This issue brings out various aspects of supply chain management viz. integral performance metric for supply chain performance, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Analytic Hierarchy Processing (AHP) as tools for measuring efficiency, supply chain inventory planning, supply chain modeling, reverse logistics and infrastructure issues in supply chain. Seven papers published in this issue together offer theoretical and practical insights that hold immense value to the practice and research of supply chain management. A brief overview of each paper included in this issue is given below.

In the paper, "Cash to Cash Cycle as an Integral Performance Metric in the Supply Chain Management: A Theoretical Review", the authors, Melek Akgün and Meltem Gürünlü have articulated the theoretical importance of cash to cash cycle as a new performance criterion to evaluate the performance of supply chain as a whole. The authors have presented an effective way for shortening the cash conversion cycle for an individual firm and suggest that firms can manage it by contracting the days of receivables and inventory outstanding and extending the days of payables outstanding. They have aimed at developing a theoretical lens by examining the factors influencing the cash to cash cycle—an integral metric for the performance evaluation of the supply chains.

In the second paper, "Reconsidering Supply Chain Management Paradigms: A Question of Efficiency", the author, Masato Shinohara has attempted to re-evaluate the value system of supply chain management by examining the elements of paradigms that are embedded in the theories and practices. The author suggests that the current supply chain management paradigms are static and efficiency in supply chains should be measured dynamically, taking different time spans into account.

In the third paper, "Efficiency Measurement Using DEA and AHP: A Case Study on Indian Ports", the authors, Debendra Kumar Mahalik, Sreekumar and Gokulananda Patel have made an attempt to measure efficiency by different techniques and the same has been explained through a case study on Indian ports. The paper mainly uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Analytic Hierarchy Processing (AHP) as tools for measuring efficiency.

In the fourth paper, "Traditional Inventory Planning to Multi-Echelon Supply Chain Inventory Planning: A Critical Review", the author, Srikanta Routroy has discussed different issues of traditional inventory system and the multi-echelon supply chain inventory system in the supply chain perspective. Recently, the research has shifted to a multi-echelon supply chain inventory planning with many constraints arising from supply chain members at different stages with stochastic behavior in terms of demand and lead time for both perishable and non-perishable products. Multi-echelon inventory planning has been a particularly difficult problem to solve in supply chain and any work in this area acts as an important contribution to literature.

In the fifth paper, "Supply Chain Models with Imperfect Production Process and Volume Flexibility Under Inflation", the authors, S R Singh and Urvashi have proposed an inventory model that takes into account volume flexibility, weibull distribution deterioration rate and inflation. The solution of the inventory system is illustrated with the help of a numerical example. The sensitivity of important variables to changes in the values of the input parameters of the system is also examined.

In the sixth paper, "Reverse Logistics: An Imperative Area of Research for Fashion Supply Chain", V G Venkatesh has reviewed different elements/strategies of operations involving reverse logistics in the fashion supply chain, different applications highlighting advantages and profit improvement/cost savings. Any organization which wants to survive in the margin should establish good procedures for carrying out the returns management program, as returns reduce the profit levels for retailers. All supply chain managers should start looking at the returns management process as a constituent element in their supply chain.

In the final paper, "Cold Chain Infrastructure for Frozen Food: A Weak Link in Indian Retail Sector", Jitendra Rathore, Anamika Sharma and Karunesh Saxena have made an attempt to draw the attention of the readers towards the potential existing in the frozen food business in India. There are challenges but no dearth of opportunities. A collaborative effort on the part of various stakeholders like public-private partnership, cartels and cooperatives can significantly help in building a sturdy supply chain that would contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generate employment, help in increasing exports and benefit stakeholders. The paper has clearly articulated the needs and advantages of cold chain infrastructure improvements which is the need of the hour.

-- Sunil Bhardwaj
Consulting Editor