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Prof. Dr. Vikas Kumar
Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK

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Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Operational Excellence
0 Supply Chain Management
0 Sustainability
0 Industry 4.0
0 circular economy

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Short Biography

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, UK. He has published more than 200 articles in leading international journals and international conferences, including the International Journal of Production Research, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Supply Chain Management: an International Journal, Expert System with Applications, the Journal of Business Research, Computers & Industrial Engineering, and Production Planning & Control. He serves on the editorial board of several journals. His current research interests include Sustainability, Industry 4.0, Circular Economy, Food Supply Chains, and Operational Excellence.

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Journal article
Published: 22 August 2021 in Sustainability
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The purpose of this study was to explore how a regional brand can be co-created among different cities by employing the concept of place branding and brand culture. The Andaman Tourism Cluster of Thailand (ATC) generates the most tourism revenue in Thailand. Developing a regional brand identity can strengthen the competitive advantage of the ATC. Data were collected using multi-method research through questionnaires, projective techniques, and focus group interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. This study also shows that multi-method research contributes to brand management by facilitating collaboration, participation, and brand congruence among stakeholders. Quantitative and qualitative data were synthesized in order to develop the brand identity of the ATC. Focus group interviews were also employed to co-create the regional brand identity as ‘Irresistible Andaman’, of which sustainable tourism management is a fundamental aspect. This study demonstrates how multiple sub-brands with different stakeholders can be integrated into a single regional brand. Moreover, stakeholders should focus on internal branding by communicating with all stakeholders to co-create brand congruence.

ACS Style

Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp; Pimlapas Pongsakornrungsilp; Theeranuch Pusaksrikit; Pimmada Wichasin; Vikas Kumar. Co-Creating a Sustainable Regional Brand from Multiple Sub-Brands: The Andaman Tourism Cluster of Thailand. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9409 .

AMA Style

Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp, Pimlapas Pongsakornrungsilp, Theeranuch Pusaksrikit, Pimmada Wichasin, Vikas Kumar. Co-Creating a Sustainable Regional Brand from Multiple Sub-Brands: The Andaman Tourism Cluster of Thailand. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (16):9409.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp; Pimlapas Pongsakornrungsilp; Theeranuch Pusaksrikit; Pimmada Wichasin; Vikas Kumar. 2021. "Co-Creating a Sustainable Regional Brand from Multiple Sub-Brands: The Andaman Tourism Cluster of Thailand." Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9409.

Original paper
Published: 10 July 2021 in Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy
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Agriculture, forestry, and other land use approximately contribute to 24 percent of 2010 global greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. This study, therefore, focuses on assessing the environmental impacts of jasmine rice production. The life cycle assessment method is used to find the hotspots that are of high environmental impacts. Face-to-face interviewing was conducted with 49 rice producers engaged in chemical, organic, and good agricultural practices in farming activities. The results show that most of the emissions were caused during the post-harvest management stage. Following eco-efficiency, organic jasmine rice production offers a reduction in the consumption of resources, reduced impact on the environment, and increased product value. Furthermore, our study shows that crop residue is a key to increase rice yields and decrease GHGs emissions. Our findings thus add to the limited literature on organic jasmine rice production and propose a recommendation for policymakers to promote sustainable agricultural practices to reduce the environmental impact. Graphic abstract

ACS Style

Ittisak Jirapornvaree; Tawadchai Suppadit; Vikas Kumar. Assessing the environmental impacts of agrifood production. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy 2021, 1 -14.

AMA Style

Ittisak Jirapornvaree, Tawadchai Suppadit, Vikas Kumar. Assessing the environmental impacts of agrifood production. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy. 2021; ():1-14.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ittisak Jirapornvaree; Tawadchai Suppadit; Vikas Kumar. 2021. "Assessing the environmental impacts of agrifood production." Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy , no. : 1-14.

Journal article
Published: 17 June 2021 in International Journal of Production Research
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This research explores focal actors and their dyads, addressing their sustainable collaboration in triads and its relevance in the agri-triads that share information along the supply chains. We employ a multiple-case approach and presents two triads through 42 interviews, observation and documentaries. An abductive approach, Transaction Cost Economics (TCE), conceptually guides the analytical iteration stages between theory and data. The findings describe the collaboration mechanisms of focal actors at triad levels and the development of their dyads capabilities for sustainable supply chains. Eight triad approaches emerge in the present research; these are grouped into three aggregated levels according to the intensity of information-sharing between focal and associate actors in each triad. The research has identified six contextual factors that are linked to the TCE dimensions of asset specificity, uncertainty and frequency, and offers key propositions. The research gained insights into how focal actors in dyadic triads choose between the available approaches based on different intensity levels of information-sharing. This research presents a conceptual framework informing the choice of triad approaches reflecting collaboration mechanism strategies, and thus the intensity of information-sharing and sustainability performance. The study elaborates on the application of TCE and extends it empirically to the literature.

ACS Style

Luai Jraisat; Arvind Upadhyay; Thaana Ghalia; Mohannad Jresseit; Vikas Kumar; David Sarpong. Triads in sustainable supply-chain perspective: why is a collaboration mechanism needed? International Journal of Production Research 2021, 1 -17.

AMA Style

Luai Jraisat, Arvind Upadhyay, Thaana Ghalia, Mohannad Jresseit, Vikas Kumar, David Sarpong. Triads in sustainable supply-chain perspective: why is a collaboration mechanism needed? International Journal of Production Research. 2021; ():1-17.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luai Jraisat; Arvind Upadhyay; Thaana Ghalia; Mohannad Jresseit; Vikas Kumar; David Sarpong. 2021. "Triads in sustainable supply-chain perspective: why is a collaboration mechanism needed?" International Journal of Production Research , no. : 1-17.

Research article
Published: 13 June 2021 in Business Strategy and the Environment
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The transportation sector is consuming a high quantity of oil and producing air pollution, CO2 and allergies, as well as promoting the storage of goods in traditional warehouses. It is not only creating waste and environmental pollution but also increasing temperature, air pollution and low rainfall. The present study intends to uncover and understand the challenges of logistic infrastructure as well as how the adoption of do-it-yourself (DIY) business strategies is useful to encourage those practices and technology which are useful in transforming the logistic infrastructure into an eco-friendly environment. The DIY focuses on purposely utilising digital technologies to increase the engagement and involvement of customers in businesses. Moreover, DIY enables organisations to produce products and services that are highly demanded and have high acceptability. After doing an extensive literature review, the enablers of DIY are identified, and empirical investigation has been conducted. The analysis of the study provides a business strategies framework of DIY which would help the logistics managers in the proper implementation of the DIY practices to minimise negative environmental impact and improve business performance.

ACS Style

Arvind Upadhyay; Anil Kumar; Vikas Kumar; Ahmed Alzaben. A novel business strategies framework of do‐it‐yourself practices in logistics to minimise environmental waste and improve performance. Business Strategy and the Environment 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Arvind Upadhyay, Anil Kumar, Vikas Kumar, Ahmed Alzaben. A novel business strategies framework of do‐it‐yourself practices in logistics to minimise environmental waste and improve performance. Business Strategy and the Environment. 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Arvind Upadhyay; Anil Kumar; Vikas Kumar; Ahmed Alzaben. 2021. "A novel business strategies framework of do‐it‐yourself practices in logistics to minimise environmental waste and improve performance." Business Strategy and the Environment , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 12 June 2021 in Sustainability
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The purpose of this study is to employ the existing theory on crisis management and corporate branding in a service context to explore how tourism businesses in Thailand can recover from the crisis caused by the impact of COVID-19. To manage the impact of COVID-19, the concepts of crisis management from different scholars are integrated, and crisis management is divided into three phases: the Pre-Crisis, Crisis, and Post-Crisis phases. This exploratory research employs stakeholder interviews to discover the impacts of COVID-19 on tourism businesses and attempts to develop guidelines for recovering tourism businesses within the service context. Our findings indicate that a strong brand and its proper management can help firms to survive during the crisis period. Moreover, our findings highlight the importance of communication for engaging with all staff during the recovery period. This paper sheds light on how a brand is employed as a proactive strategy to mitigate the impacts of the crisis. Most brands have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and only strong brands are able to survive. Our study also adds to the limited empirical evidence on tourism business recovery during COVID-19 in the context of a developing country. From practitioners’ perspectives, trust, solid relationships, and honest communication with their business partners play an important role in survival after the crisis. Additionally, in this paper, corporate branding is conceived as a strategic tool that affects how staff and stakeholders can collaborate and unite in response to the crisis.

ACS Style

Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp; Pimlapas Pongsakornrungsilp; Vikas Kumar; Bhuritt Maswongssa. The Art of Survival: Tourism Businesses in Thailand Recovering from COVID-19 through Brand Management. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6690 .

AMA Style

Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp, Pimlapas Pongsakornrungsilp, Vikas Kumar, Bhuritt Maswongssa. The Art of Survival: Tourism Businesses in Thailand Recovering from COVID-19 through Brand Management. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (12):6690.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp; Pimlapas Pongsakornrungsilp; Vikas Kumar; Bhuritt Maswongssa. 2021. "The Art of Survival: Tourism Businesses in Thailand Recovering from COVID-19 through Brand Management." Sustainability 13, no. 12: 6690.

Earlycite article
Published: 07 June 2021 in International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management
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Purpose Logistics companies are compelled to improve their efficiency and the environmental performance by introducing the green concept in their operations. The main purpose of the paper is to have continuous monitoring and tracking of logistics operations to enhance the green performance. Design/methodology/approach This research uses a case study approach. It illustrates a monitoring system to digitize the logistics activities by sending real-time GPS data to the server and capture the surrounding pictures with the help of the internet of things (IoTs) based camera. Data generated through digitization is mathematically analyzed for ensuring a green logistic system. The alerts due to the halts, help in keeping a check on fuel consumption, carbon emissions and security of logistics. Performance indicators such as carbon emissions and the value of travel time saving (VTTS) are selected for the study. Findings The findings of the study show that the actual travel time and distances are higher than the estimated travel time and distances. It also reveals that actual travel routes with diversions involve a considerably higher amount of carbon emissions during all sample travels. The results indicate a considerable saving in terms of carbon emissions, time and cost savings by effective practices of Green Logistics in Monitoring system (MSGL). These findings can help the top management of logistics companies in formulating effective strategies for technology applications in logistic operations to ensure green performance. Research limitations/implications The study has been carried out under certain set of conditions, which may vary depending upon the organizations. Also certain more environmental dimensions for performance monitoring can be used as a future scope of study. Further studies also need to be carried out to widen the scope of the MSGL model at a global level rather than only at local level. Originality/value Any organization which deploys transportation as part of their activity can use this MSGL model and then do the mathematical analysis to reduce the CO2 emissions, reduce the time and extra cost. The value of this study lies in the fact that government is trying different methods and models to reduce pollution. This MSGL should be made compulsory by the government as a part of their policies for environment of the country.

