Innovators and transformers: developing an integrated supply chain analysis framework for performance improvement

Purpose Operations and supply chain management (OSCM) scholars and practitioners have developed many supply chain analysis (SCA) tools. However, the literature remains fragmented; most tools focus on firm-level, efficiency-based assessments and fail to integrate strategic and operational analyses. Further, OSCM scholars miss the opportunity to learn from SCA innovators and transformers who leverage big data and rapid technological developments. This study fills this gap by developing a holistic SCA framework (SCAF) and proposing three relevant research avenues. Design/methodology/approach The research design combined a comprehensive literature review of SCA tools with a study of a large pharmaceutical company. The empirical data comprised interviews with supply chain (SC) stakeholders and archival records. Using this case, the study demonstrates SCAF in the blood supply chain, which presents unique characteristics with high social, economic and ethical value. Findings The review of SCA tools and methods revealed a lack of integrative frameworks that can leverage the latest digital innovations to serve modern industrial strategy. Additionally, existing SCA frameworks often overlook the environmental and social performance of the SC. SCAF integrates three strategic (stakeholder, process mapping and risk) and three operational (performance, efficiency and failure) analytical methods. This study suggests three research avenues: (1) Towards a unified SCAF, (2) Digital innovation and transformation in SCA and (3) Reconceptualising SC performance and analysis. Practical implications There is a large imbalance between demand and supply, especially for highly valuable goods like blood and biological therapeutics. This study develops a comprehensive SCA Framework and demonstrates its application in biological therapeutics. Originality/value While there are many SCA tools, SCAF bridges strategic and operational analysis, offering an innovative platform that can advance SCA, auditing and performance improvement across various contexts.