Supply chain (re)design: Support for managerial and policy decisions

Abstract

A well-structured supply chain is of key importance in achieving efficient operations amongst the suppliers, manufacturers, distribution facilities and distribution channels that constitute the supply chain. The changing economic and political environment challenges multinational corporations to redesign their existing production and distribution network and to develop new strategies to meet customer service levels at lowest cost. This paper reviews the literature on supply chain design since 1999 with the objective of supporting the development of richer supply chain models capable of taking all logistics costs into account thereby optimizing the full cost of ownership for multinational corporations and allowing for a consolidation of value adding activities in high-wage regions.