Abstract

Abstract
AbstractExtreme disruptive events, such as the volcano eruption in Iceland, the Japanese tsunami, and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as constant changes in customers’ needs and expectations, have forced supply chains to continuously adapt to new environments. Consequently, it is paramount to understand the supply chain characteristics for possible future scenarios, in order to know how to respond to threats and take advantage of the opportunities that the next years will bring. This chapter focuses on describing the characteristics of the supply chain in each of the six macro-scenarios presented in Sardesai et al. (2020b), as final stage of the scenario building methodology. Supply chains for each scenario are characterized in eight dimensions: Products and Services, Supply Chain Paradigm, Sourcing and Distribution, Technology Level, Supply Chain Configuration, Manufacturing Systems, Sales Channel, and Sustainability.

Abstract
AbstractThis chapter aims to identify the supply chain (SC) issues that can be considered “horizontal”, as they are cross–sectorial and faced by most companies operating both in production and distribution sectors, and to propose a set of policy recommendations that can support public and private organisations to promote and foster innovation and competitiveness of future European SCs. The definition of the Key Horizontal Issues (KHI) is the basis for developing 12 policy recommendations regarding infrastructure requirements, technological and organisational improvements and regulatory developments needed to set the stage for the European SCs for the future. Specifically, the policy recommendations entail assuring appropriate standards and legislation for European SCs; educating and training professionals for the future SCs; drafting of international agreements aiming at future European SCs; supporting and fostering incentives and funding schemes; promoting reference bodies for European SCs; and establishing infrastructure for fostering of future European SCs.

Abstract
AbstractDigital technologies have gained ground among companies, researchers and policy makers in recent years due to their growing relevance to current and future supply chains. Technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous transport systems, data science, and additive manufacturing are gradually becoming part of people’s and companies’ daily lives and are changing the manufacturing, process industry and logistics sectors. Although recent attempts have been made to understand the implications of these technologies on supply chain management, the relevance of the different technologies in future scenarios is still unknown. Using a technology scouting approach, the most important enabling technologies for supply chains until 2030 are identified and selected and their implications on future supply chains are evaluated using an assessment methodology with different evaluation criteria.

Abstract
AbstractDriven by the current digital transformation, European companies rely on accurate forecasting of future trends and prediction of most useful technologies in order to maintain their competitive edge. For this purpose, the mapping of enabling technologies to future scenarios becomes a valuable tool for practitioners and researchers alike, especially when considering the disruptive events that surround SCs design, implementation and management. This research sets forth to fill this gap by presenting a technology mapping of enabling technologies based on technology portfolio approach, expert elicitation and literature. The final outcome is the mapping of the enabling technologies to the characteristics of the future European SC scenarios.