Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Agile Supply Chain Management

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
The Palgrave Handbook of Supply Chain Management

  • 115 Accesses

Abstract

Creating agile supply chains is of utmost importance to stay competitive. However, making supply chain operations agile or transforming networks towards an agile form is often challenging for most organizations. This chapter focuses on the agility concept in supply chains. The chapter overviews agile supply chain studies focused on developing models or frameworks for supply chain agility. A comprehensive collection of studies is summarized along with discussing the components of previously developed models or frameworks. The chapter further presents a section about the implementation of supply chain agility in different industries. Manufacturing, automotive, and construction industry examples are discussed. After discussing agility in different industries, the chapter provides emergent concerns and outstanding research areas to direct potential researchers and industry practitioners in terms of assessing supply chain agility. Main research areas on supply chain agility were demonstrated as the integration of supply chain agility with organizational operations, barriers to supply chain agility implementation, and the relation between supply chain agility and performance. To complement, managerial implications are summarized.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agarwal, A., Shankar, R., & Tiwari, M. K. (2007). Modeling agility of supply chain. Industrial Marketing Management, 36(4), 443–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2005.12.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AlKahtani, M., Rehman, A. U., Al-Zabidi, A., & Choudhary, A. (2019). Agile supply chain assessment: An empirical study on concepts, research and issues. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 44(3), 2551–2565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-018-3299-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Shboul, M. A. (2017). Infrastructure framework and manufacturing supply chain agility: The role of delivery dependability and time to market. Supply Chain Management, 22(2), 172–185. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-09-2016-0335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bal, J., Wilding, R., & Gundry, J. (1999). Virtual teaming in the agile supply chain. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 10(2), 71–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baramichai, M., Zimmers, E. W., & Marangos, C. (2006). Agile supply chain transformation matrix: A QFD-based tool for improving enterprise agility. International Journal of Value Chain Management, 1(3), 281–303. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJVCM.2007.013305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, K., Beedle, M., Van Bennekum, A., Cockburn, A., Cunningham, W., Fowler, M., Grenning, J., Highsmith, J., Hunt, A., Jeffries, R., Kern, J., Marick, B., Martin, R. C., Mellor, S., Schwaber, K., Sutherland, J., & Thomas, D. (2001). Manifesto for agile software development. The Agile Alliance.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernardes, E. S., & Hanna, M. D. (2009). A theoretical review of flexibility, agility and responsiveness in the operations management literature: Toward a conceptual definition of customer responsiveness. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 29(1), 30–53. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570910925352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braunscheidel, M. J., & Suresh, N. C. (2009). The organizational antecedents of a firm’s supply chain agility for risk mitigation and response. Journal of Operations Management, 27(2), 119–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2008.09.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho, H., Azevedo, S. G., & Cruz-Machado, V. (2012). Agile and resilient approaches to supply chain management: Influence on performance and competitiveness. Logistics Research, 4(1–2), 49–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12159-012-0064-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charbonnier-voirin, A. (2011). The development and partial testing of the psychometric properties of a measurement scale of organizational agility. Management, 14(2), 119–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christopher, M. (2000). The agile supply chain: Competing in volatile markets. Industrial Marketing Management, 29(1), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0019-8501(99)00110-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christopher, M., Lowson, R., & Peck, H. (2004). Creating agile supply chains in the fashion industry. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 32(8), 367–376. https://doi.org/10.1108/09590550410546188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christopher, M., & Peck, H. (2004). Building the resilient supply chain. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 15(2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Christopher, M., & Towill, D. (2001). An integrated model for the design of agile supply chains. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 31(4), 235–246. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600030110394914

