Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Study on Coordination Issues for Flexibility in Supply Chain of SMEs: A Case Study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As a result of globalization and liberalization, Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been passing through a transitional period. With slowing down of economy in India and abroad, countries like China is giving tough competition by offering quality products at lower cost. To face this tough competition of open global markets, SMEs must have coordinated and flexible supply chain (SC). Supply chain management (SCM) can help any organization when implemented effectively. A coordinated and flexible SC increases the SC profitability. SMEs in India lack resources and guidance for SCM implementation. In this paper authors have tried to discuss SCM implementation in an illumination sources manufacturing Indian SME. Situation-actor-process (SAP)–learning-action-performance (LAP) model has been applied for this case study. The situation represents the present scenario of the organization. Actors are the participants, influencing the situation to evolve different business processes. Based on SAP, various learning issues have been analyzed which will help in identifying suitable action for improving the performance. From case study it is observed that on time delivery, innovativeness, flexibility of manufacturing system, location of suppliers and customers, management of transportation system are main priorities for case organization while forming SC strategy.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adrian, E., Coronado, M., & Lyons, A. C. (2007). Evaluating operations flexibility in industrial supply chains to support build-to order initiatives. Business Process Management Journal, 13(4), 572–587.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arend, R. J., & Wisner, J. D. (2005). Small business and supply chain management: Is there a fit? Journal of Business Venturing, 20(3), 403–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arshinder, Kanda A., & Deshmukh, S. G. (2007). Supply chain coordination issues: An SAP–LAP frame work. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 19(3), 240–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arshinder, Kanda A., & Deshmukh, S. G. (2008). Supply chain coordination: Perspectives, empirical studies and research directions. International Journal of Production Economics, 115, 316–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arshinder, Kanda A., & Deshmukh, S. G. (2009). A framework for evaluation of coordination by contracts: A case of two-level supply chains. Computers and Industrial Engineering, 56, 1177–1191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basnet, C. (2013). The measurement of internal supply chain integration. Management Research Review, 36(2), 153–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, I. J., & Paulraj, A. (2004). Understanding supply chain management: Critical research and a theoretical framework. International Journal of Production Research, 42(1), 131–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christopher, M. (1998). Logistics and supply chain management (2nd ed.). London: Financial Times.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Toni, A. F., & Tonchia, S. (2005). Definitions and linkages between operational and strategic flexibilities. Omega, 33(6), 525–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Disney, S. M., & Towill, D. R. (2003). Vendor-managed inventory and bullwhip reduction in a two-level supply chain. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 23(6), 625–651.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garavelli, C. (2003). Flexibility configuration for the supply chain management. International Journal of Production Economics, 85(2), 141–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grittell, J. H., & Weiss, L. (2004). Coordination networks within and across organizations: A multi-level framework. Journal of Management Studies, 41(1), 127–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krajewski, L., Wei, J. C., & Tang, L.-L. (2005). Responding to schedule changes in build-to-order supply chains. Journal of Operations Management, 23(5), 452–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, P., Shankar, R., and Yadav, S.S. (2007). Flexibility in global supply chain: a review of perspectives: Proceedings of Seventh Global Conference on Flexible System Management (GLOGIFT-07) 377–385.

  • Liu, H., Ke, W., Wei, K. K., & Hua, Z. (2013). Effects of supply chain integration and market orientation on firm performance. International Journal of Operation and Production Management, 33(3), 322–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Majumdar, S. K., & Gupta, M. P. (2001). E-business strategy of car industry: SAP–LAP analysis of select case studies. Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, 2(3), 13–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mentzer, J. T., DeWitt, W., Keebler, J. S., Min, S., Nix, N. W., Smith, C. D., et al. (2001). Defining supply chain management. Journal of Business Logistics, 22(2), 1–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Narayanan, V. G., & Raman, A. (2004). Aligning incentives in supply chains. Harvard Business Review, 82(11), 94–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paik, S. K., & Bagchi, P. K. (2007). Understanding the causes of the bullwhip effect in a supply chain. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management, 35(4), 308–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ponis, S. T., Eijk, P. V., & Masselos, V. (2012). Supply chain interoperability for enhancing e-business adoption by SMEs: A case study from the European clothing sector. International Journal of Business Information Systems, 10(4), 417–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R. K. (2008). Strategy development for competitiveness: Case of an Indian automotive company. International Journal of Automotive Industry and Management, 2(2), 17–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R. K. (2011). Developing the framework for coordination in supply chain of SMEs. Business Process Management Journal, 17(4), 619–638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R. K. (2013). Prioritizing the factors for coordinated supply chain using analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Measuring Business Excellence, 17(1), 80–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R. K., Kumar, R., & Shankar, R. (2012). Supply chain management in SMEs: A case study. International Journal of Manufacturing Research, 7(2), 165–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soroor, J., Tarokh, J. M., & Shemshadi, A. (2009). Theoretical and practical study of supply chain Coordination. Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, 24(2), 131–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sushil, (2000). SAP–LAP models of inquiry. Management Decision, 38(5), 347–353.

    Article  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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, K. C. (2001). A frame work of supply chain management literature. European Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 7(1), 39–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thakkar, J., Kanda, A., & Deshmukh, S. G. (2008). A conceptual role interaction model for supply chain management in SMEs. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 15(1), 74–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Upton, D. M. (1994). The management of manufacturing flexibility. California Management Review, 36(2), 72–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, B. A., Fillis, I., & Johansson, U. (2003). E-business and e-supply in small and medium sized businesses. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 8(4), 343–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to thanks referees for their valuable comments and suggestions to improve quality and content of the paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maharaja Agarsen Institute of Technology, New Delhi, 86, India

    Ravinder Kumar

  2. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), B-21, Kutub Institutional Area, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Rajesh Kumar Singh

  3. Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hauzkhas, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Ravi Shankar

Authors
  1. Ravinder Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rajesh Kumar Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ravi Shankar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ravinder Kumar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumar, R., Singh, R.K. & Shankar, R. Study on Coordination Issues for Flexibility in Supply Chain of SMEs: A Case Study. Glob J Flex Syst Manag 14, 81–92 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40171-013-0032-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40171-013-0032-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation