Agile Supply Chain Research Articles

AGILITY IN MARKETING: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Research on agility in marketing has been shaped by a great number of articles published in recent decades. My research contributes to the literature by examining the basis of different intellectual frameworks and by identifying relevant references, authors, topics, and journals for the matter. With this focus, I used bibliometric techniques to investigate over 1,200 articles published between 1992 and 2022. I regarded publication periods that shaped the progression of the research subject. Results show that there are 75 relevant publications. Those could be divided into three research streams. The first stream considers frameworks and agile supply chains, the second IT infrastructure to improve enterprise agility, and the third enterprise and organizational agility in general. I applied a historical perspective, identified the social, intellectual, and conceptual structure of marketing agility research.

Integration of RFID strategic value attributes mechanism decision in apparel supply chain: fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS approach

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the radio frequency identification (RFID) strategic value attributes (RFIDSVAs) mechanism selections preferences and also integration of RFID tags with technology coordination tools (IRTWTCTs) alternatives ranking performance decisions in supply chain management (SCM). RFID-enabled techno-economic feasibility decisions are enhancing the SC visibility in apparel supply chains (ASCs). The RFIDSVAs mechanism selections have performed significant agility to strategic competitive advantages, namely, inventory visibility, multi-tags ownership transfer within trusted third party, etc.Design/methodology/approachFuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) and FAHP-fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) approaches have been used to evaluate the quantitative assessment of RFIDSVA mechanisms selection decision based on weight priority orders and IRTWTCTs alternatives selection in ASC networks. The comparison of FAHP and FAHP-FTOPSIS approaches to evaluate the integrated framework develop in RFIDSVAs mechanisms and IRTWTCTs alternatives selection decisions in Indian multi-tier ASC networks.FindingsThe result found that the FAHP-FTOPSIS approaches have used to prioritizing the RFIDSVA mechanism selection weights and also identify the IRTWTCTs alternatives ranking preferences order in apparel SCM. The comparison between the FAHP and FAHP-FTOPSIS approach to quantitative assessments from RFIDSVA mechanisms and IRTWTCTs alternatives selection decisions, which enable them SC agility potential across multi-tier visibility in ASC networks. ASC stakeholders can be benefited by techno-economic feasibility decisions, RFID-enabled shop floor activities, multi-tags ownerships transfer in SCs and knowledge-based cryptography tags/items separation in SCs.Research limitations/implicationsThe research work has considered only five RFIDSVA mechanisms and also three integration of RFIDTWTCTs alternatives in multi-tier ASC. The strategic competitive advantages are achieved by RFID-enabled break-even tags price decisions and also techno-economic feasibility decision by contractual design multi-tier SC stakeholder’s involvements.Practical implicationsThe pilot project study explores that the quantitative assessment decision has based on RFID-enable techno-economic feasibility in ASCs. Stakeholders can be benefited by inventory control of the financial losses, reducing the inventory inaccuracies and multi-tags ownership transfer within trusted third-party traceability in ASC networks.Originality/valueThis study explores the RFID-enabled apparel SC process and activities visibility (natural fibre’s fibre producer, fibre dyeing producer, yarn spinning producer, knitting and finishing producer).

A spherical fuzzy assessment framework for evaluating the challenges to LARG supply chain adoption in pharmaceutical companies

A lean, agile, resilient, and green supply chain (LARG SC) enables companies to survive and be more competitive in the current high-demand and complex marketplace by boosting their flexibility, adaptability, and trustability. However, adopting LARG SCs has faced many challenges, especially in pharmaceutical companies, motivating the present study to develop an inclusive assessment framework of challenges to LARG SC adoption. To this end, A rigorous literature review was conducted to identify the challenges, and then the validity of the identified challenges was analyzed through a survey in which fifteen experts evaluated identified challenges. Afterward, a novel MEREC-TOPSIS method under spherical fuzzy sets was proposed to determine the objective importance of the validated challenges and evaluate five pharmaceutical companies’ performance in dealing with the challenges to LARG SC adoption. The results indicated 35 validated challenges to LARG SC adoption, including seven lean, nine agile, nine resilient, and ten green challenges. Also, it is indicated that the most significant lean, agile, resilient, and green challenges are: designing for manufacturing, applying information technology, strong communication with suppliers and distributors, and green packaging, respectively. Also, comparative and sensitivity studies were conducted to evaluate the applicability and sensitivity of the proposed evaluation framework.

