Agile supply chain concept

Ismail and Sharifi (2006) present a structured framework to provide a practical approach for implementing agile supply chains (ASC), based on the concepts of supply chain design and design for supply chain. 

The concept of agility the dimensions of the agile supply chain, and the environments that favour agility. We consider when and where agile capabilities should be applied to supply chains. 

Today, various virtual e-services and physical services models may be developed, evaluated, and monitored using a balanced scorecard approach. The service value network concept also fits under this measured strategic decision-making approach. Service value networks house fully integrated e-demand and e-supply chains working in harmony to the deliver both services and e-services. They are also highly agile and offer customer-induced flexible business solutions to customer requests. 

The challenge to logistics management is to create appropriate supply chain solutions to meet the needs of these ditferent value segments. More than likely there will be the need for multiple supply chain solutions since one size will not fit all . This issue will be dealt with in detail in Chapter 5 where the concept of supply chain agility is discussed. 

It will be apparent that agility is not a single company concept but rather it extends from one end of the supply chain to the other. The concept of agility has significant implications for how organisations within the supply/demand network relate to each other and how they can best work together on the basis of shared information. 

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