Postponement and the reconfiguration challenge for food supply chains

• Published in: Supply chain management Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 18 - 34
• Main Author: van Hoek, Remko I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford MCB UP Ltd 01.03.1999; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Customization; Flexibility; Food; Food supply; Implementation; Inventory; Logistics; Manufacturing; Materials management; Operations management; Organizational behaviour; Outsourcing; Suppliers; Supply chain; Supply chain management; Supply chains; Supply chain; Operations management; Organizational behaviour; Outsourcing; Implementation
• ISSN: 1359-8546; 1758-6852
• DOI: 10.1108/13598549910255068

Both postponement and outsourcing have been identified as important characteristics of modern and competitive supply chains. The implementation of postponement may require extensive (spatial) reconfiguration of the supply chain. Presents findings from interviews with managers of food, electronics, automotive and clothing manufacturers in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Findings reveal that in food supply chains both postponement and outsourcing are applied to a lesser extent than in other industries. Reasons, which refer to the industry-specific characteristics, are given. Ways for food companies to assure competitiveness are then described on the dimensions of postponement, outsourcing and spatial reconfiguration. A framework is developed to position chains in terms of degree of outsourcing, level of postponement and spatial configuration. The framework can help managers diagnosing and repositioning their organizations, along the dimensions mentioned.