Western-European consumers have become not only more demanding on product availability in retail outlets but also on other food attributes such as quality, integrity, and safety. When (re)designing food supply-chain networks, from a logistics point of view, one has to consider these demands next to traditional efficiency and responsiveness requirements. The concept ‘quality controlled logistics’ (QCL) hypothesizes that if product quality in each step of the supply chain can be predicted in advance, goods flows can be controlled in a pro-active manner and better chain designs can be established resulting in higher product availability, constant quality, and less product losses. The paper discusses opportunities of using real-time product quality information for improvement of the design and management of ‘AgriFood Supply Chain Networks’, and presents a preliminary diagnostic instrument for assessment of ‘critical quality’ and ‘logistics control’ points in the supply chain network. Results of a tomato-chain case illustrate the added value of the QCL concept for identifying improvement opportunities in the supply chain as to increase both product availability and quality. Future research aims for the further development of the diagnostic instrument and the quantification of costs and benefits of QCL scenarios.
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Consumers expect product availability as well as product quality and safety in retail outlets. When designing or re-designing fruit and vegetables supply chain networks one has to take these demands into consideration next to traditional efficiency and responsiveness requirements. In food science literature, much attention has been paid to the development of Time-Temperature Indicators to monitor individually the temperature conditions of food products throughout distribution as well as quality decay models that are able to predict product quality based upon this information. This chapter discusses opportunities to improve the design and management of fruit and vegetables supply chain networks. If product quality in each step of the supply chain can be predicted in advance, good flows can be controlled in a pro-active manner and better chain designs can be established resulting in higher product availability, higher product quality, and less product losses in retail. This chapter works towards a preliminary diagnostic instrument, which can be used to assess supply chain networks on QCL (Quality Controlled Logistics). Findings of two exploratory case studies, one on the tomato chain and one on the mango chain, are presented to illustrate the value of this concept. Results show the opportunities and bottlenecks for quality controlled logistics depend on product—(e.g. variability in quality), process—(e.g. ability to use containers and sort on quality), network- (e.g. current level of cooperation), and market characteristics (e.g. higher prices for better products).
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From the article: "Abstract Maintenance processes of Dutch housing associations are often still organized in a traditional manner. Contracts are based on lowest price instead of ‘best quality for lowest price’ considering users’ demands. Dutch housing associations acknowledge the need to improve their maintenance processes in order to lower maintenance cost, but are not sure how. In this research, this problem is addressed by investigating different supply chain partnering principles and the role of information management. The main question is “How can the organisation of maintenance processes of Dutch housing associations, in different supply chain partnering principles and the related information management, be improved?” The answer is sought through case study research."
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Analyse the results from a representative selection of the supply chain studies for school feeding programmes in Kenya, Ghana and Mali, and make specific suggestions for interventions that can efficiently include SHF in the supply chains.
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In recent years academics and industrials have shown an interest in agricultural systems and their complex and non-linear nature, aiming to improve production yield in the agricultural field. Innovative strategies and methodological frameworks are thus required to assist farmers in decision making for an efficient and effective resource management. In particular, this research concerns the structural problem of the Persian lime supply chain in Mexico, which still leads to low production yield over short time periods with heterogeneous fruit quality and also to the emergence of excessive middleman businesses arising from a fragmentation between orchard and exporting companies that constitute the first two links in the associated supply chain. Based on the Persian lime production cycle, an Expert System (ES) using Fuzzy Logic involving an inference engine with IF - THEN type rules is presented in this paper. A Mamdani model codifies the decision criteria related to agricultural practices for growing Persian lime in non-irrigated orchards. The ES allows the farmer to boost production in orchards by modeling application scenarios for agricultural practices. A case study based on an exporting companys fruit supply is discussed, in which the ES proves to be a useful tool to aid the decision making involved in the application of agricultural practices in the orchard. Results show an increase in production yield and fruit quality in the orchard, as well as a better synchronization between orchard and exporting companies, with a significant impact on inventory levels of fresh fruit in the link Persian lime exporting company.
