Abstract for: Modelling Integration and Responsiveness for Supply Chain

A key feature of present day business is the fact that it is the supply chains that compete, not companies and the success or failure of supply chains is ultimately determined in the marketplace by the end consumer. Getting the right product, at the right time to the consumer is not only the linchpin to competitive success, but also the key to survival. Hence, customer satisfaction and market place understanding are critical elements for consideration when attempting to establish a new supply chain strategy. Based on the literature review, survey results, and discussion with experts, causal relationships among supply chain performance variables have been developed. On the basis of these causal relationships, a framework has been modeled using system dynamics approach to capture the dynamic impact of performance variables on the supply chain integration and responsiveness for a period of eighteen months. This framework is useful in analyzing the dynamic impact of different policies towards integration and responsiveness of a supply chain.