Process control in an agile supply chain network

Abstract

The work comprises a new theoretical development applied to aid decision making in an increasingly important commercial sector. Agile supply, where small volumes of high margin, short life cycle innovative products are offered, is increasingly carried out through a complex global supply chain network. We outline an equilibrium solution in such a supply chain network, which works through limited cooperation and coordination along edges (links) in the network.The links constitute the stochastic modelling entities rather than the nodes of the network. We utilise newly developed phase plane analysis to identify, model and predict characteristic behaviour in supply chain networks. The phase plane charts profile the flow of inventory and identify out of control conditions. They maintain quality within the network, as well as intelligently track the way the network evolves in conditions of changing variability. The methodology is essentially distribution free, relying as it does on the study of forecasting errors, and can be used to examine contractual details as well as strategic and game theoretical concepts between decision-making components (agents) of a network. We illustrate with typical data drawn from supply chain agile fashion products.

The relationships among network ties, organizational agility, and organizational performance: A study of the flat glass industry in Taiwan

“…Agility refers to quick responses to customers, minimization of manufacturing lead time, and speed of delivery (Jacobs, Droge, Vickery, & Calantone, 2011). In order to achieve true agility, supplies partners must make good use of existing equipment and promote efficiency in order to act faster (Pearson, Masson, & Swain, 2010; Costantino, Dotoli, Falagario, Fanti, & Mangini, 2012; Mirzapour Al-e-Hashem, Malekly, & Aryanezhad, 2012). Numerous existing literatures advocate that the achievement and maintenance of agility are the key elements to sustain corporate competitiveness in the dynamic and uncertain environment (Yusuf, Musa, Dauda, El-Berishy, Kovvuri, & Abubakar, 2013).…”

Managing the Risks in the Clothing Supply Chain Considering the Coronavirus Pandemic

“…Based on Christopher (2000), it initiated the acceptance and application of a more agile and flexible SC management to guarantee that companies are competent in dealing with uncertainty. Pearson et al (2010) argued that the clothing industry's development signified the market situation has shifted into pilot briefer life cycle goods, high variation of goods, differentiation of goods as a competitive advantage, volatile demands, and small production capacity; with high turnovers. This growing economic scale and product diversity necessitated companies' responsiveness to customer demand, promoting agile-SC management (Fan et al, 2007).…”

“…Besides, enhanced communication and coordination in the SC systems increase transparency where firms can develop improved relations with their business partners and promote moral and ecologically-friendly operations, thus alleviating reputation risks. The concept of a complex adaptive system (CAS) can be applied to supervise suppliers and intermediary networks to enhance the decision-making process (Pearson et al, 2010). It may be expensive in the short run; however, agile-SC management can intensify competition among supply partners in the long run because firms will have richer information about the supplier operations, providing possible cost reductions in management, production, and materials.…”

Integration of SPC and performance maintenance for supply chain system

“…Therefore, quality control should expand from an individual firm to the entire supply chain. Extant studies on supply chain quality control and coordination were mainly concerned with choice of the optimal quality strategy and contract design (Tapiero 2007;Pearson, Masson, and Swain 2010;Jraisat and Sawalha 2013). Heydari (2014) contends that controlling lead time variability is an incentive scheme for convincing the retailer to participate in a coordination plan.…”