key: cord-0684709-e43mtkcu authors: Liu, Yang; Zhu, Qinghua; Seuring, Stefan title: New technologies in operations and supply chains: Implications for sustainability date: 2020-08-08 journal: Int J Prod Econ DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2020.107889 sha: 03f0c9a949d3bc9d3c46f011fde48a2c5881022b doc_id: 684709 cord_uid: e43mtkcu In this editorial piece, we first introduce the theme and objectives of the special issue on new technologies in operations and supply chains as well as their implications for sustainability. The papers comprising the special issue are then summarized, and major findings are briefly presented. Based on our observations on the submissions and the research gaps yet to be addressed, we attempt to offer our views on the directions for future research in the same research agenda, including discussion around research scope, research theory, research methodology, and research findings as well as in-depth studies concerning contemporary and imperative issues confronting operations and supply chain managers. In the production and operations management (POM) of today's manufacturing, there is an ever-increasing application of new technologies. The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, new-generation data-driven information technologies, and new energy technologies for example, is surely unprecedented and has facilitated the advent of a 'new industrial revolution' (Dirican, 2015; Wuest et al., 2016; Li et al., 2017) . In particular, the continuing integration of (increasingly) intelligent communication technologies with manufacturing can trigger the development of smart factories, intelligent manufacturing system architectures and intelligent manufacturing technology systems (Li et al., 2017) . This new era of industrial transformation will undoubtedly bring about gamechanging approaches, models, processes and systems in operations management, production planning and control, supply chain and logistics management. We have seen a growing body of literature in recent years that have started to explore implications of these new technologies in manufacturing (Chen et al., 2012; Dirican, 2015; Wang et al., 2016; Wuest et al., 2016; Wamba et al., 2017; Koh et al., 2019) These initial studies have claimed that high-efficiency, high-quality, and cost-effective products and services for customers enhance the competitiveness of a manufacturing firm. This will be facilitated by the fusion and optimization of various stages of a manufacturing lifecycle with new technologies (Wang et al., 2016; Zhong et al., 2016; Braganza et al., 2017; Gunasekaran et al., 2017) . For instance, the adoption of autonomous-intelligent systems in developing automated machines that are clever, more effective and efficient to run (Pan, 2016) , the utilization of the big data generated from the Internet of things (IoTs) in product design to enhance better customer experience (Nozaki et al., 2017) , and the application of AI in optimizing logistics and supply networks (Wang et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2017) . It is obvious that these new technologies in manufacturing can create great opportunities for both new products/services and immense productivity improvement (Wuest et al., 2016; Kache and Seuring, 2017; Makridakis, 2017 ). Yet while there has been much discussion about the impact of new technologies on such matters, there has been less coverage as to whether their applications could improve sustainability performance in the POM literature. This is despite the new technologies raising key questions. For example, the increasing application of digital technologies in operations and supply chain management is one of the major drivers of change. It stays open, whether the digital technologies will reduce the negative environmental impact, such as by avoiding certain products to be produced? For manufacturing firms, will the wide adoption of autonomous machines in factories lead to unwanted social impacts such as increased unemployment and greater wealth inequalities? Both on the environmental and social issues, this might be even harder to answer, as job gains and losses often occur in different parts of the supply chain, in many cases even in different countries. This interplay of information technology and sustainability thus deserves more attention from the POM research community. This creates a new arena for academics and practitioners to study and explain the degree of these far-reaching impacts, and potentially find solutions to addressing the threepillars of sustainability as a result of adopting new technologies in manufacturing. This special issue follows the notion that new technologies in manufacturing is a fastgrowing and important topic in POM and that the research community has a vital role to play J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f in work that builds sustainable operations in the new era of intelligent manufacturing. The main objective of calling this special issue was thus to provide a forum for scholars, practitioners and thought leaders to critically study, evaluate, explore and explain the new models, new ways, new means and new forms of intelligent manufacturing that create impacts on operations sustainability. Based on the background presented above, we specified the thematic scope of the special issue with recommended topics that were particularly relevant to the special issue and its remit. These topics and their respective focuses are listed in Table 1 below. Impact of intelligent manufacturing on operations sustainability Studies on intelligent manufacturing ecology, with the characteristics of ubiquitous network technology, cross-border integration, autonomous intelligent, product lifecycle intelligent design technology and mass innovation, etc. Comparative studies on different types of new technologies in manufacturing and their impacts on operations sustainability. New technologies in manufacturing and their implications for sustainability in different cultural and regional contexts, including developing countries and SMEs. Implications for different cultural and regional contexts Impact of new technologies in manufacturing on various stages of a product lifecycle and its implications for sustainability. Applications of new technologies in operations and supply chain management for environmental and social improvement. New theory development to explain the implications of new technologies in manufacturing for sustainability at the firm, inter-firm, and supply network levels. Overall, the special issue was able to attract a total of 38 manuscript submissions, and 14 of which were selected after a thorough initial screening process and then sent out for doubleblinded reviews. With the support of reviewers in their specialized field of expertise, eight papers have eventually been accepted for inclusion in this special issue. In the following section, we provide an overview of the accepted papers. In Section 3, we attempt to offer some guidelines and directions for future research pertaining to the special issue. Section 4 concludes the editorial. The papers comprising