ACS Style

Deepti Chhabra; Rajesh Kr Singh; Vikas Kumar. Developing IT-enabled performance monitoring system for green logistics: a case study. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management 2021, ahead-of-p, 1 .

AMA Style

Deepti Chhabra, Rajesh Kr Singh, Vikas Kumar. Developing IT-enabled performance monitoring system for green logistics: a case study. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management. 2021; ahead-of-p (ahead-of-p):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Deepti Chhabra; Rajesh Kr Singh; Vikas Kumar. 2021. "Developing IT-enabled performance monitoring system for green logistics: a case study." International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management ahead-of-p, no. ahead-of-p: 1.

Journal article
Published: 14 May 2021 in Environmental Research
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The widespread use of Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in everyday life, its long half-life, and the lipophilicity that makes it easily accumulate in the body, raises the question of its safe exposure among different population groups. There are currently enough epidemiological studies showing evidence of PFOS exposure and its associated adverse effects on humans. Moreover, it is already known that physiological changes along with age e.g. organ volume, renal blood flow, cardiac output and albumin concentrations affect chemicals body burden. Human biomonitoring cohort studies have reported PFOS concentrations in blood and autopsy tissue data with PFOS present in sensitive organs across all human lifespan. However, to interpret such biomonitoring data in the context of chemical risk assessment, it is necessary to have a mechanistic framework that explains show the physiological changes across age affects the concentration of chemical inside different tissues of the human body. PBPK model is widely and successfully used in the field of risk assessment. The objective of this manuscript is to develop a dynamic age-dependent PBPK model as an extension of the previously published adult PFOS model and utilize this model to predict and compare the PFOS tissue distribution and plasma concentration across different age groups. Different cohort study data were used for exposure dose reconstruction and evaluation of time-dependent concentration in sensitive organs. Predicted plasma concentration followed trends observed in biomonitoring data and model predictions showed the increased disposition of PFOS in the geriatric population. PFOS model is sensitive to parameters governing renal resorption and elimination across all ages, which is related to PFOS half-life in humans. This model provides an effective framework for improving the quantitative risk assessment of PFOS throughout the human lifetime, particularly in susceptible age groups. The dynamic age-dependent PBPK model provides a step forward for developing such kind of dynamic model for other perfluoroalkyl substances.

ACS Style

Deepika Deepika; Raju Prasad Sharma; Marta Schuhmacher; Vikas Kumar. Risk Assessment of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) using Dynamic Age Dependent Physiologically based Pharmacokinetic Model (PBPK) across Human Lifetime. Environmental Research 2021, 199, 111287 .

AMA Style

Deepika Deepika, Raju Prasad Sharma, Marta Schuhmacher, Vikas Kumar. Risk Assessment of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) using Dynamic Age Dependent Physiologically based Pharmacokinetic Model (PBPK) across Human Lifetime. Environmental Research. 2021; 199 ():111287.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Deepika Deepika; Raju Prasad Sharma; Marta Schuhmacher; Vikas Kumar. 2021. "Risk Assessment of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) using Dynamic Age Dependent Physiologically based Pharmacokinetic Model (PBPK) across Human Lifetime." Environmental Research 199, no. : 111287.

Journal article
Published: 07 May 2021 in Computers & Industrial Engineering
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In this paper, we propose a new multi-objective optimization approach for the pharmaceutical supply chain network (PSCN) design problem to minimize the total cost and the delivery time of pharmaceutical products to the hospital and pharmacy, while maximizing the reliability of the transportation system. A new mixed-integer non-linear programming model was developed for the production-allocation-distribution-inventory-ordering-routing problem. Three new heuristics (H-1), (H-2), and (H-3) have been proposed and to validate the model, two new meta-heuristic algorithms, namely, an Improved Social Engineering Optimization (ISEO) and Hybrid Firefly and Simulated Annealing Algorithm (HFFA-SA) have been developed. The proposed mathematical model has been evaluated through extensive simulation experiments by analyzing different criteria. The results show that the proposed model along with the solution method provides a reliable and powerful instrument to solve the PSCN design problem.

ACS Style

Fariba Goodarzian; Vikas Kumar; Peiman Ghasemi. A set of efficient heuristics and meta-heuristics to solve a multi-objective pharmaceutical supply chain network. Computers & Industrial Engineering 2021, 158, 107389 .

AMA Style

Fariba Goodarzian, Vikas Kumar, Peiman Ghasemi. A set of efficient heuristics and meta-heuristics to solve a multi-objective pharmaceutical supply chain network. Computers & Industrial Engineering. 2021; 158 ():107389.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fariba Goodarzian; Vikas Kumar; Peiman Ghasemi. 2021. "A set of efficient heuristics and meta-heuristics to solve a multi-objective pharmaceutical supply chain network." Computers & Industrial Engineering 158, no. : 107389.

Earlycite article
Published: 06 May 2021 in Journal of Enterprise Information Management
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Purpose The role of data analytics is significantly important in manufacturing industries as it holds the key to address sustainability challenges and handle the large amount of data generated from different types of manufacturing operations. The present study, therefore, aims to conduct a systematic and bibliometric-based review in the applications of machine learning (ML) techniques for sustainable manufacturing (SM). Design/methodology/approach In the present study, the authors use a bibliometric review approach that is focused on the statistical analysis of published scientific documents with an unbiased objective of the current status and future research potential of ML applications in sustainable manufacturing. Findings The present study highlights how manufacturing industries can benefit from ML techniques when applied to address SM issues. Based on the findings, a ML-SM framework is proposed. The framework will be helpful to researchers, policymakers and practitioners to provide guidelines on the successful management of SM practices. Originality/value A comprehensive and bibliometric review of opportunities for ML techniques in SM with a framework is still limited in the available literature. This study addresses the bibliometric analysis of ML applications in SM, which further adds to the originality.

ACS Style

Anbesh Jamwal; Rajeev Agrawal; Monica Sharma; Anil Kumar; Vikas Kumar; Jose Arturo Arturo Garza-Reyes. Machine learning applications for sustainable manufacturing: a bibliometric-based review for future research. Journal of Enterprise Information Management 2021, ahead-of-p, 1 .

AMA Style

Anbesh Jamwal, Rajeev Agrawal, Monica Sharma, Anil Kumar, Vikas Kumar, Jose Arturo Arturo Garza-Reyes. Machine learning applications for sustainable manufacturing: a bibliometric-based review for future research. Journal of Enterprise Information Management. 2021; ahead-of-p (ahead-of-p):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anbesh Jamwal; Rajeev Agrawal; Monica Sharma; Anil Kumar; Vikas Kumar; Jose Arturo Arturo Garza-Reyes. 2021. "Machine learning applications for sustainable manufacturing: a bibliometric-based review for future research." Journal of Enterprise Information Management ahead-of-p, no. ahead-of-p: 1.

Earlycite article
Published: 30 April 2021 in Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a methodological approach to support qualitative analysis of waste flows in food supply chains. The methodological framework introduced allows the identification of circular food waste flows that can maximise the sustainability of food supply chains. Design/methodology/approach Following a qualitative approach, circular economy perspectives are combined with core industrial ecology concepts in the specification of a standardised analytical method to map food waste flows and industrial synergies across a supply chain. Findings The mapped waste flows and industrial linkages depict two time-related scenarios: (1) current scenarios showing the status quo of existing food waste flows, and (2) future scenarios pointing out circular flows along the supply chain. The future scenarios inform potential alternatives to take waste flows up the food waste hierarchy. Research limitations/implications The qualitative approach does not allow generalisations of findings out of the scope of the study. The framework is intended for providing focussed analysis, case by case. Future research involving mixed methods where quantitative approaches complement the qualitative perspectives of the framework would expand the analytical perspective. Originality/value The framework provides a relatively low-cost and pragmatic method to identify alternatives to minimise landfill disposals and improve the sustainability of food supply chains. Its phased methodology and standardised outcomes serve as a referential basis to inform not only comparative analysis, but also policymaking and strategic decisions aimed at transforming linear food supply chains into circular economy ecosystems.

ACS Style

Luciano Batista; Manoj Dora; Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes; Vikas Kumar. Improving the sustainability of food supply chains through circular economy practices – a qualitative mapping approach. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal 2021, 32, 752 -767.

AMA Style

Luciano Batista, Manoj Dora, Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes, Vikas Kumar. Improving the sustainability of food supply chains through circular economy practices – a qualitative mapping approach. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal. 2021; 32 (4):752-767.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luciano Batista; Manoj Dora; Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes; Vikas Kumar. 2021. "Improving the sustainability of food supply chains through circular economy practices – a qualitative mapping approach." Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal 32, no. 4: 752-767.

Journal article
Published: 13 April 2021 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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Climate change is a threat to food security that has compelled government around the globe to adopt concrete measures to explore sustainable farming practices. This study, therefore, is focused on assessing the environmental and economic impacts of activities linked to jasmine rice production. The study compares organic and conventional jasmine rice production to promote sustainable farming alternatives. Purposive and snowball sampling was chosen to identify the sample and forty-nine face-to-face interviews were conducted with local farmers engaged in the rice production in Thung Kula Rong Hai, a north-eastern region in Thailand. We applied the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method to measure the environmental impact. In addition, Life Cycle Costs (LCC) was used to study jasmine rice production costs. The study found that even though the Green-House-Gas (GHG) emissions of organically cultivated areas was higher than the conventional cultivated areas, this was due to the higher absorption of organic matter in the soil. This is beneficial in the long run as our findings show that organic jasmine rice paddy resulted in higher yields. Therefore, economically organic rice production emerged as a better alternative than the conventional method when compared between yield, costs and profits of jasmine rice production. Our results also demonstrate how post-harvest management is an important hotspot in sustainable farming practices. Thus, our findings promote sustainable agriculture practices in Thailand that can help them to cope up with climate change issues (e.g. droughts) and ultimately contributing to the food security goals.

