Unlocking the barriers to supply chain management in rail transport: a modified‑total interpretive structural modelling (M-TISM) approach

This study aims to analyse rail transport's supply chain management (SCM) and identify issues affecting its effectiveness. These issues include the barriers faced by stakeholders in rail transport, shedding light on the challenges they encounter. The study integrates insights from previous research to offer a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of SCM in the rail industry. Through an in-depth analysis, the research aims to identify key barriers and assess their impact on operational effectiveness. Addressing these barriers can lead to cost reduction, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced support for sustainable transportation systems in the rail sector. Using the Modified Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (M-TISM) technique, we demonstrate how the identified barriers are interrelated, highlighting which ones are more influential and which ones are dependent on others. Additionally, a Fuzzy Matrix Impacts Cross Multiplication Applied to Classification (FMICMAC) analysis was conducted. Following this investigation, the authors identified five key barriers to the integration of IT-enabled supply chain management in the Indian railway system. These barriers are (B4) lack of policy support for long-term or strategic contracting; (B5) lack of IT-trained or skilled personnel in field units; (B2) Inefficient information and technology systems; (B3) the disinclination of the support from distributors, retailers, and dealers; and (B10) lack of responsiveness. The study found that all cause based barriers aligned perfectly with the Level 5 barriers in the M-TISM model. The results were thoroughly analysed using both the FMICMAC approach and the M-TISM technique. Furthermore, the authors discussed the practical implications of the findings and proposed areas for future research aimed at improving the adoption of IT-enabled supply chain management in the Indian rail transport network.