An AHP Model Approach to Supply Chain Flexibility: A Case Study of Indian FMCG Firm

The current business environment is becoming increasingly uncertain, unpredictable and turbulent. Organizations always keep themselves ready to face any eventuality. Flexibility is one of the ways to cope up with uncertainty. Supply chain flexibility refers to the ability to change the supply chain system as per the current business need. The purpose of this paper is to identify the stage of supply chain which can help enhance its overall flexibility. Dimensions of supply chain flexibility are extracted from extant literature and their importance in the three stages of supply chain has been analysed based on the responses received during a survey carried out in an FMCG firm. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model has been developed. In this study 14 dimensions of supply chain flexibility are considered and these are grouped under the inbound, in-house and outbound stages of supply chain.