Performance measurement in supply chains: new network analysis and entropic indexes

• Published in: International journal of production research Vol. 48; no. 8; pp. 2297 - 2321
• Main Authors: Allesina, S., Azzi, A., Battini, D., Regattieri, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2010; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Complexity; entropic model; Entropy; Exact sciences and technology; Exchange; Focusing; Globalization; Logistics; Markets; Network analysis; Networks; Operational research and scientific management; Operational research. Management science; Operations research; Optimization; performance indexes; Studies; Supply chain management; supply chain management (SCM); supply network analysis; Script; complexity; Globalization; Entropy; Modeling; performance indexes; supply chain management (SCM); Product structure; entropic model; Network analysis; Ecosystem; supply network analysis; Logistics
• ISSN: 0020-7543; 1366-588X
• DOI: 10.1080/00207540802647327

Industrial organisations must supply a variety of products and services, meet the needs of fragmented customer expectations, and cope with the consequences of the globalisation of world markets, all of which are producing significant levels of complexity. This study develops a new quantitative measurement of complexity for a supply network based on network analysis, which is often used to study natural ecosystems, focusing in particular on the concept of entropy of information. The research reports advances in both theory on the supply network analysis problem and on its application to industrial contexts. Eight indexes based on entropy are presented. These measures provide a meaningful analysis of the level of complexity in the whole supply network mapping the exchanges of goods between the different actors in the network. The impact of possible modifications of the structure can simply be evaluated using these tools, providing a simple evaluation of the different scenarios. The proposed method takes a holistic point of view to tackle the problem of supply network optimisation. A real world application of the developed new methodology is presented.