Factors for improving the supply chain management performance: A survey of chinese toy makers

Abstract

This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion about the supply chain management (SCM) of Chinese toy makers by conducting a survey among 148 respondents from the industry. The questionnaire includes 24 questions that belong to six sections, which are design and buying, materials procurement, production operations, product distribution, quality control, list of tools (technology). Through analyzing the feedback data from 36 respondents, this study reveals the update circumstances of Chinese toy industry regarding SCM. Notably, on the one hand, most toy makers (about 90%) suggest that they value quality control, which is essential for global competition. On the other hand, less toy makers prefer to adopt advanced SCM tools; this may hinder their competitiveness in the long run. To conclude, both constructive and practical suggestions are given to the toy makers for improving their SCM performance. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.