Volume 19, No. 2, 2022
Sustainability Model Of Thai Frozen Food Industry Supply Chain
Somboon Treepornjaroen , Sudawan Somjai , Sarge Vasuvanich
Abstract
The frozen seafood industry is important to the economy. Although Thailand has the advantage of workers’ wages, there are plentiful raw materials, but the price competitiveness and resource advantage are unsustainable. In addition, the COVID-19 has caused a delay in product ordering and delivery. The objectives of this research were to: 1) study the level of sustainability of the frozen seafood industry supply chain in Thailand; 2) study factors influencing the sustainability of the frozen seafood industry supply chain; and 3) propose a sustainability model of the Thai frozen seafood industry supply chain. This research employed a mixed research methodology, combining quantitative research and qualitative research methods. In quantitative research methods, stratified random sampling was employed in this study. The sample consisted of at least 340 people such as executives, officers, and employees who work in or are related to the frozen seafood industry in Samut Sakhon province. The sample size was determined based on the criterion of 20 times the observed variables, with 17 variables. A structural equation model was used to analyze the data after the questionnaires were distributed. In the qualitative research component, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 key informants, including executives, government officials, entrepreneurs, and consumers. The research results found that: 1) the sustainability of the frozen seafood industry supply chain in Thailand was rated at a high importance level; 2) the variables influencing the frozen seafood industry supply chain’s sustainability were traceability, green concept, training, and government support, respectively; and 3) a sustainability model of the Thai frozen seafood industry supply chain revealed that the supply chain system was the key and strategic to achieving sustainable business success. Within the organization, management should be developed in tandem with environmental management, connecting upstream, midstream, and downstream processes and cooperating within the organization and with business partners to address customer needs in a sustainable way. The findings of the research are useful to entrepreneurs in the frozen seafood industry, as they may be utilized as a guideline to improve supply chain management efficiency.
Pages: 2539-2550
Keywords: Sustainability Mode / Supply Chain / Industry / Frozen seafood