has not been actively pursued. Moreover, little is known about how sustainability issues manifest themselves as risks. Finally, the lack of a sustainability risk conceptualisation hinders the development of a sustainability risk management framework, which is critical to enable global fashion supply chains to survive and compete in a volatile and demand-driven sector. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to explore the phenomenon of sustainability risk and supply chain sustainability risk management processes within the context of the UK fashion industry. For the purpose of exploration, an inductive qualitative research approach and a multiple case study research method were adopted. The UK fashion industry has exhibited interesting dynamics in the last few decades. For example, UK textile and garment manufacturing has massively declined in size, yet the UK fashion industry demonstrates fierce competition and retailer concentration. Therefore, five fashion companies were theoretically sampled from the UK fashion industry. The selected companies were a good mix of small and medium size. All carried out their major operations such as sourcing, manufacturing, distribution, warehousing and customer service in the UK. This enabled the researcher to deeply explore and gain insights into the phenomenon of sustainability risk and supply chain sustainability risk management processes in the contemporary context of the UK fashion industry. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews, supported by observations and secondary sources. Interview transcripts were subject to narrative analysis based upon a social constructionist approach. This research identified seven major factors as barriers and drivers for supply chain sustainability risk management: organisational culture, growth of fast fashion, organisational resources, management structure, safeguarding brand reputation, stimulator of innovation and co-opetition. These findings were further grouped into a supply chain sustainability risk management typology. The typology implies that the case companies need to understand and should have knowledge about their current and potential future key sustainability risk and then need to have a certain organisational design and innovative management processes to manage their supply chain sustainability risk.
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Gonzalez-Diaz, F. "Improved forms of business collaboration for primary producers operating within the UK food supply chain." Thesis, Coventry University, 2009. http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/45dca1e3-2fe0-d6cd-3924-9b004fc17ca2/1.
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An intense trauma in the UK farming industry was caused by the foot-and-mouth disease. The Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, chaired by Sir Donald Curry CBE, diagnosed that farming was detached from the other sectors of the economy and was “serving nobody well”. The final recommendations of this commission were focused on efficiency, adding value and diversification. Among the specific recommendations, there was an important emphasis on the need to increase collaboration and cooperation because it “is the best way for small farm business to get the benefits of being a large farm business” (Curry, 2002:34). UK experts in farmer collaboration such as, Parnell (1999a), and The Plunkett Foundation (1992) had previously made clear the need for bigger, better, more effective and efficient Farmer Controlled Businesses. English Farming and Food Partnerships (2004a), also, set the challenge to explore and evaluate new approaches to develop farmer controlled enterprises more imaginatively. Therefore, the main aim of this research was to identify new forms of collaboration between farmers, which might lead to gain greater scale and flexibility in farming operating in an increasingly global food chain. Using an inductive grounded theory approach comprising a series of Delphi iterative face to face interviews, three rounds of guided interviews were completed. These involved 55 experts in the field of business collaboration, selected using a purposive sampling approach. Interviewees included leading academics, government officials and advisors, senior managers and business proprietors of the most profitable and/or innovative UK-based collaborative ventures. The outcome of the research has been to develop three discreet but combinable models of collaboration. Each model requires different levels of commitment from its members and would suit different business situations. All the proposed models offer a business structure flexible enough to be easily adapted in response to changes in the market place, but they also offer the opportunity of combining into much bigger organisations with the potential to integrate small-scale businesses into networks of international companies. This research also reaffirms that the traditional cultural barriers and divisions between the different stages and participants of the food and farming industry were still present and hinder the development of a more competitive sector. Whilst there has been progress in the assimilation of the supply chain concept, most of the businesses involved did not see the other stages of the chain as their potential partners.
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Navarro, Navarro Nicolas Dario. "An Operational Concept of an IoT System for the Palletized Distribution Supply Chain." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/100060.
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In recent years, Internet-of-Things technology (IoT) has been the subject of research in a diverse field of applications, given its essential role in transitioning society towards a more interconnected paradigm of conducting manufacturing, logistics, services, and business, what is also known as Industry 4.0. Consistent with this line of research, this project addresses the application of IoT in distribution packaging as a way to better understand supply chain conditions.
Specifically, this work presents an operational concept for a system that implements IoT technology in the pallets that are used to move products along supply chains and serve as a vehicle to gain insight into the conditions experienced by products and unit loads. The development of this operational concept leverages a systems engineering framework to discover user needs, and stakeholders, and apply model-based systems engineering to create system models that capture expected system behavior and the outputs necessary to create value for the user.
