We develop a model of the impact of food quality management systems (QMS) on competitiveness and markets. QMS seek to control the quality of a product as determined by the array of individual attributes it possesses. To date only a few studies have attempted to better understand the effect of...

Evidence from the Food Supply chain suggests that food retailers often exhibit a reluctance to share information with their suppliers even when this benefits both parties. For example, inventory coordination and reduced costs may be realized by adopting appropriate supply chain management...

There has recently been considerable interest in construction research in paradigms developed for the manufacturing sector. Using lean thinking and agile production as examples of innovative organizational and business process design, this paper explores their commonalities and differences. In...

The paper discusses the state of the Philippine garments industry, with specific focus on its competitiveness and logistics infrastructure, and how the industry can make use of the prospective Free Trade Agreement with the US. With the signing of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing on January...

To be flexible means to have the ability to vary as you like, according to the needs. Flexibility is the ability to adapt, in a reversible manner, to an existing situation, as opposed to evolution, which is irreversible. Companies must realize the real competition is not firm-to-firm, but supply...

This paper focuses on two distint facets of globalization: the decrease in the trade costs of goods and the decline of communication costs between headquarters and production facilities within firms. When the unskilled have about the same wage in the two regions, the decrease of these costs...

The energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction and cost price of a green gas supply chain were evaluated. The considered supply chain is based on co-digestion of dairy cattle manure and maize, biogas upgrading and injection into a distribution gas grid. A reference scenario was defined which...

Fuelwood is one of the main fuels for heating in many countries. As the price of fuelwood is relative low, comparing to oil or gas, demand for fuelwood rises over the years. A supply chain is considered by different nodes that are essential for some operations concerning transportation and...

We assess the literature on public and private quality standards and their impact in food markets, international trade, and global supply chains. We focus on their effects on welfare, trade, industrial organization, and labor markets and with special attention to the North-South context. We also...

This paper explores the question of whether ethical sourcing and disclosure of supply chain sources is linked to competitiveness. We model competition between two firms, both of which produce the same consumer good. One sources ethically and the second does not, and market share is affected by...