Enhancing supply chain transparency through a QR-Based monitoring dashboard: Governance and integrity implications for food manufacturing SMEs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15282/jgi.9.1.2026.13886Keywords:
Governance, Integrity, Supply chain transparency, Digital traceability, Food manufacturing, Small and medium enterpriseAbstract
Supply chain transparency has emerged as a critical governance and integrity imperative, particularly within food manufacturing where product failures can compromise public safety and undermine stakeholder trust. This study examines how a QR-based monitoring dashboard functions as an embedded governance mechanism to enhance transparency, accountability, and ethical oversight within a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) in the food manufacturing sector. Using a quantitative, system-based case study approach, the study gathered operational traceability data across key supply chain stages of a Malaysian food manufacturer through a QR-enabled dashboard system. The findings show that digital traceability significantly reduces information asymmetry, strengthens internal controls, and enables proactive, ethical decision-making by promptly detecting quality deviations. This study contributes to the governance and integrity literature by conceptualising digital traceability systems not merely as operational tools, but as vital governance infrastructures that reinforce integrity, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder confidence in SMEs.
References
Ablegue, A. G. M. D., Zhang, M., Guo, Q., & Rui, L. (2026). Monitoring and shelf life extension of food products based on machine learning and deep learning: Progress and potential applications. Food Reviews International, 42(4), 2189–2214. https://doi.org/10.1080/87559129.2025.2541856
Anastasiadis, F., Apostolidou, I., & Tsolakis, N. (2025). Challenges and opportunities of supply chain traceability: Insights from emergent agri-food sector. Supply Chain Management, 30(1), 106–126. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-05-2024-0322
Cao, J., Cui, W., Luo, L., & Xie, G. (2026). Collaborative supervision for sustainable governance of the prepared food industry in China: An evolutionary game and Markov chain approach. Sustainability, 18(2), 615. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020615
Hansen, A. K., Christiansen, L., & Lassen, A. H. (2025). Technology isn't enough for Industry 4.0: On SMEs and hindrances to digital transformation. International Journal of Production Research, 63(18), 6585-6605. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2024.2305800
Krisnanmoorthy, J., & Fernando, Y. (2025). Contaminant prevention framework of the global food supply chain: Food security solutions for zero hunger. In Trends in Food Science and Technology (Vol. 164). Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2025.105214
Li, W., Zhang, B., Song, R., & Yu, K. (2026). Driving factors and the role of sustainable supplier development in blockchain‐enabled supply chains: Evidence from the fashion manufacturing industry. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.70490
Niranjan, S., Garg, V., Gligor, D. M., & Hawkins, T. G. (2025). Enhancing supply chain sustainability performance: the pivotal role of emerging technologies. Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, 40(2), 374–390. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-03-2024-0175
Petrillo, A., Rehman, M., & De Felice, F. (2025). Optimising coffee supply chain transparency and traceability through mobile application. European Journal of Innovation Management, 28(11), 267–300. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-01-2025-0088
Wang, Z., Gao, L., & Wang, W. (2025). The impact of supply chain digitisation and logistics efficiency on the competitiveness of industrial enterprises. International Review of Economics & Finance, 97, 103759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2024.103759
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
