Supply chain integration and performance - American, European and Asian companies

The purpose of this paper is to analyze former empirical studies investigating the link between supply chain integration and performance as well as to discuss the reported evidence to this fundamental question for supply chain management by comparing American, European and Asian companies. Based on an extensive and systematic review of supply chain integration articles between 2000 and 2009 in scientific periodicals in logistics/supply chain management and information systems management, this paper presents and discusses the results of prior empirical studies. The review and analysis especially focuses on and compares research conducted in America, Europe and Asia. The results show that a differentiated view of integration within supply chain management is needed and further areas of research are suggested.