Search Results (1,696)

Background: Blockchain is increasingly proposed to strengthen pharmaceutical traceability, anti-counterfeiting, and chain of custody in multi-actor supply chains, but the evidence base remains heterogeneous in technical rigor and operational clarity. Methods: We conducted a mapping review of Scopus and Web of Science to map publication patterns, identify dominant thematic configurations, and compare citation-salient studies across recurring solution profiles and operational design dimensions. The final corpus comprised 103 records. Results: The literature expanded rapidly from 2019 to 2025, with notable geographic concentration and dissemination mainly through technically focused outlets. Keyword analysis identified a core traceability theme, an implementation stream centered on smart contracts, Ethereum, and security, and additional streams involving vaccines and regulatory or credentialing concerns. Citation-salient studies clustered into implemented systems and prototypes, architecture or framework proposals, and contextual maturity or decision-layer evidence. Across these profiles, transferability depended less on platform choice than on governance and access-control assumptions, modular smart contract roles, and verifiable on-chain/off-chain data placement. Conclusions: Chain-of-custody semantics and evaluation methods remain inconsistently formalized, limiting cross-study comparability and the interpretability of operational claims. Benchmark-oriented assessments and minimal reporting standards specifying governance parameters, logistics scope and checkpoints, workload, measurement conditions, and concrete evidence artifacts are needed. Full article

High-technology supply chains are increasingly concentrated in advanced economies, limiting the industrial upgrading potential of emerging regions. At the same time, growing sustainability pressures require the integration of circular economy principles into production systems. However, existing research rarely integrates supply chain localization, circular value creation, and regional capability within a unified framework. This study addresses the following research question: how can circular supply chain design be structurally integrated into high-technology localization strategies to support sustainable industrial development in emerging economies? To answer this question, the study develops an integrative conceptual framework through the synthesis of localization theory, circular supply chain design, and capability accumulation literature. The framework is structured around three interdependent structural dimensions (SDs): (1) core technological supply chain processes, (2) circular value creation mechanisms, and (3) regional capability accumulation pathways. The framework embeds circular mechanisms—such as modularity, repairability, remanufacturing, and lifecycle management—within the supply chain architecture, enabling the transition from linear acquisition models to lifecycle-oriented systems. It provides an analytical basis for understanding circular localization and offers practical insights for policymakers and firms seeking to develop sustainable high-technology supply chains in emerging economies. This contribution advances the integration of circular economy and localization strategies and supports sustainable industrial transformation. Full article

Global supply chains face increasing vulnerability to disruptions from geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and demand shocks. The global trade network for railway vans, critical for transcontinental freight transport, remains understudied despite its foundational role in global logistics. This study addresses the gap in understanding how the railway vans trade network structure evolves and responds to different types of shocks, moving beyond static analyses to capture dynamic vulnerabilities. Using UN Comtrade data (2013–2024), multi-level network analysis examined structural evolution at macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic scales. Three risk propagation models simulated supply disruption, demand shock, and cooperation disruption scenarios to assess systemic vulnerabilities. The network transformed from a polycentric to core-periphery structure, with China dominating exports (67 partners in 2024) and Germany leading European integration. Supply disruptions from Romania and Czechia affected up to 114 countries under low risk absorption capacity (α = 0.1), while demand shocks from the USA impacted 53 countries. The disruption of strategic trade links, such as China–Australia, triggered severe systemic risks. The systemic criticality of risk sources varies by shock type, requiring context-specific resilience strategies. The findings guide policymakers in identifying critical vulnerabilities and designing targeted interventions for enhancing supply chain resilience in infrastructure sectors. Full article

The production and leasing of electric construction machinery play a critical role in the low-carbon transition. However, from a multi-cycle dynamic perspective, there is a lack of targeted research on how to enhance electric goodwill and AI-enabled maintenance service levels while maximizing enterprise profits. To fill this gap, this study incorporates AI-enabled O&M effort, R&D technology, AI-enabled maintenance effort, and advertising effort into a long-term dynamic framework to examine optimal decisions for the manufacturer and the lessor. We assume that the information in the leasing supply chain is symmetric, that the marginal profits of the manufacturer and the lessor are fixed parameters, and that the AI-enabled maintenance service effort level and the electric goodwill are taken as state variables. We develop differential game models across four decision cases: centralized (Case C), decentralized (Case D), unilateral cost-sharing contract (Case U), and bilateral cost-sharing contract (Case B). Results demonstrate monotonic state variable trajectories. Both Case U and Case B can achieve supply chain coordination, with the profit-sharing mechanism in Case B proving superior. In addition, the optimal cost-sharing proportion depends on the relative sizes of the manufacturer’s and the lessor’s marginal profits in both Case U and Case B. The AI-enabled maintenance service plays a significant role in enhancing equipment reliability and supply chain resilience. In addition, the impacts of key parameters on optimal decision variables, state variables, profits, and coordination of the leasing supply chain are comprehensively discussed. Full article

