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In a very competitive and complex industry like the construction industry with demands for the delivery of top quality projects at very competitive prices, a significant need for an effective management of the construction supply chain has arose. Construction Supply Chain Management (CSCM) is a very promising approach to successfully achieve integration between the several disciplines of the chain (i.e. internal and external suppliers, designers, vendors, contractors, subcontractors and internal and external clients). Big international construction companies have carried out extensive research and developed computer based platforms to experiment the recent Supply Chain Management (SCM) concepts. Even though SCM in the manufacturing industry has been widely researched and developed, the application of the same concepts to the construction industry shows problems in construction supply chains are extensively present and persistent. Analysis of these problems has shown that a major part of them originate at the interfaces between the various disciplines or functions and the complex nature of the construction environment. The aim of this research study report is to provide a set of propositions for improving construction supply chain management such as benchmarking, improvement of suppliers/subcontractors performance, elimination of waste, training and information sharing between parts of the supply chain. The study includes the literature review regarding the trends of the supply chain management in construction industry, the specific characteristics and problems in coordinating construction supply chain and finally it suggests improvements in supply and demand management based on integration, collaboration, information sharing and trust.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the benefits of the application of a requirements engineering framework to assist Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) development. This framework combines the technology-driven and the process-driven approaches for requirements analysis and implementation. Specific business process modeling methods enhance the framework and assist the formulation of the functional specifications of the ERP system and the management of requirements. Design/methodology/approach -A case study strategy was chosen as the most appropriate method to answer the research question and test the theoretical propositions. The case study's unit of analysis is a Greek manufacturing company and its ERP implementation project. A requirements engineering framework enhanced with business process modeling methods was applied and the results were evaluated using metrics for ERP implementation success. Data were collected using multiple sources of evidences, including interviews with various stakeholders, structured questionnaires, direct observations, vendors' functionality papers and company's documentation.Findings -This study proves that the configuration of ERP's reference models together with the adjustments of organization's processes, provided through a structured requirements engineering framework can lead to reliable functional specifications, a smooth transition to an ERP system and, eventually, to successful ERP implementation, concerning its alignment with requirements. Research limitations/implications -A single case study is conducted in a typical manufacturing company, providing opportunities for further research in other industries, testing in parallel well-defined requirements and other success factors for ERP implementation. Originality/value -The paper fulfils the identified needs for applied methodologies and frameworks for requirements engineering which can assist successful ERP implementations.

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Counterfeiting is found today in many industries and in various forms with severe consequences for supply chain operations. Products counterfeiting can be detected in consumer goods such as clothing, food and beverages, accessories, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and luxury goods. The continuous violations in the supply chain have led to the need for mobilization of all involved stakeholders to overcome counterfeiting challenges. Effective traceability seems to be the only way to combat this phenomenon, ensuring safe and sustainable supply chain operations. This paper presents a structured literature review on traceability approaches for combatting the product supply chain counterfeiting phenomenon that led to forming a structured classification framework. The performed analysis aims to identify trends and good practices and can be used as a guideline for real-life projects against supply chain counterfeiting. The results show that traditional traceability methods are not effective as they can be easily falsified using today’s technological advancements. However, these same advancements also present valuable technologies such as blockchain and the internet of things to ensure safe and sustainable supply chain operations.

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