ACS Style

Ittisak Jirapornvaree; Tawadchai Suppadit; Vikas Kumar. Assessing the economic and environmental impact of jasmine rice production: Life cycle assessment and Life Cycle Costs analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production 2021, 303, 127079 .

AMA Style

Ittisak Jirapornvaree, Tawadchai Suppadit, Vikas Kumar. Assessing the economic and environmental impact of jasmine rice production: Life cycle assessment and Life Cycle Costs analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2021; 303 ():127079.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ittisak Jirapornvaree; Tawadchai Suppadit; Vikas Kumar. 2021. "Assessing the economic and environmental impact of jasmine rice production: Life cycle assessment and Life Cycle Costs analysis." Journal of Cleaner Production 303, no. : 127079.

Methodologies and application
Published: 01 April 2021 in Soft Computing
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Big data (BD) approach has significantly impacted on the development and expansion of supply chain network management and design. The available problems in the supply chain network (SCN) include production, distribution, transportation, ordering, and inventory holding problems. These problems under the BD environment are challenging and considerably affect the efficiency of the SCN. The drastic environmental and regulatory changes around the world and the rising concerns about carbon emissions have increased the awareness of customers regarding the carbon footprint of the products they are consuming. This has enforced supply chain managers to change strategies to reframe carbon emissions.. The decisions such as an optimization of the suitable network of the proper lot sizes can play a crucial role in minimizing the whole carbon emissions in the SCN. In this paper, a new integrated production–transportation–ordering–inventory holding problem for SCN is developed. In this regard, a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model in the multi-product, multi-level, and multi-period SCN is formulated based on the minimization of the total costs and the related cost of carbon emissions. The research also uses a chance-constrained programming approach. The proposed model needs a range of real-time parameters from capacities, carbon caps, and costs. These parameters along with the various sizes of BD, namely velocity, variety, and volume, have been illustrated. A lot-sizing policy along with carbon emissions is also provided in the proposed model. One of the important contributions of this paper is the three various carbon regulation policies that include carbon capacity-and-trade, the strict capacity on emission, and the carbon tax on emissions in order to assess the carbon emissions. As there is no benchmark available in the literature, this study contributes toward this aspect by proposing two hybrid novel meta-heuristics (H-1) and (H-2) to optimize the large-scale problems with the complex structure containing BD. Hence, a generated random dataset possessing the necessary parameters of BD, namely velocity, variety, and volume, is provided to validate and solve the suggested model. The parameters of the proposed algorithms are calibrated and controlled using the Taguchi approach. In order to evaluate hybrid algorithms and find optimal solutions, the study uses 15 randomly generated data examples having necessary features of BD and T test significance. Finally, the effectiveness and performance of the presented model are analyzed by a set of sensitivity analyses. The outcome of our study shows that H-2 is of higher efficiency.

ACS Style

Fariba Goodarzian; Vikas Kumar; Ajith Abraham. Hybrid meta-heuristic algorithms for a supply chain network considering different carbon emission regulations using big data characteristics. Soft Computing 2021, 25, 7527 -7557.

AMA Style

Fariba Goodarzian, Vikas Kumar, Ajith Abraham. Hybrid meta-heuristic algorithms for a supply chain network considering different carbon emission regulations using big data characteristics. Soft Computing. 2021; 25 (11):7527-7557.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fariba Goodarzian; Vikas Kumar; Ajith Abraham. 2021. "Hybrid meta-heuristic algorithms for a supply chain network considering different carbon emission regulations using big data characteristics." Soft Computing 25, no. 11: 7527-7557.

Earlycite article
Published: 23 March 2021 in International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management
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Purpose The aim of this research is to assess the key enablers of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) in the context of the Indian automobile industry. It is done to apprehend their comparative effect on executing I4.0 concepts and technology in manufacturing industries, in a developing country context. The progression to I4.0 grants the opportunity for manufacturers to harness the benefits of this industry generation. Design/methodology/approach The literature related to I4.0 has been reviewed for the identification of key enablers of I4.0. The enablers were further verified by academic professionals. Additionally, key executive insights had been revealed by using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) model for the vital enablers unique to the Indian scenario. The authors have also applied MICMAC analysis to group the enablers of I4.0. Findings The analysis of this study’s data from respondents using ISM provided us with seven levels of enabler framework. This study adds to the existing literature on I4.0 enablers and findings highlight the specificities of the territories in India context. The results show that top management is the major enabler to I4.0 implementation. Infact, it occupies the 7th layer of the ISM framework. Subsequently, government policies enable substantial support to develop smart factories in India. Practical implications The findings of this work provide implementers of I4.0 in the automobile industry in the form of a robust framework. This framework can be followed by the automobile sector in enhancing their competency in the competitive market and ultimately provide a positive outcome for the Indian economic development led by these businesses. Furthermore, this work will guide decision-makers in enabling strategic integration of I4.0, opening doors for the development of new business opportunities as well. Originality/value The study proposes a framework for Indian automobile industries. The automobile sector was chosen for this study as it covers a large percentage of the market share of the manufacturing industry in India. The existing literature does not address the broader picture of I4.0 and most papers do not provide validation of the data collected. This study thus addresses this research gap.

