An integrated innovation life cycle model for supply chain adaption

Supply chains of innovative products are subject to significant change requests during the first phases of the product life cycle. To support the proactive realignment of the supply chain strategy and structure, the early detection of transitions from one life cycle phase to another is crucial. On this account, this paper provides the necessary mathematical foundations based on the life cycle model by Parlings and Klingebiel (2012). The underlying functions and their parameters are derived and analysed to obtain the characteristics that can be used for quantitatively defining phase transitions and early warning areas in an innovation's life cycle.