AI Meets Supply Chain Management: A Conceptual Framework for Intelligent and Adaptive Supply Chains

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognized as a transformative force in supply chain management (SCM). However, existing studies often treat AI as a supporting tool rather than a core element of supply chain intelligence. This paper adopts a conceptual perspective to explore how the integration of AI fundamentally reshapes SCM. We propose a conceptual framework in which AI is embedded as the central intelligence enabling perception, learning, reasoning, and adaptation across supply chain processes. The framework illustrates the interaction between data ecosystems, AI-driven decision-making, and supply chain operations, highlighting continuous learning as a defining characteristic of intelligent supply chains. The framework conceptualizes AI as a learning and reasoning core that continuously transforms data into adaptive decisions across planning, coordination, and execution. By focusing on adaptability rather than technological implementation, this study advances a systems-level understanding of how AI redefines supply chain management and supports resilience in complex environments. The framework provides a theoretical basis for understanding how AI-enabled SCM can support long-term sustainable supply chain development. By reconceptualizing SCM as an adaptive and cognitive system, this study provides a theoretical foundation for future empirical and analytical research on AI-enabled supply chains.