Short answer

Implement a systematic approach to measure supply chain sustainability using a composite index, incorporating a diverse set of indicators that account for economic, environmental, and social factors, especially when anticipating or experiencing disruptions.

Field: Resource Management
Source: Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences (2022)
Method: Case Study with Composite Index Development
Evidence: Strong effect

A structured framework with weighted indicators can effectively measure the multifaceted sustainability performance of a supply chain, even during crises like pandemics. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2022 study published in Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences. Using Case study with composite index development, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Implement a systematic approach to measure supply chain sustainability using a composite index, incorporating a diverse set of indicators that account for economic, environmental, and social factors, especially when anticipating or experiencing disruptions.

Study

Resource ManagementHigh ImpactStrong effect

Composite Index Quantifies Supply Chain Sustainability Amidst Disruptions

A structured framework with weighted indicators can effectively measure the multifaceted sustainability performance of a supply chain, even during crises like pandemics.

Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences · 2022

Key Findings

01A novel set of indicators can capture the economic, environmental, and social trade-offs within a supply chain during a pandemic.
02The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrable positive and negative impacts on various aspects of supply chain sustainability.
03A composite index provides a quantifiable measure of overall supply chain sustainability.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing or evaluating a supply chain, define key sustainability indicators, assign weights based on strategic priorities, normalize the data, and calculate a composite index to track performance over time and under different conditions.

Project actions

01When selecting indicators for your design project, ensure they cover economic, environmental, and social aspects.
02Consider how to weight different indicators based on their importance to your project's goals.

Method & Evidence

AimTo develop and demonstrate a framework for measuring the sustainable performance of a supply chain using a composite index, considering the unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

MethodCase Study with Composite Index Development

ProcedureThe study involved defining stakeholders within a supply chain, identifying 23 indicators across economic, environmental, and social dimensions, weighting these indicators, normalizing their values, and calculating a composite index to represent overall sustainability performance. A real-world case study in Iran was used for illustration.

ContextSupply Chain Management during a global pandemic (COVID-19)

Variables

IVSupply chain operations and external disruptive events (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic)

DVSupply chain sustainability performance (measured by a composite index)

CVSpecific supply chain structure, industry sector, geographical location (within the case study)

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Provides a novel framework for measuring supply chain sustainability.
+Includes a practical, numerical example for application.

Limitations

It can be challenging to find reliable data for all sustainability indicators, and assigning objective weights can be subjective.

Reliability & validity

The validity of the composite index relies on the careful selection and weighting of indicators, which can be subjective. Reliability would depend on consistent data collection and calculation methods.

Think critically

How might the weighting of indicators change depending on whether the primary goal is environmental protection, cost reduction, or social equity?

Design Principles

"Holistic sustainability assessment requires a multi-dimensional, weighted, and normalized index to provide a comprehensive performance metric."

Understanding and quantifying supply chain sustainability is crucial for businesses aiming for responsible operations. This research provides a method to assess environmental, economic, and social impacts, enabling targeted improvements and resilience building in the face of unforeseen global events.

What This Means for Your Design

This study shows how to create a single score to understand how 'green' and 'fair' a supply chain is, even when things like a pandemic make it hard to operate.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of measuring sustainability in your design project's research phase.
2.Use the framework's principles to justify your choice of sustainability metrics.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The framework developed by Abbasi et al. (2022) provides a robust methodology for assessing supply chain sustainability through a composite index, incorporating economic, environmental, and social dimensions. This approach is valuable for design projects aiming to quantify the impact of their material choices, manufacturing processes, and product lifecycles.

Source

Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences

Performance Measurement of the Sustainable Supply Chain During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A real-life case study

journal · 2022

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about composite index quantifies supply chain sustainability amidst disruptions?: Implement a systematic approach to measure supply chain sustainability using a composite index, incorporating a diverse set of indicators that account for economic, environmental, and social factors, especially when anticipating or experiencing disruptions. Evidence: Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences (2022).
Why does "Composite Index Quantifies Supply Chain Sustainability Amidst Disruptions" matter for design?: Understanding and quantifying supply chain sustainability is crucial for businesses aiming for responsible operations. This research provides a method to assess environmental, economic, and social impacts, enabling targeted improvements and resilience building in the face of unforeseen global events.
How can designers apply this research?: Implement a systematic approach to measure supply chain sustainability using a composite index, incorporating a diverse set of indicators that account for economic, environmental, and social factors, especially when anticipating or experiencing disruptions.
What were the main findings?: A novel set of indicators can capture the economic, environmental, and social trade-offs within a supply chain during a pandemic.. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrable positive and negative impacts on various aspects of supply chain sustainability.. A composite index provides a quantifiable measure of overall supply chain sustainability.
What research method was used?: Case Study with Composite Index Development.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2022 journal from Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing or evaluating a supply chain, define key sustainability indicators, assign weights based on strategic priorities, normalize the data, and calculate a composite index to track performance over time and under different conditions.
What are the limitations?: The specific indicators and their weighting may need adaptation for different industries or geographical contexts. The case study was limited to a specific region in Iran.