Purpose

Globalization and increased outsourcing have contributed to increased supply chain complexity, exposing firms to greater vulnerability in the areas of product safety and supply chain security. Meanwhile, stakeholders pressure firms to ensure that their products are safe, and their supply chains are secure. Drawing from stakeholder theory, this paper aims to explore how the supply chain characteristics of distance and power affect the adoption of consumer protection (CP) practices, which ensure product safety and supply chain security.

Design/methodology/approach

Using primary survey data from a sample of Canadian manufacturing firms, this research examines the relationships among supply chain characteristics, adoption of CP practices and firm performance.

Findings

Analysis supported the use of two practices related to product safety (consumer education and product design) and three practices for supply chain security (packaging, tracking and authenticity). Greater cultural distance between the focal firm and its suppliers was positively associated with investments in safer design practices, while increased geographical distance between the focal firm and the customer was significantly related to increased consumer education. Moreover, as power of a focal firm relative to its suppliers increased, so too did investments in supply chain security. Finally, CP practices were related to improved operational performance along multiple dimensions.

Originality/value

This research focuses on the critical role of two key stakeholder groups in improving product safety and supply chain security: suppliers and customers. The authors add to the theoretical discussion of product safety and supply chain security by identifying critical differences between suppliers and customers for the focal firm. Second, the research informs the managerial community of the potential benefits of investments in CP practices.

中文翻译：

---

消费者保护实践的驱动因素：对运营绩效的影响

目的

全球化和外包的增加导致供应链复杂性增加，使企业在产品安全和供应链安全方面面临更大的脆弱性。与此同时，利益相关者向企业施压，要求其确保产品安全、供应链安全。本文借鉴利益相关者理论，旨在探讨供应链的距离和权力特征如何影响消费者保护（CP）实践的采用，从而确保产品安全和供应链安全。

设计/方法论/途径

本研究使用加拿大制造企业样本的主要调查数据，探讨了供应链特征、CP 实践的采用和企业绩效之间的关系。

发现

分析支持使用两种与产品安全相关的实践（消费者教育和产品设计）和三种供应链安全实践（包装、跟踪和真实性）。焦点公司与其供应商之间更大的文化距离与对更安全的设计实践的投资呈正相关，而焦点公司与客户之间地理距离的增加与消费者教育的增加显着相关。此外，随着焦点公司相对于其供应商的权力增强，对供应链安全的投资也随之增加。最后，清洁生产实践与多个维度的运营绩效改进相关。

原创性/价值

本研究重点关注两个关键利益相关群体在提高产品安全和供应链安全方面的关键作用：供应商和客户。作者通过识别焦点公司的供应商和客户之间的关键差异，补充了产品安全和供应链安全的理论讨论。其次，该研究让管理界了解投资清洁生产实践的潜在好处。