A semi structured interview was conducted with eleven companies in order to discover user needs related to their packaging during distribution processes in their supply chain. A system operational concept was developed through use cases, concept of operations, and formal modeling using Cameo System Modeling Software. A review of sensor and communication technologies is presented, as well as a description of the challenges and future research opportunities for the proposed operational concept in distribution packaging.
The application of systems engineering framework, and model-based systems engineering to the distribution packaging domain brings clarity to problem formulation in order to lay-out solid value propositions for the adoption of IoT technologies, and to ensure successful realization of systems that achieve customer satisfaction.
This work offers three main contributions. First, it provides an identification and description of the needs that industrial companies have in relation to their product and packaging performance during distribution operations. Secondly, it shows how a systems-based approach, leveraging on model-based systems engineering can be employed to conceptualize systems that use innovative technologies like IoT in the domain of distribution packaging. Third, it provides an overview of open research challenges and practical considerations for the implementation of IoT technology in the field of distribution packaging.Master of Science
In 2007, The World Bank published a study which states that "eighty percent of US trade is carried on pallets" (Raballand and Aldaz-Carroll, 2007). Furthermore, in the year 2015, a report estimated that there would be 2.6 billion pallets circulating in the United States by the year 2017 (Freedonia Group, 2015). Pallets are ubiquitous and a key component of distribution operations in supply chains, as they transport goods, and are the main interface that connects material handling equipment and packaged products (White and Hamner, 2005). Based on that distinctive characteristic, this study contends that pallet can be used as a window to gain insight into the realities of what is experienced by products and packaging during distribution. This can be done by using sensors imbedded in pallets to capture data of interest about the physical conditions in the supply chains, which opens the potential for more customized and optimized packaging design, supported by more reliable and representative information. This idea is particularly relevant, as established protocols for packaging testing are limited in their capacity to accurately simulate the real-world conditions that occur in the supply chain. This has resulted in suboptimal packaging design (Rouillard, 2008) that decreases the efficiency of logistics operations. This study found that industrial companies are most concerned with avoiding damage that their products can suffer during transportation as a result of temperature, relative humidity, shock, and vibration. Thus, it is necessary to gather data about these distribution parameters for product shipments. Using a model-based system engineering approach, an operational concept is proposed to show what is needed from a system to be able to track these parameters. Furthermore, a review of current available technology for IoT is presented, as well as an examination of the challenges posed to the realization of the proposed operational concept, including factors like cybersecurity, and energy resources constraints. This work offers three main contributions. First, it provides an identification and description of the needs that industrial companies have in relation to their product and packaging performance during distribution operations. Secondly, it shows how a systems-based approach, leveraging on model-based systems engineering can be employed to conceptualize systems that use innovative technologies like IoT in the domain of distribution packaging. Third, it provides an overview of open research challenges and practical considerations for the implementation of IoT technology in the field of distribution packaging.
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Hines, Anthony Alexandre. "Supply chain strategies, structures and relationships : implications for managing organisations in the UK clothing industry." Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.312227.
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Burtonshaw-Gunn, Simon Anthony. "Strategic supply chain management : critical success factors for partnering relationships within the UK construction industry." Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.341397.
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Aryee, Gilbert Isaac Nii Amoo. "The impact of technological and organisational maturity on supply chain integration performance : a UK perspective." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.441552.
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Beste, Teresa. "Greening the supply chain in public procurement a case study of a UK local authority." Saarbrücken VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, 2007. http://d-nb.info/989094065/04.
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De, Wet Cynthia. "The role of packaging in customer satisfaction within the supply chain a study in the airline industry /." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2007. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07142008-085724.
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Pelloia, Alberto. "Analisi e riorganizzazione dei processi di supply chain service e di ricondizionamento: il caso Celli UK." Master's thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2021.
Find full textAbstract:
Il presente elaborato descrive il progetto di start up realizzato nel centro di distribuzione di Wetherby (UK) dalla Business Unit Asset Management di Celli Spa. Sono stati rappresentati i processi utilizzati e l’infrastruttura realizzata per fornire il servizio di gestione della logistica in uscita e di stoccaggio merci ai clienti, sono state inoltre analizzate le efficienze del centro di distribuzione al primo mese di go live, studiate le problematiche che hanno determinato tali livelli di efficienza e sono stati descritti i miglioramenti apportati in corso d’opera. Tramite l’utilizzo di KPI si è dimostrato l’incremento di efficienza del servizio e con un’analisi dei costi-benefici è stato rivelato come gli investimenti utilizzati per generare un turnaround siano stati ammortizzati in un breve periodo di tempo.
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Hunter, Olivia, and Emilie Kumar. "The integration of a sustainable packaging process in the supply chain : The case of the French wine industry." Thesis, Jönköping University, Internationella Handelshögskolan, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-52816.
