Sustainable Development of Supply Chains and Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability is at the forefront of all activities in today’s industry. The topic has not only gained importance over the past decade but has also expanded in its definition to include not only economic and financial stability, but also environmental and social wellbeing. This set of goals is commonly referred to as triple bottomline and has been studied by different groups of researchers with their varying focus and methodologies.

Triple-bottomline approaches coupled with newly emerging technologies including, but not limited to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Intelligence, Machine Learning (ML), pattern recognition, robotic process automation (RPA), blockchains, smart contracts, text and Big Data analytics, and the increasing impact of social media on consumer preferences require careful analysis when aligning and transforming existing supply chains. The alignment and transformation efforts gain greater focus when high-impact and unprecedented business interruptions occur.

Out of these advancements, digital technologies in particular allow for measurement and quantification of customer behavior and interaction at a granular level, providing a unique opportunity to organizations. Through digitalization, linking the impact of new technology utilization to the key performance indicators (KPIs) and overall business outcomes becomes feasible [1]. A clear definition of performance measurements ensures competitive advantage while enhancing the efficiency of business operations. The impact of digital technologies is not limited to business. The National Intelligence Center [2] defines the role of information-technology-based solutions that aim at increasing economic productivity and quality of life as critical in terms of resource consumption and environmental degradation. This Special Issue also invites studies that aim at social and environmental wellbeing, with a focus on the utilization of blockhains, smart contracts, and cryptocurrencies.

The transformation of the global market and strict environmental regulations cause exponential complexity in managerial and operational layers of downstream and upstream supply chains [3]. Adding urgency to the implementation of transformational strategic plans, the recent pandemic has led to the rethinking of overall business strategies and accompanying partnerships and highlighted the importance of agility. That is, in order to mitigate risk, agility has arisen as a greater concern compared to cost, especially for responsive product and service providers. This issue focuses on the application of new and emerging technology utilization for creating agile and sustainable supply chain systems. Theoretical frameworks supported by case studies, methodologies supported by real data, and industry outlooks are also strongly encouraged.

Given that the determination of factors that hinder the sustainability of businesses remains as a viable concern to the discipline, the path to sustainability will not be clearly identified if the impediments are not recognized and mitigated. Therefore, studies focusing on the barriers for sustainability are also welcome.

References

[1] J. G. Singh and E. Kongar, "Value Creation via Accelerated Digital Transformation," in IEEE Engineering Management Review, doi: 10.1109/EMR.2021.3054813.

[2] NIC, National Intelligence Council, Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds, December 2012, NIC 2012-001, ISBN 978-1-929667-21-5.

[3] Tozanlı Ö, Kongar E, Gupta SM. Evaluation of Waste Electronic Product Trade-in Strategies in Predictive Twin Disassembly Systems in the Era of Blockchain. Sustainability. 2020, 12, 5416, doi:10.3390/su12135416.

Dr. Elif Kongar
Dr. Surendra M. Gupta
Dr. Gazi Murat Duman
Guest Editors

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• emerging technologies
• sustainability
• supply chain
• digitalization
• transformation