ACS Style

Srijit Krishnan; Sumit Gupta; Mathiyazhagan Kaliyan; Vikas Kumar; Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes. Assessing the key enablers for Industry 4.0 adoption using MICMAC analysis: a case study. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management 2021, 70, 1049 -1071.

AMA Style

Srijit Krishnan, Sumit Gupta, Mathiyazhagan Kaliyan, Vikas Kumar, Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes. Assessing the key enablers for Industry 4.0 adoption using MICMAC analysis: a case study. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management. 2021; 70 (5):1049-1071.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Srijit Krishnan; Sumit Gupta; Mathiyazhagan Kaliyan; Vikas Kumar; Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes. 2021. "Assessing the key enablers for Industry 4.0 adoption using MICMAC analysis: a case study." International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management 70, no. 5: 1049-1071.

Article
Published: 17 March 2021 in Operations Management Research
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While industrialized agro-food supply systems have gained tremendous success in recent decades, it has been increasingly criticized for its adverse environmental and social impact. Amongst this criticism, Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) have emerged as a promising sustainable alternative to the industrialized agri-food supply systems. In recent years there have been some attempts to explore the relationship between SFSCs and sustainability, but these are mostly theoretical discussions and lacks empirical validation. This study, therefore, attempts to provide empirical validation of the SFSCs and sustainability linkages. Additionally, from the theoretical perspective, our work extends the traditional triple bottom line constructs and explores two extra dimensions of sustainability in the food supply chain system, namely, governance and culture, thus exploring five dimensions of sustainability. Furthermore, while SFSCs have proven to improve farmers’ livelihoods and reconnect producers with consumers, little or no attention has been given to understand the consumers' attitudes towards the SFSC practices. Therefore, this study aims to explore the customers’ attitudes towards participating in SFSCs through the concept of a moral economy and personal relationship. Based on the 532 valid responses from Chinese consumers, our study shows that all five pillars of sustainability, moral economy and Chinese relationship have a positive influence on consumers’ participation in SFSCs. With its intuitive benefits, the economic pillar emerged as the most approved factor by the participants. Interestingly our findings show that the social aspect is less prominent than others, which is contrary to existing studies conducted in developed countries.

ACS Style

Meng Wang; Vikas Kumar; Ximing Ruan; Mohammed Saad; Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes; Anil Kumar. Sustainability concerns on consumers’ attitude towards short food supply chains: an empirical investigation. Operations Management Research 2021, 1 -17.

AMA Style

Meng Wang, Vikas Kumar, Ximing Ruan, Mohammed Saad, Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes, Anil Kumar. Sustainability concerns on consumers’ attitude towards short food supply chains: an empirical investigation. Operations Management Research. 2021; ():1-17.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Meng Wang; Vikas Kumar; Ximing Ruan; Mohammed Saad; Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes; Anil Kumar. 2021. "Sustainability concerns on consumers’ attitude towards short food supply chains: an empirical investigation." Operations Management Research , no. : 1-17.

Journal article
Published: 10 March 2021 in Procedia CIRP
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With the development in industrialization, sustainability has emerged as a major issue in the global market. Ignorance of sustainability issues in any organization leads to huge financial losses and market reputation. With the development of new technologies developed economies have achieved sustainability in their industry sectors due to strong infrastructure. However, the adoption levels of sustainability practices in emerging economies are still limited. The current manufacturing trend in Industry 4.0 offers new key technologies e.g. cyber-physical systems, IoT (Internet of Things), additive manufacturing and big data analytics which are under the umbrella of Industry 4.0 known as key technologies for 4th industrial revolution. These new technologies are contributing to sustainability in a direct or indirect way. Identification of different enablers is necessary as it facilitates the adoption of sustainability practices in Industry 4.0. The present study aimed at the development of sustainability practices framework for Industry 4.0 for MSMEs (Micro Small Medium enterprises) sector. Initially, enablers to sustainability in Industry 4.0 were identified from the available literature on Sustainability and Industry 4.0. Further, a case study is done in one of MSMEs of India which is working on the adoption of Industry 4.0 practices. A hybrid MCDM (multi-criteria decision making) approach based on F-AHP (Fuzzy-Analytical hierarchy process) and DEMATEL (Decision making trial and evaluation laboratory) is utilized for the framework development. The results revealed that supply chain and environment related enablers are the main cause of barriers to sustainability in Industry 4.0. It is expected that the findings of this study will be beneficial for the researchers, policymakers and managers to improve the sustainability with the use of Industry 4.0 technologies within the emerging economies in MSMEs.

ACS Style

Anbesh Jamwal; Rajeev Agrawal; Monica Sharma; Vikas Kumar; Sundeep Kumar. Developing A sustainability framework for Industry 4.0. Procedia CIRP 2021, 98, 430 -435.

AMA Style

Anbesh Jamwal, Rajeev Agrawal, Monica Sharma, Vikas Kumar, Sundeep Kumar. Developing A sustainability framework for Industry 4.0. Procedia CIRP. 2021; 98 ():430-435.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anbesh Jamwal; Rajeev Agrawal; Monica Sharma; Vikas Kumar; Sundeep Kumar. 2021. "Developing A sustainability framework for Industry 4.0." Procedia CIRP 98, no. : 430-435.

