Uncertainty regulation and adaptable supply chain planning

Journal article, 2025

PurposeSupply chain planning (SCP) as an important management intervention is highly relevant to operations and supply chain practice. While SCP processes have developed over time with the use of integrative and advanced analytics tools, the essential foundation and focus on restoring stability remain unchanged and limit the capacity of SCP to adapt to uncertainty. We aim to address this limitation and the way forward in research and practice of SCP through adaptable supply chain planning (ASCP).Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the current discourse on uncertainty regulation and SCP foundations and assumptions, a typology of SCP uncertainty and respective planning strategies are conceptualized.FindingsTo elevate SCP to account for today's volatile environment, we put forward various forms of uncertainty that organizations face with respect to their awareness and understanding of threats from uncertainty. We also consider how conditions require simultaneously using different planning strategies and navigating between the strategies to regulate the uncertainty, not only to mitigate it but also to create opportunities for progress and growth.Originality/valueWe propose a new ASCP paradigm with foundational principles, planning strategies and layers of potential research avenues.