Exploring supply chain configuration in the context of innovation practices: cases from Italy and Sweden

Extant literature often links innovation practices with supply chain (SC) research in introducing new product. However, the relation between SC configuration settings and innovation implementation is still not widely researched. This paper analyses how innovation implementation affects the decisions behind SC configuration. Moreover, we look into how this relation is manifested with respect to performance. An explorative investigation is carried out in two companies, implementing innovation, which have global and local supply chain configuration with different product characteristics and processes. The paper draws conclusions on the relations between innovation implementation, supply chain configuration and performance improvements (or failures).