6. Research agenda
The models reviewed here, and summarized above
in Table 1, utilize a number of the performance
measures identified in Sections 4.1 and 4.2. Table 2
summarizes the reviewed research. For each of the
models studied, the table illustrates: (1) the type(s)
of modeling methodology used, (2) the performance
measure(s) used, and (3) the decision variable(s)
used to optimize the associated performance
measure(s).
The approach and scope of existing research in
the design and analysis of supply chains illustrates
a number of issues that have not yet been addressed
in the literature. This section suggests a research
agenda for supply chain design and analysis in: (1)
the evaluation and development of supply chain
performance measures, (2) the development of
models and procedures to relate decision variables
to the performance measures, (3) consideration of
issues affecting supply chain modeling, and (4) the
classification of supply chain systems to allow for
the development of rules-of-thumb or general techniques
to aid in the design and analysis of manufacturing
supply chains.