Although the level of sophistication in supply chain management has grown at a dramatic rate over the past decade, many firms are still struggling to eliminate functional boundaries. Some companies, however, have begun the process of evolving to a more integrative state – both internally and across their supply chain. Increasing supply chain complexity and the relentless pressure to reduce costs, has made firms realize that attaining the desired level of performance will only be possible through the end-to-end integration of the supply chain. This chapter examines the challenges and opportunities that firms face in trying to achieve this goal. An in-depth review of the literature related to supply chain integration is presented, culminating in a framework that focuses on demand and supply integration. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the desired end state for integration efforts, which is to create an adaptive supply chain that is capable of competing in the environment of “supply chain versus supply chain.”
Design for mass customisation, design for manufacturing, and design for supply chain: A review of the literature
