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This study empirically assesses the value of decisions on offering delivery variety (the number of different methods of truck transport used to deliver products to buyers). Rooted in the literature on demand and supply integration, we develop the relationship between delivery variety decisions and sales through the mediating role of unit fill rate. We find that a decision to increase delivery variety will indirectly improve sales through the mediating role of the fill rate. Furthermore, our results suggest that decisions on order variety (the number of ordering methods offered to buyers) moderates this mediation effect. A decision to increase order variety enhances the benefits of delivery variety. We estimate our models using archival data including deliveries, order fulfillment, sales records, and other operational data over three years. When the number of delivery methods increases from 1 to 3, fill rates increase by 1.22% and sales increase by 15.39%, and when the number of order methods increases from 1 to 4, the impact of delivery variety on fill rates increases by an additional 0.39% and on sales by an additional 4.68%. These findings provide empirical support for the integration of demand and supply associated with decision making in supply chains and underscore the need for top management to consider the complementary benefits of delivery variety and order variety on order fulfillment and sales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers an expanded classification of methodologies used in systems analysis. Of these methods, one in particular-simulation-is explored in some detail. Issues associated with building and running a model, as well as analyzing its results, are examined within the context of supply chain management. It is claimed that the ability to conduct simulation studies, along with the ease of misinterpreting their results, has greatly increased over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While various approaches to mitigating the bullwhip effect have been proposed, the composition of the underlying supply chain is often taken for granted. This article develops a set of simulation models to investigate changes to the supply chain itself and their impact on the bullwhip effect, on-hand inventory, and stockouts. It is shown that particular supply chain networks have an impact on the bullwhip effect. Furthermore, the impact of supply chain networks on the bullwhip effect is moderated by the demand forecasting technique used. Finally, supply chain networks, forecasting techniques, and their interactions are found to influence on-hand inventory levels and stockout rates for firms within the supply chain. Results also suggest that no one particular type of supply chain network dominates in terms of dampening the bullwhip effect, lowering on-hand inventory levels, or reducing stockout rates. The optimal network depends on the forecasting technique used and other supply chain factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance effects of information exchange by observing actual information exchange between industrial trading partners. Information exchange facilitates coordination through sharing both order cycle and enhanced information. Increased exchange may lead to closer relationships with the expectation of improved performance. This study moves away from perceived measures of information exchange and firm performance by integrating two datasets: one capturing historical firm performance and the second capturing electronic information exchange data. Design/methodology/approach - Quantitative data of electronic information exchange between firms are observed and compared with operational performance results. Longitudinal regression analyses are conducted using data gathered from an electronically-mediated industrial exchange network. This unique dataset provides distinct insights into the application and performance outcomes related to information exchange. Findings - Results show that information characteristics vary by firm and the position of the firm within the supply chain. Manufacturers benefit from exchanging more basic information and from stability in their trading partner portfolio. Retailers enhance performance when there is more turnover in their trading partner portfolio and when information is exchanged reciprocally with suppliers. Practical implications - Results from this study provide insight into the potential performance outcomes of sharing information within industrial relationships. The study demonstrates how greater information exchange changes the nature of supply chain relationships. Closer supply chain relationships may improve firm performance, but the extent of this varies based on the firm's position within its supply chain. Consequently, firms should consider the strategic implications of the way in which they exchange information with their trading partners. Originality/value - This study contributes to the literature by identifying and testing specific information characteristics using actual observed exchanges of information between firms. The data set supports the measurement of information exchange between multiple firms and trading partners which allows for testing at a level of granularity beyond existing studies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer service, based on economical logistics operations across the supply chain, is key to the realization of sustainable levels of profitability in Internet retailing. Concentrating on inventory and product-release operations, an empirical simulation model suggests that inventory centralization and market demand growth positively affect the level of cost-effective service received by online shoppers. The results also show that under increasing demand levels, Internet retailers can provide optimal service to consumers by fulfilling orders through inventories located at their own facilities and avoid relying on inventories held elsewhere in the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]