This paper aims to unify concepts and to describe the multi-stage transport systems and their integratyion to supply chain management. Multi-stage distribution systems are common logistics management, and often they are assimilated to multi-stage transport strategies. However, transport is often considered as an external operation or a specific stage, even when it is a multi-stage system. First, the paper presents the main concepts of multi-stage transport systems by defining the concept an making a typology of transport schemes. Then, an optimization analysis using the concept of accessibility is proposed to show the advantages and limits of such strategies. Then, an interview-based analysis includes a conceptual framework for the integration of multi-stage transport on supply chain management and a simulation shows the impacts of multi-stage transport on supply chain global costs and quality indicators.