Journal article
Published: 07 March 2021 in Sustainability
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In this paper, we study inventory share policies in an omni-channel supply network, to contribute to the circular economy (CE) concept. Lateral inventory share implementation provides flexibility and profitability in the supply chain by allowing inventory share between the same echelon locations in a network. Total holding costs and transportation costs can be reduced by lateral inventory share applications, which also contribute to decreased material usage for production over time, as well as reduced CO2 emission released by transportation. Technological and Internet of Things (IoT) developments make it possible for companies to share their real-time information with each other for uninterrupted marketing experiences. With such a connected network, companies aim to increase their profitability and responsiveness to their customers. We explore a well-designed inventory share policy towards the CE concept under an (s, S) inventory control policy. We simulate several pre-defined share designs by Arena 16.0 commercial software and compare their performances in terms of cost, responsiveness, transportation frequency, inventory held, etc. The results show that, by the implementation of a well-designed lateral inventory share policy, an omni-channel network can benefit from decreased holding cost and transportation cost, contributing to the CE concept.

ACS Style

Damla Izmirli; Banu Ekren; Vikas Kumar; Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp. Omni-Chanel Network Design towards Circular Economy under Inventory Share Policies. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2875 .

AMA Style

Damla Izmirli, Banu Ekren, Vikas Kumar, Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp. Omni-Chanel Network Design towards Circular Economy under Inventory Share Policies. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (5):2875.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Damla Izmirli; Banu Ekren; Vikas Kumar; Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp. 2021. "Omni-Chanel Network Design towards Circular Economy under Inventory Share Policies." Sustainability 13, no. 5: 2875.

Journal article
Published: 26 February 2021 in Resources Policy
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The circular economy is a widely discussed topic in the field of Eco-industrial initiatives and environmentally responsive economies. The current economic and industrial model which is termed as the produce-use-dispose model is a linear model in which the resources are lost forever after their utilization; a waste of resources as well as money. In addition to economic impact, it creates immense pressure on the environment while disposing of the waste products. For this reason, scholars are trying to find an effective solution to this problem by ensuring the re-utilization of resources. The economic concept of the circular economy ensures the recycling and utilization of resources and closes the resource loop. In a world of reducing and often scarce natural resources, the recycling and utilization of resources increase the opportunities for economic growth– this is especially important given the rising demand for natural resources in emerging economies – exacerbated by the low-carbon transition. This study encompasses these ideas and explores the barriers, drivers and triggers of the circular economy transition for the mining industry. In this paper, authors review several circular economy initiatives taken by mining industries. The paper aims to demonstrate some common themes across three big mining companies with the help of content analysis; and evaluates the identified barriers, drivers and triggers of these circular economy initiatives. The authors argue that the mining industry might capitalize on the learning of other industries in relation to CE, enabling timely advancement of circular economy initiatives.

ACS Style

Arvind Upadhyay; Tim Laing; Vikas Kumar; Manoj Dora. Exploring barriers and drivers to the implementation of circular economy practices in the mining industry. Resources Policy 2021, 72, 102037 .

AMA Style

Arvind Upadhyay, Tim Laing, Vikas Kumar, Manoj Dora. Exploring barriers and drivers to the implementation of circular economy practices in the mining industry. Resources Policy. 2021; 72 ():102037.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Arvind Upadhyay; Tim Laing; Vikas Kumar; Manoj Dora. 2021. "Exploring barriers and drivers to the implementation of circular economy practices in the mining industry." Resources Policy 72, no. : 102037.

Journal article
Published: 08 February 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Seafood, one of the most important food commodities consumed worldwide, is considered a high-quality, healthy, and safe food option. However, marine ecosystems are the ultimate destination for a large group of chemicals, including contaminants of emerging concern, and seafood consumption is a major pathway of human exposure. With growing awareness of food safety and food quality, and increased demand for information on the risk of contaminants of emerging concern, there is a need to assess food safety issues related to harmful contaminants in seafood and ensure the safety of marine food resources. In this study, the risks of emerging compounds (endocrine disruptors, brominated flame retardants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and toxic elements) in fish and seafood were analyzed according to their PBT (persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity) properties as well as in terms of their concentration levels in seafood. A hazard index (HI) was estimated for each compound by applying an artificial neural network (ANN) approach known as Self-Organizing-Maps. Subsequently, an integrated risk rank (IRI) was developed considering the values of HI and the concentrations of emerging compounds in seafood species gathered from the scientific literature. Current results identified HHCB, MeHg, NP, AHTN and PBDE209 as the top five highest ranked compounds present in seafood, according to the 50th percentile (mean) of the IRI. However, this ranking slightly changed when taking into account the 99th percentile of the IRI, showing toxic elements, methylmercury and inorganic arsenic, as having the highest risk. The outcome of this study identified the priority contaminants and should help in regulatory decision-making and scientific panels to design screening programs as well as to take the appropriate safety measures.

ACS Style

Vikas Kumar; Saurav Kumar. ANN-Based Integrated Risk Ranking Approach: A Case Study of Contaminants of Emerging Concern of Fish and Seafood in Europe. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 1598 .

