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Some studies have suggested that a supply chain augmented with information technology (IT) has a positive effect on performance in the marketplace. However, these studies have not explained how the IT-based supply chain achieves this superior performance. This study aims to reveal some of the mediating influences at play: the new product development (NPD) activities of product launch, product innovativeness and product development capability.

Taking the electronics manufacturer’s perspective, this study took a resource-based view to propose that NPD activities are affected by IT advancement and that IT-based supply chain architecture is a critical resource that ultimately affects new product performance. Thus study focuses on product launch, because this is the most expensive and risky stage of NPD; product innovativeness, because it plays a substantial role in achieving a competitive advantage; and product development capability, because it leads to superior product performance. A questionnaire was used to collect data from managers of projects, products and supply chains of computer and communication electronics manufacturers; 235 valid questionnaires were returned. These data were subsequently analyzed using a variety of statistical methods.

The results support that manufacturers’ IT resources enable them to enhance NPD activities effectively with their suppliers, and that NPD activities play a key role in moderating the relationship between IT-based supply chains and new product performance.

This paper provides an empirically tested model of how IT-based supply chain architecture can lead to superior new product performance through product lean launch, product innovativeness and product development capability.

Most new product research for the past two decades has focussed on new product development and product innovation. Only a few product launches have been discussed in specific fields. The purpose of this paper is to fill the literature gap regarding enhanced product launch performance by using the customer relationship.

From the contract manufacturer’s perspective, the authors propose that the customer relationship and senior management involvement affects lean launch execution. The customer relationship includes both cooperativeness and behavior monitoring. Studies have suggested that a lean launch exerts a direct influence on new product performance and marketing performance. We used a questionnaire to collect data to test the postulated research model and hypotheses from project, account, and purchasing managers in the high-tech manufacturing industry.

The results provided compelling evidence that the customer relationship exerts a positive effect on lean launch, which in turn exerts a positive effect on new product performance. Although lean launch execution affected marketing performance through new product performance, the direct effect on marketing performance was non-significant. Senior management involvement exerted an indirect influence on lean launch performance through cooperativeness.

This paper suggests and empirically tests a model to explain how contract manufacturers manage brand-customer relationship through cooperativeness and behavior monitoring, leading to higher levels of lean launch execution toward new product performance.

The purpose of this study is to fill the gaps in previous literature and investigate the link between product launch performance and supply chain architecture and performance. During the past 20 years, most of the new product literature has focused on new product development and product innovation. Only a few product launches have been discussed in specific fields.

From the perspective of the manufacturer, interfunctional coordination, supply chain architecture and supply chain performance affect lean launch performance. Lean launches can also add value to product and marketing performance. A questionnaire was used to gather data from project, account and purchasing managers in the high-tech industry and to test the postulated research model and hypotheses. The conceptual model was tested using 242 usable questionnaires.

The results provide evidence that interfunctional coordination is the basis for improving supply chain architecture. The supply chain has a strong, positive effect on lean launch performance. Lean launch is vital to the successful performance of a new product. Although lean launch execution and supply chain performance affect marketing performance and new product performance, the direct effect on marketing performance is non-significant.

This study presents the characteristics of the supply chain architecture specific to the high-tech industry. The authors empirically tested and propose a model to explain how high-tech manufacturers build a solid supply chain and leverage the capabilities of suppliers to improve lean launch execution and new product performance.