As technology and cultures evolve, the best approach for operations managers is to:

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Special Issue Editors

As technology and cultures evolve, the best approach for operations managers is to:

Asst. Prof. Dr. Vanajah Siva
E-Mail Website
Assistant Guest Editor

Department Supply Chain and Operations Management, School of Engineering, Jönköping University, Gjuterigatan 5, 553 18 Jönköping, Sweden
Interests: operations management; sustainable supply chain management; sustainable product development; quality management

As technology and cultures evolve, the best approach for operations managers is to:

Dr. Samuel Petros Sebhatu
E-Mail Website
Assistant Guest Editor

Service Research Centre - CTF / Karlstad Business School, Karlstad University, Universitetsgatan 2, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
Interests: His research focuses on management, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, business models and sustainability in different contexts of service research. Samuel’s research area is focused on two related areas of study both public transit service at cities and city-regions level and retailing business for sustainable service research. He is conducting a comparative study (research) on sustainable public transit and smart solutions for resilient and living city regions in both industrialized and newly industrialized countries.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

As technology and cultures evolve, the best approach for operations managers is to:

Prof. Dr. Roberta Guglielmetti Mugion
E-Mail Website
Chief Guest Editor

Department of Business Studies, University of Roma Tre, Via Ostiense, 159, 00154 Roma RM, Italy
Interests: quality and operations management; healthcare management; sustainable mobility; sharing economy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Operations Management (OM) is a multidisciplinary field that addresses the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations of an organization operating in both manufacturing and service industries. Sustainable Operations Management (SOM) mainly focuses on sustainability of supply chain management (SSCM), aiming to develop actions that make supply chains more sustainable, while maintaining efficacy and efficiency. SSCM can be seen as an integrated process, wherein a number of various actors (i.e., suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers) work together in a sustainable and greener way to acquire input, convert these inputs into final output, and deliver them to the market. In literature, the concept of SSCM has evolved from the standalone social responsibility perspective (Carter and Jennings, 2002; Murphy and Poist, 2002) toward the sustainability approach on the lens of the triple bottom line (Gimenez, et al., 2012). Indeed, Walker et al. (2014) posited that “OM as the pursuit of social, economic and environmental objectives – the triple bottom line – within operations of a specific firm and operational linkages that extend beyond the firm to include the supply chain and communities.” This change is probably due to the the considerable pressure from stakeholders, shareholders, and consumers to integrate the issue of sustainability into the supply chain in addition to profitability (Beske and Seuring, 2014; Tang & Zhou, 2012). Hence, SSCM is aimed at enhancing long-term environmental, social and economic values and the promotion of best practices across the whole lifecycle of goods and services for all the involved stakeholders. Furthermore, engaging sustainability represents even more a strategic requirement for companies that allow to obtain a  transparent integration and realization of a social, environmental, and business goals” (Carter and Rogers, 2008).

However, a rich stream of literature contributions have suggested that several aspects related to OM can be considered from a sustainability perspective. These aspects encompass product design, eco-design and life cycle assessment, adoption of environmental and social standards, process improvement and lean operations, green purchasing, supply chain management (SCM), logistics including recycling, packaging and closed-loop systems, performance measurement and risk management (Walker et al., 2014; Kleindorfer et al., 2005; Zhu and Sarkis, 2004).

They also demonstrated the need to further investigate the economic benefits derived from the introduction of sustainability in the supply chain management. Nowadays, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as developed by the United Nations, has been promoting Goal 12, which is related to responsible production and consumption and emphasises the need to reduce waste by optimizing the usage of resources (energy, water, etc.). It is worth emphasizing that the recent COVID-19 epidemic has been starting a debate on the future of the globalized operations in both manufacturing and service industries. The need to rethink and redesign OM practices and patterns is clear, drawing attention to the need to focus even more on business continuity and organizations resilience and concurrently incorporating sustainable managerial approaches at the core of their business.

The recent COVID-19 epidemic has started a debate on the future trends of globalized operations management in both manufacturing and service industries, emphasizing the need to realize a systematic shift toward more sustainable practices both from production and consumption patterns. Indeed, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development proposes to develop more responsible production and consumption (Goal 12), emphasising the necessity to reduce waste and to be more effective and efficient in the usage of natural resources (energy water etc.).
This Special Issue aims to publish high-quality research papers on the inter-disciplinary field of Sustainable Operations Management, focusing on contributions related to evolution and future trends of Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management both in manufacturing (food, medical devices, pharmaceutical, etc.) and service (healthcare, educations, transportations, tourism, etc.) industries.

