Measuring the Impact of Information Technology （IT） on Supply Chain Management （SCM） Through Indicators： An Exploratory Study

Enterprises are looking to adapt to this scenario focusing on performance, seeking to improve the level of service and reduce costs in an attempt to differentiate and increase the perceived value of their customers. A strong partner to achieve these goals is the information technology （IT）. IT has an important role in the performance of companies, providing a flow of information that makes the supply chain more robust and resilient, without compromising efficiency. To achieve the objective of this research, a survey of the literature on the four models was studied and then a field research with professionals was conducted in the areas of IT and supply chain management （SCM） of various companies of Sao Paulo. To collect the data needed for analysis, we used the exploratory research of a qualitative nature. Thus, we conclude that the use of IT impacts supply chain in five surveyed areas as planning, manufacturing, suppliers, customers, and delivery but does not impact the return area.

Issues on Supply Chain Management

Although supply chain is regarded as an integrated pr ocess, actually, researchers and practitioners have primarily investigated the v arious processes of the supply chain individually. The competitive field in most markets requires well-designed integrated supply chain instead of individual o perations. In this paper, some traditional thinking of supply chain is given fir st, then SCM (Supply Chain Management) is introduced, which views the entire sup ply chain as a whole rather than individual process and aims to increase transpa rency and alignment of the supply chain’s coordination and configuration, regar dless of functional or corporate boundaries. Secondly, issues regarding the significance and the situation of supply chain management in enterprises of Chin a are briefly described. In china, most enterprises haven’t established the ide a of supply chain management, supply chain are just focused on the step from sup pliers to manufacturers, which is a partial but not whole supply chain. Challeng ed by intense competition in the global market, further research on supply chain management is badly needed in China, if not, traditional pattern must be overwh elmed by world competition. Finally, suggestions for future research, especial ly the required conditions for a successful adoption of supply chain managemen t, are outlined. Organizations with Supply chain management can realize the advantages of backward vertical integration. However the following issues must b e paid attention to before supply chain management pattern is established.(1) Ch anging the corporate cultures of all members in the value chain to make it condu cive to supply chain management.(2) Developing long-term, cooperative and certi fied relationship with key suppliers.(3) Developing supply chain management soft ware that includes a completely integrated information system based on distr ibuted database throughout supply chain.(4) Reconstructing organization structur e adapting to supply chain management pattern.(5) Developing evaluation system f or performance measures of supply chain. In a word, supply chain management patt ern is necessary for domestic enterprises to win in intense world competition, w hile developing fitting pattern with key prerequisites is the most important.

Evaluation of supply chain default risk based on fuzzy influence diagram

After introducing the supply chain default risk and its causes,based on the literature review of the evaluation methods of supply chain risks,a new evaluation method called the fuzzy influence diagram which combines fuzzy sets with influence diagram theory and considers the interaction among risk factors is proposed.Furthermore,an evaluation model of the supply chain default risk is established based on the research of default risk evaluation and the fuzzy influence diagram.First,the model takes the loss of risk as a valuable node,risk factors as random nodes,drawing a risk analysis influence diagram.Then,three kinds of fuzzy sets are defined,including state fuzzy sets,probabilistic fuzzy sets and a relation fuzzy matrix.Finally,by using the fuzzy algorithm to evaluate nodes,the probability of risk occurrence and the degrees of risk loss are obtained.On the basis of the model,an instance application is used to prove its utility and effectiveness.

Game Analysis of Interfirm Cooperation with Three Modes of Supply Chains

In this paper we propose three modes of alliance structures of supply chains and discuss the cooperation mechanisms among enterprises firstly, and by analyzing the dyadic supply chains we apply the game theory to the research on cooperative relation among enterprises respectively for the three modes of alliance structures of supply chains, point out the conditions on which the supply chains can be set up and steadily keep up for a long time, and scientifically interpret the cooperative relation among enterprises.

An evolving trajectory-from PD,logistics,SCM to the theory of material flow

The growing interest in the material flow(MF)theory has invoked much interesting research in recent years.Although the MF theory is relatively new,a review of the related literature from a historical perspective shows that MF theory represents a new stage of the evolutionary development of interrelated subjects such as Physical Distribution(PD),Logistics,and Supply Chain Management(SCM).The purpose of this paper is to provide a summative review of the evolution of the subjects of PD,Logistics,and SCM,and their new development,MF theory.The paper aims at tracing how concepts and findings in PD,Logistics,SCM,and MF have been developed and have evolved.The study shows that PD evolved to Logistics in middle of the 1980s;starting from the late 1990s,Logistics has evolved to SCM;and today PD,Logistics,and SCM can be considered to be under the umbrella provided by a new theory called MF theory.This paper points out that MF theory is a necessity to deal with the overwhelming complexity of material flow systems in the global economy of the twenty-first century.