Benchmarking and Best Practices in Supply Chain Management

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Special issue call for papers from International Journal of Logistics Management

Various initiatives have been made by leading firms in managing their supply chain to redesign sourcing and distribution systems so as to eliminate any inefficiencies and unnecessary freight movements. Wal-Mart pioneers in supply chain invented innovative practices to improve scale and efficiency through proper supply chain redesign. Supply chain improvement can be achieved through redesign and innovative practices. Redesign decisions include sourcing, relocation of warehouses and distribution centres, usage of different transportation modes, reconfiguration of distribution networks with a centralized hub to the end customer. Innovative practices are offshoring, reduction of empty return of trucks, allowing only full truck load, port centric logistics, usage of technology etc. It is well known that enormous attempts have been made by the researchers to address the supply chain issues related to return of products in different life cycle.

Among the challenges last mile problem is an open challenge to the supply chain researchers and it needs serious attention. Last mile problem refers to distribution made by different service providers to the same end customer in a specific time period. Similarly Kyoto protocol emphasizes to substantially reduce carbon emissions by 2050. Subsequently there is a huge requirement to identify measures, metrics and best practices to improve performance in comparison to that of the best-in-class performing companies to reduce gaps between companies. The aim of this theme based issue is to portray the best practices and how far the organizations are aware of the approaches to benchmark their supply chain management.

All potential papers should address the core objective of International Journal of Logistics Management.  We seek cutting edge developments, concepts, practices and research opportunities in benchmarking and best practices in supply chain management. Studies that build theory or test theory with rigor, extend existing theory in different contexts or different cultural environments are invited. Studies that examine emerging practices and new concepts in developed and developing economies are also invited. Methodologies adapted in these studies could extend from mathematical models to simulation, conceptual models, and case studies, or empirical survey based research. Researchers can submit recent research findings and perspectives that engage concepts, models, methods, tools and techniques related to the managerial dimensions of green logistics and supply chain management. Suggested topics are as follows, but not limited to:

• Performance measures and metrics in supply chain
• Drivers and barriers for benchmarking supply chain management
• Innovative practices and performance for benchmarking
• Modes of transportation and coordination benefits
• Environmental management practices
• Reverse logistics and supply chain management
• Organizational proactive management strategies
• Influence of technology on benchmarking.
• Cultural aspects in benchmarking supply chains
• Benchmarking tools.
• Corporate social responsibility
• Technologies and supply chains
• Supply chain competencies development
• Socio-eco-efficient travelling in forward sustainable logistics

Manuscripts should be submitted not later than 31st January 2015 and should confirm to International Journal of Logistics Management format (see International Journal of Logistics Management website @ http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=ijlm#2).

Please submit your article via the scholar one manuscript central http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ijlm. “Theme Issue: Benchmarking and Best Practices in Supply Chain Management” when it prompts to indicate the “Article Type” in the submission

Publication Schedule:

Guest Editors:

Professor Angappa Gunasekaran
Department of Decision and Information Sciences
Charlton College of Business
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
USA

Tel: +1 (508) 999-9187
Email: [email protected]

Professor Nachiappan Subramanian
Nottingham University Business School China
University of Nottingham, Ningbo
199 Taikang East Road
Ningbo, 315 100
China

Tel: +86 574 8818 0197
[email protected]
 
Professor Shams Rahman
Professor of Supply Chain Management
School of Business IT and Logistics
RMIT University
Melbourne, Victoria 3001
Australia

Tel: +61 + 3 + 9925-5530
Email: [email protected]