Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 0, Mechanical and Systems Engineering (Engineering and Technology)

This research presents a novel multi-objective mathematical model for the design of a three-echelon sustainable supply chain network comprising suppliers, assemblers, and customers. The research aims to optimize three sustainability functions, namely economic, environmental, and social aspects. The proposed integrated optimization model addresses four key decision areas: (1) locating assembly plants and determining their manufacturing capacity and line configurations, (2) selecting transportation modes for the delivery of parts from suppliers to assemblers and the final product to customers, (3) supplier selection, and (4) choosing the source of energy from a range of conventional and renewable options. This research investigates the interactions between sustainability objectives by analyzing the results obtained through a Pareto frontier approach. The study aims to enable decision-makers to select their preferred option from a range of scenarios. To showcase the practical application of the proposed optimization model, a case study involving a US truck manufacturer is conducted. The findings of the study reveal the trade-offs that exist among the sustainability criteria, providing decision-makers with a variety of alternatives to align their business strategies accordingly. The proposed problem is a multi-objective mixed-integer non-linear programming model that incorporates chance constraints to account for energy usage uncertainties in the assembly plant. The integration of robots within assembly plants introduces variability in energy consumption. Factors such as specific robot tasks, variations in product mix or production volumes, and the condition of robot components can all influence energy usage. In order to effectively address these uncertainties, it is essential to formulate appropriate constraints as chance constraints. By incorporating chance constraints, the model can consider the probabilistic nature of energy usage and ensure (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Tao Yuan (Advisor); Tao Yuan (Committee Chair); Diana Schwerha (Committee Member); William Young (Committee Member); Ashley Metcalf (Committee Member); Gary Weckman (Committee Co-Chair) Subjects: Energy; Environmental Management; Industrial Engineering; Operations Research; Sustainability

Doctor of Business Administration, Cleveland State University, 2021, Monte Ahuja College of Business

This research aims to shed light on the impact of various antecedents on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices and strategies and their indirect effect on the triple bottom line (TBL) performance. This dissertation presents a comprehensive meta-analysis of correlations to articulate the relationships between institutional pressures and the most researched and implemented SSCM practices. The meta-analysis aggregates the results of 42 studies, 23,147 relationships analyzed based on 8,412 observations. Further, building on a solid theoretical background, findings from extant literature, and the meta-analytic investigation results, we collect data from companies that operate in the United States to understand various aspects of SSCM. Two structural models are studied by analyzing the primary data. The first model explores the effect of isomorphic institutional pressures on symbolic and substantive sustainability strategies, as well as those pressures' indirect effect on the triple bottom line (TBL). The second model offers a unique perspective on the detrimental effects of barriers on supply chain sustainable collaboration (SCSC) and the indirect effect of barriers on the TBL in the United States. Based on the empirical results, this study proposes recommendations to policymakers, practitioners, and various stakeholder groups to transition from reactive or compliant sustainability practices to techniques and approaches that create value for the company and its stakeholders through the commitment to society and the environment employing sustainable operations.

Committee: Cigdem Ataseven Dr. (Committee Chair); Injazz J. Chen Dr. (Committee Member); Raymond M. Henry Dr. (Committee Member); Sebastian Brockhaus Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Business Administration; Environmental Management; Management; Sustainability

Doctor of Business Administration, Cleveland State University, 2018, Monte Ahuja College of Business

As consumers, government, NGOs, and investors are increasingly holding supply chain organizations responsible for their environmental and social impact, firms are realizing that sustainability is no longer a buzzword; they see sustainable practices throughout the supply chain as a necessity to avoid business risks as well as opportunity for innovation and competitive advantage. Inducing management to commit to sustainability in a strategic manner that achieves desirable performance outcomes, however, can be difficult. Grounded in a multi-theoretical perspective, this dissertation develops a framework that links sustainability antecedents with supply chain practices and TBL performance outcomes. Data collected from 205 U.S. firms were analyzed using a two-step structural equation modeling (SEM) procedure. Four models derived from the framework were tested using SAS software. The study found significant relationships between antecedents (stakeholder pressures, corporate motives, proactivity, and top management commitment), sustainable supply chain practices (sourcing, operations, and logistics), and sustainability performance in all three dimensions of sustainability – economic, social, and environmental. The dissertation, based on the empirical study and theoretical models derived from it, aims to expand a current theory of sustainable supply chain management.

Committee: Injazz Chen DBA (Committee Chair) Subjects: Business Administration; Management

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Ohio University, 2015, Business Administration

Through in-depth multi-site case study, this research explores evolving trends of corporate sustainability in buyer-supplier relationships in the textile industry with respect to three areas: social and environmental supplier criteria, prevalence of communication strategies, and perception of competitive advantage. Findings show U.S.-based textile suppliers may perceive that communicating about sustainability is less relevant to competitive positioning. Conversely, textile firms with international operations demonstrated higher levels of sustainability communications proactivity. Overall results provide relationships to examine in future research.

