Supply chain integration: an international comparison of maturity
Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics
ISSN: 1355-5855
Article publication date: 30 August 2011
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the uptake of supply chain integration (SCI) principles internationally and the resultant integration maturity.
Design/methodology/approach
A rigorous supply chain diagnostics methodology called the Quick Scan is used to assess the integration maturity of 72 value streams located in New Zealand, Thailand and the UK.
Findings
The majority of the organisations studied are struggling to turn the SCI concept into reality. Supply chains on average are poorly integrated. However, there exist a handful of exemplar cases that provide guidance; levels of integration maturity appear not to differ internationally.
Research limitations/implications
Only three nations are compared, hence the sample is not fully representative of all countries and industries. There is a significant gap between supply chain rhetoric and practice; clear guidance on how to enable effective integration is required. National settings do not appear to affect the extent of application of supply chain management concepts.
Practical implications
SCI is a very difficult undertaking. Indifferent practice is the norm. If organisations can attain even the middle ground of internal integration they will outperform many of their competitors.
Originality/value
The paper presents an international benchmark of SCI maturity involving three triangulated measures of supply chain performance.
Keywords
Citation
Childerhouse, P., Deakins, E., Böhme, T., Towill, D.R., Disney, S.M. and Banomyong, R. (2011), "Supply chain integration: an international comparison of maturity", Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 531-552. https://doi.org/10.1108/13555851111165075
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited