# Support of Advanced Technologies in Supply Chain Processes and Sustainability Impact
## 5 Analysis and Discussion of Results
### Advanced Technologies Used to Support SCOR Processes
Companies 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10 do not use this technology. Cybersecurity is an advanced technology used in supporting a great number of SCOR processes; more precisely it is used by five companies (cases 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9) in all SCOR processes. The copper and copper alloys producer (case 5) uses cybersecurity in the \"Return\" process and the producer of wires and cables (case 7) in supporting the \"Make\" process. The company that makes automotive parts (case 10) uses it only in the \"Source\" process. Only the producer of refrigerators (case 1) and the producer of torrefied biomass pellets (case 4) do not use this technology. Surprisingly, the Internet of things (IoT)/Internet of services (IoS) is a technology used by only three research' companies, supporting a quite reduced number of SCOR processes. It is only used by the manufacturer of refrigerator (case 1) in supporting the \"Make\" process, the copper and copper alloys producer (case 5) in the \"Source\" process and the producer of wires and cables (case 7) in the \"Plan\" and \"Make\" processes. The Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) are the least used technologies by the sample. Only the company that produces athletic apparel (case 2) uses it in all the SCOR processes. Besides, the company that belongs to the cork industry (case 8) uses it in supporting the \"Make\" process. As concerns three-dimensional (3D) printing/additive manufacturing, it is observed in the sample that almost all of the companies do not use it. Only the refrigerators producer (case 1) uses this technology in supporting the \"Source\" process, the athletic and apparel producer (case 2) in the \"Make\" process, case 5 which belongs to the metals and mining SC uses the additive manufacturing in the \"Return\" process, and case 10 in the \"Deliver\" process. The assembler of injection plastics (case 9) uses it in two SCOR processes: \"Make\" and \"Deliver\". Analyzing the advanced manufacturing technology in supporting the SCOR processes, it is used by three cases (cases 2, 7, and 8) and in the \"Make\" process and in the \"Source\" process by cases 5 and 10. All the other five companies do not use it. Finally, IT-based production management (e.g., use of ERP, MES, CAD, and CAM) it is used by all companies in supporting the SCOR processes except company 4 that belongs to the biomass energy SC. The company from the textile and clothing SC (case 2), the two from the automotive SC (case 3 and case 7), the one from the catering/retail for aviation (case 6), that from the cork SC (case 8) and case 9 from the EMS manufacturing SC use IT-based production management in supporting all the SCOR processes. There are three companies that use this technology less: the refrigerator producer (case 1) which uses it in supporting the \"Make\" and \"Delivery\" processes, the company from the metals and mining SC (case 5) in the \"Return\" process and the automotive parts maker (case 10) in the \"Deliver\" process. Performing the analysis by SCOR process, it can be concluded that the \"Deliver\" and \"Return\" processes are those less supported by the several alternative technologies while the \"Make\" process is the one in which the extent of adoption seems to be more developed. Summing up, from this analysis it is possible to state that the level of adoption of advanced technologies to support companies' SCOR processes is quite variable. There are huge differences amongst the sample companies, meaning that they are at very different stages of development regarding the adoption of advanced technologies. Furthermore, not all companies have incorporated all technologies. Another interesting conclusion is that some companies use a given advanced technology along the SCOR processes (this is for example the case of companies in cases 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9) while others use them in a particular process. For example, case 5 uses all the advanced technologies apart from CPSs, but each technology is only used in one SCOR process. As mentioned by [PERSON] et al.