Supply chain design during product development: a systematic literature review

Abstract

This paper explores how supply chains can be designed during product development (PD) through systematically reviewing 143 peer-reviewed journal articles written in English. The findings indicate that practitioners can perform 14 supply chain design (SCD) activities during PD. These activities are grouped into levels and areas, and a model is developed that interrelates SCD with nine product characteristics. Therewith, scholars are given a deep insight into the literature on SCD during PD. The paper also provides a framework for developing company- and project-specific checklists that can be used for multiple purposes, including planning, performing, or evaluating SCD activities before, during, or after PD projects. The implementation of the framework, according to the characteristics of a manufacturer and its PD projects, constitutes an opportunity for the creation of resilient supply chains.