SUPPLY NETWORKS: STRUCTURES, STRATEGIES AND RESEARCH TRENDS

Abstract

Supply Networks (SN) represent one of the most dynamic and strategic areas of supply chain management, encompassing complex interactions among suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, customers, and institutional actors. Despite the growing relevance of the topic, there are still few reviews that synthesize the state of the art and point to directions for future research. This article aims to classify, analyze, and discuss the main contributions of the literature on SN, proposing conceptual and methodological insights to guide new studies. The research was conducted through a systematic literature review, based on the Scopus database, which initially resulted in 2,901 publications. From alignment filters, scientific recognition, and full-text reading, 12 core articles published between 1987 and 2014 were selected. The findings reveal that most investigations focus on the focal firm’s relationships with upstream suppliers, as well as on structural analyses of the network as a whole, with significant gaps in studies addressing downstream customers and the interaction of SN with the external environment. Emphasis was also observed on themes such as outsourcing, internationalization, knowledge transfer, and mathematical modeling, yet with limited exploration of emerging topics such as sustainability, resilience, digitalization, and interorganizational governance. As a contribution, the study organizes the conceptual field of SN, highlights research gaps, and proposes an agenda that considers empirical, sectoral, and interdisciplinary approaches. It concludes that the consolidation of the supply networks concept depends on its integration into contemporary challenges, such as Industry 4.0, the circular economy, and cooperation among distinct networks.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.036-010