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With the rise of awareness of climate change, sustainable development has become a recurring topic in discussions concerning global development, the environment, and society. Packaging has long been a part of a ‘take-make-dispose’ linear model that has caused damage to our ecosystem and has led to the search for more sustainable alternatives. While literature relating to sustainable packaging processes exists, there is an absence of knowledge on which packaging processes are being applied, and how. Given that the French wine industry is prestigious and takes pride in tradition and quality, the question of transitioning to more sustainable packaging processes merits further research. The purpose of this paper is to study the gap between the range of sustainable packaging approaches that are theoretically suggested in the literature and the approaches that are practically applied within organisations by exploring how and why packaging processes are integrated into the supply chain, in the French wine industry. This research is qualitative and adopts the interpretivism paradigm. Primary data is collected through semi-structured interviews with players that occupy all the positions along the French wine industry’s packaging supply chain. The findings show that sustainable packaging approaches are not being integrated into the supply chains in the French wine industry. (1) There are no realistic solutions available or track record to be followed. (2) The focus is still set on having clear economic benefits which the current sustainable packaging alternatives do not offer. (3) The long loop of circular economy is being used, which is based on recycling. (4) A need for collective awareness is needed, as well as a desire to change, for sustainable packaging processes to be integrated into the supply chain.
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Duffy, Rachel Sarah. "The impact of supply chain partnerships on supplier performance : a study of the UK fresh produce industry." Thesis, University of London, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.539616.
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Redfern, R. "Methods and organization of new product development : an investigation in the UK textile and clothing supply chain." Thesis, University of Salford, 2004. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/14875/.
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There have been relatively few studies into new product development (NPD) in the apparel supply chain which is known for a high level of seasonal product development. Moreover the literature so far has been criticised as not being generalizable with a call for more sector specific studies. The literature also suggests that faster NPD is an aspiration of successive NPD models. The aim of this research has been to study the UK Textile and Clothing Supply Chain sector to discover if it achieves fast NPD through using the recommendations of the literature. The current literature suggests that flexibility is required for success, but that senior management still maintain close control of each project as it progresses through the NPD process. The study used the opportunity to study four supply chains where the researcher was facilitating on improvement projects supported by the Department of Trade and Industry. Sixty eight site visits took place over a two-year period, with two hundred and eighty nine interviews. Mappings were constructed for the NPD processes being used by three leading UK retailer clothing supply chains that collectively had nine hundred and fifty six stores in the UK. Analysis of the mappings and intervention project data suggests that the sector does not use the flexible NPD management and senior management control methods of the literature to achieve speed. Instead there are systems and structures that are by comparison very rigid with timings for key activities and far less senior management involvement. The study shows that sector specific studies can help develop understanding of NPD processes and the research has additionally identified clear methods to achieve fast product development in a supply chain. These include setting boundaries that reduce uncertainty, empowering junior staff and having fixed dates for completion of key NPD activities.
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Alghababsheh, Mohammad. "The implementation of socially sustainable supply chain management in the UK manufacturing sector : a social capital perspective." Thesis, Brunel University, 2018. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/16465.
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A major challenge for supply chain managers is how to manage sourcing relationships to ensure reliable and predictable actions of existing suppliers. The extant research into sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) has suggested the transactional (e.g. monitoring and auditing) and collaboration (e.g. supplier development) as the main two approaches by which buyers can sustain an acceptable level of suppliers' internal social performance. A successful implementation of such approaches, and hence improving suppliers' social performance, often requires a level of cooperation that can be difficult to establish, particularly on the part of suppliers. Despite the recent proliferation of SSCM research, little efforts have been devoted to exploring the factors that increase the effectiveness of the two approaches. This research aims to examine the individual and combined effect of socially sustainable transactional practices (SSTPs) and socially sustainable collaboration practices (SSCPs) on supplier's internal social performance and buyer's operational performance. The study also sets out to examine the moderating effects of social capital dimensions (i.e. relational, cognitive and structural) on the relationships among SSTPs, SSCPs and supplier's internal social performance. A mail survey was administered to 1,250 stratified randomly selected large manufacturing companies operating in the UK. An analysis of 119 responses using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation modelling (PLS-SEM) revealed that SSTPs are ineffective in driving supplier's internal social performance, whilst SSCPs are more effective. Moreover, although the interaction effect of SSTPs and SSCPs is non-significant, the data suggested that the simultaneous implementation can be detrimental to supplier's internal social performance. Furthermore, social capital dimensions were found to play different roles on the implementation of SSTPs and SSCPs. Relational capital plays a unique role by increasing the effectiveness of both SSTPs and SSCPs, while cognitive capital is critical for SSCPs, and structural capital is vital for SSTPs. This study contributes to SSCM literature by exclusively focusing on the social dimension of sustainability, examining the joint implementation of SSTPs and SSCPs and featuring the centrality of social capital in the implementation of SSCM practices. The study sets a foundation for new research avenues in the SSCM context and provides a set of managerial implications that support informed decision-making by supply chain managers.
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Murphy, Eileen. "Key success factors for achieving green supply chain performance : a study of UK ISO 14001 certified manufacturers." Thesis, University of Hull, 2012. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:8412.
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Recently, there has been increasing emphasis on the use of voluntary environmental protection instruments such as environmental management systems (EMS). One such system is ISO 14001 which is designed to assist organisations to create a structured mechanism for continuous improvement in environmental performance. However, more knowledge is required to identify the impact these systems have on the actual environmental supply chain practices performance (GSCPP) of manufacturing organisations. Furthermore many investigations of the supply chain are based on ―hard‖ factors such as the application of systems and tools to achieve performance goals. What are less appreciated are the effects of human dimensions of managing relationships with employees and suppliers. Accordingly this research will investigate the relations and dynamics of the Key Success Factors (KSF), (training, communication, management support, employee responsibility, rewards and recognition, employee involvement, and supplier management) which are believed to assist in the improvement of GSCPP of manufacturing companies. This research sets its objectives on advancing the knowledge and understanding of the roles of key success factors in supply chain operations, how these KSF function as separate factors or work together and how they are being put into practice in manufacturing organisations. A mixed method explanatory approach adopting a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews are used to describe these phenomena and explore the reasons for and reveals inhibitors of the implementation of KSF. Key findings from this study are the development of a new mega-construct to measure internal soft management practices in organisations. Organisations successfully achieving green supply chain performance are applying a combination of key success factors such as employee responsibility and collaboration with suppliers. In-depth case studies also illustrate how these KSF manifest themselves and work together in real life. Evidence from the analysis demonstrates that despite the ISO 14001 certification some organisations are behaving in a more reactive fashion providing only the bare minimum in terms of training, where there is little emphasis on involvement of their employees, and where the management is largely unsupportive of a more comprehensive and integrated EMS. This research has three areas of contribution; to researchers who wish to further examine the combination of both hard and soft interpretations for environmental supply chain performance; to management practitioners who will benefit from the resulting tool will be able to assess the steps required to improve performance; and to those responsible for reviewing ISO 14001 who may include KSF and thus pass on the benefits to participating organisations.
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Li, Di. "Exploring the impact of reshoring decisions on supply chain and business performance : evidence from 261 UK manufacturers." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2017. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/107020/.
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Since the emergence of reshoring, it has received huge interest and become a hot topic in academia, industry and policy circles. Most extant research has focused on defining the reshoring concept, its synonyms, the trends and the drivers behind reshoring decisions. Recently, the research scope has expanded to the reshoring decision-making process, right-shoring and advanced manufacturing having affected reshoring. However, this line of research is still in its infancy. The reshoring phenomenon and the concept are still not thoroughly understood. The impact of reshoring has been rarely researched. In addition, cross discipline research into the association between reshoring and other fields, such as the role of reshoring or shoring decisions played in global manufacturing strategy and business performance (BP) have remained under-researched. Besides, the entire body of research lacks empirical quantitative data as a methodology to enrich people’s understanding of the practice of reshoring. This research attempts to address these gaps empirically, by mainly focusing on an exploration of the current UK manufacturing reshoring status and the relationship between shoring decisions, competitive priorities and BP. The research develops a framework for reshoring to synthesize the related factors which need to be considered during the decision-making process by following a 360-degree approach. The framework also guides an exploration of the realities of reshoring from the UK perspective. In addition, a theoretical moderation model has been devised from the literature, supported by contingency and congruence theory, to explore the correlation between shoring decisions, competitive priorities and BP, with ten hypotheses built up. This research conducted data collection through a survey and obtained 298 completed responses by UK manufacturers. The analysis is based on 261 reliable responses through descriptive analysis, and hierarchical regressions, by using Excel 2016, PPT 2016 and SPSS 24 tools. From the descriptive analysis results, the research has revealed a clear current status of UK manufacturing reshoring from multiple perspectives including: overview of shoring decisions, strategic realities, operational considerations focusing on competitive priorities and products, impacts on supply chains, and comparisons of BP. Based on the statistical analyses results, six out of the ten hypotheses have been supported, moderation relationships have been discovered to exist among the SC cost and BP, delivery and BP, and flexibility and BP. The results identified that SC cost and delivery are the key competitive priorities to improve BP for the companies who took no shoring decisions; delivery is the key competitive priority to improve BP for the companies who conduct both direct and indirect reshoring; delivery and SC cost are the key competitive priorities to improve BP for the companies who are indirectly reshored; and finally flexibility and SC cost are the key competitive priorities to improve BP for the companies who offshored overseas. With a better understanding of reshoring decisions and their current status in the UK, also a clear role of shoring decisions made among manufacturing strategy and BP, academics can use the results of this research as a foundation for future research, industry practitioners can use it to make more considered reshoring or shoring decisions and develop an appropriate operational capability emphasis aligned with the shoring decision, and policy makers can develop more and suitable polices to further support this trend and revitalize the manufacturing and economics areas of the UK.
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Free, Clinton. "A matter of trust ? : supply chain accounting and the structuration of category management in the UK retail sector." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.413049.
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Bolumole, Yemisi. "Logistics outsourcing in the UK forecourt convenience retail sector : the supply chain role of third party service providers." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2001. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/10727.
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Outsourcing, where an organisation charges an external provider with the
performance of an activity, has attracted growing interest in recent years as
organisations have considered whether it is in their best interest to perform
activities in-house or externally. Academic attention has also focused on the
notion of
supply chain management through effective Logistics management in
organisations, as increased emphasis has been placed on the importance of
seamiess
supply chain processes for the achievement and sustenance of
competitive advantage. Some academic theorists recommend that in order to
achieve this, organisations should focus on their core, value-adding activities and
outsource the non-core, non value-adding ones.
In the UK, some petrol retailers have adopted Logistics outsourcing as a strategy
through which supply chain solutions can be implemented within their petrol
forecourt convenience retail operations. This research explores factors which
influence these outsourcing decisions, the nature and supply chain impact of the
outsourcing strategies and evaluates the supply chain role of Logistics service
providers (3pls) and the implications of Logistics outsourcing in general for supply
chain
management and for the future of the 3pl industry.
The
study examines outsourcing from are source-based, transaction costs and
supply chain perspective, highlighting the rationale behind organisations'
decisions to outsource activities for which they lack in-house capability and which
third
parties can provide at lower costs. The study adopts an exploratory, theory building
case-study approach in which data is gathered primarily through indepth
interviews with informants from retailers and 3pls. Data analysis is carried
out
through a strategy of within- and cross-case evaluation of findings,
highlighting key patterns and relationships in the data.
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Unhale, Manish. "A study of supply chain collaborations in small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK, India and China." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2014. http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/2012029/.
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Collaborations in supply chains continue to be a central focus in a firm’s success and businesses are regularly striving to harness the collective capabilities of the networks to which they belong through the use of effective collaborative strategies. It is therefore vital for the firms to ensure sound and effective collaborative strategies in their supply chain practices. It is researched that supply chain collaboration provides a competitive edge in terms of improving the capability and performance of supply chain networks and the organisations linked in the network. The aim of the research is to contribute to a better understanding of the collaborative supply chain practices adopted by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This study on SMEs explored and evaluated scope of vertical and horizontal collaborations. This research also examined the relationship between different collaborative strategies adopted by SMEs. Additionally other collaborative issues such as: essential requirements of collaboration, principle reasons of collaboration, major hurdles in collaborative initiatives, and the major benefits associated with collaborations were also discussed in this research. Empirical data has been used to determine the relationship between various collaborative initiatives and to find out any difference in these initiatives from country to country. A chi-square test, ANOVA test, a post-hoc analysis and a correlation analysis were conducted with survey data collected from 365 manufacturing SMEs from the UK, India and China. The results indicate that collaborative initiatives adopted by the SMEs differ significantly from country to country and the results also indicate positive relationship between different strategies.
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Alvarez, Valverde Mary Paz. "Investigation and Analysis of the Effect of Industrial Drums and Plastic Pails on Wooden Pallets throughout the Supply Chain." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/105176.
Full textAbstract:
In the supply chain there are three components: transportation method, the pallet, and the
packaging. Traditionally, there has been a poor understanding of the way that pallet design can
impact the supply chain. There are historical studies that illustrate the importance of
investigating how box stacking pattern, unit load type, unit load size, and containment can
impact the pallet's performance. However, there have been no studies that have investigated the
impact of drums and plastic pails on pallet performance.
The goal of the current research study was to investigate how plastic pails and drums
affect pallet bending and the distribution of the pressure on the top surface of the pallet. The
investigation was conducted using four different support conditions commonly found in
warehouses: racking across the width and length, single stacking, and double stacking. The
results of the investigation indicated that for most support conditions, loading the pallet with
plastic pails or drums results in a significant reduction in deflection when compared to a
uniformly distributed load. The maximum observed reduction in pallet deflection was 85% when
testing with drums in the double stack condition and 89% when testing with plastic pails in the
single stack condition. The large reductions in deflection could indicate that the pallets were
over-designed for the unit load that they were supporting.
