Enhancing Dairy Supply Chains: A Framework for Cold Chain Performance Evaluation

Document Type : Review Paper

Authors

1 Department of BBA /BBA (CA), Sri Krishna Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, India

2 School of Management Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology Coimbatore - 641 008

Abstract

Objective: Rapid urbanization in India has significantly increased demand for delivering perishable items in fresh condition to urban consumers. This study aims to examine the Indian dairy cold chain by identifying critical operational and coordination challenges and to propose a performance measurement framework to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.
Methods: The study adopts a theory-driven approach by integrating Supply Chain Management (SCM) theory, the Resource-Based View (RBV), and the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to analyse inefficiencies within the dairy cold chain. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify key issues and performance dimensions, which was further validated and refined through expert opinions from industry practitioners.
Results: The analysis reveals significant integration gaps and vulnerabilities across the dairy cold chain.  Bottlenecks at critical stages constrain overall system performance and contribute to quality deterioration and spoilage. Based on these findings, the study proposes a comprehensive performance measurement framework tailored to the Indian dairy cold chain context.
Conclusion: Strengthening the dairy cold chain is essential for maintaining quality assurance and supporting rural milk producers. The proposed framework provides actionable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders to mitigate spoilage and improve supply chain resilience. Implementing these strategies will help bridge the gap between rural production and urban demand, ensuring the sustainable delivery of perishable goods.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Optimization and Supply Chain Management
Volume 2, Issue 2
June 2025
Pages 82-94

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