Supply chain agility and firm performance: testing serial mediations in pharmaceutical industry

PurposeThe supply chain agility (SCA) is becoming a source of competitive differentiation but debate on its antecedents which can result in optimal firm performance is still non-pervasive in the literature. Taking this gap into consideration, the current research aimed at investigating various enablers of supply chain agility of Pakistani pharmaceutical industry.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from 204 top executives working in different supply chain functions including planning, supplying, operations and purchasing in national and multinational pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan.FindingsThrough serial-mediation model, results revealed the strength of various SCA enablers, along with the mediating roles of delivery dependability.Originality/valueThis study adds in the literature on how various supply chain enablers and competencies help the organizations to achieve supply chain agility and performance, especially in a developing country.

Agile supply chain management based on critical success factors and most ideal risk reduction strategy in the era of industry 4.0: application to plastic industry

Agile supply chain management based on critical success factors and most ideal risk reduction strategy in the era of industry 4.0: application to plastic industry

Supply chain agility as the antecedent to firm sustainability in the post COVID-19

PurposeCOVID-19 has caused critical supply chain problems, especially in sustainable supply chain management, but very few empirical studies have been explored how to improve the firm sustainability through supply chain endeavours such as supply chain agility to manage the impacts of COVID-19. This paper aims to develop a model to incorporate supply chain agility and supply chain relationships that link firm sustainability to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted an online survey and collected 203 valid responses from businesses in the United Arab Emirates, and employed an exploratory factor analysis, mediated regression analysis and structural equation modelling methodology to test the models and hypotheses.FindingsThe authors find that the adoption of supply chain agility can improve supply chain relationships and positively impact sustainability. Meanwhile, supply chain relationships partially mediate the relationship between supply chain agility and sustainability. In addition, sustainability mitigates the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains.Originality/valueThe results provide fruitful insights and implications for the challenges and uncertainties caused by the pandemic post COVID-19 and provide several directions for further research.

Interorganizational Systems and Supply Chain Agility in Uncertain Environments: The Mediation Role of Supply Chain Collaboration

The economy is recovering in today’s postpandemic phase, but uncertainties such as supply chain disruptions remain a top risk. Environmental uncertainty creates the need for swift supply chain adjustments in response to these external changes. Supply chain agility (SCA) has been recognized as a key capability for firms working to achieve superior performance in uncertain business environments. SCA is challenging to achieve, however, because it requires the firm and its supply chain partners to collaborate closely yet flexibly across organizational boundaries. Considering interorganizational systems (IOS) have been widely deployed to establish digital connections across organizational boundaries, this study aims to explore to what extent and how IOS as boundary objects, characterized by standardization and adaptability, affect SCA under different levels of environmental uncertainty. This study provides guidance for information technology (IT) and business directors on how to achieve SCA through the design or implementation of IOS, provides guidance for business directors on how to invest more effectively to capture opportunities and deal with risks, and advises business and IT directors on how to respond appropriately to different levels of environmental uncertainty (e.g., IT directors should design adaptive IOS and business directors should invest in supply chain collaboration when environmental uncertainty is high).

The performance effects of supply chain agility with sensing and responding as formative capabilities

PurposeThe study presents a conceptual model of a firm's supply chain agility (FSCA) as a formative construct formed by sensing and responding capabilities. Both construct validity and predictive validity of the model are tested by investigating nuanced effects of FSCA on business performance. The study aims to empirically validate the sensing-responding theoretical framework of Overby et al. (2006) and extend the emergent stream on sensing-responding frameworks for supply chain agility.Design/methodology/approachSurvey research is employed. Data are analysed using partial least squares technique and mediation tests by Hayes PROCESS macro.FindingsFSCA is established as a revised construct formed by the distinct capabilities of sensing and responding. The efficacy of utilizing FSCA as a formative 2nd order construct was established. In addition, FSCA is shown to affect business performance through mediations of cost efficiency and customer effectiveness, establishing its predictive validity.Originality/valueThis study contributes significantly to the literature on supply chain agility in terms of both theory and practice for cultivating supply chain agility. Drawing on resource-based view and resource-advantage theories, as reformulation of supply chain agility as a formative construct of sensing and responding capabilities, this research opens up new lines of inquiry on agility.

