Unlocking effective multi-tier supply chain management for sustainability through quantitative modeling: Lessons learned and discoveries to be made

Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour*, Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, Joseph Sarkis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview Articlepeer-review

69 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Contemporary multi-tier supply chains are increasingly international, complex, and challenging for suppliers and focal companies. In addition to this, internal and external stakeholders, regulators, consumers and non-governmental organizations all now require firms to take responsibility for and action towards mitigating unsustainable practices and misconduct in their supply chains. In dealing with this complex supply chain context, quantitative modeling approaches are relevant in their ability to capture the complexity of problems in order to propose effective and sustainable solutions. The main objective of this study is to review selected literature on the effective management of sustainability in supply chains, and its attendant implications for multi-tier supply chain modeling problems. Previously published modeling research that may directly or indirectly provide lessons for multi-tier sustainable supply chains is investigated utilizing the Scopus database. After analyzing the relevant literature, we deliver the following contributions: (a) a systematization and classification of the selected papers; (b) a description of 16 research gaps that remain in the literature and that may be useful in expanding research efforts in this domain; (c) four lessons for both practitioners and managers dealing with sustainability in multi-tier supply chains; (d) an integrative framework which encapsulates key areas of focus to develop multi-tier sustainable supply chains. Implications for theory and practice are suggested, as well as limitations concerning the scope of this systematic review.

Original languageEnglish
Peer-reviewed scientific journalInternational Journal of Production Economics
Volume217
Issue numberNovember
Pages (from-to)11-30
Number of pages20
ISSN0925-5273
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 07.09.2018
MoE publication typeA2 Review article in a scientific journal

Keywords

  • 512 Business and Management
  • Sustainable supply chains
  • Multi-tiered supply chains
  • Sustainable operations
  • Systematic literature review

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