HOW CAN FLUID DYNAMICS HELP SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT? An investigation on the relations between supply network configuration and time performance

This paper investigates the relations between three constructs: supply network structure, business process configuration, and time performance. The study focuses on the time sensitive casual wear industry. Initially, Zara’s and Benetton’s supply networks are cross-compared to understand the rational behind their differences in time performance. Starting from this analysis, the paper provides a model to explain the relations between the three constructs, and applies it to interpret Benetton’s and Zara’s decisions on supply network and business process configurations, and their impact on time performance. The proposed model unifies under one framework the different perspectives existing in literature on the phenomenon under investigation. This research also has interesting practical implications, as it offers guidance for managers facing programs for supply network design or re-configuration.