Title: Supply chain flexibility: a risk management approach

Authors: Dileep S. More, A. Subash Babu

Addresses: Operations Management Group, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Room No. 207, A-Block, Diamond Harbour Road, Joka, Kolkata 700104, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India

Abstract: The variety of disturbances and risks in a supply chain (SC) made it more dynamic and unstable, and imposed a number of constraints achieving business excellence. An interruption if occurred at a SC partner may have impact on others and the influence may propagate across the chain. The propagated influence leads to inefficient processing and non-value adding activities across the chain. In this study, a hierarchical relationship model of SC stimuli (disruptions, problems, uncertainties or changes) has been developed evolving the relationship dynamics among them. The study also addresses how to reduce vulnerability of stimuli and their risks to SC by deploying flexibility in SC.

Keywords: SCM; supply chain management; stimuli dynamics; supply chain flexibility; ISM; interpretive structural modelling; risk management; propagated influences; inefficient processing; non-value adding activities; hierarchical relationships; disruptions; uncertainties; change; relationship dynamics; vulnerability reduction; business innovation; R&D; research and development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2011.040098

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2011 Vol.5 No.3, pp.255 - 279

Published online: 07 Mar 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article