The Analysis and Step-Wise Assessment of the Supply Chain Sustainability Toward Improving the Productive Industries’ Competitive Advantages

Document Type : Scientific Paper

Authors

1 Industrial Management Department, Persian Gulf Univ., Busjehr, Iran

2 Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran

3 Industrial Management, Department, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

Abstract

In the past, the industries focused on the economic aspect of their work. Nowadays, they must also consider the supply chain sustainability as a long-term strategy to maintain their competitive advantages. Hence the social and environmental effects of the supply chain are taken into account. The aim of this study is the analysis and step-wise assessment of the supply chain sustainability toward improving the industries’ competitive advantages in the Bushehr province cement companies based on the LARG supply chain competitive strategies. Based on literature review, LARG stands for Lean, Agile, Resilient, and Green, and the dimensions of supply chain sustainability are identified and classified as economic, social, and environmental. The statistical population includes 20 experts in Bushehr province cement companies and among them 10 people are selected due to their experience and background. The questionnaires related to a multi-criteria decision-making technique named the step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) technique, are used for calculating the weight and rank of each LARG competitive supply chain strategies and supply chain sustainability dimensions. The results show that the ‘Green’ strategy is the most important strategy in Bushehr province cement companies supply chain with the weight of 0.41, and the other strategies and their relevant weights are ranked as follows: Lean (0.28), Agile (0.18) and Resilient (0.13). The results also show that in order to gain supply chain sustainability in Bushehr cement industries, the environmental, social responsibility and economic dimensions would have the weights of 0.48, 0.31 and 0.21 respectively, demonstrating the environmental dimension as the most important dimension in the supply chain sustainability.

