Module IV: Integration and Sustainable Management of the Production Chain

The objective of module III is to identify and develop tools for integration and efficient sustainable management of European pork chains.

Module IV will deliver new designs and supportive tools focusing on integrated quality management systems (QMS), advanced inter-enterprise information systems supporting QMS, new organizational (governance) solutions for better collaboration in the pork chain and models for  logistics and sustainable chain (network) optimization. It will pay attention to the connection of process and product innovations in the chain with market demands.

 

Module IV is divided in four work packages:

• inventory of European pork chains (WP IV.1)
• design of quality systems, supportive information systems and organizational arrangements for European pork chains (IV.2)
• definition of Critical Success Factors for innovation in European pork chains (IV.3)
• design of logistics models and sustainability solutions for European pork chains (IV.4).

WPIV.1

In WPIV.1, pork sector descriptions of 7 countries (Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Greece, China, South Africa) and in-depth analysis of 2 specific chains per country: a (generic) fresh meat chain and a country-specific chain (such as Jamon Iberico for Spain) has been conducted.

 

A book on European pork chains has been published largely based on the inventory results.

 

Ongoing activities are case description for education in connection with module B and coordination of output of other module IV work packages.

 

WPIV.2

In WPIV.2, three PhD research designs, literature studies and state of the art reports on quality management systems, information systems and governance forms in the European pork sector, respectively, has been conducted based on extensive literature study and in-depth analysis of the sector and case studies of WPIV.1.

 

Ongoing activities are case study analysis for developing conceptual models for quality systems and governance forms in EU pork supply chains. Interview analysis for information reference models for EU pork supply chains.

 

WPIV.3

In WPIV.3, a PhD research design, literature study and state of the art report has been made on different types of innovations (product, process, organization, marketing) in European pork supply chains based on analysis of the sector and case study reports of WPIV.1. A study on critical success factors for innovations has also been performed.

 

Ongoing activities are data analysis of case study research into critical success factors for innovation to be followed by a survey.

 

WPIV.4

In WPIV.4, a PhD research design, literature study, and a state of the art report on logistics and distribution systems in the European pork sector has been performed as well as a literature analysis and a state of the art report on environmental profiles in the EU pork sector.

 

Ongoing activities are case studies performed to develop a conceptual model of logistic concepts applied in meat processing companies with respect to economic and sustainable effectiveness. Furthermore, a large-scale LCA data gathering and analysis is planned to analyse current sustainability of European pork chains.

Several of the work-packages are linked to industry pilots (Module A). In these pilots insights gained in research projects are applied to business practice. In this respect design and implementation of integrated quality and animal health management systems and of new logistics and distribution concepts are ongoing in these projects (pilots 1, 2 and 4).

 

Module IV is also involved in several new projects that start in November 2009 in which logistic concepts are applied as well as knowledge on supply chain organisation and quality management systems in relation with quality differentiation strategies and market choices.