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In order to gain a more mature share in the future energy supply, green gas supply chains face some interesting challenges. In this thesis green gas supply chains, based on codigestion of cow manure and maize, are considered. The produced biogas is upgraded to natural gas quality and injected into the existing distribution gas grid and thus replacing natural gas. Literature research showed that relatively much attention has been paid up to now to elements of such supply chains. Research into digestion technology, agricultural aspects of (energy) crops and logistics of biomass are examples of this. This knowledge is indispensable, but how this knowledge should be combined to help understand how future green gas systems may look like, remains a white spot in the current knowledge. This thesis is an effort to fill this gap. A practical but sound way of modeling green gassupply chains was developed, taking costs and sustainability criteria into account. The way such supply chains can deal with season dependent gas demand was also investigated. This research was further expanded into a geographical model to simulate several degrees of natural gas replacement by green gas. Finally, ways to optimize green gas supply chains in terms of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction were explored.
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There are lots of definitions of quality, and also of quality in education. Garvin (1984)discerns five approaches: the transcendental approach, the product-oriented approach, the customeroriented approach, the manufacturing-oriented approach and the value-for-money approach. Harvey and Green (1993) give five interrelated concepts of quality as: exceptional, perfection (or consistency), fitness for purpose, value for money and transformative. A new definition of quality is needed to explain recent quality issues in higher education. This article describes a quality concept with four constituents: object, standard, subject and values. The article elaborates on the values. Four value systems derived from Beck and Cowan (1996) are transformed into four value systems on quality and quality management: control, continuous improvement, commitment and breakthrough. These value systems make it possible to explain some recent developments in quality management in higher education.
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Assistive technology supports maintenance or improvement of an individual’s functioning and independence, though for people in need the access to assistive products is not always guaranteed. This paper presents a generic quality framework for assistive technology service delivery that can be used independent of the setting, context, legislative framework, or type of technology. Based on available literature and a series of discussions among the authors, a framework was developed. It consists of 7 general quality criteria and four indicators for each of these criteria. The criteria are: accessibility; competence; coordination; efficiency; flexibility; user centeredness, and infrastructure. This framework can be used at a micro level (processes around individual users), meso level (the service delivery scheme or programme) or at a macro level (the whole country). It aims to help identify in an easy way the main strengths and weaknesses of a system or process, and thus guide possible improvements. As a next step in the development of this quality framework the authors propose to organise a global consultancy process to obtain responses from stakeholders across the world and to plan a number of case studies in which the framework is applied to different service delivery systems and processes in different countries.
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The Procurement and Supply of hospital isolation gowns (IGs) pose significant challenges, including the potential for sudden increases in demand, the necessity of maintaining high-quality gowns, and the complexity of the supply process. One potential solution to these challenges is the investment in reusable IGs, which may seem financially infeasible due to their initial purchasing price. However, it can provide long-term financial and environmental benefits. In this research, a Simulation Optimization (SO) framework is utilized to model and analyze various product portfolio selection strategies, considering both financial and environmental perspectives, and to determine the optimal strategy for meeting both financial and environmental objectives. The proposed strategy is implemented to the problem based on obtained Life Cycle Assessment and market data.
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This report is the second in a series of three reports named Value Added Planning, consisting of three unique, but interconnected tools, namely the Green Credit Tool, the Workbench Method and Value Added Planning, These tools have been developed and/or tested in the context of the European INTERREG programme: VALUE (INTERREG IVB North West Europe - Valuing Attractive Landscapes in the Urban Economy), in which the municipality of Amersfoort is involved. Aim of this programme is to understand how green space in urban centres can become more competitive with other urban functions. In this context, the municipality of Amersfoort has introduced the interactive method named Workbench Spatial Quality (Werkbank Ruimtelijke Kwaliteit in Dutch) in their spatial design in several areas in their municipality. The Workbench Spatial Quality (to be referred to as Workbench) has been applied on two cases in Amersfoort: Park Randenbroek and Vathorst NW. In this report the Workbench as applied in Amersfoort is evaluated. Research was done on the basis of literature research, case-material and interviews performed with several experts. Furthermore, research was done by students at the Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR). Part of the evaluation in this report makes use of a quick scan of 19 Dutch cases. The question addressed in this report is: 1.How was the Workbench Spatial Quality applied in Amersfoort? 2.Can the Workbench contribute to sustainable spatial planning?
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