Prof. Roberta Guglielmetti Mugion
Prof. Dr. Olimpia Martucci
Prof. Enrica Vesce
Asst. Prof. Dr. Vanajah Siva
Dr. Samuel Sebhatu
Guest Editors

References

  1. Carter, C. R., & Jennings, M. M. (2002), Logistics social responsibility: an integrative framework. Journal of business logistics, 23(1), 145-180.
  2. Carter, C. and Rogers, D. (2008), A framework for sustainable supply chain management: moving toward new theory, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 38 No. 5, pp. 360-387
  3. Carter, C.R. and Easton, P.L. (2011), Sustainable supply chain management: evolution and future directions, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 41 No. 1, pp. 46-62
  4. Dubey, R., Bag, S., Ali, S. S., & Venkatesh, V. G. (2013), Green purchasing is key to superior performance: an empirical study. International Journal of Procurement Management, 6(2), 187-210.
  5. Gimenez, C., Sierra, V., & Rodon, J. (2012). Sustainable operations: Their impact on the triple bottom line. International Journal of Production Economics, 140(1), 149-159
  6. Kleindorfer, P. R., Singhal, K., & Van Wassenhove, L. N. (2005), Sustainable operations management. Production and operations management, 14(4), 482-492.
  7. Murphy, P. R., & Poist, R. F. (2002). Socially responsible logistics: an exploratory study. Transportation Journal, 23-35.
  8. Rossi, S., Colicchia, C., Cozzolino, A., & Christopher, M. (2013), The logistics service providers in eco-efficiency innovation: an empirical study. Supply chain management: an international journal.
  9. Schaltegger, S., Burritt, R., Beske, P., & Seuring, S. (2014). Putting sustainability into supply chain management. Supply Chain Management: an international journal.
  10. Tang, C. S., & Zhou, S. (2012), Research advances in environmentally and socially sustainable operations. European Journal of Operational Research, 223(3), 585-594.
  11. Walker, P.H., Seuring, P.S., Sarkis, P.J. and Klassen, P.R. (2014), "Sustainable operations management: recent trends and future directions", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 34 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-12-2013-0557
  12. Zhu, Q., & Sarkis, J. (2004), Relationships between operational practices and performance among early adopters of green supply chain management practices in Chinese manufacturing enterprises. Journal of operations management, 22(3), 265-289.

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Keywords

  • operations and service operations management
  • supply chain management
  • sustainability
  • triple bottom line
  • circular economy
  • Agenda 2030

Published Papers (4 papers)

Research

Open AccessArticle

Short Food Supply Chains in Europe: Scientific Research Directions

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 660

Abstract

In the food sector, new configurations of supply chains, as opposed to global conventional ones, are drawing the attention of researchers and institutions all over the world. These are presented as a panacea for the recovery of rural economies and, in general, of [...] Read more.

In the food sector, new configurations of supply chains, as opposed to global conventional ones, are drawing the attention of researchers and institutions all over the world. These are presented as a panacea for the recovery of rural economies and, in general, of food system sustainability. In this context the short food supply chains (SFSCs) become relevant, as happens in Europe, where strategies and regulations designed on their implementation were adopted. Recognising that scientific research always plays an important role in guiding institutions’ choices in many fields, it seems important to focus on how SFSCs are considered in the European academic panorama. Therefore, this contribution presents a study performed on a sample of 108 papers published in journals during the last decade. The findings concerning the investigated issues and the approaches to analysing SFSC development and effects are reported from both the producer and consumer perspective. The review strongly emphasizes the factors affecting participation in SFSCs. Moreover, it highlights that the positive perception of SFSC sustainability is not based on scientific evidence. The analysis outlines current research directions and identifies challenges that are still open in order to offer researchers food for thought with a view to developing further future insights. Full article

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Open AccessArticle

Recognizing the Key Drivers and Industry Implications of Sustainable Packaging Design: A Mixed-Method Approach

Viewed by 1420

Abstract

Sustainable packaging design plays a strategic role across several industries. Using the Italian market as the perimeter of the analysis, this paper aims to broaden the knowledge of corporate attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors toward sustainable packaging along the entire supply chain. A mixed-method [...] Read more.

