Supply Chain Optimization (SCO) has become critical in addressing the complexities of global trade and operational efficiency. This study employs a bibliometric approach to analyze the research landscape of SCO, focusing on applied optimization within supply chain management and logistics. We conduct a trend and decomposition analysis of 322 research papers retrieved from the Scopus database (1973–2024), examining publication output, core journals via Bradford's Law, thematic evolution using Callon's centrality and density, and conceptual structures through multi-criteria analysis. Key findings reveal a sustained increase in SCO research, a concentration of publications in core journals like Computers and Industrial Engineering and Journal of Cleaner Production, and central themes including “supply chain management,” “optimization,” and “network design.“ Emerging areas such as sustainability and uncertainty/stochastic modelling indicate an evolving research agenda. The study identifies dominant research methodologies, international collaboration patterns, and leading contributor countries. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the SCO field, highlighting research voids and proposing avenues for future investigation to advance the optimization of global supply chains.