Exploring supply chain innovation

Abstract

Supply chain management promises competitive advantages for industrial organizations. The introduction of new products and services, or entry into new markets, is likely to be more successful if accompanied by innovative supply chain designs, innovative supply chain management practices, and enabling technology. This is a widely accepted premise in business practice today. However, systematic research and knowledge about supply chain innovation (SCI) is little developed. There is a lack of common terminology, of agreement about the conceptual understanding, and of related empirical work. This paper presents an exploratory study that aims to provide a better understanding of SCI, mirroring leading edge practice, and providing a sound terminological and conceptual basis for advanced academic work in the field. The research is based on an in-depth literature review and the analysis of a set of secondary data sources: 36 SCI cases, drawn from applications for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals' (CSCMP) Supply Chain Innovation Award. As results of the research, a new SCI definition, the construction of a descriptive model of its key elements, and discussion of implications are presented.

Harvesting big data to enhance supply chain innovation capabilities: An analytic infrastructure based on deduction graph

“…Thus, how could operations managers harvest big data to enhance supply chain innovation as well as to deliver better fact-based strategic decisions? Arlbjørn et al, (2011) state that supply chain innovation is a change within a supply chain network, supply chain technology, or supply chain process (or a combination of these) that can take place in a company function, within a company, in an industry or in a supply chain in order to enhance new value creation for the stakeholder. Many researchers pointed out that supply chain innovation is a vital instrument for improving the performance of a supply chain and it can provide firms with great benefits (Flint et al, 2005;Krabbe 2007).…”

Innovation and paths to social-ecological sustainability

“…Value chain innovation is defined as "a change (incremental or radical) within the supply chain network, supply chain technology, or supply chain processes (or combinations of these) that can take place in a company function, within a company, in an industry or in a supply chain in order to enhance new value creation for the stakeholder'' (Arlbjørn et al, 2011). The introduction of innovation requires the development of innovation capacity.…”

“…The concept innovation capacity has been defined as "the context specific range of skills, actors, practices, routines, institutions and policies needed to put knowledge into productive use in response to an evolving set of challenges, opportunities and technical and institutional contexts (Hall, 2005). Studies found that there is strong relationship between types of innovation introduced in a value chain and its innovation capacity (Arlbjørn, de Haas, & Munksgaard, 2011;Ferrer, Hyland, & Bretherton, 2009). Introducing value chain innovation has recently gained increased attention as means of overcoming risks, and as sources of competitive advantage (Martin, 2012;.…”

Guest editorial

“…Supply chain innovation has been defined as 'an incremental or radical change in structure, processes, or technology (or a combination of these) that takes place in the supply chain so as to create value for all stakeholders' (Arlbjørn et al 2011;Arlbjørn and Paulraj 2013). Reshoring can be seen as a form of supply chain innovation as it typically implies modifications in the structure and processes of the supply chains.…”