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The purpose of this thesis research project is to explore blockchain technology and its present and future applications within supply chain management. Emerging blockchain technologies, both public and private, are already showing great promise for a number of applications in and outside supply chain management. Our sole focus is to

The purpose of this thesis research project is to explore blockchain technology and its present and future applications within supply chain management. Emerging blockchain technologies, both public and private, are already showing great promise for a number of applications in and outside supply chain management. Our sole focus is to understand the fundamentals of blockchain, smart contracts, current applications in supply chain, and the future possibilities for blockchain to shape global supply chains. Many have theorized about how private blockchains can be implemented and used; however, there is little research to date that has collected and explored the actual use cases in industry today. The mission of this research paper is to separate theory from the current state of the technology and provide a clearer understanding of where the technology is headed in the near future. We aim to produce a work that will provide a comprehensive description and commentary on current use cases for the education of students and industry professionals alike. With any new technological developments, terminology and technicalities can be paralyzing, and this is particularly true for blockchain technology. For this project, our goal was to create a document that cuts through the complexities and allows a non-technical audience to gain a strong foundational understanding of blockchain's potential and current limitations within supply chains. Provided this, some highly technical concepts and implementation details will not be explored due to the complexity and minimal understanding even amongst industry experts. As future supply chain professionals, we are motivated to further our understanding of blockchain technologies and the potential for this technology to shape the future of supply chain management.
ContributorsBecker, Logan (Co-author) / Falco, Alexander (Co-author) / Murphy, Thomas Brian (Co-author) / Taylor, Todd (Thesis director) / Wiedmer, Robert (Committee member) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
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This thesis investigates the potential of life cycle analysis for more sustainable sourcing strategies in organizations. Using the example of the College of Lake County (CLC) in Illinois, I study how life-cycle analysis can help to improve the procurement of products and services in higher education. Currently, CLC's purchasing team

This thesis investigates the potential of life cycle analysis for more sustainable sourcing strategies in organizations. Using the example of the College of Lake County (CLC) in Illinois, I study how life-cycle analysis can help to improve the procurement of products and services in higher education. Currently, CLC's purchasing team does not understand how sourcing affects operational and environmental performance. In addition, CLC's purchasing team does not communicate effectively with other departments from a product utilization standpoint. The objective of this research is to analyze CLC's current product procurement process and to assess the feasibility of implementing life cycle analysis tools. Further, I evaluate different life cycle analysis tools and provide recommendations to CLC about the applicability of these tools so that they may be implemented into the university in the future. First, I find that both the procurement and IT department at CLC are not familiar with life-cycle analysis tools and hence, do not know about the life cycle of their processes and services. Second, I identify professional life cycle analysis tools relevant for CLC. Two software options, GaBi and SimaPro, are discussed. Finally, I suggest six steps for a successful implementation of life cycle analysis at CLC: (1) form an interdisciplinary team, (2) analyze demand and collect additional data, (3) conduct a product life cycle analysis using a software tool, (4) define which products to analyze further, (5) conduct life cycle costing analysis with the same software tool, and (6) utilize these results for decisions and delegation of responsibility.
ContributorsGotsch, Rachel Lynne (Author) / Wiedmer, Robert (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
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Description
The following report addresses sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) and its application in the fashion industry. The purpose is to draw conclusions on why companies implement sustainability into their processes, and how these sustainable monitoring practices contribute to operational, competitive and financial advantages. This report contains various methods of analysis.

