Bibliometric Analysis On The Thematic Evolution Of Supply Chain Sustainability In Manufacturing Sector: A Literature Review From 2000 To 2019

Abstract

Bibliometric analysis is applied to study the evolution and operationalization of supply chain sustainability in the manufacturing sector over a two-decade time span from 2000 to 2009; and 2010 to 2019. This provides collective insights on fields and sub-fields of inquiry and the opportunity of enhanced comprehension of supply chain sustainability as a continuous improvement endeavor in terms of specific trends, progression, and approaches. To provide the empirical foundation for the study, Shneider’s (2009) four-stage scientific evolution theory is discussed in parallel to the temporal phases explored within. By employing protocols of co-occurrence and citation analyses key journals, active countries, and most cited authors have been identified through 778 records retrieved from the Web of Science database. VOSviewer software was used. In the first decade, it was found that research in supply chain sustainability is at the end of first stage of Shneider’s knowledge evolution theory. During the second decade the research progression flourished in the next successive stage of knowledge evolution with the advanced investigation of domain scope and horizon. This study contributes with the identification of thematic trends under practice for last two decades that can be construed on two levels: first, researchers could assess their respective position with regards to their research approach and contribution in the research community; and secondly they can judge that in what capacity, as a contributor, they are expected to participate towards the propagation of the particular knowledge sphere.