Keywords

Main Subjects


[1]  M. Rahmanzade,  M. Arman, and A. Jantarani, “SABA PVC Suppliers Evaluating According to Sustainability Indices Based on Gray Theory Approach,” Iranian Journal of Supply Chain Management, vol. 21, pp.
41-56, 2019. (In Persian)##
[2]  G. Jamali  and  M. Falah, “Agility of supply chain for oil and gas and petrochemical equipment supporting businesses. Business Management Exploration,”
vol. 9, pp. 32-53, 2017. (In Persian)##
[3]  A. Amrani, N. Ullah Ibne Hossain, S.  Karam, R. Jaradat, F. Nur, M. A. Hamilton, and J. Ma, “Modelling and assessing sustainability of a supply chain network leveraging multi Echelon Bayesian Network,” Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 302, p. 126855, 2021.##
[4] G. Amini Khiabani,  A. Zarei, and D. Feiz, “Excavating the concepts of sustainability and innovation within the supply chains; past trend, future vision,” Iranian Journal Of Supply Chain Management, vol. 21, pp.
4-22, 2019. (In Persian)##
[5] L. Davoodizadeh Jolge and F. Barzinpoor, “In vestigation of Sustainability in Supply Chain Design,”  vol. 19, pp. 4-19, 2017. (In Persian)##
[6]  C. L. Martins  and  M.  V. Pato, “Supply chain sustainability: A tertiary literature review,”  Journal of cleaner production, 2019.##
[7]   A.  S  Yawar  and   S.  Seuring, “Management of social issues in supply chains: A literature review exploring social issues, actions and performance outcomes. Journal Business Ethics,” vol. 141, pp.
621–643, 2017.##
[8] J. C. Bendul, E. Rosca, and  D. Pivovarova,   Sustainable supply chain models for base of the pyramid,” Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 162,
 pp. 107- 120,  2017.##
[9] E. Amrina and A. L. Vilsi, “Key performance indicators for sustainable manufacturing evaluation in cement industry. Procedia CIRP, vol. 26, pp. 19-23, 2015.##
[10] J. Dai,   L.  Xie,  and  Z. Chu, “Developing sustainable supply chain management: The interplay of institutional pressures and sustainability capabilities, Sustainable Production and Consumption,” vol. 28, pp. 254-268, 2021.##
[11] D. Andalib Ardakani and A. Soltan mohammadi, “Investigating and analyzing the factors affecting the development of sustainable supply chain model in the industrial sectors. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management,” vol. 26, pp. 199-212, 2019.##
[12] R. R. Menon  and V. Ravi, “Analysis of barriers of sustainable supply chain management in electronics industry: An interpretive structural modelling approach. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption,” vol. 3, 2021.##
[13] G. Yun,   M.  G. Yalcin,   D. N. Hales,   and   H. Y. kwon, “Interactions in sustainable supply chain management: a framework review. The International Journal of Logistics Management,” vol. 30, pp. 140‌- 173, 2019.##
[14] A. Cormack, A. Márcio Tavares Thomé, and B. Silvestre, “An integrative conceptual framework for supply chain sustainability learning: A process-based approach,” 2021.##
[15] A. Jabbarzadeh, B. Fahimnia, and F. Sabouhi, “Resilient and sustainable supply chain design: sustainability analysis under disruption risks,” International Journal of Production Research, vol. 56, pp. 5945-5968, 2018.##
[16] H. Komasi and S. Mirzapour “Al-e-hashem, Sustainable supply chain network design using lean principles. Iranian Journal of Supply Chain Management,” vol. 22, pp.101-116, 2021. (In Persian)##
[17] A. Nazeri and M. Nosratpoor, “Supply Chain Sustainability: Risk Management Approach. Iranian Journal of Supply Chain Management,” vol. 18,
pp. 68-80,  2016. (In Persian)##
[18] G. Jamali,   E. Karimi Asl,  S.  Hashemkhani  Zolfani, and J. Šaparauskas, “Analysing LARG supply chain management competitive strategies in Iranian cement industries,” Economics and Management, vol. 20, pp.70-83, 2017.##
[19] H. Carvalho, A. P. Barroso, V. H. Machado, S. Azevedo, and V. Cruz-Machado, Supply chain redesign for resilience using simulation. Computers and Industrial Engineering, vol. 62, pp. 329-341.   2012.##
[20] G. Jamali and E. Karimi Asl, “Evaluation of LARG supply chain competitive strategies based on gap analysis in cement industries. Production and Operations Manageme, vol.9, pp. 29-54.  2018. (In Persian)##
[21] G. Jamali and E .Karimi Asl, “Competitive positioning for LARG supply chain in cement industry and its strategic requirements importance performance analysis,” Industrial Management Studies, vol.16, pp. 53-77, 2018. (In Persian)##
[22] S. Rayatpisha,  R. Ahmady,   and M. Abbasi,   “Using a combined approach of qualitative and  multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach in order to presentation of sustainable supply chains model in petrochemical industry. Industrial Management Studies, vol. 16,  pp. 145-180,  2018.##
[23] R. Ghasemiyeh, G. Jamali, and E. Karimi Asl, “Analysis of LARG supply chain management dimensions in cement industry (an integrated multi-criteria decision making approach),” Industrial Management, vol. 7, pp. 813-836. 2015. (In Persian)##
[24] F. M. Tsai,   T. D. Bui,   M. L. Tseng, M. H. Ali,   M. K. Lim, and A. Chiu, “Sustainable supply chain management trends in world regions: A data-driven analysis, Resources, Conservation and Recycling,” vol. 167, pp.105421,  2021.##
[25] V. Kersuliene,   E. K.  Zavadskas,  and   Z. Turskis, Selection of rational dispute resolution method by applying new step wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA),” Journal of business economics and management, vol. 11, pp. 243-258, 2010.##
[26] W.  D. Leong,   H.  L. Lam,   W. P. Q.  Ng,    H. Lim,  C. P. Tan,  and  S. G. Ponnambalam, “Lean and Green Manufacturing—A Review on Its Applications and Impacts. Process Integration and Optimization for Sustainability,” vol. 3, pp. 5-23. 2019.##
[27] F. Farhadi,   M.  R. Taghizadeh Yazdi,  and  S. Sajadi, “Providing sustainable supply chain agility model in the brick industry of Isfahan province,” Industrial Management Journal, vol. 10, pp. 335-352, 2018. (In Persian)##
[28] V. abbaszade Narmighi, S.Avakh Darestani, H. Soleimani, and R. Imannezhad, “Design and optimization of a waste management model in the sustainable supply chain in mining. Iranian  Journal
of Supply Chain Management,” vol. 22,  pp. 67-82, 2021.##
Volume 23, Issue 72
February 2022
Pages 1-7
  • Receive Date: 23 January 2021
  • Revise Date: 25 October 2021
  • Accept Date: 17 January 2022
  • Publish Date: 22 November 2021