Smart supply chain management: a review and implications for future research

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. Structured Abstract:Purpose: As traditional supply chains are increasingly becoming intelligent with more objects embedded with sensors and better communication, intelligent decision-making and automation capabilities, the new smart supply chain presents unprecedented opportunities for achieving cost reduction and enhancing efficiency improvement. The purpose of the paper is to study and explore the currents status and remaining issues of smart supply chain management (SSCM) .Design/methodology/approach: A literature review is conducted to synthesize the earlier work in this area, and to conceptualize and discuss the smart supply chain characteristics. Further, we formulate and investigate the five key research topics including information management, IT, process automation, advanced analytics, and supply chain integration.Findings: Studies in those aforementioned subject fields are reviewed, categorized, and analysed based on the review questions defined in the study. It is notable that while the topics of converging atoms with digits are increasingly attracting attention from researchers and practitioners alike, there are many more interesting research questions needing to be addressed.Originality/value: The paper provides original and relevant guidance for SCM researchers and practitioners on developing smart supply chains.

Examining potential benefits and challenges associated with the Internet of Things integration in supply chains

“…It represents one of the most disruptive technology, enabling ubiquitous and pervasive computing scenarios. The IoT can also be defined as a network of hardware, software, devices, databases, objects, sensors, and systems, all working at the service of humanity (Wu et al, 2016). A foundational technology for the IoT is the RFID technology, which allows microchips to transmit the identification information to a reader through wireless communication .…”

Archetypes of Supply Chain Analytics Initiatives—An Exploratory Study

“…Concerning an initiative perspective, this actually opposes maturity models setting standards for organization-wide implementation for highest maturity [56] or considering strategic initiatives for highest maturity [16]. These levels of maturity address the analytics culture of the organization [2] which may influence the spread of initiatives but not dictate the choice of initiatives.…”

The Role of Digital Connectivity in Supply Chain and Logistics Systems: A Proposed SIMPLE Framework

“…That is, different efforts and several partners, as also human skills are necessary [4] to achieve success or minimize the failures. • Improve the logistics and SCM processes by key technologies and spread in the network: critical technologies need to support improvements not only in internal processes [35], but also throughout the whole SCM channels [36]. • Create new products/services as a result of the connectivity's interaction in the SCM: the interaction that is brought about by connectivity should contribute to creating innovative products and services by means of SCM.…”