Sustainable packaging design plays a strategic role across several industries. Using the Italian market as the perimeter of the analysis, this paper aims to broaden the knowledge of corporate attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors toward sustainable packaging along the entire supply chain. A mixed-method approach was used, integrating qualitative and quantitative data collected from 33 in-depth interviews and a survey on a sample of 462 companies. The results revealed that a challenging goal will consist of reconciling technological advances and marketing instances, and that the entire supply chain should be synergistically involved in packaging sustainability. It was also found that larger companies consider sustainability as part of a broader business strategy, whereas smaller ones possess a tactical vision. The study provides valuable insights to better comprehend and manage a complex ecosystem such as that of sustainable packaging. Full article

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Open AccessArticle

Challenges and Threats Faced in 2020 by International Logistics Companies Operating on the Polish Market

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2041

Abstract

The main aim of the article is to present an analysis of the current challenges and threats to the Transport-Forwarding-Logistics (TFL) sector in Poland based on internet surveys. The aim of the article is, therefore, to investigate whether the challenges and threats described [...] Read more.

The main aim of the article is to present an analysis of the current challenges and threats to the Transport-Forwarding-Logistics (TFL) sector in Poland based on internet surveys. The aim of the article is, therefore, to investigate whether the challenges and threats described by managers in a two-year perspective are related to sustainable development. This area primarily concerns external conditions. On the other hand, in the surveys that were the subjects of the analyses, a section related to sustainable development in economic, environmental, and social terms was identified, in which the focus was primarily on the internal activities of the company. The article has a practical dimension. The article analyzes comments from managers posted in an internet survey. They constitute a separate part of the questionnaire, which mainly concerns financial indicators and other factors that determine the company’s competitiveness. Half of the respondents are companies with foreign capital, and half-Polish companies. Based on the comments over a three-year period with over sixty managers from logistics companies in Poland, an analysis of the most important challenges that companies in the logistics industry have to face in the near future was presented. The survey is a part of a broader research project that has been conducted in the form of a quantitative survey among approximately sixty TFL companies for twenty-five years on an annual basis. The results of the survey are supplemented with an attempt to analyze the current situation in 2020 related to the impending economic recession as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat. The surveyed companies constitute a significant part of the TFL market in Poland. Thus, they are the benchmark for the entire industry. Therefore, an important value of the presented analysis is the up-to-date research, as well as the ability to relate the results and developed scenarios to the entire TFL sector. Full article

Open AccessArticle

Contingency Management and Supply Chain Performance in Korea: A COVID-19 Pandemic Approach

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2158

Abstract

Unexpected incidents are driving global supply chains to the brink of collapse. To effectively manage contingency events like the COVID-19 pandemic and improve operational performance, factors such as information technology (IT), relational competencies, cooperation with supply chain partners and integration of supply chain [...] Read more.

Unexpected incidents are driving global supply chains to the brink of collapse. To effectively manage contingency events like the COVID-19 pandemic and improve operational performance, factors such as information technology (IT), relational competencies, cooperation with supply chain partners and integration of supply chain systems that contribute to cooperation are essential. This study found that IT and relational competencies positively influence the integration of supply chain systems, and relational competencies have a stronger implication on supply chain integration and collaboration. In addition, supply chain collaboration, strengthened by supply chain integration, positively affects contingency management. Finally, contingency management positively influences operational performance. In this study, we adopted partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method in the analysis with 102 surveys collected from business managers. Through the evaluation of determinants of contingency management and supply chain performance, this study widens the theoretical base of supply chain management and provides managers with optimal ways to build a more resilient supply chain system to cope with unexpected incidents. Consequently, with collaboration-based contingency management, companies can solve problems properly and reduce additional loss, which will enhance operational performance and enable sustainable business success. Full article

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How does Lean Systems Thinking in operations management relate to sustainability quizlet?

Firms should pursue profit without damaging the environment or the well-being of future generations. Lean systems thinking in operations management can extend to sustainability in what way? Its focus on reducing waste of all types. Its focus on improving product quality.

What best defines the concept of environmental sustainability?

Environmental sustainability is the responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect global ecosystems to support health and wellbeing, now and in the future.

Which of the following phrases best defines the concept of sustainability as set out by the United Nations Brundtland Commission?

Which of the following phrases BEST defines the concept of sustainability, as set out by the United Nations Brundtland Commission: To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Lean systems thinking in operations management can extend to sustainability in what way? A. Its focus on improving product quality.