A framework for evaluating the status of supply chain integration

Abstract

Supply chain management (SCM) is among the most frequently discussed topics in the corporate world today. Constant efforts are being made to develop value-added processes that deliver innovative, high-quality, low-cost products on time with greater responsiveness than ever before. Supply chain integration plays an important role to achieve the same. Unfortunately, the SCM concept has not been implemented in totality and there is a huge disconnect between supplier and customer. Many issues need to be addressed to integrate the supply chains of many industries. But the first step is the recognition of the present status of integration so that false notions are removed and fruitful work starts towards better integration and thus higher supply chain (SC) profitability. The present work tries to find out the critical parameters related to supply chain integration, which if addressed properly can provide improvements in supply chain integration effectiveness. Thereafter, the study after establishing the comprehensive list of information that flows through a generic SC and identifying their impact on the SC cost. Finally, a framework has been articulated to enable an organisation to identify its state of supply chain integration.