Building responsive and resilient supply chains: Lessons from the COVID‐19 disruption

Building responsive and resilient supply chains: Lessons from the <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 disruption

Supply chain engineering: Considering parameters for sustainable overseas intermodal transport of small consignments

An increasingly environmentally conscious global economy is placing new demands on supply chain engineering, with a focus on sustainable approaches to modelling transport chain. In addition to the price and time efficiencies that characterize agile and lean supply chains, strategies for low-carbon and energy-efficient external transport must also be incorporated. This research therefore focuses on the challenges of organizing the supply of small overseas shipments to define how the relationship between land and sea transport in the selected intermodal chain affects environmental and energy performance. Understanding the input parameters and their impacts is a prerequisite for planning CO2, NOx, SO2 and NMHC emissions, as well as energy efficiency (EE) of overseas transportation. The number of individual transport legs and their characteristics are crucial parameters for sustainable transport chains. The applicability of the proposed research framework is carried out on the example of outbound supply chains of the southern part of the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor using intermodal transport chains of small shipments via the ports of Koper and Genoa. The results of the case study show that an additional transport leg representing only 2 % longer land transport to the port of Genoa significantly affects the carbon footprint of the whole supply chain's compared to chains via the port of Koper. Moreover, other results also require special attention in supply chain modeling. The study enriches the field of supply chain engineering, as there is a lack of such studies. The study is part of the project "Green port - Developing a sustainable model for the growth of the green port", co-founded by the Slovenian Research Agency.

A novel stochastic fuzzy decision model for agile and sustainable global manufacturing outsourcing partner selection in footwear industry

PurposeThe decision-making to outsource and select the most suitable global manufacturing outsourcing partner (MOP) is complex and uncertain due to multiple conflicting qualitative and quantitative criteria as well as multiple alternatives. Vagueness and variability exist in ratings of criteria and alternatives by group of decision-makers (DMs). The paper provides a novel Stochastic Fuzzy (SF) method for evaluation and selection of agile and sustainable global MOP in uncertain and volatile business environment.Design/methodology/approachFour main selection criteria for global MOP selection were identified such as economic, agile, environmental and social criteria. Total 16 sub-criteria were selected. To consider the vagueness and variability in ratings by group of DMs, SF method using t-distribution or z-distribution was adopted. The criteria weights were determined using the Stochastic Fuzzy-CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (SF-CRITIC), while MOP selection was carried out using Stochastic Fuzzy-VIseKriterijumskaOptimizacija I KompromisnoResenje (SF-VIKOR) in the case study of footwear industry. Sensitivity analysis was performed to test the robustness of the proposed model. A comparative analysis of SF-VIKOR and VIKOR was made.FindingsThe worker’s wages and welfare, product price, product quality, green manufacturing process and collaboration with partners are the most important criteria for MOP selection. The MOP3 was found to be the best agile and sustainable global MOP for the footwear company. In sensitivity analysis, significance level is found to have important role in MOP ranking. Hence, the study concluded that integrated SF-CRITIC and SF-VIKOR is an improved method for MOP selection problem.Research limitations/implicationsIn a group decision-making, ambiguity, impreciseness and variability are found in relative ratings. Fuzzy variant Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methods cover impreciseness in ratings but not the variability. On the other hand, deterministic models do not cover either. Hence, the stochastic method based on the probability theory combining fuzzy theory is proposed to deal with decision-making problems in imprecise and uncertain environments. Most notably, the proposed model has novelty as it captures and reveals both the stochastic perspective and the fuzziness perspective in rating by group of DMs.Practical implicationsThe proposed multi-criteria group decision-making model contributes to the sustainable and agile footwear supply chain management and will help the policymakers in selecting the best global MOP.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, SF method has not been used to select MOP in the existing literature. For the first time, integrated SF-CRITIC and SF-VIKOR method were applied to select the best agile and sustainable MOP under uncertainty. Unlike other studies, this study considered agile criteria along with triple bottom line sustainable criteria for MOP selection. The novel method of SF assessment contributes to the literature and put forward the managerial implication for improving agility and sustainability of global manufacturing outsourcing in footwear industry.

An agile new product development-based sustainable supply chain framework to improve environmental quality performance: emerging economies perspective

PurposeSustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is a new subfield of supply chain management. The purpose of this research is to develop a framework for assessing the impact of agile new product development (ANPD) practices on the environmental SSCM performance.Design/methodology/approachThe ANPD practices and SSCM environmental performance metrics (SEPMs) are identified through the literature review. The shortlisted ANPD practices are categorized into five major criteria each with an own set of sub-criteria. A four-level conceptual framework is developed. The weights of these ANPD practices are computed using the Pythagorean fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (PFAHP), and the SEPMs are ranked using the Pythagorean fuzzy Combined Compromise Solution (PFCoCoSo).FindingsThe results show that the major criterion “Innovation Aspects” is the most important with a weightage of 0.2368, followed by “Policy Aspects” having 0.2228, “Technology Aspects” with 0.1959, “Organisation Aspects” having 0.1786 and “Executive Aspects” with 0.1658 weightage. The SEPMs “Frequency of NPD” is ranked first with an assessment value (Ki) of 2.5569, followed by “Lead time reduction” and “Number of design iterations” with Ki of 2.4482 and 2.3897, respectively. The research findings show that the ANPD practices like customer need assessment, availability of multidisciplinary team and Industry 4.0 technology usage contribute more to achieving environmental SSCM.Practical implicationsManagers can enhance environmental SSCM performance by adopting the ANPD practices and prioritizing SEPMs. Corporate effectiveness will be increased by the practices that promote SSCM and the use of technological innovations.Originality/valueThis study identified a unique set of 22 performance metrics that quantitatively measure NPD performance as well as environmental SSCM performance by adopting the 31 ANPD practices that were shortlisted. The proposed framework is a novel synthesis of literature from various disciplines such as new product development (NPD), environmental management, SSCM and performance evaluation.