Committee: Ana Rosado Feger Dr. (Advisor) Subjects: Business Administration; Communication; Environmental Studies; Sustainability; Textile Research

Doctor of Philosophy in Manufacturing and Technology Management, University of Toledo, 2012, College of Business and Innovation

In today's age of industrialization and globalization, environmental deterioration and overuse of natural resources are identified as bottlenecks of social and economic development worldwide. To address these issues, a circular economy has been used by China as its national environmental strategy. The circular economy emphasizes 1) reducing resource and energy use, 2) reusing materials and items, and 3) recycling wastes and used products. Practically, China implements a circular economy at three different levels: regions, industrial parks, and companies. While adequate research has been done at the regional and industrial-park levels, how companies participate in a circular economy is not well understood. To fill this research gap, this study examines the following research questions: 1) What are the mechanisms that enable companies to develop their circular economy capability? 2) What are the antecedents of these mechanisms? 3) Does the development of circular economy capability lead to improvements of environmental and business performances? To address these questions, this research presents a conceptual framework based on complexity theory, natural resource based view (NRBV), dynamic capability theory, absorptive capacity theory, and ecological modernization theory. In particular, product stewardship and green supply chain design are proposed as the key mechanisms through which companies build their circular economy capability. External contextual dynamism for environmental implementation, potential absorptive capacity, and environmental orientation are proposed as antecedents of these mechanisms. Companies' environmental and business performances are proposed as the outcomes of their circular economy capability. To test this research model, measurement instruments were developed and validated for eight major constructs and 28 sub-constructs. Then, the research model was tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) based on data collected from a large-scale (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mark Vonderembse (Committee Co-Chair); Sachin Modi (Committee Co-Chair); Yue Zhang (Committee Member); Ozcan Sezer (Committee Member); Jiquan Chen (Committee Member) Subjects: Organization Theory

PHD, Kent State University, 2013, College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Ambassador Crawford / Department of Management and Information Systems

Green supply chain models and carbon emissions tracking have become increasingly prevalent in the supply chain management literature and in corporate strategies. In this dissertation, carbon emissions are integrated into cost-based freight transportation models that can be used to assist operations and supply chain managers in solving the “last mile problem”. The models presented herein serve to provide the decision maker with choices on which strategy to implement depending on the strength of the management's desire to reduce carbon emissions. By comparing the optimal solutions that result from using different delivery strategies, this research provides a basis for evaluating an appropriate trade-off between transportation cost and carbon emissions. This dissertation contributes to academia and the literature in several ways. The discrete supply chain models provide a method for decision makers to analyze and compare the lowest cost delivery option with the lowest carbon footprint option. The stochastic last mile framework that is introduced provides a method for researchers and practitioners to measure the expected carbon footprint and compare probabilistic costs, carbon emissions, delivery mileage, and delivery times in order to make decisions regarding the most appropriate delivery strategy. This framework is then applied to two different problem settings. The first involves optimizing a delivery fleet to produce the lowest total cost with carbon emissions integrated into the total cost equation. The second compares the carbon footprint resulting from last mile delivery (ecommerce retailing involving a central store delivering to end customers) to customer pick up (conventional shopping at a brick-and-mortar retail location); the break-even number of customers for carbon emissions equivalence provides a basis for companies to determine the environmental impact of last mile delivery and to determine the feasibility of last mile delivery based on objectiv (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Alfred Guiffrida (Committee Chair); Butje Patuwo (Committee Member); Sergey Anokhin (Committee Member) Subjects: Business Administration; Operations Research; Sustainability

Doctor of Philosophy in Manufacturing and Technology Management, University of Toledo, 2013, Manufacturing and Technology Management

As global pressures to address climate change intensify, the costs of natural resources increase, public health and safety concerns grow, and diverse consumption patterns emerge, sustainability has become critical for competing in international markets (Epstein, 2008; Lubin and Esty, 2010; Wu and Pagell, 2011). The goal of sustainability is grounded in the concept of the triple bottom line, which indicates that balancing objectives related to profits, the planet, and people is essential for corporations as they grow and compete in the global economy (Kleindorfer et al., 2005). Taking advantage of a broad and systemic approach to addressing sustainability issues, researchers increasingly acknowledge that linking sustainability with the supply chain is a crucial step for operations management (Hall, 2000; Zhu and Sarkis, 2004; Koplin et al., 2007; Matos and Hall, 2007). Despite a growing number of studies on sustainability from the point of view of the supply chain (Linton et al., 2007; Carter and Rogers, 2009; Pagell and Wu, 2009; Pullman et al., 2009), few researchers have developed an empirically based integrative research framework grounded in relevant theories. In particular, the literature lacks research that empirically examines the nomological network of sustainable supply chain encompassing drivers, strategy, practices, and performance outcomes with consideration for all three dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental, and social performance) (Elkington, 1994, 1997; Kleindorfer et al., 2005; Seuring and Muller, 2008). Drawing from the theoretical lenses of institutional theory (DiMaggio and Powell, 1983), strategic choice theory (Child, 1972), strategic orientation (Venkatraman, 1989), and the resource-based view of firms (Barney, 1991), this dissertation presents a framework, by taking a holistic view, of a sustainable supply chain aimed at explaining the relationships between the antecedents, strategic orientation, supply chain practices, an (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mark Vonderembse PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Sachin Modi PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Paul Hong PhD (Committee Member); Stanford Westjohn PhD (Committee Member); Dwight Haase PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Alternative Energy; Environmental Management; Environmental Studies; Sustainability