The role of flexibility in supply chain management – a review of empirical studies

Abstract

Firms are facing the competitive side effects and dynamic challenges of the domestic and global markets. In this scenario, flexibility of supply chain has become a key priority for organizations to respond effectively and efficiently to environmental uncertainty and increasingly customer expectations.This study systematically reviews the empirical studies on flexibility in context of supply chain to provide a broad map of the current state of research on different aspects of supply chain flexibility (SCF). To obtain a database, a term-specific literature review technique was used which led to identify 201 articles from various journals, and through a three-stage refinement process, 59 empirical articles were chosen for analysis.The results of content analysis are categorized and discussed based on methods, applied theory, enablers of SCF, positive outcomes of SCF, and the role of flexibility in different performance measurement. Finally, the issues and potential gaps of current studies are highlighted which can provide valuable academic and managerial insights for researcher and practitioners in the field of supply chain.