Impact pathways: technology-aided supply chain planning for resilience
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
ISSN: 0144-3577
Article publication date: 7 June 2024
Issue publication date: 21 January 2025
Abstract
Purpose
Due to emerging uncertainties, supply chain planning (SCP) has become complex for many companies, and practitioners are unsure how emerging technologies can help. We address this gap by identifying pathways of how digital technologies may aid planned flexibility in SCP.
Design/methodology/approach
The research builds on engaged scholarship and co-creation of knowledge. Eight senior managers from two companies participated in three rounds of workshops with us discussing and contrasting their planning challenges and potential solutions using examples of industry 4.0 applications drawn from the literature.
Findings
Based on a novel framework for digital transition in SCP, this research shows how emerging technologies may aid SCP in building resilience to emergent uncertainties and open new research avenues through four impact pathways.
Research limitations/implications
The SCP literature is ruefully short on studies that address technology-aided SC resilience. The research explains why this calls for a paradigm shift in SCP research.
Originality/value
This research argues that resilience-building SCP requires planned flexibility and presents a digital transition framework that allows for it.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Research Council of Norway, and SFI Manufacturing.
Declaration: Data collection and management was approved and administered by Sikt, Norway, and performed in line with the research ethics protocol of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Citation
Sengupta, S., Dreyer, H.C. and Jonsson, P. (2025), "Impact pathways: technology-aided supply chain planning for resilience", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 45 No. 2, pp. 416-433. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-09-2023-0727
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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