AMA Style

Vikas Kumar, Saurav Kumar. ANN-Based Integrated Risk Ranking Approach: A Case Study of Contaminants of Emerging Concern of Fish and Seafood in Europe. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (4):1598.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vikas Kumar; Saurav Kumar. 2021. "ANN-Based Integrated Risk Ranking Approach: A Case Study of Contaminants of Emerging Concern of Fish and Seafood in Europe." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 4: 1598.

Journal article
Published: 03 February 2021 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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Blockchain technology is a revolutionary new protocol for sharing and updating information by linking ledgers or databases in a decentralised, peer-to-peer, open-access network. Blockchain is designed to ensure the data is stored and updated in a secure, tamper-proof and irreversible way. Despite being in its nascent stages, the blockchain research is developing rapidly in different fields, making it imperative to capture the ethical and sustainability implications of blockchain development and implementation. The circular economy also focuses on enhancing sustainability and social responsibility, alongside economic growth. In this article, we critically review blockchain technology’s current and potential contribution to the circular economy through the lens of sustainability and social responsibility. This paper contributes to the Industry 4.0 literature by identifying, collating and organising the disparate research on blockchain, with a critical focus on its positive impact and potential repercussions for the ethics agenda. Within this narrative review, we argue and highlight the extant and potential alignment of blockchain with circular economy. Our findings show that blockchain technology can contribute to the circular economy by helping to reduce transaction costs, enhance performance and communication along the supply chain, ensure human rights protection, enhance healthcare patient confidentiality and welfare, and reduce carbon footprint. We also evaluate the challenges to blockchain implementation for circular economy, in terms of trust, illegal activities, potential for hacking and the need to address these through suitable legislation and policy development. Furthermore, we acknowledge the potential upfront costs involved in implementing blockchain technology, although we observe that the benefits are likely to exceed the challenges. We conclude this article with recommendations for future research in this field.

ACS Style

Arvind Upadhyay; Sumona Mukhuty; Vikas Kumar; Yigit Kazancoglu. Blockchain technology and the circular economy: Implications for sustainability and social responsibility. Journal of Cleaner Production 2021, 293, 126130 .

AMA Style

Arvind Upadhyay, Sumona Mukhuty, Vikas Kumar, Yigit Kazancoglu. Blockchain technology and the circular economy: Implications for sustainability and social responsibility. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2021; 293 ():126130.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Arvind Upadhyay; Sumona Mukhuty; Vikas Kumar; Yigit Kazancoglu. 2021. "Blockchain technology and the circular economy: Implications for sustainability and social responsibility." Journal of Cleaner Production 293, no. : 126130.

Journal article
Published: 25 January 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Microalgae growth inhibition assays are candidates for referent ecotoxicology as a fundamental part of the strategy to reduce the use of fish and other animal models in aquatic toxicology. In the present work, the performance of Chlorella vulgaris exposed to heavy metals following standardized growth and photosynthesis inhibition assays was assessed in two different scenarios: (1) dilutions of single heavy metals and (2) an artificial mixture of heavy metals at similar levels as those found in natural rivers. Chemical speciation of heavy metals was estimated with Visual MINTEQ software; free heavy metal ion concentrations were used as input data, together with microalgae growth and photosynthesis inhibition, to compare different effects and explain possible toxicity mechanisms. The final goal was to assess the suitability of the ecotoxicological test based on the growth and photosynthesis inhibition of microalgae cultures, supported by mathematic models for regulatory and decision-making purposes. The C. vulgaris algae growth inhibition test was more sensitive for As, Zn, and Pb exposure whereas the photosynthesis inhibition test was more sensitive for Cu and Ni exposure. The effects on growth and photosynthesis were not related. C. vulgaris evidenced the formation of mucilaginous aggregations at lower copper concentrations. We found that the toxicity of a given heavy metal is not only determined by its chemical speciation; other chemical compounds (as nutrient loads) and biological interactions play an important role in the final toxicity. Predictive mixture effect models tend to overestimate the effects of metal mixtures in C. vulgaris for both growth and photosynthesis inhibition tests. Growth and photosynthesis inhibition tests give complementary information, and both are a fast, cheap, and sensitive alternative to animal testing. More research is needed to solve the challenge of complex pollutant mixtures as they are present in natural environments, where microalgae-based assays can be suitable monitoring tools for pollution management and regulatory purposes.

ACS Style

Nora Expósito; Roberta Carafa; Vikas Kumar; Jordi Sierra; Marta Schuhmacher; Gemma Papiol. Performance of Chlorella Vulgaris Exposed to Heavy Metal Mixtures: Linking Measured Endpoints and Mechanisms. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 1037 .

AMA Style

Nora Expósito, Roberta Carafa, Vikas Kumar, Jordi Sierra, Marta Schuhmacher, Gemma Papiol. Performance of Chlorella Vulgaris Exposed to Heavy Metal Mixtures: Linking Measured Endpoints and Mechanisms. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (3):1037.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nora Expósito; Roberta Carafa; Vikas Kumar; Jordi Sierra; Marta Schuhmacher; Gemma Papiol. 2021. "Performance of Chlorella Vulgaris Exposed to Heavy Metal Mixtures: Linking Measured Endpoints and Mechanisms." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 3: 1037.