Artificial intelligence-driven supply chain resilience in Vietnamese manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises

Despite the exponential growth of artificial intelligence (AI) research in operations, supply chain, and productions management literature, empirical insights on how organisational behavioural mechanisms at the human–technology interface will facilitate AI adoption in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and subsequent impact of the adoption on sustainable practices and supply chain resilience (SCR) is under-researched. To bridge these gaps, we integrate resource orchestration and knowledge-based view theoretical perspectives to develop a novel structural model examining antecedents to SCR and AI adoption, considering AI adoption as a pivot for facilitating SCR. The structural equation modelling technique was employed on the data collected from 280 Vietnamese manufacturing SMEs’ operations managers. Our results demonstrate that leadership will drive AI adoption by creating a data-driven, digital and conducive culture, and strengthening employee skills and competencies. Furthermore, AI adoption positively influences CE practices, SC agility and risk management, which will help to achieve SCR. For managers, the importance of internal organisational employee-centric mechanisms to create value from AI adoption without impeding business value is highlighted. We reveal the enablers that will help in transforming SMEs to become resilient by deriving appropriate responses to unprecedented disruptions through data-driven decision-making leveraging AI adoption.

Logistics Case study---DELL Company

this article examines the operations of DELL, a technology business that produces and sells PCs, servers, data storage devices, and networking equipment, are examined in this article. The article examines the significance of capacity management and inventory management, two critical components of a company's operations that can have a considerable impact on its profitability. Capacity management is concerned with matching supply and demand by planning and regulating supply or processing, whereas inventory management is concerned with having the right items in the right place at the right time. DELL has acquired a competitive advantage by implementing the build-to-order (BTO) approach, which allows the corporation to construct products only when a validated order is received, allowing consumers to receive personalized products on an individual basis.&#x0D; In conclusion, DELL's successful operations highlight the significance of excellent capacity and inventory management, supply chain management, and new business models. The use of the BTO model and an agile supply chain management approach by the company has allowed it to respond swiftly to changing market demands, supplying tailored products to specific clients. The company's inventory and data management operations have been optimized thanks to effective information exchange, vendor-managed inventory, and enterprise resource planning tools. To achieve long-term success in today's technology-driven company environment, cloud computing, and data security threats must be carefully considered.

The role of innovativeness and supply chain agility in the Australian service industry: a dynamic capability perspective

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the conditional indirect effect of innovativeness on performance via supply chain agility (SCA) in the service industry at higher and lower collaborative relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe hypothesised model is operationalised with survey data from 245 Australian service firms collected via LinkedIn and analysed using structural equation modelling and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).FindingsThe analysis found that SCA significantly mediates the relationship between innovativeness and performance. Further, the conditional indirect effect of innovativeness on performance via SCA was significant when the collaborative relationship was high. Results also revealed that a configuration of both innovativeness and agility better predicts performance.Originality/valueThis study is an early attempt to investigate SCA in service industries by scrutinizing SCA from an innovative point of view. While previous studies have demonstrated the role of innovativeness in enhancing a firm's performance, this study explores this link further by investigating the conditional indirect effect of innovativeness on performance via SCA at different levels of collaborative relationships.

Market trends and analysis of blockchain technology in supply chain

Technology is an important tool in the armory of state-of-the-art innovations, in terms of both digital expansions and disruptions. With blockchain technology gaining momentum, different industries are emphasizing experimentation with it. Nowadays, organizations are emphasizing towards agile and leaner supply chains with end-to-end prominence via the incorporation of this latest technology, thereby boosting services across the world. The revolutionary features of blockchain technology are paving the way for greater opportunities for supply chain businesses. The technology has the potential to become a supply chain data utility and repository that offers benefits to all its users, such as unique market information that would be otherwise unavailable from any other source. This paper contemplates the need for blockchain technology in the supply chain and its contribution to enhancing the overall efficiency and demand planning processes of businesses. It discusses the latest market trends and factors driving the need for the incorporation of blockchain in the supply chain sector and the future scenario. Different use cases of the technology, market challenges in the implementation of the technology, and the solutions offered by different companies to address such problems have also been discussed.

