SCMreview 4 March 2015: vol. 1 no. 1
Today SCMreview is about a global supply network that was theoretically learned from the global supply chain in Wible et al. (2014) article, Science Journal vol. 344 no. 6188. ‘We are as a part of global economy’ is one statement from Wible et al. (2014). The supply network, that is one scenario of the relation between supplier and producer, producer and retailer, retailer and customer, spreads around the world now; is the essence of the global economy itself. Indeed, many researchers have conducted their research in purpose to improve the complex supply network. Some of them have provided a calculation procedure, measurement technique, and scientific model that is practically used to standardize and coordinate all interconnections among supply chain players and all activities inside (including information, money and product flows). For instance, Hoekstra and Wiedmann (2014), they have tried to quantitatively measure a supply chain demand – in context of earth’s limited natural resources and assimilation capacity - by integrating several parameters, such as carbon, water, air, energy, and other materials, in one integrated scheme. In addition, Hellweg and Canals (2014), they have developed a concept to inventory the material and energy inputs – starting from production process up to the end life product – through the method of life-cycle assessment (LCA). O’Rourke (2014) has tried as well to scientifically and practically improve the process of data collecting and extracting, data standardising and synthesizing, and data communication among supply chain players; in an intention to enhance the quality of decision making process in responding and fulfilling the customers’ need.
Furthermore, the logistics and
transportation activities, especially in the global supply network, strongly
need to be improved. One technical scheme of the internet technology use from Mervis
(2014) - especially for pollution and inefficiency reduction, in all transportation
parts of supply chain - is very feasible to be considered as one problem
solution alternative. However, a win-win solution condition is very required as
a final objective of all efforts in improving the global supply network (Dooley,
2014). The most important thing - from many research and several activities
that have been regularly done by many supply chain researchers - the global
supply network is a necessity... [dnu]
Reference
Dooley KJ. 2014. The whole chain. Science (344) 6188: 1108.
Hellweg S, Canals LM. 2014. Emerging approaches,
challenges and opportunities in life cycle assessment. Science (344) 6188: 1109 – 1113.
Hoekstra AY, Wiedmann TO. 2014. Humanity’s
unsustainable environmental footprint. Science (344) 6188: 1114 – 1117.
Mervis J. 2014. The information highway gets physical.
Science (344) 6188: 1104 – 1107.
O’Rourke D. 2014. The science of sustainable supply
chains. Science (344) 6188: 1124 –
1127.
Wible B, Mervis J, Wigginton NS. 2014. Rethinking the
global supply chain. Science (344)
6188: 1100 – 1103.
