Development of agile supply chains within SMEs

Changes in worldwide competition and the traditional marketplace have resulted in SMEs facing unprecedented levels of challenge. Larger organisations have traditionally made use of their financial power to enforce supply chain compliance, but their small stature eliminates this possibility for SMEs. New methods of supply chain development in terms of agility provide a viable option to assist SMEs in this new environment. Various frameworks have been proffered to assist in the development of supply chain agility, yet they tend to concentrate on the prospect from a strategic rather than an operational perspective. Underpinned by these supporting frameworks, this paper provides a practical model through which agile supply chains can be developed by SMEs for their long-term growth and competitiveness.