Digital Product Passports came with the promise to bring about supply chain transparency. However, since their emergence, several adoption barriers have been identified primarily due to stakeholder disengagement and misaligned incentives. To this end, while regulatory mandates drive compliance, passive information repositories often fail to generate meaningful participation from suppliers and/or consumers. In consideration of this shortcoming, the present work proposes a Digital Product Passport framework enriched by gamification elements as a means of transforming transparency from burden to opportunity and individual motivations to collective transparency goals. In greater detail, the framework addresses supplier reluctance through competitive transparency scoring and value sharing mechanisms and further engages consumers through interactive product journey narratives and impact visualisation. The work contributes to the behavioural design research field by proposing an alternative framework that leverages intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in order to overcome traditional barriers to supply chain transparency. To contextualise these ideas, we provide illustrative scenarios demonstrating how gamification mechanisms could create self-reinforcing feedback loops between suppliers and consumers. Full article

With the rapid development of e-commerce and smart manufacturing, automated warehouse systems have become critical infrastructure for modern logistics. In China’s vast market, the dynamic scheduling of Rail-Guided Vehicles (RGVs) faces significant challenges due to complex task uncertainties, hierarchical supply chain structures, and real-time collision avoidance requirements. Traditional rule-based methods and static optimization models often fail to adapt to such dynamic environments. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel hybrid deep reinforcement learning framework integrating a Dynamic Graph Neural Network (DGNN) and a Transformer model. The DGNN captures the spatiotemporal dependencies of the warehouse network topology, while the Transformer mechanism enhances long-range feature extraction for task prioritization. Furthermore, we design a centralized Deep Q-network (DQN) framework with parameterized action spaces to coordinate multiple RGVs collaboratively. While the system manages multiple physical vehicles, the learning architecture employs a single-agent global scheduler to avoid the non-stationarity issues inherent in multi-agent reinforcement learning. Experimental results based on real-world data from a large-scale electronics manufacturing warehouse demonstrate that our method reduces average task completion time by 18.5% and improves system throughput by 22.3% compared to state-of-the-art baselines. The proposed approach demonstrates potential for intelligent warehouse management in dynamic industrial scenarios. Full article

The aim of this study is to identify logistics supply chain criteria by considering the sustainability factor and to conduct a performance evaluation based on these criteria. The application analyzes 15 sub-criteria under the five main criteria of sustainable logistics: procurement logistics, production logistics, reverse logistics, distribution logistics, and disposal logistics. Accordingly, the importance weights of the logistics criteria were determined using the Fuzzy AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method. Based on the determined criterion weights, an integrated model for performance evaluation was proposed using the Spherical Fuzzy MULTIMOORA (Multi-Objective Optimization by Ratio Analysis plus the Full Multiplicative Form) and Heuristic Fuzzy COPRAS (Complex Proportional Assessment) methods. The application ranked the sustainable logistics performance of three major logistics firms, and the results obtained from both methods were consistent. The findings highlight that the three criteria with the highest importance levels are, in order, as follows: green purchasing strategies (0.356), green design (0.151), and integration of supplier into environmental management processes (0.125). This demonstrates that firms aim to foster environmental responsibility not only in their internal processes but also throughout the supply chain. This study provides a reliable model for evaluating and improving sustainable logistics performance, contributing both to the academic literature and to practical applications in logistics firms. Full article

