Supply chain evolution – theory, concepts and science

Abstract

Purpose Supply chains evolve and change in size, shape and configuration, and in how they are coordinated, controlled and managed. Some supply chains are mature and relatively unchanging. Some are subject to significant change. New supply chains may emerge and evolve for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of supply chain evolution and address the question “What makes a supply chain like it is?” Design/methodology/approach The paper analyses and develops key aspects, concepts and principal themes concerning the emergence and evolution of supply chains over their lifecycle. Findings The paper defines the supply chain lifecycle and identifies six factors that interact and may affect a supply chain over its lifecycle – technology and innovation, economics, markets and competition, policy and regulation, procurement and sourcing, supply chain strategies and re-engineering. A number of emergent themes and propositions on factors affecting a supply chain’s characteristics over its lifecycle are presented. The paper argues that a new science is needed to investigate and understand the supply chain lifecycle. Practical implications Supply chains are critical for the world economy and essential for modern life. Understanding the supply chain lifecycle and how supply chains evolve provides new perspectives for contemporary supply chain design and management. Originality/value The paper presents detailed analysis, critique and reflections from leading researchers on emerging, evolving and mature supply chains.

Mapping supply dynamics in renewable feedstock enabled industries: A systems theory perspective on ‘green’ pharmaceuticals

“…renewable feedstock, technology, market, value and viability). Thus far, the understanding and analytical capability on industrial and supply network evolution, especially for the domain of renewable feedstocks, is rather limited (MacCarthy et al 2016). In this regard, we suggest that the mapping of key stakeholders and product/processes entities at each of the 'feedstock-technology-market-value and viability' theme areas allows for the consistent analysis and improved understanding of enablers in renewable feedstock-based supply chains, in a repeatable manner.…”

Mapping industrial systems - a supply network perspective on enabling technologies, processes and actors

“…The development of an integrated methodology for mapping industrial emergence across the SN in a consistent and repeatable manner should enable improved understanding of enablers of industrial emergence. Whilst there is a body of literature on the technology development aspects of particular industries, and complementary work on the environmental, economic and fiscal contexts that have allowed them to develop, there is more limited understanding on industrial and SN evolution (MacCarthy et al, 2016).…”

“…Utterback (1994) introduced terms that capture traditional evolution pathways, from nurture to maturity. More recently, academics have questioned, in the age of rapid technological change and innovation, whether industries will typically reach maturity (MacCarthy et al, 2016) or whether they are likely to face continued reconfiguration.…”

Introducing a Novel Hybrid Artificial Intelligence Algorithm to Optimize Network of Industrial Applications in Modern Manufacturing

“…Steady state industry has been changed to dynamic industry by recent industrial revolutions, which has resulted in manufacturers being pushed by the global market to reconsider their conventional manufacturing methods [26]. Modern manufacturing needs new manufacturing operations, and effective factory management has great value in this area [27].…”

“…Readers, through the use of antennas, collect the data sent by tags and they relay this to a host computer to process it for further implementations. In essence, RFID is the technology of processing data, which is comprised of radio frequency signals emitted from mounted tags on subjects that are sent by readers to a host computer unit [26].…”