Publications

  • Resilience in agri-food supply chains: a critical analysis of the literature and synthesis of a novel framework 2017, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal

    Abstract

    Purpose
    Resilience in agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) is an area of significant importance due to growing supply chain volatility. While the majority of research exploring supply chain resilience has originated from a supply chain management perspective, many other disciplines (such as environmental systems science and the social sciences) have also explored the topic. As complex social, economic and environmental constructs, the priority of resilience in AFSCs goes far beyond the company specific focus of supply chain management works and would conceivably benefit from including more diverse academic disciplines. However, this is hindered by inconsistencies in terminology and the conceptual components of resilience across different disciplines. The purpose of this study is to use a systematic literature review to identify which multidisciplinary aspects of resilience are applicable to AFSCs and to generate a novel AFSC resilience framework.
     
    Design/methodology/approach
    This paper uses a structured and multidisciplinary review of 137 articles in the resilience literature followed by critical analysis and synthesis of findings to generate new knowledge in the form of a novel AFSC resilience framework.
     
    Findings
    Findings indicate that the complexity of AFSCs and subsequent exposure to almost constant external interference means that disruptions cannot be seen as a one-off event; thus, resilience must concern the ability to not only maintain core function but also adapt to changing conditions.
     
    Practical implications
    A number of resilience elements can be used to enhance resilience, but their selection and implementation must be carefully matched to relevant phases of disruption and assessed on their broader supply chain impacts. In particular, the focus must be on overall impact on the ability of the supply chain as a whole to provide food security rather than to boost individual company performance.
     
    Originality/value
    The research novelty lies in the utilisation of wider understandings of resilience from various research fields to propose a rigorous and food-specific resilience framework with end consumer food security as its main focus.

    SMART authors: Shahin Rahimifard , Jamie Stone

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  • Forging New Frontiers in Sustainable Food Manufacturing 2017, Keynote - SDM 2017

    Abstract

    One of the most prominent challenges commonly acknowledged by modern manufacturing industries is ‘how to produce more with fewer resources?’ Nowhere is this more true than in the food sector due to the recent concerns regarding the long-term availability and security of food products. The unique attributes of food products such as the need for fresh perishable ingredients, health risks associated with inappropriate production environment, stringent storage and distributions requirements together with relatively short post-production shelf-life makes their preparation, production and supply considerably different to other manufactured goods. Furthermore, the impacts of climate change on our ability to produce food, the rapidly increasing global population, as well as changes in demand and dietary behaviours both within developed and developing countries urgently demands a need to change the way we grow, manufacture and consume our food products. This paper discusses a number of key research challenges facing modern food manufacturers, including improved productivity using fewer resources, valorisation of food waste, improving the resilience of food supply chains, localisation of food production, and utilisation of new sustainable sources of nutrition for provision of customised food products.

    Link to Loughborough University Repository:

    https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/24925

    SMART authors: Shahin Rahimifard , Guillermo García García , Jamie Stone , Patrick Webb , Aicha Jellil , Sandeep Jagtap , Pedro Gimenez-Escalante

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  • An overview of resilience factors in food supply chains 2015, ESEE 2015: TRANSFORMATIONS

    Abstract

    Food supply chains face a number of unique vulnerabilities
    compared to other supply chains and there is concern that, as
    operating environment volatility increases, current “lean”
    supply chain management strategies may no longer be fit for
    purpose. There is a need to manage food supply chains in
    such a way that a return to the original state, or preferably an
    improved state, after being disturbed is possible. However,
    whilst the literature reveals a relatively large amount of work
    on resilience in supply chain management, there is poor
    consensus over how to define and implement a system of
    resilience, particularly one which takes into account food
    specific vulnerabilities. In response, this paper explores the
    current complexity of food supply chains, highlighting key
    dependencies, failure modes and key performance indicators.
    It then examines the interdependencies between capabilities
    and vulnerabilities in allowing balanced resilience and
    presents a framework to bring together and aid understanding
    of these factors across food supply chains.

    SMART authors: Shahin Rahimifard , Jamie Stone

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