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Full Length Research Paper
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Triplex-network design for
research of supply chain reliability
Xin Miao*, Bao Xi and Bo Yu
School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150001,
Harbin, China.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
miaoxin@yahoo.cn
or miaoxin@hit.edu.cn
Tel: +86-451-86402927.
Accepted 2 November, 2008. |
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Abstract |
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The purpose of this paper was to explore a research design,
which can integrate knowledge in multi-discipline into
triplex-network architecture, for the development of systematic
Supply Chain Reliability (SCR) theory. Through analysis of the
emergence of triplex-network in supply chains,
triplex-network-based evaluation model of SCR was proposed and a
numerical example was provided. The dynamic interactions of
various entities involved in a supply chain lead to their
relation emerging as interactive triplex-network in higher level
and further lead to the supply chain emerging as a complex
societal-techno interactive system in even higher level.
Therefore, hierarchical conceptual architecture and
triplex-network analysis are significant for the development of
SCR theory. SCR was considered as a unification of fuzzy and
random meaning in dynamic environment in this paper.
Furthermore, intrinsic relationship between the theoretical
foundation of SCR evaluation and the cloud theory was discovered
and accordingly, cloud theory is applied to study the evaluation
of SCR. Multi-disciplinary meta-synthesis research method
presented in this paper will bring inspiration to
multi-disciplinary reliability-related researches. This work
contributed to the understanding and evaluation of SCR and has
important implication as for the need to incorporate various
entities and networks into the collaborative management process
of supply chains to reduce disruption risks. This work will
provide valuable insight to academicians and business
professionals.
Key words:
Supply chain management, reliability, triplex-network,
emergence, societal-techno interactive system, meta-synthesis. |
