Visibility Hotspots in Supply Chains: Insights from Multiple Case Studies

Purpose –Crystal-clear visibility isthe lifeblood of competitive advantage, yet “visibility hotspots” act as chokepoints,strangling information flow and crippling supply chains. Thisstudy delvesinto these critical blind spots,revealing their manifestation and threats to performance, paving the way for a smoother, more competitivesupply chain.

Design/methodology/approach – Through multiple real-world case studies and semi-structured interviewswith supply chain managers, this study explores the factors behind these visibility hotspots and their cripplingconsequences. A fuzzy visibility hotspots assessment method is introduced to facilitate the exploration.F

indings – The study confirms “visibility hotspots” as significant roadblocks in industrial management, withdiverse causeslinked to both supply chain processes and visibility influencing factors.Importantly,supply chainmanagers see the innovative “fuzzy assessment method” as a key tool to identify and tackle these blind spots,paving the way for enhanced competitive advantage.

Originality/value – Thisstudy introduces a novel methodology for identifying supply chain visibility hotspots,empowering practitioners to gain unprecedented clarity across their entire chain. This unlocks critical insights,leading to enhanced visibility, more efficient resource management and a stronger competitive edge.