We are sure that this issue, like the previous issues, contributes to theory building and makes available new practical frameworks/models via empirical research or methodology for various contemporary issues in Supply Chain Management (SCM) and allied areas. This issue brings you several interesting developments in the area of the supply chain. Three papers published in this issue together offer theoretical and practical insights that hold immense value to the practice and research of SCM.

The paper, “Impacts of Fukushima Nuclear Disaster on Agri-Food Chains in Japan”, by Hrabrin Bachev and Fusao Ito, provides insights into the impacts of Fukushima nuclear disaster on Japanese agriculture and food chains. First, a framework analysis of multidimensional effects of the disaster is presented. Second, immediate and short-term radiation effects, effects on nearby population, safety regulation and inspection system, markets and consumer’s behavior, agrarian and food products, and health as well as economic impacts on farming and agribusinesses are assessed. Third, overall short and long-term impacts on agriculture, food industries and consumers in Fukushima region, neighboring regions and other parts of Japan are estimated. Existing SCM models and methodologies, which are classified under ten different categories, have been critically reviewed leading to identification of several potential areas of research in SCM. A research framework involving the identified research issues has been proposed. Also highlighted is the benefit and usefulness of such a framework in a systematic approach to SCM.

The paper, “Logistics and Supply Chain Management Practices in Select Industries of Tirupati”, by J Geetha Madhuri, examines the state of logistics and SCM practices in select industries of Tirupati with field visits and substantial on-site observations, formal discussions and interviews with data and information from secondary sources. These manufacturing firms are aware of the current best logistics and SCM practices, and they are being practiced effectively. Increasing customer requirements and improved Information Communication Technology (ICT) have affected SCM efforts. From the analysis and discussion, it can be concluded that SCM has become not just a question of efficient logistics process but is related to the growth and survival of organizations. For the firms, it has become predominant to construct effective and integrated supply chain, as the customers are becoming more demanding in their requirement of services from the suppliers. Also, IT plays a major role in the formation of the supply chain of a firm because efficient dissemination of information upstream and downstream is one of the major requirements for the effective implementation of the supply chain. Lack of such investigations in developing economies, especially India, justifies the relevance of the study.

The paper, “Supply Chain Management Concerns in Manufacturing Industries”,
by C Ganesh Kumar and T Nambirajan, examines the current supply chain concerns in manufacturing industries through a survey conducted among the executives of manufacturing industries in the Union Territory of Puducherry, using principal component analysis, K-mean cluster and discriminant analysis. Supply chain concerns have been categorized into supply chain coherence, geographical proximity and competition-oriented concerns, and manufacturing units have been segmented into low, medium and high supply chain concern industries.

-- Sunil Bhardwaj
Consulting Editor