The supply chain is one of the most dynamically developing concepts, which in recent years has been the subject of intensive research in both the theory and practice of business activity. The strengthening of the development trend in the field of supply chain studies is the result of many factors that have directly or indirectly contributed to its popularization.
Among the most important premises, one should mention: the creation of a global market associated with the emergence of a world economy, the necessity of mastering new markets in order to better influence customers and the need to cope with increasing pressure from competition, the dynamic development of information technologies, the increase in customer pressure associated with their discovery of ever newer, more sophisticated needs, the necessity of reducing operating costs, the creation and development of new management techniques and methods, and the cost of investment and scientific-technical and development research, the high level of which exceeds the financial capabilities of individual enterprises.
In connection with the occurrence of the distinguished factors, the successive phases of the development of the supply chain idea result from the necessity of the best possible adaptation to a turbulent, permanently changing environment.
Evolution of the supply chain
In scientific studies, one can encounter many different, often mutually inconsistent views regarding the evolution that the supply chain concept has undergone. The multitude and diversity of these opinions is the result of many factors, among which one should mention:
– the varied level of economic development of individual regions of the world – this means that for some publicists certain solutions are a generally accepted standard, while for others they represent only a vague future
– the difficult subject of research – the matter of supply chains is so complicated and interpreted in such varied ways that it is difficult to analyze it in a way that does not raise any doubts
– looking through the prism of different criteria – the varied selection of elements determining a given classification of supply chains, as a result of which different elements of it are emphasized.
The article comes from the journal “Logistyka” 3/2004.