ANALYSIS OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES IN RAIL TRANSPORT WITH INDIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is essential for facilitating the effective movement of commodities, services, and information throughout intricate networks. In Indian rail transport, supply chain management is essential for linking areas and fostering economic development. Indian Railways has substantial obstacles in optimizing its supply chain, including antiquated infrastructure, regulatory impediments, and insufficient stakeholder collaboration. This study uses a multifaceted approach that includes the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to rank important parts of the supply chain, like unified systems, financial behaviour, and managerial points of view. Also, Modified Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (M-TISM) and fuzzy MICMAC analysis are used to look at how problems like market volatility, stakeholder participation, and government laws affect each other. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) is also used to look at how things like top management commitment, supply chain cooperation, and supply chain performance are connected. The sample size for PLS-SEM comprises 145 respondents, mostly material suppliers to Indian Railways, including CEOs, managers, and administrators. The identified elements are Top Management Commitment (TMC), Supply Chain Collaboration (SCC), Supply Chain Management Rail Transport (SCMRT), and Supply Chain Performance (SCP). These structures are assessed for their influence on overall supply chain efficiency. The results indicate that top management commitment and supply chain collaboration substantially affect supply chain performance, with financial behavior and regulatory frameworks identified as critical success factors. Furthermore, obstacles such as inadequate stakeholder participation and regulatory compliance challenges are emphasized. The study uses complex decision-making models and PLS-SEM analysis to give strategic insights that will help make the Indian Railways' supply chain more flexible and responsive. This will create a framework for improving operational efficiency and sustainability in the transportation sector.