Presents recent evidence of supply chain developments in the UK fresh produce industry, based on interviews with chief executives from some of the country’s most successful suppliers. A number of success factors were evident, to varying degrees, in all of the companies interviewed. These...

Argues that logistics networks in the building industry will develop in relation to transaction‐specific investments in new information technologies such as EDI and PDI. This is particularly the case where strategic considerations play a subordinate role and efficiency arguments are stressed....

Explains some of the thinking that informs both the case study articles that appear in the same issue of Supply Chain Management: An International Journal and the EPSRC funded research project currently being undertaken at the Centre for Business Strategy and Procurement. A review is provided of...

Cox contrasts the two strategic options facing the firm wishing to successfully compete in its marketplace. The first of these options is based on cost control through replicable improvements in operational efficiency. The second is based on market closure and power through the development of...

Provides both a descriptive and an analytical understanding of the supply chain for industrial electricity. It explains which actors in the chain have power and how this impacts upon the process of value appropriation. There are three main elements. The first is a descriptive mapping of the...

Summarises the key learning points in supply and value chain mapping. It demonstrates that there is no best way to manage supply chains. Concludes that the key to success in business is based on recognising the types of supply chains that exist and aligning strategy and operational practice with...

Strong and productive partnerships between buyers and suppliers are important for effective outsourcing. Such partnerships should be based on mutual understanding, which can be hampered by a perception gap between the supply chain partners with respect to what are the critical factors for a...

Addresses the issue of supply chain competitiveness from the manufacturing capability perspective. Six supply chains are analysed, based on three manufacturers in the Korean home appliance industry. The case study findings demonstrate the strong connection between capability requirements of...

Drawing on the experience gained from the recent turnaround of fortunes at The CERT Group, describes the key role of customer service and the challenges associated with establishing a service culture in one of the UK’s leading third party logistics providers. The process was so successful that...

Supply chain management as a system of operation continues to evolve. This study employs confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis to examine empirically the relationships among supplier selection criteria (quality, delivery reliability, product performance and unit price), supplier...