Browsing by Author "Mirzabeiki, Vahid"

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    Buyer-led environmental supplier development: Can suppliers really help it?
    (Elsevier, 2020-10-29) Saghiri, Soroosh; Mirzabeiki, Vahid
    The importance of supplier development programs to enhance supply chain environmental capabilities has often been posited. However, the literature is limited in identifying and explaining the factors that may influence or mediate the effectiveness of such programs. This paper examines the role of environmental supplier development programs led by the buying organization on supplier environmental practices, while testing the mediating effects of the supplier in the forms of resource allocation and collaboration with the buyer. The relationships are tested based on survey data from 267 supplier organizations in the UK using Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results indicate that supplier development in the form of setting requirements and audits has a wide, positive impact on all supplier environmental activities, while environmental supplier development in the form of direct projects only affects supplier environmental activities in logistics and transport. The results for the mediation effects tested are varied: while supplier collaboration is important to enhance the supplier logistics and transport activities, supplier resource allocation proves to be mediating the impact of environmental supplier development on the supplier energy efficiency and logistics and transport activities. The research sheds new light on the effectiveness of supplier development and environmental programs. The findings indicate that buying organizations should make explicit reference to the way they define supplier collaboration and resource allocation for their environmental plans and environmental supplier development programs to be effective
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    Co-opetition: the ability to co-operate and compete together
    (The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, 2017-04-01) Mirzabeiki, Vahid; Humphries, Andrew; Wilding, Richard D.
    In 1996, logistics professionals began to become excited about a new supply chain paradigm. Co-opetition – a combination of co-operation and competition – was the title of a best-selling business book by two American academics, Adam M Brandenburger and Barry J Nalebuff, from Harvard and Yale business schools respectively. As the name implies, the basis of the idea is collaboration between competitors, a concept that is not as bizarre as one might expect. Why? Because those businesses with supply chain challenges and requirements that will be closest to a given business’s own supply chain challenges and requirements will generally be its competitors. In the motor industry, for instance, tyre, battery and exhaust system manufacturers and distributors must deliver to the same dealerships and aftermarket retail outlets; and grocery manufacturers must deliver to the same supermarket regional distribution centres, wholesalers, and retail outlets. In such circumstances, pointed out Brandenburger and Nalebuff, co-opetition made a lot of sense. When it comes to logistics and transport, there have been fewer high-profile examples, at least in terms of direct co-opetition, as opposed to firms collaborating through the shared and co-ordinated use of a third-party logistics provider. This article explores the Co-opetition between Nestle and Pladis within logistics. Barriers and wider lessons are outlined.
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    Effects on logistic operations from RFID- and EPCIS-enabled traceability
    (Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2014-01-31T00:00:00Z) Ringsberg, Henrik Anders; Mirzabeiki, Vahid
    Purpose – The paper aims to explore the potential effects on logistic operations of implementing the Electronic Product Code Information Service (EPCIS) standard and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to enable food traceability. A conceptual model for analysing supply chains according to EPCIS standard is also presented.Design/methodology/approach – A literature review was conducted to establish a theoretical framework. A case study of a Swedish fresh fish supply chain was then carried out.Findings – Implementation of the EPCIS standard and RFID technology to enable food traceability potentially affects the following logistic operations activities: identification, monitoring, labelling, goods handling, reporting of production, identification costs and revenue changes due to sales of goods. The conceptual model was used to analyse the effects.Research limitations/implications – The paper contributes to logistic research by studying the implementation of RFID technology and information standards to comply with food traceability requirements. The research is limited to fish supply chains; other sectors and supply chains need to be investigated for further generalisation of the results.Practical implications – Regulatory requirements on food traceability stipulate the implementation of food traceability systems, placing the responsibility on companies by authorities. The research presented can support managers in understanding the potential effects of implementing such systems.Originality/value – The discussion about logistics and food traceability has in part revolved around implementation of RFID technology and standardised approaches for handling information to preserve food quality and safety. This paper presents potential effects on logistic operations when implementing the EPCIS standard and RFID technology as a way of enabling traceability throughout food supply chains.
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    From ambition to action: how to achieve integration in omni-channel?
    (Elsevier, 2020-01-05) Mirzabeiki, Vahid; Saghiri, Soroosh Sam
    The paper aims to identify how companies can enhance their omni-channel activities through improved data management and integration. Multiple case studies of ten leading UK companies are conducted by using multiple sources of data, including interviews, archival documents and expert focus groups. The case companies are manufacturers and retailers in the clothing, food, and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sectors. A thorough list of challenges in the implementation of omni-channel systems is generated and a number of propositions on enablers and barriers to omni-channel data integration are recommended. Our findings emphasise the importance of automating and standardising data capturing and sharing methods, and centralising data storage among companies and channels, which lead to improved efficiencies. They also indicate that omni-channel systems should be responsive to the choices of customers, and integration of the information systems of logistics service providers and their buyers is crucial in making omni-channels more efficient and consumer-responsive.
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    Omni-channel integration: the matter of information and digital technology
    (Emerald, 2021-09-27) Saghiri, Soroosh; Mirzabeiki, Vahid
    This paper aims to explore how omni-channel data flows should be integrated by specifying what data, omni-channel agents and information and digital technologies (IDTs) should be considered and connected. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study method is used with 17 British companies. The studies are supported by 68 interviews with the case companies and their consumers, 5 site visits, 4 focus group meetings and the companies’ archival data and documentations. Findings This paper provides novel frameworks for omni-channel data flow integration from consumer and business perspectives. The frameworks consist of omni-channel agents, their data transactions and their supporting IDTs. Relatedly, this paper formalizes the omni-channel data flow integration in the forms of horizontal, vertical and total integrations and explores their contributions to the adaptability of omni-channel, as a complex adaptive system (CAS). It also discusses that how inter-organizational governance mechanisms can support data flow integration and their relevant IDT implementations. Research limitations/implications The breadth and depth of the required IDTs for omni-channel integration prove the necessity for omni-channel systems to move toward total integration. Therefore, supported by CAS and inter-organizational governance theories, this research indicates how data flow integration and IDT can transform the omni-channel through self-organization and autonomy capability enhancement. Originality/value This research’s recommended frameworks provide a robust platform to formalize data flow integration as the omni-channel's core driver. Accordingly, it moves the literature from a basic description of “what omni-channel is” and provides a novel and significant debate on what specific data should be shared at what levels between which agents of the omni-channel, and with what type of relationship governance mechanism, to assure omni-channel horizontal, vertical and total integrations.
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    An overview of freight intelligent transportation systems
    (2013-04-01T00:00:00Z) Mirzabeiki, Vahid
    The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of how the intelligent transportation system (ITS) supports freight transportation operations. A study of the literature on transportation information and communication technology (ICT) and intelligent (or smart) transportation systems has been conducted. Documents of more than 60 companies producing or using intelligent transportation technologies and systems have been reviewed to provide empirical data regarding freight ITSs. Furthermore, direct observations of some of the systems as well as semi-structured and nonstructured interviews with managers of some of the companies have been conducted as secondary sources of empirical data. As a result of studying the companies, a list of nine freight ITSs is generated; it represents the main freight ITSs. Also, different transportation information types that freight ITS work based on their availability are recognised. The results show that vehicle location systems and condition monitoring systems support and use more transportation information types compared to the other freight ITSs.