Decision support framework for assessing smart supply chain barriers in the context of I4.0: Implications for sustainability

In recent years, it has been observed that sustainable Smart Supply Chain Management (SSCM) is a critical organizational practice in ensuring profitability through mitigation of environmental as well as social risk. Up to this point, there is scant research available on the existence of barriers to the adoption of sustainable SSCM practices. The paper in question will discuss the barriers to the implementation of sustainable SSCM in emerging economies like Bangladesh. A three-stage methodological technique was used in conducting the study. The initial phase involved the literature review and interviewing an expert panel of professionals, which led to the development of a list of 26 key barriers to SSCM adoption. These barriers were further categorized into six large clusters which included, economic, social, environmental, integrity, availability and adaptability barriers. The second phase was to evaluate barriers by their relative weight with the Best-Worst Method (BWM) and the strength of it was determined with the help of sensitivity studies. Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) was the third level offering a contextual relationship between barriers and making a hierarchical model. The results of the present research indicate that the most significant ones are Economic clusters and Integrity clusters. The additional breakdown showed that one of the major hindrances to effective SSCM implementation was the absence of advanced analytics, physical infrastructure, initial investment, and governmental support. According to the ISM analysis, there were five major barriers that were highly driving factors among other factors considered: Lack of advanced analytics; lack of integrated vision of system realization and value; lack of physical infrastructure; lack of governmental support and high initial investment. The implication of this hybrid solution is that the industry experts, decision-makers, and policymakers will be able to formulate effective action plans to break these major barriers to achieve successful implementation of sustainable smart supply chain practices in the I4.0 (I4.0) environment in addition to guaranteeing the sustainable future of the next generation.