Analysis of critical success factors for implementing Industry 4.0 integrated circular supply chain – moving towards sustainable operations

Abstract

Many threats, such as scarcity of sources and climate change, are forcing the business community to examine their commitment towards the environment and society. Because of this pressure, companies have started to implement long term sustainable practices into their operations. An example of this is the adoption of circular supply chain (CSC), Industry 4.0. How the integration of Industry 4.0 and CSC can be implemented to achieve sustainable supply chain operations is an important question for research. Very little discussion is available in current literature in this regard. This study objective is to analyze the critical success factors (CSFs) for this integration. A three-phase study framework has been utilized to achieve the objective. In the first phase, CSFs are identified through literature review and experts’ inputs; in the second phase, an empirical research is conducted for finalization of CSFs and in the last phase, influencing and influenced factors are identified by using Hesitant based Fuzzy DEMATEL. The analysis shows that in the adoption of CSC integrated with Industry 4.0 to achieve sustainability in supply chain operations, ‘knowledge of CSC and Industry 4.0’ is the most important factor followed by ‘top management commitment’. With the help of this research study’s findings, both theoretical and practical contributions are provided which further help the operation. This will assist supply chain managers in achieving sustainability in supply chain operations through an effective adoption of the integration of CSC and Industry 4.0.

Keywords:

• Circular supply chain
• Industry 4.0
• critical success factors
• hesitant fuzzy DEMATEL
• sustainability
• operation excellence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anil Kumar

Dr. Anil Kumar is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at Guildhall School of Business and Law, London Metropolitan University (LMU), London, U.K. For the last ten years, he has been associated with teaching and research. Before joining LMU, he was Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in area of Decision Sciences at Centre for Supply Chain Improvement, University of Derby, United Kingdom (UK). He earned his Ph.D. in Management Science from ABV-Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Gwalior, India. He did his graduation in Mathematics (Hons) and MSc (Mathematics) from Kurukshetra University, India. He earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) and qualified National Eligibility Test (NET), June 2011. He has contributed over 80+ research papers in international referred & national journals, and conferences at the international and national level. He has sound analytical capabilities to handle commercial consultancy projects and to deliver business improvement projects. He has skills and expertise of Advance Statistics Models, Multivariate Analysis, Multi-Criteria Decision Making, Fuzzy Theory, Fuzzy Optimisation, Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making, Grey Theory and Analysis, Machine Learning, Application of Soft-Computing, Econometrics Models etc. His areas of research are sustainability science, green/sustainable supply chain management, customer retention, green purchasing behaviour, sustainable procurement, sustainable development, circular economy, Industry 4.0, performance measurement, human capital in supply chain and operations; decision modelling for sustainable business, and integration of operation area with others areas.

Sangita Choudhary

Dr. Sangita Chaudhary is an Associate Professor of Finance at Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur, India. She holds MBA in Finance and Marketing. She earned her Ph.D. in Indian Stock Market. Her research interest includes asset pricing, earnings management, behavioural finance and sustainable operations. She has published in peer reviewed international journals.

Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes

Professor Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes is a Professor of Operations Management and Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Improvement at the University of Derby, U.K. He is actively involved in industrial projects, where he combines his knowledge, expertise, and industrial experience in operations management to help organizations achieve excellence in their internal functions and supply chains. As a leading academic, he has led and managed international research projects funded by the European Commission, British Academy, British Council, and Mexico’s National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT). He has published extensively in leading scientific journals and five books in the areas of operations management and innovation, manufacturing performance measurement, and quality management systems. He is a Co-founder and current Editor of the International Journal of Supply Chain and Operations Resilience (Inderscience), Associate Editor of the International Journal of Production and Operations Management, Associate Editor of the Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management. Professor Garza-Reyes has also led and guest edited special issues for Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, International Journal of Lean Enterprise Research, International Journal of Engineering Management and Economics, and International Journal of Engineering and Technology Innovation. Areas of expertise and interest for Professor Garza-Reyes include general aspects of operations and manufacturing management, business excellence, quality improvement, and performance measurement. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a certified Six Sigma-Green Belt, and has over eight years of industrial experience working as Production Manager, Production Engineer, and Operations Manager for several international and local companies in both the U.K and Mexico. He is also a fellow member of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and a member of the Institution of Engineering Technology (MIET).

Vikas Kumar

Professor Vikas Kumar is a Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management and Director of Research at Bristol Business School, University of the West of England (UWE), UK. He holds a PhD degree in Management Studies from Exeter Business School, UK and a Bachelor of Technology (first class distinction) degree in Metallurgy and Material Science engineering from NIFFT, India. He has published more than 170 articles in leading International journals and International conferences including the International Journal of Production Research, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, Expert System with Applications, Computers & Industrial Engineering, and Production Planning & Control. He serves on the editorial board of a number of international journals including Int. J. of Services, Economics and Management, Int. J. of Manufacturing Systems, and Int. J. of Lean Enterprise Research. He has successfully secured funding in the excess of £1 million from various research agencies such as EPSRC, Innovate UK, British Academy, Newton Fund and British Council. His current research interests include Sustainability, Circular Economy, Food Supply Chains, Operational Excellence, and Digital Supply Chains.

Syed Abdul Rehman Khan

Dr. Syed Abdul Rehman Khan is a Post-Doctoral Researcher in Tsinghua University, China. Dr. Khan achieved his CSCP-Certified Supply Chain Professional certificate from the U.S.A. and successfully completed his Ph.D. in China. He has more than nine years’ core experience of supply chain and logistics at industry and academic levels. He has attended several international conferences and also has been invited as keynote speaker in different countries. He has published many scientific research papers in different well-renowned international journals and conferences. In addition, Dr. Khan has achieved scientific innovation awards two times consecutively by the Education Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government, China. Also, Dr. Khan holds memberships in the following well-renowned institutions and supply chain bodies/associations: APCIS-U.S.; Production and Operation Management Society, India; Council of Supply Chain Management of Professionals U.S., Supply Chain Association of Pakistan, and Global Supply Chain Council China.

Nishikant Mishra

Professor Nishikant Mishra is a professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management at Hull University Business School, University of Hull. Prior to that he was Senior Lecturer in Operations & Supply Chain Management and Director of Post Graduate Research at Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia, Norwich. He worked as a Senior Lecturer and Director of Research at School of Management & Business, Aberystwyth University. He has worked on numerous consultancy projects funded by British Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), British Academy (BA), Innovate U.K., Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Higher Education Academy (HEA) and Meat Promotion Wales (HCC). His research articles have been published in various renowned journals of Operations Research and Operations & Supply chain Management.