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Supply chain integration (or synchronisation) is to a large extent still only a promise, despite many considerable efforts by organisations and their customers and suppliers. Lack of visibility of true consumer demand and collaborative relationships based upon joint decision making remain significant barriers to the goal of supply chain integration. Collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) is a strategy which promises to overcome these barriers, and seeks through joint planning, joint decision making and the development of a clearer understanding of the dynamics of the supply chain replenishment process to deliver some of the promised benefits of actual supply chain integration. Despite the existence of a detailed and comprehensive process model, and promising initial results there has not been widespread adoption of CPFR, justifying the need to revisit the process model and to further explore the inhibitors and enablers. Based upon a review of the existing literature and a comprehensive survey of participants in existing CPFR implementations, this paper identifies the critical inhibitors and makes some proposals as to how these inhibitors may be overcome.

Although many papers purport the significant value attributable to supply chain performance from the use of Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR), the question of “what are the main constructs and efficient framework for successful implementation of CPFR?” remains largely unanswered. This question will be addressed by identifying and analysing the main constructs for successful implementation of CPFR. The purpose of this paper is to attempt first to seek answers to this question. Second, to review the scope and value of CPFR using a devised state-of-the-art taxonomy for the classification of selected bibliographical references and third, to develop a conceptual framework by identifying areas which need more research.

The method underlying this paper followed the steps of a systematic literature review process outlined by Soni and Kodali (2011). The review is based on a total of 93 papers published from 1998 to 2013 on CPFR.

Four main constructs for successful implementation of CPFR have been identified: CPFR enablers, CPFR barriers, trading partner selection and IA. The findings indicate that there is a need for better understanding of the amount and level of information sharing as an important function of CPFR implementation. The paper also illustrates a number of shortcomings in the current literature and provides suggestions to guide future research on implementing CPFR in different industries.

This paper is of interest to both academicians and practitioners as it helps to better understand the concept and role of CPFR in supply chain integration and its implementation results, enablers and inhibitors. The proposed framework in this paper can be used to give insight for future research and practice.

The paper offers a framework for the review of previous research on CPFR and identifies the most important shortcomings that need to be addressed in future research. In addition, this review is both greater in scope than previous reviews and is broader in its subject focus.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the literature on Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR). The review emphasises the descriptors of CPFR implementation and models, as well as the impact of CPFR and other supply chain collaboration (SCC) initiatives on supply chain (SC) performance.

The systematic review includes 50 full-text papers retrieved from four databases: Emerald, EBSCO, ScienceDirect and Wiley. Rigorous and verifiable keywords, review steps and selection criteria were applied to the database and inter-coders agreement was systematically checked.

There is no consensus regarding the breadth and scope of CPFR configurations. CPFR is context-dependent and varies according to the configuration of the SC. Trust, information-communication technology and the quality of information sharing are main enablers and inhibitors of implementation.

Practitioners will benefit from insights related to the choice of SCC configurations (e.g. number of partners, nature of products and spatial complexity), the importance of trust and empowerment for SCC and the need to outweigh carefully the costs and benefits of specific SCC before implementation.

CPFR, which is considered by many to be the most advanced and the most comprehensive SCC process and has a direct impact upon SC performance. Nonetheless, efforts to synthesise the overall state of the art in CPFR have been rather limited to date. As an effort to fill this gap, this paper provides a better understanding of the role of CPFR as a determinant of SC performance. As an effort to contribute to complete the cycle of theory building based on the literature review, seven propositions for CPFR research are put forward.

Selecting an appropriate partner is a vital and strategic decision-making process in any supply chain collaboration initiative. The purpose of this paper is to introduce and explore the key factors considered by manufacturers in the selection of an appropriate retailer(s) for collaboration and collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) implementation and the relationships between these factors.

A comprehensive literature review and experts’ views are applied to identify the main retailer selection and evaluation factors for CPFR implementation. A fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory approach is then used to rank and analysis the interaction among identified factors. The findings are finally evaluated using a case study from a high-tech industry.

The most important partner selection factors comprising of five dimensions and 24 factors are introduced. Of the identified criteria, three factors: manufacturer’s familiarity with the retailer, workforce skills and training and customer service orientation and capability have been identified as critical when selecting retailers for CPFR implementation. The technological capabilities dimensions are identified as the only net cause dimension which affects all other dimensions and its importance and role in simplifying and enhancing the speed and flexibility of CPFR implementation.

The paper identifies practical retailer selection factors for CPFR implementation and the causal relationships between factors. Developed retailer selection dimensions and criteria will assist manufacturers and retailers in understanding the role these factors play in CPFR implementation. This will also assist in appropriate retailer(s) selection by manufacturers.

This paper contributes to the literature on CPFR and tackles the important issue of selecting appropriate partners by developing retailer selection dimensions and criteria in CPFR implementation.

