Developing a strategic framework for circular supply chain management

Project description

The traditional linear supply chain relied for years on the principles of take-make-use and dispose. This has created enormous environmental problems due to the inordinate use of nonrenewable resources and discharge of pollutants. In recent years, the focus of supply chain has shifted towards circularity based on restoration and regeneration. The products after use are again put back in the value chain by redesigning, remanufacturing, recycling, reusing, refurbishing, renovating etc. Therefore, circular economy decouples the economic growth from the resource dependency. It is therefore imperative to delve deeper in circularity so that the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) of United Nations can be fulfilled. However, manufactuirng supply chains are facing challenges to implement these as collection of products after their useful life, segregation and recycling operations and product design from recycled materials are complicated and challenging. Therefore, adoption and implementation of circularity in supply chain is a global issue of paramount importance. This research aims to analyse various aspects, including barriers, enablers, paradoxes, practices and performance indicators of circular supply chain management.

o Identification of key barriers, enablers, issues and practices of circular supply chain
o Multi-tier analysis of circularity barriers in manufactuirng supply chain
o Developing a unified framework of circular supply chain

Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to achieve the aforesaid research objectives. Questionnaire survey, Delphi, MCDM, PCA, SEM etc. are some of the methodologies which will be used in this research.

Outcomes

1. Identification of cause and effect-group barriers of circular textile and clothing supply chain.
2. Strategies and policy interventions to implement circularity in textile and clothing supply chain.
3. Systematic review of existing circularity frameworks suitable for textile and clothing supply chain.

Essential capabilities

Post graduate in Engineering /Technology/ Management

Desireable capabilities

Questionnaire design; Quantitative methods in management, Modelling, Databases

Expected qualifications (Course/Degrees etc.)

M.Tech or MBA with Engineering degrees or Masters in Industrial Ecology

Candidate Discipline

Circular economy Sustainability Strategy Textile and clothing.