TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing responsiveness of a volatile and seasonal supply chain
T2 - a case study
AU - Wong, Chee Yew
AU - Arlbjørn, Jan Stentoft
AU - Hvolby, Hans Henrik
AU - Johansen, John
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - This paper describes a structural approach to assess the responsiveness of a volatile and seasonal supply chain. It is
based on a case study in an international toy company. Fisher’s (Harvard Bus. Rev. 75(2) (1997) 105–117) Model of
‘‘innovative’’ and ‘‘functional’’ products and the corresponding ‘‘market responsive’’ and ‘‘physically efficient’’ supply
chains constitutes the backbone of this assessment. Four risk-influencing determinants—forecast uncertainty, demand
variability, contribution margin, and time window of delivery are found suitable to assess the responsiveness of the toy
supply chain. Assessment of the company’s product differentiation model shows that toy products are mostly
innovative or ‘‘intermediate’’, but not functional. A proposed new product differentiation model using risk-influencing
determinants has enabled the toy company to differentiate its new products, to deal with volatility, and to design for a
responsive supply chain. These findings have also enabled the extension of Fisher’s Model to volatile supply chains.
This new product differentiation model adds a physically responsive supply chain for ‘‘intermediate’’ products into the
Fisher’s Model.
AB - This paper describes a structural approach to assess the responsiveness of a volatile and seasonal supply chain. It is
based on a case study in an international toy company. Fisher’s (Harvard Bus. Rev. 75(2) (1997) 105–117) Model of
‘‘innovative’’ and ‘‘functional’’ products and the corresponding ‘‘market responsive’’ and ‘‘physically efficient’’ supply
chains constitutes the backbone of this assessment. Four risk-influencing determinants—forecast uncertainty, demand
variability, contribution margin, and time window of delivery are found suitable to assess the responsiveness of the toy
supply chain. Assessment of the company’s product differentiation model shows that toy products are mostly
innovative or ‘‘intermediate’’, but not functional. A proposed new product differentiation model using risk-influencing
determinants has enabled the toy company to differentiate its new products, to deal with volatility, and to design for a
responsive supply chain. These findings have also enabled the extension of Fisher’s Model to volatile supply chains.
This new product differentiation model adds a physically responsive supply chain for ‘‘intermediate’’ products into the
Fisher’s Model.
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijpe.2004.12.021
DO - 10.1016/j.ijpe.2004.12.021
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0925-5273
VL - 104
SP - 709
EP - 721
JO - International Journal of Production Economics
JF - International Journal of Production Economics
IS - 2
ER -