Sales forecasting and collaboration are two business phenomena that have independently been recognized as contributing to improved organizational performance. The present research employs case study methodology to explore the synergies to be gained from combining the two processes. Depth interviews were conducted with executives at three firms currently engaged in collaborative forecasting with supply chain partners. Results revealed unique approaches to collaborative forecasting that circumvent the inhibitors of collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment adoption, and yield substantial improvement in company and supply chain performance including increased responsiveness, product availability assurance, optimized inventory and associated costs, and increased revenues and earnings. Seven guidelines to implementing interfirm collaborative forecasting are presented.

This paper aims to identify the most influential barriers for environmental management system (EMS) adoption and determine the interactions of these factors in the context of Chinese textile and apparel industries.

The study has conducted two different research phases, namely, the identification of 13 barriers from the extensive literature available and expert panel discussion and using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) to investigate the complex relationships among these barriers and partition the barriers into a hierarchical structure to facilitate strategic analysis.

The obtained result demonstrates that insufficient information about customer’s demand is the most influential barrier. Furthermore, by analyzing the interrelationships among the barriers, management will become more aware of the barriers’ relative importance and focus on the barriers with stronger influence.

This work may help practitioners, academicians and regulators to focus their efforts toward implementation of EMS on various levels in business, especially for these textile and apparel companies operating in China.

Co-creating services with the customer has recently appeared as an alternative strategy to achieve competitive advantage. Developing and sustaining a gainful experience requires sharing of knowledge, skills and resources between the firm and its customers. Managing value co-creation throws substantial challenge and difficulties. This study aims to investigate the barriers to customer resource contribution in value co-creation in service industries and find their interrelationships for developing an effective management framework for removal of those barriers.

A systematic literature review led to the identification of 26 barriers, which were further confirmed through expert opinion. The study used interpretative structural modeling (ISM) approach and Matrice d’Impacts croises-multipication applique (MICMAC), for analyzing the contextual relationships and develop a hierarchical model of the barriers.

ISM approach led to the development of a 13-level structural model. The barriers were further classified into autonomous, driver, linkage and dependent barriers using the MICMAC analysis. The framework offers a means to fulfill the expectations of the customers, thus leading to successful integration of the customer in the value creation process. Removal of the barriers has also been discussed.

The framework provides a direction and a tool to meet the expectations of the customers and lead to successful integration of the customer.

The study addresses a gap in the literature for the need of a structured framework for managing the value co-creation process in the service industry

The purpose of this paper is to identify and model critical barriers to cloud computing adoption (CCA) in Indian MSMEs by the interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach.

In this paper, through a literature survey and expert opinions, 14 critical barriers were identified, and the ISM tool was used to establish interrelationship among the identified barriers and to determine the key barriers having high driving power.

After analyzing the barriers, it was found that three barriers, namely, lack of confidentiality (B8), lack of top management support (B3) and lack of sharing and collaboration (B2) were most significant.

The developed model is based on the expert opinions, which may be biased, influencing the final output of the structural model. The research implications of the developed model are to help managers of the organization in the understanding significance of the barriers and to prioritize or eliminate the same for the effective CCA.

This study is for the first time an attempt that has been made to apply the ISM methodology to explore the interdependencies among the critical barriers for Indian MSMEs. This paper will guide the managers at various levels of an organization for effective implementation of the cloud computing practices.

A spurt in the usage of additive manufacturing (AM) is observed in industrial applications to produce final parts along with rapid prototyping and rapid tooling. Despite the potential benefits of on-demand and on-location production of customised or complex shape parts, widespread implementation of this disruptive production technology is not yet visible. The purpose of this paper is to examine the various barriers to implement AM in the Indian automotive sector and analyse interrelations among them.

Based on the extant literature and discussions with industry experts, ten major barriers are identified. The authors use a modified Fuzzy interpretive structural modelling (Fuzzy-ISM) method to derive strengths of relationships among these barriers, develop hierarchical levels, and thereafter group and rank these barriers.

ISM diagraph is developed to demonstrate how the barriers drive one another. Production technology capabilities and government support emerge as the most critical factors, with high driving power and medium dependence.

While identified barriers may be similar across the automotive industry, generalisation of results for interrelationships and ranks in other industries may be limited.

The findings may be useful to managers to develop suitable mitigation strategies, and take more informed decisions, with individual focus, level focus or cluster focus.

Findings clearly establish that the role of management and government is crucial in mitigating workers’ resistance to AM implementation.

This paper contributes to AM literature by the structured presentation of the barriers to implement AM in the Indian automotive sector. It also extends the Fuzzy-ISM method by presenting calculation of indirect relations using the appropriate max-product composition and in ranking the barriers.