The following report addresses sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) and its application in the fashion industry. The purpose is to draw conclusions on why companies implement sustainability into their processes, and how these sustainable monitoring practices contribute to operational, competitive and financial advantages. This report contains various methods of analysis. Research derived from numerous scholarly articles on measurement methods, theories and governance structures will be discussed to develop a background on the current status of SSCM in the fashion industry, including the notable strengths and weaknesses. To understand the depth of practices involved in managing a sustainable supply chain, four leading companies within the industry will be analyzed using their annual sustainability reports. Based on this analysis, it can be concluded that sustainable practices are abundantly present in today's leading fashion companies, each having different mindsets motivating their sustainable actions. With this conclusion, it's also important to acknowledge that there's far more progress to be made in terms of sustainable development on a company and industry level, in order to make a lasting impact.
ContributorsRezzonico, Jordan Nicole (Author) / Dooley, Kevin (Thesis director) / Wiedmer, Robert (Committee member) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and has caused a ripple effect of global supply disruptions. The United States, Canada, EU and other allies have responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by sanctioning imports from Russia in an attempt to isolate their economy. However, some countries

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and has caused a ripple effect of global supply disruptions. The United States, Canada, EU and other allies have responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by sanctioning imports from Russia in an attempt to isolate their economy. However, some countries that have not placed trade sanctions on Russia are taking advantage of the opportunity to import from Russia. By integrating import data from Panjiva into a geospatial mapping tool, ArcGIS, global trade patterns can be visualized to understand how global trade is impacted, the effectiveness of Western sanctions on Russia, and potential substitution effects on trade flows from one country to another. First, six key commodities and three countries were identified based on preliminary data analysis. After further analysis, it can be concluded that the Russian sanctions were not effective at isolating their economy for two reasons: certain commodities are critical to our modern lifestyles and some countries took advantage of Western trade sanctions on Russia and increased global trade. In an attempt to diversify their supply, many firms sourced from countries other than Russia, but oftentimes commodities are still sourced from Russia. Lack of supply chain visibility prevents business leaders from making the most efficient supply networks that are in alignment with government regulations.

ContributorsWilliams, Sara (Author) / Wiedmer, Robert (Thesis director) / Toro, Matthew (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsWilliams, Sara (Author) / Wiedmer, Robert (Thesis director) / Toro, Matthew (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsWilliams, Sara (Author) / Wiedmer, Robert (Thesis director) / Toro, Matthew (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor)
Created2023-05
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Description
This thesis assesses the current state of the supply chains of healthcare equipment in the United States. Using the assessment, conclusions are drawn regarding the resilience and effectiveness of healthcare equipment supply chains, both in the U.S. and globally. Finally, some solutions for the issues encountered with healthcare equipment, such

This thesis assesses the current state of the supply chains of healthcare equipment in the United States. Using the assessment, conclusions are drawn regarding the resilience and effectiveness of healthcare equipment supply chains, both in the U.S. and globally. Finally, some solutions for the issues encountered with healthcare equipment, such as regulation and standardization for equipment, are noted and discussed in the context of the study.
ContributorsKoeller, Jack (Author) / Wiedmer, Robert (Thesis director) / Schneller, Eugene (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor)
Created2023-05
Description
Nike, the largest athletic apparel company in the world, has a very complex wide-reaching supply chain. As pioneers of outsourcing production and products, they have dealt with many challenges and problems since their beginning in 1964. As Nike has faced their controversial history of labor strikes, protests, boycotts, and much

Nike, the largest athletic apparel company in the world, has a very complex wide-reaching supply chain. As pioneers of outsourcing production and products, they have dealt with many challenges and problems since their beginning in 1964. As Nike has faced their controversial history of labor strikes, protests, boycotts, and much more, they began to restructure their business model and supply chain practices. Following this came audits, minimum age requirements, factory condition monitoring, and public disclosures of locations. With these new initiatives and growth in Nike’s supply chain, an overarching analysis of Ports of Lading, Shipment Origins, Ports of Unlading, Shippers/Suppliers, and Carriers can give a glimpse into the world-wide network of their apparel. Finally, through my data analysis and secondary source research, I will explain how Nike's supply chain emerged, adjusted, and changed given different textile regulatory environments over the years.
ContributorsCrippen, Julia (Author, Co-author) / Wiedmer, Robert (Thesis director) / Sewell, Dennita (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor)
Created2023-05