Pressure mat distribution images collected during the experiment display a load bridging
effect where the stress of the drums and pails are redistributed to the supported sides of the
pallet. The data also show that drums made of different materials distribute the pressure onto the
pallet in a significantly different manner.Master of Science
Wood pallets are crucial to the supply chain that delivers the goods and objects that sustain our economy. Every product order or product that is seen in stores was sent through the supply chain. The supply chain is made up of three major interacting components, the material handling system, the packaging, and the pallet. By further understanding the interaction between these components, pallet and packaging designers can better utilize materials and maximize the efficiency of the supply chain. There is a need to understand how different types of packages interact with the pallet to effectively design pallets and to potentially reduce costs and material usage. Historical studies focused on investigating how corrugated boxes affect pallet performance. They mainly focused on the effect of corrugated box size, flute type, stretch wrapping and containment, and the influences that pallet design have on pallet performance. Past studies identified that packages on the top of the pallet could create a bridging between the packages that can reduce the stresses on the pallet and consequently increase its load capacity. By using this load bridging effect for their advantage, pallet designers can design pallets that are safer, cheaper, and be more environmentally friendly since current wood pallets are designed under the assumption of a uniformly distributed, rather than bridged, load. The goal of the current study was to investigate how the load bridging effect created by pails and drum affects the deflection of the pallet in the floor stacked loading condition. The investigation was conducted using four different support conditions commonly found in warehouses such as racking across the length, racking across the width, single stacking, and double stacking. The results of the investigation indicated that for most investigated support conditions, the interaction between pails and drums causes an increase in load bridging which significantly reduces the bending of the pallet. The reductions reached a maximum of 85% when testing with drums in the double stack condition and 89% when testing with plastic pails in the single stack condition. The large reductions in deflection could indicate that the pallets were over-designed for the unit load that they were supporting.
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Stone, Jamie. "Development of a framework for enhancing resilience in the UK food and drink manufacturing sector." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2018. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/33501.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis presents research undertaken to understand and enhance resilience in the UK Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector. It focuses on the development of a conceptual framework which establishes how specific vulnerabilities link to individual mitigation strategies available to the sector and the impact of such strategies on wider sustainability. The research in this thesis is divided into four main parts. The first part consists of three complementary review chapters exploring resilience as a theoretical concept, resilience in the UK Food and Drink Manufacturing sector and existing methods used to study and/or enhance resilience. The second part of the thesis begins by describing how the pragmatic philosophy and abductive stance underpinning the research, in combination with review findings, helped to determine the research techniques used in this work, which included the systematic review process and the mixed methods case study. Next, the research facilitating a novel conceptual framework describing how real-time vulnerabilities can be identified and mitigated in a way that is complimentary to the wider sustainability of the organisation is discussed. The third part of the thesis describes the practical set of tools, presented in the form of a workbook, which enable a Food and Drink Manufacturer to utilise the conceptual framework teachings to enhance their own resilience. The final section details key conclusions regarding the conceptual nature and practical enhancement of resilience for Food and Drink Manufacturers and the wider food system, as well as opportunities for future work. The conceptual integrity and practical usefulness of the conceptual framework and its derivative workbook toolset have been demonstrated through case studies with two UK Food and Drink Manufacturers. Results suggest two major benefits of the framework are the ability to identify an organisation's vulnerabilities based on actual mapping of their supply network and the ability to evaluate mitigating resilience strategies based on their broader impacts elsewhere within the organisation. In summary, the research reported in this thesis has concluded that resilience cannot be seen as a one-off solution for returning to how things were before disruption, but instead is a constant process of learning and adaptation in response to a company's ever-changing operating environments. The framework and workbook presented provide a novel and practical method for UK Food and Drink Manufacturers, of all sizes and production ranges, to identify and respond to their evolving vulnerabilities, as well as providing much needed synthesis and directions for future work at an academic level.
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McDougall, Natalie. "Explicating natural-resource-based view capabilities : a dynamic framework for innovative sustainable supply chain management in UK agri-food." Thesis, University of Strathclyde, 2018. http://digitool.lib.strath.ac.uk:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=29565.