Supply chain agility and performance: evidence from a meta-analysis

PurposeThe link between supply chain agility (SCA) and performance has been tested in previous research with different samples and results. The present paper quantitatively analyses and summarises the impact of SCA on performance found in previous empirical papers and determines the influence of several identified moderators.Design/methodology/approachUsing a meta-analysis approach based on a systematic literature review, a total of 63 empirical papers comprising a sample of 14,469 firms were meta-analysed to consider substantive (type of performance and SCA operationalisation) and extrinsic (economic region and industry) moderators.FindingsResults confirm a significantly large, positive correlation between SCA and performance. None of the analysed moderators has enabled the identification of any significant differences between the SCA and performance correlations by subgroup. However, high heterogeneity in total variance, both in the full sample and the subgroups by moderator, demands further rigorously reported empirical research on this topic with clearly conceptualised variables and frameworks and the use of validated scales.Research limitations/implicationsSeveral research gaps and best practice recommendations have been indicated to improve future empirical research on this topic.Practical implicationsPractitioners in different economic regions and industries will find consistent evidence of improvements in performance through SCA.Originality/valueNo meta-analysis has been found in previous research to estimate the value of the correlation between SCA and performance and the influence of moderating variables.

Enabling supply chain efficacy through SC risk mitigation and absorptive capacity: an empirical investigation in manufacturing firms in the Middle East region – a moderated-mediated model

PurposeThis study aims to contribute to the supply chain management (SCM) literature differently. It offers insightful information about the main enablers that affect supply chain efficacy (SCE). Therefore, this study examines the significant roles and the relationships between SC absorptive capacity, SC risk mitigation, supply chain agility (SCA) and supply chain integration (SCI) among manufacturing firms (MFs) in the Middle East region.Design/methodology/approachThis paper performed a quantitative survey-based study to analyze the substantial roles of SC absorptive capacity, SC risk mitigation, SCA and SCI on SCE. Thus, the authors conducted an online survey through 260 MFs that are listed in the Chamber of the industries of Jordan, Egypt and Turkey that only responded by email. The main respondents were chief executive managers, operations managers, managers and logistics employees from both mid and top levels. The conceptual model was tested by using a hypothesis-testing deductive approach. The findings are based on covariance-based analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) using partial least squares (PLS)-SEM software.FindingsThe PLS-SEM clearly shows a significant relationship between SC absorptive capacity, SCA and SCI on SCE, while surprisingly still, SC risk mitigation does not significantly affect SCE. Further, the outcomes of this study indicate that there is a significant effect of SCA as a mediating factor in the relationship between SC absorptive capacity and SCE directly and indirectly, as well as a moderating effect of SCI in the relation, whereas there is a nonsignificant effect by SC risk mitigation. Finally, there is a significant effect of SCI in the relationship between SC absorptive capacity and SC risk mitigation on SCE as a moderating factor.Originality/valueThis study introduces a theoretical insight and empirically presents that both SCA and SCI are proper logistics characteristics for mediating and moderating the impact of SC absorptive capacity on SCE. Such findings of this study can provide insightful implications for managers at different levels in MFs, stakeholders and policymakers regarding the importance of using the three mentioned enablers on SCE in MFs, in the Middle East firms, in particular, and in developing countries, in general.

Evaluation of key indicators affecting the performance of healthcare supply chain agility

ABSTRACT In this study, essential factors of healthcare supply chain have been investigated. Factors were selected through an integrated approach, in which experts played a pivotal and decisive role in each phase. A novel hybrid methodology comprising Best-Worst-Method (BWM) and Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) is employed. Best-Worst-Method is utilised to determine the different weights of healthcare supply chain agility factors, and ISM and MICMAC analysis are utilising to examine interrelations among final selected factors. A case study in local pharmacies examined the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid model in the real world. The application of the hybrid BWM-ISM method demonstrates that ‘Proper IT infrastructure’ and ‘Strategic planning’ are the most significant factors, respectively. They will facilitate local pharmacies to accomplish agility practices in the healthcare supply chain thus, increasing effectiveness and adaptability to a variety of situations. This research helps public healthcare decision-makers by changing the organisation’s response to critical situations and unexpected events by implementing corrective measures within local pharmacies.

A fuzzy SWARA-WASPAS based approach for determining the role of lean practices in enabling the supply chain agility

A fuzzy SWARA-WASPAS based approach for determining the role of lean practices in enabling the supply chain agility