Improving supply chain collaboration through operational excellence approaches: an IoT perspective

Abstract

PurposeCollaboration is an important emerging dimension of sustainable supply chain management. How to improve supply chain collaboration (SCC) by means of operational excellence approaches has become an important research topic. The Internet of things (IoT), an important means of operational excellence, has also received increased attention. For better collaboration by the IoT, this study proposes a novel methodology to evaluate the measures of IoT adoption in SCC.Design/methodology/approachBased on the six-domain model and the common classification of collaboration, the measures of the IoT and the criteria of SCC are developed, respectively. A hybrid multi-step methodology that combines neutrosophic set theory, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and technology for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) is proposed to complete the evaluation.FindingsThe results show that improving information transparency, strengthening the integration of management information systems and improving large data processing abilities are the most important measures of the IoT in improving SCC. Measures such as introducing sensing technology and laser scanning technology rank at the bottom and are relatively unimportant.Practical implicationsThe research results provide insights and references for firms to improve SCC by adopting appropriate IoT measures.Originality/valueMost of existing studies indicate the significance of technology in SCC. But this study shows a different conclusion that technologies rank the bottom, while information transparency is more important. And a suitable explanation is given. It further enriches the theoretical studies in SCC field.

A review of challenges and opportunities of blockchain adoption for operational excellence in the UK automotive industry

“…(Upadhyay, 2020) without any concern about there is a study that asked the future research questions about "how blockchain can be used in technological and management challenges and opportunities of blockchain adoption. Although has not received much attention (Cui et al 2020) to provide a clear understanding of Research on blockchain adoption from the lens of TOE framework for operational excellence…”

“…For example, Treacy and Wiersema (1993) defined operational excellence as "the provision of reliable products or services to customers at competitive prices and delivered with minimal difficulty or inconvenience". Similarly, operational excellence in the recent study conducted by Cui et al (2020) shows that "operational excellence is a management system designed to achieve customer value through innovation and technology development". They argued that operational excellence aims at continuously improving the process of operation and the effectiveness and efficiency of the industrial system.…”

“…1. There have been no studies yet that have systematically reviewed the technological and management challenges of blockchain adoption for operational excellence (Cui, et al, 2020). The present study presents technological-organisational-environmental (TOE) framework as a set of challenges and drivers of adoption of new technology, which aimed at identifying and understanding the technological and management challenges and opportunities of blockchain adoption in operational excellence.…”

“…Similarly, different concepts such as "audit sheet" and "Lean Six Sigma" were suggested by Vrellas and Tsiotras (2015) for the implementation of operational excellence as one of the methods for solving problems. A research conducted by JGOSS 14,1 Cui et al (2020) argued that operational excellence can be achieved through the internet of things (IoT) to improve supply chain collaboration.…”

Application of IoT in Healthcare: Keys to Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals

“…In this set of research, diverse but all related to the IoT and its applications to health and sustainability, we found some works where the subject matter does not really specify the role of energy efficiency at work clearly, nor relate to any of the SDGs. For this reason, the following studies have been grouped into this block: [90,92,[94][95][96]. I. Ud Din [89] studies IoT-based smart cities, though not making special reference to energy efficiency or the SDGs.…”