Major Features of Adaptive Supply Chains – Literature Review

Adaptiveness is one of the most significant features of the supply chain that affects the results of its functioning. The capability of the supply chain to adapt to all, more and more demanding conditions is one of the main factors that guarantee long-term competitiveness and success. R. Kalakota, M. Robinson and P. Gundepudi consider inventory visibility, fulfilment velocity and coordination versatility as three fundamental pillars of adaptive supply chains, also termed as 3V in the literature. The chief objective of this paper is the identification of features that a supply chain should have in order to be called adaptive, as well as the verification of their compliance with the 3V principle. The review of the available literature sources that focus on the subject of the major features of adaptive supply chains (in particular having a decisive effect on their adaptive capabilities) has resulted in certain common elements. The authors of all the described approaches emphasise the two features: visibility and velocity. The third, frequently indicated, feature is also versatility or variety (that can be treated as one of the elements of the versatility of the supply chain). Visibility involves ensuring access to the information for all participants in the supply chain, also customers. Velocity, in turn, refers to the reaction time of the supply chain to all sorts of events and the time of implementing necessary changes. The third element is versatility. It primarily involves balancing the operational capability of a supply chain with market requirements, in particular delivering suitable products and services of the required quality and in the ordered volume. It is also vital to adjust the offer to the individual needs of customers.