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey, R., Altay, N., Gunasekaran, A., Blome, C., Papadopoulos, T., & Childe, S. J. (2018). Supply chain agility, adaptability and alignment: Empirical evidence from the Indian auto components industry. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 38(1), 129–148. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-04-2016-0173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eltawy, N., & Gallear, D. (2017). Leanness and agility: A comparative theoretical view. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 117(1), 149–165. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-01-2016-0032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, M. L. (1997). What is the right supply chain for your product? Harvard Business Review.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forrester, J. W. (1958). Industrial dynamics: A major breakthrough for decision makers. Harvard Business Review, 36(4), 37–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27922-5_13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganguly, A., Nilchiani, R., & Farr, J. V. (2009). Evaluating agility in corporate enterprises. International Journal of Production Economics, 118(2), 410–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2008.12.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gligor, D. M. (2014). The role of demand management in achieving supply chain agility. Supply Chain Management, 19(June), 577–591. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-10-2013-0363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, S. L., Nagel, R. N., & Preiss, K. (1995). Agile competitors and virtual organizations. Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunawardhana, N., Suzuki, S., & Enkawa, T. (2014). Supply chain management with leanness and agility: A value network perspective with a B2B apparel case study. Journal of Japan Industrial Management Association, 64(4), 591–600. https://doi.org/10.11221/jima.64.591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horney, N. (2013). Agility research: History and summary. Strategic Agility Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iacocca Institute. (1991). 21st century manufacturing enterprise strategy report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iskanius, P. (2006). An agile supply chain for a project-oriented steel product network. University of Oulu.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ismail, H. S., & Sharifi, H. (2006). A balanced approach to building agile supply chains. International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, 36(6), 431–444. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600030610677384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain, V., Benyoucef, L., & Deshmukh, S. G. (2008). A new approach for evaluating agility in supply chains using Fuzzy Association Rules Mining. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 21(3), 367–385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2007.07.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin-Hai, L., Anderson, A., & Harrison, R. (2003). The evolution of agile manufacturing. Business Process Management Journal, 170–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khalili-Damghani, K., Taghavifard, M., Olfat, L., & Feizi, K. (2011). A hybrid approach based on fuzzy DEA and simulation to measure the efficiency of agility in supply chain: Real case of dairy industry. International Journal of Management Science and Engineering Management, 6(3), 163–172. https://doi.org/10.1080/17509653.2011.10671160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H. L. (2002). Aligning supply chain strategies with product uncertainties. California Management Review, 44(3), 105–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H. L. (2004). The Triple-A supply chain. Harvard Business Review.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Chung, C., Goldsby, T. J., & Holsapple, C. W. (2008). A unified model of supply chain agility: The work-design perspective. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 19(3), 408–435. https://doi.org/10.1108/09574090810919224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C. T., Chiu, H., & Chu, P. Y. (2006). Agility index in the supply chain. International Journal of Production Economics, 100(2), 285–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2004.11.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C. T., Chiu, H., & Tseng, Y. H. (2006). Agility evaluation using fuzzy logic. International Journal of Production Economics, 101(2), 353–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2005.01.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Y., & Ramamurthy, K. (2011). Understanding the link between information technology capability and organizational agility: An empirical examination. MIS Quarterly, 35(4), 931–954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mandal, S. (2019). The influence of big data analytics management capabilities on supply chain preparedness, alertness and agility: An empirical investigation. Information Technology and People, 32(2), 297–318. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-11-2017-0386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meade, L. M., & Sarkis, J. (1999). Analyzing organizational project alternatives for agile manufacturing processes: An analytical network approach. International Journal of Production Research, 37(2), 241–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mehralian, G., Zarenezhad, F., & Ghatari, A. R. (2015). Developing a model for an agile supply chain in pharmaceutical industry. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, 9(1), 74–91. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPHM-09-2013-0050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Najrani, M. (2016). The endless opportunity of organizational agility. Strategic Direction, 32(3), 37–38. https://doi.org/10.1108/SD-02-2015-0026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Narasimhan, R., & Das, A. (1999). Manufacturing agility and supply chain management practices. Production and Inventory Management Journal, 40(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Naylor, J. B., Naim, M. M., & Berry, D. (1999). Leagility: Integrating the lean and agile manufacturing paradigms in the total supply chain. International Journal of Production Economics, 62(1), 107–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-5273(98)00223-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ngai, E. W. T., Chau, D. C. K., & Chan, T. L. A. (2011). Information technology, operational, and management competencies for supply chain agility: Findings from case studies. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 20(3), 232–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2010.11.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Overby, E., Bharadwaj, A., & Sambamurthy, V. (2005). A framework for enterprise agility and the enabling role of digital options. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 180, 295–312. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-25590-7_19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oyegoke, A. S., Khalfan, M. M. A., McDermott, P., & Dickinson, M. (2008). Managing risk and uncertainty in an agile construction environment: Application of agile building specialist model. International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 3(3–4), 248–262. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJASM.2008.021212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piya, S., Shamsuzzoha, A., Khadem, M., & Al-Hinai, N. (2020). Identification of critical factors and their interrelationships to design agile supply chain: Special focus to oil and gas industries. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, 21(3), 263–281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40171-020-00247-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poloie, K., Fazli, S., Alvandi, M., & Hasanlo, S. (2012). A framework for measuring the supply chain’s agility of mass construction industry in Iran. Management Science Letters, 2(7), 2317–2334. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2012.08.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Power, D. J., Sohal, A. S., & Rahman, S. U. (2001). Critical success factors in agile supply chain management an empirical study. International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, 31(4), 247–265. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600030110394923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prater, E., Biehl, M., & Smith, M. A. (2001). International supply chain agility tradeoffs between flexibility and uncertainty. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 21(5–6), 823–839. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570110390507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qrunfleh, S., & Tarafdar, M. (2013). Lean and agile supply chain strategies and supply chain responsiveness: The role of strategic supplier partnership and postponement. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 18(6), 571–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RimienÄ—, K. (2011). Supply chain agility concept evolution (1990–2010). Economics and Management, 16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sambamurthy, V., Bharadwaj, A., & Grover, V. (2003). Shaping agility through digital options: Reconceptualizing the role of information technology in contemporary firms. MIS Quarterly, 27(2), 237–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkis, J. (2001). Benchmarking for agility. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 8(2), 88–107. https://doi.org/10.1108/14635770110389816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seethamraju, R. (2006). Influence of enterprise systems on business process agility. In Global Conference on Emergent Business Phenomena in the Digital Economy (ICEB+eBRF). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iimb.2013.05.001

