Article: Measuring procurement flexibility in disastrous environment Journal: International Journal of Procurement Management (IJPM) 2014 Vol.7 No.5 pp.543 - 562 Abstract: Flexibility in supply chain is proved to be a way of countering uncertainties and planning strategies. In this paper an attempt is made to evaluate procurement flexibility at supplier buyer interface in disastrous scenarios. This can be considered to be an extension of research work carried out by Das and Abdel-Malek (2003). This paper contributes by analysing supply chain disruptions in extremely risky environments that are coupled with uncertainties in demand and lead times from downstream. These uncertainties are captured by a probability density functions, more precisely the normal distributions. A flexibility measure ψ is designed which not only ensures timely supply of material from the supplier but also ensures to maintain a continuous supply at minimal risk to buyer in case of complete disruptions at suppliers production sites. As this flexibility measure ψ varies from 0 to 1, it reflects a 0 to 100% flexibility of supplier from buyers' viewpoint. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Measuring procurement flexibility in disastrous environment

Authors: Atul Kumar Tiwari; Anunay Tiwari; Cherian Samuel

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP 221005, India ' Banaras Hindu University, Kashipuram, Dafi, Varanasi, UP 221005, India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP 221005, India

Abstract: Flexibility in supply chain is proved to be a way of countering uncertainties and planning strategies. In this paper an attempt is made to evaluate procurement flexibility at supplier buyer interface in disastrous scenarios. This can be considered to be an extension of research work carried out by Das and Abdel-Malek (2003). This paper contributes by analysing supply chain disruptions in extremely risky environments that are coupled with uncertainties in demand and lead times from downstream. These uncertainties are captured by a probability density functions, more precisely the normal distributions. A flexibility measure ψ is designed which not only ensures timely supply of material from the supplier but also ensures to maintain a continuous supply at minimal risk to buyer in case of complete disruptions at suppliers production sites. As this flexibility measure ψ varies from 0 to 1, it reflects a 0 to 100% flexibility of supplier from buyers' viewpoint.

Keywords: supply chain management; SCM; flexibility measures; risk; demand uncertainty; lead time uncertainty; supply contracts; plant disruption; capacity allocation; supported demand; available to promise; ATP; procurement flexibility; buyer-supplier relationships; disasters; disaster management; emergency management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2014.064618

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2014 Vol.7 No.5, pp.543 - 562

Received: 27 May 2013
Accepted: 05 Aug 2013
Published online: 10 Sep 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: Measuring procurement flexibility in disastrous environment

Keep up-to-date