Full textAbstract:
The natural-resource-based view resonates with significance some twenty years after its conception. The theory features prominently in modern literature where it enjoys links with enhanced competitiveness, and responds to the need for innovative sustainable operations in modern business. However, literature argues that a lack of practical guidance has resulted in a theory-practice gap, which to some extent is typical of resource-based theory research. This study resolves this via definition of dynamic natural-resource-based view capabilities. Exploration of links between natural-resource-based view, sustainable supply chain management and innovation literature identifies implications for capabilities. Categorizing these capabilities according to the four natural-resource-based view resources of pollution prevention, product stewardship, clean technologies and base of the pyramid, dynamic capabilities activities of sensing, seizing and transforming and an internal versus external focus facilitates the creation of a conceptual framework of dynamic capabilities. Employing the UK agri-food sector as a contextual setting, an empirical study comprising of two phases is undertaken. Phase 1 involves seven in-depth interviews with agri-food experts to empirically validate links between the natural-resource-based view, sustainable supply chain management and innovation. Phase 2 involves twenty semi-structured interviews and six observations with UK agri-food companies to empirically define and explain dynamic natural-resource-based view capabilities. In its completion, this study demonstrates the existence of pollution prevention, product stewardship and clean technologies in UK agri-food, confirms their synergies with sustainable supply chain management and innovation and explicates and elucidates their dynamic capabilities. Whilst base of the pyramid did not feature in the empirical study, the resource is not falsified and further investigation is recommended. This study concluded with five contributions: empirical definition of dynamic natural-resource-based view capabilities; dynamic capability and internal-external categorization; the four-resource perspective of the natural-resource-based view; linking the natural-resource-based view, sustainable supply chain management and innovation; and conceptualisation of local philanthropy and proposal of the natural-resource-based view cycle.
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Humphries, Andrew. "Sustained Monopolistic Business Relationships: A UK Defence Procurement Case." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1826/91.
Full textAbstract:
Business-to-business relationships within sustained monopolies, such as those within Defence Procurement, have received limited attention by Management Researchers. This is unusual because under these market circumstances typically there appear to be few incentives to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes despite their strategic policy importance. The purpose of this thesis is therefore, to determine the influential relationship factors between the UK Ministry of Defence and its Industrial partners within a predominantly monopolistic Defence Procurement business.
The approach adopted for this research project is exploratory and inter-subject area. It uses quantitative and supportive qualitative data to examine the problem through an economic model using Supply Chain Management, Relationship Marketing and Transaction Cost Economics. A self-selected census of 54 business relationships is carried out from both the buyer and supplier perspectives through staff questionnaires and team leader semi-structured interviews.
The findings from this research show, contrary to the expectation of the theoretical model, a positive relationship success situation with a spectrum of both positive and negative behavioural factors present. However, a significant adversarial influence is a suite of issues that are endemic to the business in question such as old products, obsolescence, staff and organisational upheavals, poor end-customer visibility and lack of investment in modern procedures and systems. Within the monopoly environment these accentuate managers’ frustrations due to lack of freedom of action. The primary contribution of this research is therefore, an increased understanding of the business-to-business relationship dynamics within long-term, closely coupled, collaborative, business-to-business arrangements as exemplified by UK Defence and the results are likely to be of interest to both academics and managers.
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Girot, Lola, and Claudia Kopf. "Creating a closed-loop supply chain model and evaluating it through a business case for sustainability." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för ekonomistyrning och logistik (ELO), 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-74899.
Full textAbstract:
Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to set up a closed-loop supply chain model for B2C online subscription box retailers and to develop a business case evaluating the model’s sustainability. Method This explorative thesis has an abductive research approach. Multiple-case studies are conducted and data from four cases and an expert are collected by conducting interviews. The research contains both qualitative and quantitative data. Findings A closed-loop SC model is created with regards to transport packaging. The model suggests that once the package is received by the consumer it can be returned in an empty state. After being cleaned it should be reused by the 3PL. The model’s sustainability is evaluated by developing a business case. Sustainable performance measures with regards to economic, social and environmental practice are assembled. The model enhances general social performance and environmental performance. Economic performance is mostly positively influenced. Options for cost savings in order to improve the economic performance of the model are suggested by the researchers. Practical implications The work provides businesses within the online B2C subscription box retail with a model for a possible closed-loop supply chain with regards to transport packaging. The business case for sustainability can be applied as a guideline to evaluate the model or similar ones. Researchers give suggestions on adapting packaging to enhance economic performance. Societal implications This thesis points out possible environmental and social benefits that may be achieved by a closedloop supply chain model. Besides waste and emission reduction, social performance such as employee motivation is positively influenced. Theoretical implications The thesis provides a model developed from theory and empirical data. The model does not only have practical implementations but also complements theory where a gap has earlier been identified. Through the business case for sustainability researchers contribute to theory since literature is scarce.
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Burgess, J. "An evaluation of managing diversity in the supply chain : a case study of an electrical wholesale distributor in the UK." Thesis, University of Huddersfield, 2011. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/10988/.
