Production and quality control management Books

Book Synopsis"This book brings together a rich collection of material on management and organization in agri-food chains and networks. Producers, processors, traders and retailers of agricultural and food products operate in an economic and institutional environment that is increasingly dominated by global developments. Therefore, organizing efficient and effective supply chains as well as managing collaboration among participating firms requires an international perspective. This book presents theoretical and practical insights from many different parts of the world. Topics covered include classical supply chain management issues like logistics, information exchange (e.g. tracking and tracing), quality control, safety assurance, and chain performance. Other timely issues covered are joint innovation, and shared responsibility for sustainability in agri-food supply chains. Special attention is given to issues of governance and organization of chains and networks, for example, by focussing on the role of producer organisations (such as farmer cooperatives) in their effort to combine horizontal and vertical collaboration in the international upply chain. This book is relevant for both academics and managers interested in the latest advances in research on management and organization of international agri-food chains and networks."Table of ContentsPreface, 7; Part 1. Introduction; Management and organization in international agri-food chains and networks, 15; J. Bijman, S.W.F. Omta, J.H. Trienekens, J.H.M. Wijnands and E.M.F. Wubben; Part 2. Governance; Does guanxi matter for vegetable supply chains in China? A case study approach, 31; H. Lu, J.H. Trienekens and S.W.F. Omta; Is more vertical integration the future of food supply chains? Empirical evidence and theoretical considerations from German pork production, 49; B. Schulze, A. Spiller and L. Theuvsen; Contracts in agribusiness: A survey in the Hungarian dairy sector, 65; G.G. Szabo and K. Bardos; Part 3. Horizontal collaboration; Producer groups as a form of entrepreneurship and a tool for strengthening the competitive position of private farms in Poland, 83; M. Adamowicz and M. Lemanowicz; The role of producer organizations in the process of developing an integrated supply chain; experiences from Quinoa chain development in Bolivia, 97; G. Ton and J. Bijman; Horizontal cooperation among small and medium-sized supermarkets as a tool for strengthening competitivenes, 113; F.A. Ghisi, D.P. Martinelli and T. Kristensen; Part 4. Supply Chain Management; Logistics outsourcing in food supply chain networks: Theory and practices, 135; H.I. Hsiao, J.G.A.J. van der Vorst and S.W.F. Omta; About the preparedness of dairy companies for ECR, 151; T. Obersojer and H. Weindlmaier. Using data mining to improve operations management in food supply networks, 163; Y. Li, M.R. Kramer, A.J.M. Beulens and J.G.A.J. van der Vorst; Tailored improvement of supply chain processes in agri-food networks, 179; M. Fritz and T. Hausen; Part 5. Power; A power-based approach to the analysis of the food system, 199; V. Sodano; Chain management challenges and market power in the Chinese fresh produce sector, 217; B.J. Revell and X. Liu; Bargaining power in mango supply chains: An experimental gaming approach, 231; G. Zuniga-Arias, S. Meijer, R. Ruben and G.J. Hofstede; Part 6. Performance; Modelling the recall costs of consumption milk in relation to time, 259; A.G.J. Velthuis, C. van Erve and M.P.M. Meuwissen; Alliances between wholesalers and retailers in the fresh vegetable industry, 269; J.H.M. Wijnands, W.B. Koot and S. Rosenkranz; Part 7. Quality, safety and sustainability; Hybrid forms in the supply of safe food, 287; G. Martino and C. Perugini; Quality assurance and vertical alliances: Case studies in the UK and Brazilian beef chains, 303; M.D. de Barcellos, G.C. Ferreira and L.M. Vieira; Vertical coordination, quality management and firm performance of the pork processing industry in China, 319; J. Han, J.H. Trienekens, T. Tan, S.W.F. Omta and K. Wang; Improving quality and ecological sustainability of natural resources in international supply chains: The role of market-based incentives, 333; E. Kambewa, P. Intenbleek, A. van Tilburg and I. van der Lans; Assessing and stimulating environmental pro-activeness in food supply chains, 343; D.J. Haverkamp, H.J. Bremmers and S.W.F. Omta. Part 8. Case studies; Mapping and quantification of the milk chain in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, 359; M.F. Neves, M.A. Consoli, F.F. Lopes, E.M. Campos and H.A.B. Paiva; Impacts of the rapid development of supermarkets on China's dairy industry, 373; D. Hu, F. Fuller and T. Reardon; Organizational learning in the context of an agri-food chain, 387; A.J. Dunne; Authors and affiliations, 403.

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Book Synopsis"During the last decade, sector wide crises in agriculture have rapidly followed each other, resulting in serious consumer concerns about the quality and safety of agri-food products. To prevent new crises, governments have developed quality regulations and retailers have introduced quality management standards. However, concerns have been raised about the administrative burdens placed on firms, because they must comply with many private and public quality regulations. Therefore, both government and firms strive for more integration and self regulation of quality management systems. By combining managerial and economic theory, this study builds a framework to demonstrate the impact of integrated quality management on self regulation and performance. Using empirical evidence from the poultry meat, the fruit and vegetable and the flower and potted plant chains, this study shows that integrated quality management systems positively affect performance and self regulation. However, it is necessary to find committed partners that share the firm’s quality objectives. In most cases, too strict enforcement of quality requirements is destructive, initiates conflict and does not lead to higher performance. Furthermore, governmental agencies should focus on innovative approaches to assure quality. Not legislation, but factors such as media attention and corporate social responsibility enlarge the integration of quality management systems. This book is recommended for a broad audience of professionals, practitioners and policy makers who concern themselves with the design, management and assessment of quality management and self regulation in agri-food supply chains."

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