Article ID: | iaor20121551 |
Volume: | 136 |
Issue: | 1 |
Start Page Number: | 207 |
End Page Number: | 217 |
Publication Date: | Mar 2012 |
Journal: | International Journal of Production Economics |
Authors: | Sianesi Andrea, Caridi Maria, Pero Margherita |
Keywords: | demand, innovation |
Much of the literature on modularity assumes that firms with modular products adopt modular organization. In the realm of supply chain management, no consensus has been reached on the effects of product modularity on supply chains (SC). This paper investigates whether SC choices depend on product modularity and innovativeness, and how SC choices can be aligned to these product features to maximize performance. A medium scale survey has been performed in the Italian furniture industry. By means of factor and cluster analyses, the SC of firms that introduced products with different levels of modularity and innovativeness have been compared. The results show that both product features must be considered when designing the SC.