Full textAbstract:
The method of understanding and managing diversity within a business is at the heart of the reasoning behind the concept of „supply chain segmentation‟. The overarching principle is to find economic segments within the diverse product and customer mix and to match differentiated strategies accordingly. The aim is to prioritise resource to the products and customers which contribute the highest proportion of sales and to reduce operational costs to those that contribute the lowest proportion of sales, whilst matching service level requirements. In essence this strategy balances supply chain costs for individual products against their value to the business. As a result overall costs are reduced and subsequently profits are increased. This research study pulls together the extensive documentation which is available regarding many supply chain concepts and principles into a single approach. A critical evaluation of the current research is undertaken which concludes that the majority of supply chain segmentation is currently focused within the area of supply chain design and has parallels with the established lean and agile concepts. It is shown that supply chain segmentation can be considered a holistic supply chain strategy and by following a structured framework can be applied to all planning levels, strategic, tactical and operational. The drive of the research was to consider which factors can be used to segment both products and customers. This was tested within an operational environment and it is shown how different strategies can be applied accordingly to each segment. It is proposed by Smith and Slater (2001) that products can be assigned inventory strategies depending on which one of six segments they fall within. The results of a variability index and volume calculations are the determining factors for the segmentation process. It is proposed within this study that an added dimension of lead time variability and a coefficient correlation calculation to determine the level of variability will produce a more accurate inventory model. A segmentation strategy, which combines different supply chain and research methodologies, was applied to a company called Newey and Eyre, which operates within the electrical industry. This is presented within the case study chapter. The practical research programme was designed as three separate research projects and these represent the different planning levels of the business. The first and second research project was carried out within the South West region of the business, where changes were made to the design of the supply chain and to the design and layout of a regional distribution centre (RDC) based at Avonmouth respectively. The third research project is based upon analysis which was undertaken of the company‟s purchasing and inventory system. A discrete event simulation (DES) model of this system was created and this provided the platform to test a number of segmentation strategies against the current system of operation.
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Robinson, Pamela. "Are UK supermarkets socially responsible? : a case study analysis of labour codes of conduct in a global banana supply chain." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2008. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/55736/.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis examines the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and voluntary labour initiatives (codes of conduct and standards) with special reference to banana production in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is the third biggest supplier of bananas to the United Kingdom (UK), but market access is determined by the major UK supermarket groups, and the terms and conditions dictated by these powerful actors impact the labour conditions on banana plantations. In this regard the banana supply chain is increasingly viewed as 'buyer-driven' and as such, the theoretical framework employed in the research is based on global commodity chain studies (Gereffi 1994, Gereffi et al. 2005). The thesis draws on interviews and focus groups organised with banana workers and their representatives over a two month period in 2006. However, the banana supply chain is not a simple linear model in terms of control and influence there is a high degree of complexity regarding the social relations within it. The chain includes major transnational producers and trade unions, and an international framework agreement (IFA) is in place on some plantations, and there are also other interested parties - audit groups, NGOs and civil society groups---concerned with labour conditions on plantations. Interviews were conducted with these social actors both prior and following the period of fieldwork in Costa Rica. The thesis also reports on the Second International Banana Conference held in April 2005, a forum for the major players to debate the issues and conditions within the industry. The thesis shows that the leading supermarkets have considerable power over suppliers/producers. However, it is argued that the supermarkets' professed desire to act socially responsibly to those workers employed on plantations is contradicted by the downward pressure exerted on the price of bananas and that this contributes to a downward spiral of labour conditions.
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Smith, David L. G. "The role of retailers as channel captains in retail supply chain change : the example of Tesco." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/190.
Full textAbstract:
The large scale retailer with a strong retail brand and sufficient critical mass in the market place may reach a pivotal point in its development when the directors can address the question: “Does the company want to get directly involved in the functions of centralised buying, logistics and supply chain management?” This thesis takes one such company and expands in some detail about its growth towards excellence in the techniques of retail supply chain change. The evolution and critical decision moments provide an in depth case study for others to use as a benchmark. Its purpose is to examine the role of the retailer as a channel captain; a concept from an earlier marketing era, whose origins it reveals. It takes that learning together with contemporary supply chain thinking and examines real retail supply chain events in Tesco. The results of matching the new and old academic theory with practitioner events confirm that the channel captain is the retailer. It demonstrates that retailers can make the transition into that leadership position and apply supply chain management skills to competitive advantage. This can become a strategic tool both at national and international levels. The principles of this thesis could be used or applied in research in three areas: in depth with Tesco; in breadth, exporting expertise to other retailers; globally with retailers extending the operations internationally and suppliers seeking to trade with European retailers.