elham karimi asl

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is considered as a key factor to achieve goals such as creating competitive advantage, product quality improvement and increasing profitability in the cement industry. The main purpose of this research is to determine competitive positioning for LARG supply chain in the iranian cement industry and to do Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) for its related strategic requirements (Strenghts, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). A survey-descriptive research method was applied and an available sample includes 11 Iranian cement companies were selected. First, with reviewing related literature and using the Delphi Method (DM), the strategic requirements of LARG supply chain in the cement industry identified. In the next step, the importance of each strategic requirement determined using SWARA technique. Then the results of applying Internal/External Factors Evaluation (IFE/EFE) matrix showed that to achieve the suitable position in the LARG supply chain for the Iranian cement industry an aggressive strategy should be taken. In the final step, applying Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) matrix showed all requirements for aggressive strategy except exporting opportunities and cooperation culture in the supply chain that were in quadrant one, evaluated in quadrant II (keep up the good work). Finally, some suggestions presented toward improving LARG supply chain performance in the Iranian cement industry.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is considered a strategic factor for the better attainment of organizational goals such as enhanced competitiveness, improved product quality and increased profitability in cement industry. This research aims at competitive positioning of LARG supply chain in Iranian cement industry and its strategic requirements (Strenghts, Weaknesses, Oportunities and Threats) Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA). A survey-descriptive research method was applied and an available sample which includes 11 Iranian cement companies were selected. First, using literature review and Delphi Method (DM), strategic requirements of LARG supply chain in the cement industry were identified. In the next step, the importance of strategic requirements was determined using SWARA method. Then, the results of applying Internal/External Factors Evaluation (IFE/EFE) matrix showed that the suitable position for LARG supply chain in Iranian cement industry would be an aggressive strategy. In the final step, applying Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) matrix showed all requirements for the aggressive strategy, except exporting opportunities and cooperation culture in supply chain, were evaluated in quadrant II (keep up the good work). Finally some suggestions are presented toward improving LARG supply chain performance in Iranian cement industry.

Supply chain management as a vital challenge to the Cement industry and developing infrastructure as a whole has been posed by scholars. This research is an attempt to investigate LARG supply chain management as a comprehensive approach to consider simultaneously four basic relevant strategies namely Lean, Agile, Resilience and Green. Using a survey methodology and gathering data from twenty one experts in cement industry, every strategy has been weighted by SWARA and VIKOR techniques. Then results were compared utilizing COPRAS- techniques. Finally, the average score was led to conclusion that in the cement industry the most important strategy are resilience, green, agile and lean respectively. At the end a set of useful guidelines were developed and recommended to the managers.