the special issue address the research theme of the initial call despite having their respective focuses from various angles. Table 2 The paper by Afshari, Searcy and Jaber explores the role of eco-innovation drivers in promoting additive manufacturing (AM) in supply chains and offers a framework to examine how eco-innovation drivers could impact sustainable supply chains. To achieve their research J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f objectives, the authors develop a mathematical optimization model to determine the optimal manufacturing process in simulated environments with a focus on drivers and an ecoinnovation solution. The proposed framework is used to recommend the best location choices for establishing the desired supply chains with cost and pollution analyses. Some of the key findings of their research include: • Energy prices play a dominant role in driving the adoption of AM in supply chains. • Market share is not a key driver that promotes AM adoption in supply chains. • The processing and manufacturing times for AM technologies are longer than those for subtractive manufacturing (SM), and thus, AM could be facilitated by intense market competition and stringent regulations and standards to support the rights of end customers. • At the current level of technology, "economies of scale" is applicable for SM while AM still needs technology improvement to benefit from it. However, in very smallscale markets, AM is more suitable for supply chains than SM considering the total cost, environmental impact, and customer satisfaction. The authors conclude that the adoption of AM in supply chains is a strategic and long-term decision. However, moving towards AM-enabled supply chains will likely become mandatory rather than optional over time as new technologies offer the potential for improved customer satisfaction and customization of products and services. The proposed framework provides decision-makers with the key drivers to adopt AM in supply chains at minimum cost and environmental impact. In their work, Kouhizadeh, Saberi and Sarkis theoretically study the barriers for adopting blockchain technology in supply chains for sustainability purposes. Blockchain technology includes several advantages such as that it can enable transparent, secure, decentralized ledgers, smart contracts and reliable networks for sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). However, the adoption rate has not been overwhelming. The authors first utilize the According to their study results, the authors conclude that the sustainability impact of decision support framework is developed to optimize the firm's distribution and dispatching vehicle routes using a two-stage solution process. Their results indicate that the company can gain noticeable reductions in the transport costs and total travelled distance, which can bring about significant environmental and social advantages. Their research offers useful insights into the perspective of the RTI pooler as a sustainable solution to the increasing packaging wastes generated from the ever-growing globalized supply chains. These papers in our special issue make valuable contributions to the literature on the supply chain to fairly cover cost and share benefits be coordinated? Last but not least, as supply chains are getting longer and more complex, it becomes more challenging to manage the associated risks due to for instance natural disasters and geopolitical uncertainties. We have witnessed significant supply chain disruptions during crises, especially during the covid-19 pandemic, giving rise to supply shortages of essential items and humanitarian crisis in lots of places around the globe. Whether the new technologies have a critical role to play in mitigating the risks and combatting these crises? In addition, as organizations are using more and more advanced new technologies, can they develop better and stronger capabilities for responsiveness, resilience, and restoration of their operations and supply chains during and after disasters? Turning the argument on supply chain complexity around, this also triggers the question on whether shorter and more local supply chains would allow to manage environmental and social demands in a sound manner and improving supply chain resilience. These can be very meaningful research questions to be addressed for future research agenda. In this editorial, we have introduced the theme and aim of our special issue, and in particular, the eight papers that have been accepted for publication. These manuscripts offer useful insights for both academics and practitioners into the imperative sustainability research agenda. The findings from these papers make valuable contributions both in theory and practice by uncovering the implications of new technologies for sustainability in operations and supply chain management. Although these contributing papers focus on a good variety of relevant topics and perspectives, they are far from offering a whole picture of the entire research stream concerning the objectives of the special issue. Therefore, we have offered our views in pointing out future research directions, with a hope to simulate continued interests from the POM community to conduct meaningful and insightful research concerning new technologies and their implications for sustainability. J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Resource management in big data initiatives: Processes and dynamic capabilities Busines Intelligence and analytics: from big data to big impact The Impacts of Robotics Big data and predictive analytics for supply chain and organizational performance Challenges and opportunities of digital information at the intersection of Big Data Analytics and supply chain management The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0): technologies disruption on operations and supply chain management Applications of artificial intelligence in intelligent manufacturing: a review The forthcoming Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution: Its impact on society and firms Application of Artificial Intelligence Technology in Product Design Heading toward Artificial Intelligence 2.0 Transforming operations and production management using big data and business analytics: future research directions Big data analytics in logistics and supply chain management: Certain investigations for research and applications Machine learning in manufacturing: advantages, challenges, and applications An intelligent physarum solver for supply chain network design under profit maximization and oligopolistic competition Big Data for supply chain management in the service and manufacturing sectors: Challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives The guest editors of this special issue wish to thank all the reviewers for their valuable time and efforts in reviewing the papers. We are also grateful to the journal editor, Professor Stefan Minner and the editorial team for accepting and hosting our special issue at their prestigious journal. Finally, we'd like to thank all the authors who made submissions to the special issue for consideration.