A Literature Review of Supply Chain Collaboration Mechanisms and Their Impact on Performance

Abstract

This article contributes a comprehensive literature review fulfilling the identified need for a systematic empirical study examining how well the mechanisms of supply chain collaboration (SCC) correspond with performance. A review of articles during the period of 2000–2017 reveals fundamental trends in adopted methodologies, scopes of SCC, and areas of performance. However, limited research focused on qualitative and simulation-based research in specific industries and geographic sections was found. A need for additional research on horizontal and internal collaboration, elements of power dependence in the relationship with performance, and the effects of SCC mechanisms on environmental and social performance was identified. This article contributes a maturity model for SCC that provides guidance to engineering managers to develop a roadmap for effectively implementing and improving the SCC process. The article suggests that engineering managers may benefit from examining case studies and the systems dynamics tool to explore how different collaboration levels lead to various performance outcomes in future.

Keywords:

• Supply Chain Collaboration
• Performance
• Impact
• Maturity
• Literature Review

EMJ Focus Areas:

• Supply Chain Management

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dung Ho

Dung Ho is a PhD student at School of Engineering, RMIT University, Australia. Ms. Dung holds a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering and Master of Engineering Management. Her current research area is how supply chain collaboration improves firm performance. Her research interests include supply chain management, operations management, simulation, and project management.

Arun Kumar

Arun Kumar is a Senior Lecturer of Logistics and Transport Systems Engineering at RMIT University, Australia. Prior to joining RMIT University, he was employed as an Associate Professor of Systems and Engineering Management at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and Associate Professor of Decision Sciences at the State University of New Jersey, USA. He obtained his PhD in Operations Research from Virginia Tech. His research interests are in reliability, logistics, and health care systems.

Nirajan Shiwakoti

Nirajan Shiwakoti obtained his PhD degree from Monash University. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at School of Engineering at RMIT University. He is also a program leader of urban mobility systems under Cyber-Physical Systems Research Group at RMIT. His research interests include crowd dynamics, resiliency of supply chain, adoption and deployment of autonomous vehicles.