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sharifi, H., & Zhang, Z. (1999). A methodology for achieving agility in manufacturing organisations. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 20(4), 496–513. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570010314818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shashi, K., Centobelli, P., Cerchione, R., & Ertz, M. (2020). Agile supply chain management: Where did it come from and where will it go in the era of digital transformation? Industrial Marketing Management, 90(August), 324–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2020.07.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, J., Sharma, G., Hill, J., & Schnackenberg, A. (2013). Organizational agility: What it is, what it is not, and why it matters. Academy of Management Proceedings, 1(1), 1–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swafford, P. M., Ghosh, S., & Murthy, N. (2006). The antecedents of supply chain agility of a firm: Scale development and model testing. Journal of Operations Management, 24(2), 170–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2005.05.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teece, D. J., Peteratd, M., & Leih, S. (2016). Dynamic capabilities and organizational agility. California Management Review, 58(4), 13–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thipparat, T. (2010). Application of adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system in supply chain management evaluation. 2nd International Conference on Construction and Project Management IPEDR, 15, 187–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tse, Y. K., Zhang, M., Akhtar, P., & MacBryde, J. (2016). Embracing supply chain agility: An investigation in the electronics industry. Supply Chain Management, 21(1), 140–156. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-06-2015-0237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Hoek, R. I., Harrison, A., & Christopher, M. (2001). Measuring agile capabilities in the supply chain. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 21(1–2), 126–147. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570110358495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Oosterhout, M., Waarts, E., & van Hillegersberg, J. (2005). Assessing business agility: A multi-industry study in the Netherlands. In IFIP advances in information and communication technology (pp. 275–294). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-25590-7_18

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Verma, S., Jain, V., & Majumdar, A. (2012). Modeling an agile supply chain: Research challenges and future directions. Advances in Intelligent and Soft Computing, 131 AISC (2), 277–285. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0491-6_27.

  • Vinodh, S., Devadasan, S. R., Vimal, K. E. K., & Kumar, D. (2013). Design of agile supply chain assessment model and its case study in an Indian automotive components manufacturing organization. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 32(4), 620–631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2013.04.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter, A. T. (2021). Organizational agility: Ill-defined and somewhat confusing? A systematic literature review and conceptualization. Management Review Quarterly, 71, 343–391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-020-00186-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitten, G. D., Kenneth, W. G., & Zelbst, P. J. (2012). Triple-A supply chain performance. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 32(1), 28–48. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443571211195727

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yusuf, Y. Y., Gunasekaran, A., Adeleye, E. O., & Sivayoganathan, K. (2004). Agile supply chain capabilities: Determinants of competitive objectives. European Journal of Operational Research, 159(2 SPEC. ISS), 379–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2003.08.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yusuf, Y. Y., Sarhadi, M., & Gunasekaran, A. (1999). Agile manufacturing: The drivers, concepts and attributes. International Journal of Production Economics, 62(1), 33–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-5273(98)00219-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Z., & Sharifi, H. (2000). A methodology for achieving agility in manufacturing organisations. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 20(4), 496–513. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570010314818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhukov, P. V., Silvanskiy, A. A., Mukhin, K. Y., & Domnina, O. L. (2019). Agile supply chain management in multinational corporations: Opportunities and barriers. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 8(3), 416–425.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli, Turkey

    Emel Sadikoglu & Sevilay Demirkesen

Authors
  1. Emel Sadikoglu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sevilay Demirkesen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sevilay Demirkesen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Business School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA

    Joseph Sarkis

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Sadikoglu, E., Demirkesen, S. (2022). Agile Supply Chain Management. In: Sarkis, J. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Supply Chain Management. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89822-9_21-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89822-9_21-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-89822-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-89822-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Business and ManagementReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation