Cost characterizations of supply chain delivery performance

This paper addresses strategies for improving delivery performance in a serial supply chain when delivery performance is evaluated with respect to a delivery window. Contemporary management theories advocate the reduction of variance as a key step in improving the overall performance of a system. Models are developed that incorporate the variability found in the individual stages of the supply chain into a financial measure that serves as a benchmark for justifying the capital investment required to improve delivery performance within the supply chain to meet a targeted goal.