Supply Chain Studies

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Our research

Performance management in supply chains

Efficient logistics requires that we are able to measure the performance in a supply chain. This means measuring times, costs, inventory levels, and environmental impact. By doing this we learn how efficient the supply chain really is and we ensure that the stakeholders agree in detail on what should be done. This also allows for us to establish a common language. For instance, what do we mean when we say that a commodity is "on time"? Are we talking about minutes, hours, or days? It is important that all involved parties are in agreement on this, otherwise there is a risk that the supply chain might break. A good measuring system reduces misunderstanding and increases efficiency and, thus, the competitiveness.
Contact: Helena Forslund

Supplier development

It can, sometimes, be challenging for companies to find the required suppliers, for instance in connection to the development of a new product. One way of solving this problem is to develop existing suppliers so that they fit into the supply chain. This can mean providing them with training, equipment, or routines. This way, a tailored supplier that fits perfectly into the supply chain is created. Supplier development is common among many larger buyers, such as IKEA. The research uses as its starting point the perspective of the supplier and focuses on what it is like to be developed.
Contact: Veronica Ülgen

Logistics development in the forestry industry

In the forestry industry, logistics has long been a neglected area. Therefore, research is based on the major practical needs of the industry. Researchers work in close cooperation with the forestry industry and focus, using for instance training and workshops, on discussing the concept of logistics, creating habits, practices and, not least, a common language. The research has particular focus on the relationship between sawmills and their customers. For instance, it is about sorting out success strategies for sawmills, how to learn about the needs of the customers, and how the sawmill can deliver what they need in an efficient way.
Contact: Åsa Gustavsson

Inventory management

Inventories are often a large asset and at the same time a major cost for companies. In order to achieve cost-efficient stock keeping several aspects need to be considered, for example: What goods should be in what inventory? How much of each commodity should be in stock now, and how much next week? Research in the field is about developing methods that facilitate this type of decision-making, both from a cost and service point of view. The methods are based on mathematical modelling and result in new rules regarding decisions for stock keeping. These decision rules are evaluated using simulations based on actual company data.
Contact: Peter Berling and Roger Stokkedal

Increased circularity in the usage of construction glasses

Most parts of the float glass used today will, after use, go to landfills. There is some circularity where the glass goes to Swede Glass United AB or to Scandinavian Glass Recycling who delivers the cullet to for instance glass-wool producers and manufacturer in Europe. The project goal is to set up a working model where all float glass will be included in a circular process. The glass will be collected from demolitions, refittings and waist from new productions. Then it will be sorted, classified and then delivered to new end users. With controls, a bigger part of the cullet could return to glass producers and be remelted, bigger parts of glass could be reused. And other parts could go to other users like glass-wool manufacturer. Problems to solve are the finance model, how logistics should be planed, what controls and techniques are needed to handle and extract the glass. Glass composition and the choice of recycling process is also one important question of this research.
Contact: Arash Kordestani

Circular economy tools to support innovation in green and blue tourism SMEs (CIRTOINNO)

Linnaeus University is project partner in a EU project that aims to increase the quality and degree of innovation of blue and green tourism companies in the South Baltic region. This aim will be reached by integrating selected elements of the circular economy (CE) concept into the services, products and business models of SMEs. By applying CE the environmental impact of products and services is minimized. This can be achieved for example by using a design and strategy that aims to gain maximum value from a product whilst in use, by regeneration of the product during its lifecycle or by recovering and reusing the materials at the end of the product lifetime.
Webb
Contact: Arash Kordestani

Publications

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Researchers