Palgrave Studies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management – serie

This book illustrates the applications of mobile robot systems in warehouse operations with an integrated decision framework for their selection and application. Mobile robot systems are an automation solution in warehouses that make order fulfillment agile, flexible and scalable to cope with the increasing volume and complexity of customer orders. Compared with manual operations, they combine higher productivity and throughput with lower operating costs. As the practical use of mobile robot systems is increasing, decision-makers are confronted with a plethora of decisions. Still, research is lagging in providing the needed academic insights and managerial guidance. The lack of a structured decision framework tailored for mobile robot system applications in warehouses increases the probability of problems when choosing automation systems.This book demonstrates the characteristics of mobile robot systems which reinforce warehouse managers in identifying, evaluating and choosingcandidate systems through multiple criteria. Furthermore, the managerial decision framework covering decisions at strategic, tactical and operational levels in detail helps decision-makers to implement a mobile robot solution step-by-step. This book puts special emphasis on change management and operational control of mobile robots using path planning and task allocation algorithms. The book also introduces focus areas that require particular attention to aid the efficiency and practical application of these systems, such as facility layout planning, robot fleet sizing, and human-robot interaction. It will be essential reading for academics and students working on digital warehousing and logistics, as well as practitioners in warehouses looking to make informed decisions.

This book provides a methodology, grounded in prior research, for analyzing supply chain vulnerabilities and determining appropriate strategic sourcing approaches firms can adopt for managing risk and ensuring supply chain resilience.

In today’s increasingly service-oriented global economy, the activities and transactions within and between supply chain members in the service sector have experienced substantial growth. This book addresses the unique challenges faced by service businesses and emphasizing the importance of service supply chain management decisions on competitiveness and performance.By adopting a service supply chain perspective, this book offers valuable insights for defining, designing, and effectively managing service procurement processes for all stakeholders involved, such as service suppliers, service providers, and customers. This inclusive viewpoint ensures a holistic understanding of the entire service supply chain, considering the interconnected relationships and dependencies among its members. By combining scholarly insights, practical examples and guidelines, it will be of great interest to students and academics of supply chain management and procurement, as well as service supply chain managers looking for advanced strategies.

Supply chain disruptions typically hurt stock prices, particularly if the disruption is caused by a natural disaster. While supply chains in the United States suffer from a wide range of supply chain disruptions induced by hurricanes, the impact of these disruptions on stock prices remains unexplored, even though the annual average damage in the US due to hurricanes is $54bn of which $9bn is to businesses.This book explores, classifies, and connects natural disasters, supply chain disruption (SCD), and firm financial performance. It identifies influencing factors and how they impact the effect of hurricanes on stock prices. It defines a statistical model to quantify the effect of hurricanes on stock prices and provides guidelines to managers who need to decide how to communicate supply chain disruptions to their customers and shareholders. It will be of great interest to scholars and students in supply chain management, disaster management, and finance.

Supply chain disruptions typically hurt stock prices, particularly if the disruption is caused by a natural disaster. While supply chains in the United States suffer from a wide range of supply chain disruptions induced by hurricanes, the impact of these disruptions on stock prices remains unexplored, even though the annual average damage in the US due to hurricanes is $54bn of which $9bn is to businesses.This book explores, classifies, and connects natural disasters, supply chain disruption (SCD), and firm financial performance. It identifies influencing factors and how they impact the effect of hurricanes on stock prices. It defines a statistical model to quantify the effect of hurricanes on stock prices and provides guidelines to managers who need to decide how to communicate supply chain disruptions to their customers and shareholders. It will be of great interest to scholars and students in supply chain management, disaster management, and finance.

From the field to the cup, this book investigates sustainability issues along the coffee supply chain, identifying the challenges that firms face when they are called to reach sustainability goals.

In a rapidly changing e-commerce environment, effective supplier selection and inventory management are critical to maintaining competitive advantage and operational efficiency.

This book adopts a managerial perspective to explore supply chain resilience and network design (and redesign), two interconnected, crucial topics in a world in which major disruptions are affecting global supply and value chain networks.

Due to the increasing frequency and severity of disruptions and disasters around the world, current supply chains of almost every type are experiencing uncertainties, and supply chain resilience capabilities are one of the major concerns for every manager. Humanitarian supply chains are often at the forefront of this. However, the extant literature often keeps them separate from commercial supply chains and focuses more on their differences than similarities. This short-format research work analyses four case studies of recent humanitarian supply chains formed in response to natural and man-made disasters and how these supply chains endure proactive and reactive resilience capabilities. The lessons learned from these disaster responses in resilience will be of great value to supply chain scholars, students, and practitioners.