The European Union is increasingly confronted with a convergence of sustainability, democratic, and security-related challenges that affect the conditions for long-term transformation. While sustainable development and democratic resilience are often discussed separately, their interdependence has become more visible in the context of geopolitical instability, geoeconomic competition, hybrid threats, and growing societal polarization. This article examines the relationship between sustainable development and democratic resilience in the European Union and analyses how external pressures shape both agendas. The study employs a qualitative, concept-driven research design that combines the analysis of EU strategic and policy documents, a structured review of relevant scholarly literature, and triangulation with selected sustainability and governance indicators. The findings suggest that the implementation of sustainable development goals depends not only on regulatory and economic capacity, but also on social cohesion, public trust, and the resilience of democratic institutions, which together shape the legitimacy, continuity, and political feasibility of long-term transformative policies. At the same time, energy dependence, supply-chain vulnerabilities, technological dependencies, and information threats increasingly constrain the EU’s sustainability agenda. In response, the article proposes the concept of Sustainable Democratic Security as an analytical framework linking sustainability governance, democratic resilience, and strategic-security capacity. The article contributes to the literature by conceptualising these dimensions as mutually conditioning components of a common governance framework and by outlining their implications for integrated EU policymaking under conditions of geopolitical and geoeconomic pressure. Full article

Short food supply chains (SFSCs) for artisan dairy products promote rural development, cultural preservation, and consumer trust but face challenges not found in mainstream chains. This study focuses on queso Tenate, a traditional cow-milk cheese from central Mexico, and examines how its SFSC organisational structure influences its capacity to ensure food safety, quality consistency, market delivery, and viability. Using a single-case exploratory design, the study applies the Viable System Model (VSM) as a diagnostic framework to map systemic functions within an artisan dairy enterprise. Data were collected through VSM-informed interviews and observations of production and retail practices. The findings show that food safety, quality performance, and market delivery reliability are structurally mediated by systemic coherence, not product characteristics alone. While strong relational coordination and shared identity sustain viability, several functions—particularly coordination, audit, and intelligence—remain person-dependent. This study identifies structural implications for strengthening regulatory coordination and monitoring practices without undermining relational management or artisan identity. The primary contributions are as follows: (i) extending SFSC research through a systemic diagnosis of an artisan dairy chain in an emerging economy; (ii) linking VSM-based organisational study to food safety, quality consistency, and market performance; and (iii) positioning VSM as a conversational tool for SFSC viability. Limitations include the single-case design, reliance on qualitative data, and absence of longitudinal measurements. Future research should compare VSM applications across multiple SFSCs, integrate quantitative analyses, and explore its use as a management tool. The study highlights the role of systemic coherence in ensuring SFSC sustainability and cultural embeddedness. Full article

Background: Inbound logistics (IL) is a critical subsystem of the supply chain (SC) that supports production destined for the end consumer. Its effectiveness is reduced by uncertainty, which generates inaccuracies in production planning, disruptions, bottlenecks, and waste. Methods: This article presents a systematic review to identify key concepts, variables, and optimization methodologies for IL under conditions of uncertainty. The PRISMA methodology and two article evaluation tools were applied. These methodologies allowed for the identification of 26,555 documents before applying inclusion and exclusion filters. After applying the selection criteria, the analysis concludes with the analysis of 39 articles that stood out for their empirical relevance and methodological soundness. Results: This study makes a theoretical contribution by integrating IL variables, optimization methods, and uncertainty within a structured framework. Conclusions: In practice, it facilitates decision-making by identifying key variables and approaches for designing more robust logistics systems in uncertain environments. Furthermore, the possibility of generating new research focused on optimization under conditions of uncertainty is recognized through the proposal of hybrid optimization models that integrate input variables from IL and formal methods to address uncertainty. Full article

This study addresses the challenge of designing low-carbon supply chain pathways in the global seaborne metallurgical coal sector by developing an enhanced Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO) algorithm. This quantitative approach bridges operations research and sustainability science by identifying optimal supply pathways to minimise transportation-related carbon emissions. The enhanced framework incorporates coal-specific maritime logistical constraints and maintains Pareto efficiency across a comprehensive global dataset encompassing 201 mines, 11 exporting nations, and 72 destination ports in 26 importing countries. Computational analysis demonstrates that the proposed algorithm achieves a 25% reduction in transportation carbon intensity (from 38.2 to 28.6 kg CO₂eq/t) relative to the 2022 baseline. To evaluate supply chain resilience, scenario analyses incorporating geopolitical disruptions, such as the Russian coal sanctions, provide quantitative insights into the trade-offs between policy interventions and emission reduction objectives. Extending projections to 2050 under various demand trajectories yields cumulative emission reductions of 35–70 Mt CO₂eq (an average of 53 Mt), representing additional mitigation beyond the 230 Mt of reductions identified in prior research. These findings demonstrate that mathematical optimisation can deliver near-term environmental benefits without requiring capital-intensive technological breakthroughs, thereby supporting global climate mitigation targets. Full article

