Supply chains are faced with a rising complexity of products, structures, and processes. Because
of the strong link between a supply chain’s complexity and its efficiency the supply chain
complexity management becomes a major challenge of today’s business management. A two
dimensional driver concept is introduced and explained to comprehend the major causes of a
supply chains’ complexity. To map the effects of the drivers and to understand the different
dimensions of complexity, a general complexity model is introduced. A supply chain complexity
analysis approach is presented, to evaluate the initial situation and to provide the necessary
information for deriving the right actions and strategies for the management of complexity
within a supply chain