Title: One size does not fit all: an approach for differentiated supply chain management

Authors: Patrick Beck; Erik Hofmann; Wolfgang Stölzle

Addresses: Chair of Logistics Management, University of St. Gallen, Dufourstrasse 40a, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland. ' Chair of Logistics Management, University of St. Gallen, Dufourstrasse 40a, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland. ' Chair of Logistics Management, University of St. Gallen, Dufourstrasse 40a, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland

Abstract: Supply chain management (SCM) has developed from an object of operational optimisation into a strategic weapon for distinction from competitors. Dynamically changing and strongly varying customer needs demand a differentiated SCM approach. Supply chain differentiation (SCD) plans and designs supply chains based on customer needs, as increasingly demanded by SCM researchers. Therefore, SCD offers a possibility to increase SCM effectiveness. While practitioners are highly interested in SCD, academia has widely neglected this research area and does not offer an integrated approach. This paper presents a framework for SCD that constitutes the first step in developing a holistic procedure for SCD. Based on a comprehensive literature review, a conceptual framework is derived that integrates relevant decision areas of intra- and inter-organisational SCM. By presenting five case studies, we offer further empirical results concerning SCD and validate the framework.

Keywords: supply chain differentiation; SCD; supply chain segmentation; supply chain strategy; sourcing strategy; manufacturing strategy; distribution strategy; supply chain management; differentiated SCM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCI.2012.051059

International Journal of Services Sciences, 2012 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.213 - 239

Published online: 06 Sep 2014 *

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