The built environment continues to encounter significant challenges related to waste generation and resource depletion, driving increased interest in circular economy strategies that extend material lifecycles and mitigate environmental impacts. This systematic review synthesises findings from 60 studies on waste-to-resource innovations across construction and household contexts. Although the existing literature predominantly addresses construction and demolition waste, this review foregrounds household operational waste, an area that remains insufficiently explored despite its importance for everyday resource recovery. The analysis examines how materials generated through routine use, maintenance, and minor renovation activities can be captured and redirected into productive resource streams, with particular attention to governance mechanisms such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The findings indicate that effective waste-to-resource systems depend on coherent regulatory frameworks and enforcement, economic incentives, enabling technologies, community engagement, and product design that facilitates reuse and disassembly. Key barriers include low public awareness, fragmented supply chains, high recovery costs, weak compliance mechanisms, and materials that are difficult to separate. The review concludes that improving waste-to-resource outcomes in the built environment requires coordinated action among producers, households, local authorities, and technology providers, and it articulates policy-relevant and community-oriented pathways to support more effective resource recovery systems. Full article

The development of digital supply chains has significantly changed traditional supplier selection models that focus on static and cost-driven criteria. In addition to price, operational standards, service excellence, and contribution to the platform should be taken into account when evaluating sellers operating on dynamic, performance-oriented e-commerce platforms. This study addresses this gap by developing a comprehensive multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework through a systematic literature review according to PRISMA methodology. Searches conducted in Web of Science, ScienceDirect, IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar, and Taylor & Francis yielded 4630 records from 2014 to 2025, of which 123 were analyzed using bibliometric mapping and thematic synthesis. The findings indicate a progressive diversification of evaluation criteria over time: while quality, delivery, and cost remain foundational, recent studies increasingly address customer service, search volume, and refined financial indicators such as profit and markup rate, pointing toward more multidimensional seller evaluation models. Through thematic synthesis of the indicators identified across the reviewed studies, we propose a four-dimensional framework encompassing financial sustainability, operational efficiency, quality and service standards, and market positioning. The study also discusses the implications of integrating artificial intelligence with multi-criteria and hybrid decision-making approaches for developing adaptive seller ranking systems. By synthesizing fragmented research, our framework offers strategic guidance for platform managers designing seller evaluation and allocation mechanisms. Full article

This paper investigates how social value is operationalised in urban regeneration and how digital reporting platforms shape the measurement and governance of social sustainability. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with UK social value professionals and a resident survey conducted within the Elephant and Castle regeneration programme in London, the study examines how platform-based systems translate procurement commitments into auditable performance categories. These systems embed predefined classification schemas, proxy valuation metrics and rule-based validation procedures that structure how outcomes become visible and comparable across projects. The findings indicate that digital reporting platforms enhance oversight and inter-project benchmarking but prioritise outcomes that align with measurable procurement indicators. Employment generation, apprenticeships and local procurement expenditure dominate reported performance, while relational and place-based outcomes, such as trust, belonging and neighbourhood continuity, remain marginal. Reporting requirements generate substantial evidencing burdens across supply chains, may introduce data distortions through proxy-based and threshold-led reporting, and can concentrate engagement at early project stages, limiting sustained community influence and creating technical barriers to participation. The analysis highlights how digital reporting platforms can operate as governance infrastructures within smart city environments, shaping what is prioritised, funded and recognised as credible impact. The findings provide practical insights for the design of more inclusive and proportionate digital accountability systems for sustainable local development. Full article

Against the backdrop of rising environmental pressure and increasing reliance on supply-chain-based governance, this study examines the environmental impact of China’s Green Supply Chain Management Demonstration Program. Using a panel of Chinese listed firms from 2012 to 2024, I exploit the inclusion of firms in the government-designated demonstration list as an exogenous policy shock and estimate its effects within a difference-in-differences framework. The results show that participation in the program significantly improves corporate environmental performance. Treated firms are more likely to adopt environmentally friendly practices, including renewable energy use, circular economy initiatives, and energy-saving technologies, and are more likely to receive environmental awards and other forms of positive environmental recognition. Mechanism analyses suggest that these effects operate through increased green patenting activity and enhanced environmental information disclosure quality. Heterogeneity analyses indicate that the effects are stronger for firms with higher supply chain efficiency, more limited access to external resources, and lower pre-existing green innovation, as well as for state-owned enterprises, firms located in eastern China, and those benefiting from greater government green support. Overall, the findings provide causal evidence that supply-chain-oriented environmental policies can effectively enhance corporate environmental performance in emerging economies Full article