The Role of Supply Chain Integration and Agile Practices in Improving Lead Time During the COVID-19 Crisis

Supply Chain Integration

Generally, supply chain integration could be described as all processes within an organisation that involve all suppliers and customers, integrating them to come up with a product or service (Malakouti et al., 2017). Meanwhile, supply chain refers to every input that is needed to produce a product or deliver a service and fulfil a certain need. Therefore, supply chain integration can be considered as a close alignment as well as coordination within a supply chain (Carvalho et al., 2012). It is often designed for the utilization of shared management information systems. Supply chain integration depends on its dimensions, such as strengths, duration, scope and depth. Each of these dimensions plays a crucial role in fulfilling the following processes (Ataseven & Nair, 2017). Supply chain integration requires internal cooperation and external collaboration and also needs significant coordination as well as alignment to ensure that everyone is working effectively towards fulfilling the same goal (Yip, 2015). Integration related to the supply chain can be conceptualized by four dimensions, including strength, duration, scope and depth. All of these four dimensions are independent but need to be managed and integrated together (Budacu & Pocatilu, 2018).

Supply chain integration could be divided into levels: internal supply chain integration and external supply chain integration. Internal integration is related to the active and on-time communication, coordination, cooperation and collaboration of inter- and cross-functional activities through systematic interaction within the supply chain (Dove, 2005). External integration is related to the interaction with suppliers, customers and other partners by ensuring continuous and fruitful communication, coordination and collaboration, creating a long-term partnership and strategic alliances (Christopher, 2000).