IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/elmark/v35y2025i1d10.1007_s12525-025-00783-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mature inventory management for supply chain automation: An interlinked process-reference model

Author

Listed:
  • Lukas Grützner

    (Leibniz University Hannover)

  • David Voss

    (Leibniz University Hannover)

  • Michael H. Breitner

    (Leibniz University Hannover)

Abstract

Mature inventory management is central to supply chain automation (SCA) as it enables targeted automation and autonomization of relevant process variants. Inventory management divides stock-keeping units (SKUs) into a manageable number of groups, enabling effective and efficient handling of different strategic inventory policies. Multi-criteria ABC (MCABC) is a standard method for evaluating SKUs. However, holistic, risk-reducing, and value-adding inventory analyses are not standard practice, even though one-dimensional analyses are outdated from a research perspective. In cooperation with a case study company, we set up an end-to-end MCABC inventory analysis, analyze 21 inventory management tools, conduct an exhaustive literature review (n = 108), a global survey of 60 practitioners, and a focus group discussion with four practitioners. We develop and discuss an interlinked process-reference model for mature inventory management. We provide actionable insights for researchers and practitioners to establish resilient, value-added, and sustainable inventory management practices as a foundation for targeted SCA.

Suggested Citation

  • Lukas Grützner & David Voss & Michael H. Breitner, 2025. "Mature inventory management for supply chain automation: An interlinked process-reference model," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 35(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:elmark:v:35:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s12525-025-00783-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s12525-025-00783-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12525-025-00783-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12525-025-00783-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:elmark:v:35:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s12525-025-00783-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.