The mediating role of operational performance and internal integration of supply chain in the relationship between interplant coordination and external integration

The focus of this research is on networked plant. The study has analysed the relation between supply chain integration, operational performance, and inter-plant coordination. The study has differentiated internal integration and inter-plant coordination. The extension of internal integration is internal-plant coordination as it involves eliminations of the functional silos in the internal integration are extended to span across the networked plants. This is distinct from the external integration as well. The external integration is based on individual firms and it does not deal in the firm’s collaboration with external partners. The relation between supply chain integration and inter-plant coordination has been tested, which is the first contribution, as it was not done previously. The positive impact of internal integration created on the inter-plant coordination has been evidenced by this study. This research has tested a novel theoretical model about the role of external integration as a mediator on the relation of interplant coordination and performance. The previous studies have been complimented by this research through analysing the way in which operational performance is influenced by inter-plant coordination in a networked plant. The study has used SEM-PLS and data is collected from the sports manufacturing firms of Thailand. coordination through external integration. Keeping in view the relation of internal integration with the operational performance, external integration mediates the influence of inter-plant coordination on operational performance