A Comparative Study of Manufacturing and Service Sector Supply Chain Integration via the Uncertainty Circle Model

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to contrast manufacturing and service sector supply chains in order to develop an audit methodology capable of providing objective, cross-sector comparisons of supply chain integration performance. Design/Methodology/approach – A robust, site-based multi-method supply chain diagnostic for detecting manufacturing supply chain system uncertainty (QSAM) was modified for the service sector so as to yield the (normalised) supply chain integration performances of 109 separate organisations. Findings – Service supply chains do not always exhibit the unique attributes that effectively bar manufacturing supply chain best practice from being adopted (and vice versa). The research confirms the value of utilising an uncertainty circle model lens, which makes objective cross-sector comparisons of supply chain performance possible. Originality/value – Combining the uncertainty circle model with the QSAM approach yields performance vectors that can be used to align estimates of value stream ‘health’ irrespective of the organisational setting. This can assist identification and transfer of appropriate best practice even between firms located in dissimilar industry sectors and settings.