Global Sourcing Strategies: A Framework for Lean, Agile, and Leagile

Waleed Rashad,Zlatko Nedelko

doi:10.3390/su12177199

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for utilization of lean, agile, and leagile strategies in the supply chains, where the core idea of the framework is to improve the global sourcing practices. Based on in-depth interviews with supply chain professionals and grounded theory approach, we constructed a framework of global sourcing improvement to support better utilization of lean, agile, and leagile strategies, which we believe can help the supply chains worldwide to act better, especially in various difficult conditions and sustain their business accordingly. Our proposed framework also contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, since the core concept of the framework is to establish a new organization under the umbrella of the UN to improve the global sourcing and consequently the usage of supply chain strategies accordingly. The applicative part of the paper reveals characteristics of new developed framework, ranging from its purpose and aims, structure, key processes, functions, and its financing. Along with validation of the framework are presented benefits for society, industry, and global economy. Additionally, the paper also reviews the impact of the current health and economic crisis caused by COVID 19, on usage of the three supply chain strategies namely; lean, agility, and leagility to see how they can work in the difficult time, as COVID 19.

Highlights

The main purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for utilization of lean, agile, and leagile strategies in the supply chains, where the core idea of the framework is to improve the global sourcing practices
The paper reviews the impact of the current health and economic crisis caused by COVID 19, on usage of the three supply chain strategies namely; lean, agility, and leagility to see how they can work in the difficult time, as COVID 19
In the first step we depended on the grounded theory as the main research method, where we conducted semi structured interviews to acquire the opinion of supply chain professionals about their understanding about lean, agility, and leagility, how they work in the normal situations and how they are fit for difficult situations

Summary

Introduction

The main purpose of this research is to develop a framework for utilization of lean, agile, and leagile strategies in supply chains, where the core idea of the proposed framework is to improve the global sourcing practices. We try to achieve the best utilization of the lean, agile, and leagile strategies under various circumstances, especially economic crisis, and improving the utilization of these three considered strategies and results of supply chain management. This study tries to analyze the current situation of the supply chain, and develop an adequate framework for future management of supply chains—i.e., by outlining how to utilize lean, agile, and leagile strategies under different circumstances. This research coincides with the current situation, where we faced with economic crisis due to COVID-19, which will be discussed in the paper

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion