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The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine capability connectivity, relationship alignment and the ability to informally network in the supply chain as determinants for better utilizing capabilities amongst supply chain partners. In particular, the paper focuses on how the above described determinants may impact on operational performance in the supply chain when responding to short‐lived demand requirements or highly dynamic markets.

A mixed research methodology is used, including a qualitative exploratory phase to confirm the relevance of the research question to the practitioner, followed by quantitative structural equation modeling, based on a sample of 231 supply chain professionals.

In total, four determinants of informal networking were derived: capability connectivity, describing the ability of supply chain partners to rapidly and informally integrate capabilities, such as IT, to service an ad hoc market requirement; relationship alignment or the ability to informally integrate resources across supply chain partners in the context of highly dynamic market situations; the informally networked supply chain itself, measuring the ability of supply chain partners to respond to transient opportunities in the context of highly dynamic markets; and finally operational performance which measures the effect informal networking has on company performance. Results show that informal coordination of supply chain activities influences operational performance in different ways, and most significantly impacts positively on operational efficiency through supply‐oriented informal networking. The study identified that industry rules and regulations have a significant impact on the propensity of supply chain partners to collaborate informally. Finally, it is also shown that relationship alignment between companies is an important factor to achieve both market‐ and supply‐oriented informal networking capabilities.

The management of industry rules, regulation, connectivity, and relationship alignment are significant antecedents for informal coordination of supply chain capabilities in business networks. The study shows positive effects of informal networking in supply chains on operational efficiency, and suggests that companies should strive to enable greater flexibility to connect with their trading partners without an abundance of idiosyncrasies. Furthermore, relationship alignment, in combination with process and IT connectivity, is significant in creating the foundation for informal networking in supply chains, in particular for supply‐related activities.

The paper adds a new concept, the informally networked supply chain, and shows that capability connectivity and relationship alignment may enable new alternative ways of coordinating supply chain capabilities to meet a specific market requirement. As such, it offers a new perspective in relation to flexibility and agility in the supply chain.

The aim of this paper is to develop an overarching framework to better understand drivers of performance in third‐party logistics (3PL) linked to the operations strategy literature.

A path model is specified and estimated based on constructs and relationships grounded in the literature, as well as self‐developed constructs, using empirical data from 159 3PL providers in Hong Kong.

Some dimensions of internal and external environments have positive influences on differing operations emphases. Furthermore, operational performance is positively affected by corresponding operations emphases and functional involvement. Finally, good operational performance can bring about better financial performance. However, strict adherence to the low cost operations emphasis will lead to worse financial performance.

This research provides a novel overarching framework to link competition in the market place, challenges in the operations and functional involvement through operations emphases to operational and financial performance.

Compares ISO certification in Belgium and The Netherlands from a comprehensive viewpoint of organizational structure of quality assessment and certification, the certifying bodies involved and, a survey analysis according to industry sector. Provides a brief historical overview of ISO 9000, its main concepts, as well as current implementation issues. Discusses perceptions of the implementation and future trends of ISO 9000 certification in Belgium ‐ from professionals in the automotive industry, telecommunications, management consultancy, and ISO certification agencies. Highlights the growing importance of ISO certification in Europe and the world, and does away with the misconception of seeing ISO as a non‐tariff trade barrier. Claims that ISO will be complemented by specialized certifications, which may eventually lead to a single certificate in which quality, safety and environment are combined. Puts ISO certification in perspective as merely one step in the progression towards achieving business excellence.

The criticality of late deliveries in transportation lies in the threat of considerable multi-level supply chain costs. This study aims to reveal the dynamic capabilities playing a facilitating role in preventing delay, thus providing timely delivery, as well as developing an understanding of how and when those capabilities are activated within the supply chain network.

An exploratory study was conducted involving 16 semi-structured expert interviews with the representatives of logistics service providers and shippers. Following an interpretive phenomenology framework, the prevention phenomenon was explained.

Findings revealed two preventive capability categories in delay prevention: (1) proactive capabilities, referring to the enabling actions planned before departure, and (2) reactive capabilities, referring to actions planned after departure. Findings pinpoint that, in addition to the proactive capabilities, reactive capabilities enabled by innovative problem-solving actions are crucial for adapting to a dynamically changing environment in prevention. Moreover, this study shows that prevention capabilities are characterized by tangible and intangible resources and integration of resources with external links which constitute a delay prevention network within a wider service ecosystem.

This study stands out with its specific focus on delay prevention capabilities and enabling actions from the perspectives of logistics service providers and shippers. The premises of the resource-based view are combined with dynamic capabilities theory, leading to a proposed time-based taxonomy of proactive and reactive capabilities in supply chains, aimed at creating value and strengthening resilience.

Firms have increasingly been using postponement as one of the supply chain strategies to respond to rapid changes in customers’ demands. The purpose of this study is to identify the optimum level of postponement in the context of two-stage modular manufacturing setting, given the information about trade-off between level of postponement and associated cost is known.

A critical ratio for the manufacturer to determine whether postponement process is to be continued or not is identified. An algebraic formula for the critical ratio is obtained using which managers can identify the optimal level of postponement using differential calculus.

The authors have analytically arrived at the solution which gives the manager the optimum level of postponement. Here, they identify the optimum level of postponement in the context of manufacturing, given the trade-off between level of postponement and associated cost. They calculate the expected total profit with different demand scenarios. The parametric analysis in this study shows that if price of the product decreases, then optimal amount of postponement also decreases.

It is important for a manager to identify the optimum level of postponement. In practice, managers usually take this decision on the basis of their judgment and trivial analysis of trade-off between costs and benefits of postponement.

In this study, the authors find an optimum amount of postponement for a firm to find an optimal balance between the cost and the benefit garnered by the postponement process.