What is Green Supply Chain?

Green supply chain management (GSCM) involves traditional supply chain management practices which integrate environmental criteria. A green supply chain imitates nature, running in cycles that mimic natural energy and material cycles. Moving from a linear to more of a cyclical material and energy flow means keeping wastes within the industrial system in order to conserve energy and prevent the dissipation of harmful materials into the environment. In order to design a green supply chain the entire inputs and outputs in the product life cycle need to be holistically considered. Inputs include energy, materials, and other resources. Outputs include products, waste, and revenues generated. Unnecessary inputs can be eliminated and outputs can be re-used.

Companies are not in business to solve the world’s environmental problems. Yet, managers are starting to look at environmental problems as business issues where many can gain sustained competitive advantage. Companies charting green supply chain strategies are finding that both the buyer and seller can benefit through shared cost savings, among other things. Successful strategies consider the entire life-cycle where opportunities for improvement are noted at each stage of the product life cycle, from raw material sourcing through manufacturing, use, and product end-of-life. The following guidelines can help companies get ahead of the green curve and transform GSCM into a business value driver, rather than a cost center:

Applications

The focus in this work group will be on industrial and social applications that can benefit from the proposed framework on green supply chain, such as energy production chain, food production chain, etc.

Information Technology Environment

MATLAB

Process simulators

KBSI, ProSIM (IDEF3)

MYSQL, PHP

MapInfo (GIS)

DCS Yokogawa

R&D Problems

Supply Chain Process Modeling

LCA (Life cycle assessment)

LCC (Life cycle costing)

Demand Planning

Risk Management for Supply Chain

Partners / Sponsors

Jeel Co. (KBSI, ProSIM & IDEF3), Japan

How to Join?

In order to Join this workgroup please contact IEEE SMC Chapter Chair and WG-GSCM leader, (E-mail: gabbar@sys.okayama-u.ac.jp), Tel: +81 86 251 8060 / Fax: +81 86 251 8059

Who Can Join?

Professionals from industry, researchers from research labs and universities can join such workgroup.

Location

The workgroup will be held in Okayama University (Japan), while other locations in Chugoku area or nearby will be selected alternatively.

Meetings

There are quarterly meetings that will be held in Okayama, Japan where supply chain modeling and simulation methods and techniques will be discussed and practices using case studies from industry. Participants will be able to design their own modeling and simulation cases using computer-aided modeling and simulation environment. International standards of supply chain will be discussed and practices in the different case studies.

Workgroup Meeting, 27-Oct-2007