Abstract
Issues related to flows of goods and information are frequently discussed in the logistics and Supply Chain Management literature. But, only few contributions are exploring the financial flows associated with supply chains. This article reviews the state-of-the-art of research regarding financial flows in supply chains. In doing so, it becomes apparent that an explicit examination and optimisation of the cost of capital has been missing so far. In order to close this gap, a conceptual framework and a mathematical model of “Supply Chain Finance” is proposed.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
This paper is based on the doctorate thesis of Moritz Gomm in German. [21].
Cf. [43, p. 6].
[43, p. 6 ff].
Cf. [12, p. 67 ff].
[11, p. 10].
[38, p. 19].
Cf. [44, p. 168].
Cf. [46, p. 2 ff].
Cf. [51, p. 30 f].
Cf. [52, p. 140].
This contains according to [52, p. 142], logistics real estates, inventory, as well as logistics services to achieve financing effects.
Cf. [50, p. 171 ff].
Cf. [18, p. 187 ff].
Cf. [42, p. 21].
Cf. [42, p. 67].
Cf. [54, p. 393].
Cf. [16, p. 417].
[34, p. 5 ff].
[46, p. 15 f].
Cf. [4, p. 15 ff].
Cf. [15, p. 11].
Cf. [4, p. 25 ff].
[36, p. 53 as well as p. 64 f].
Cf. [47, p. 69].
Cf. [32, p. 107].
[28, p. 305 ff].
According to New Institutional Economics, there exist e.g. banking houses as control agents of the depositors who thus take over a quality transformation. Cf. [13], [14] as well as [36]. Moreover, financial intermediaries bear further transformation functions in oder to arrange a more efficient balance between asset requirements and financial requirements, cf. [4], p. 430 ff), [3, p. 120 ff], [4, p. 29 f], [15, p. 12 ff] as well as [13, p. 393 ff]. According to Löffler, financial intermediaries are thus more generally “[…] institutions to reduce financing costs under asymmetrical distribution of information.”[7, p. 921], explains why the formation of financial intermediaries has to be seen as advantageously even from the point of view of the capital seekers. The transaction costs also play an important role for the explanation of the existence of financial intermediaries, cf. [15, pp. 28–30] and the literature quoted there.
These dimensions can be found in similar styles elsewhere in corporate finance. Cf. [33, p. 1373].
[39, p. 719 ff].
In SCM research usually two members models of supply chains are used. A good overview over such a 2-actor-model can be found in [55, p. 13 ff].
The one period approach in this case means no restriction since the rate of return could also be interpreted as actual cash value. The “statics” of the model refer to the moment of financing and of investment which, in the basic model—can only be made once (at the beginning).
As an alternative, it could be assumed that the life span of the project is limited, so that a financing by means of additional proprietary capital is not reasonable. But this assumption is difficult to hold up e.g. concerning logisitcs real estates.
This restriction eliminates the possibility of mixed financing that does not limit the results and the informational value of the model.
Cf. [60, p. 508 f].
This benefit thus does not exist if N finances the project via K.
y can also be interpreted as positive (external) image effect since N delegates the financing of P to G (G could e.g. be a logistics service provider who takes over a real estate from N and organises the latter). The advantage of a financing by G results from third-party business in which the (better) image plays a role.
Thus, neither can G transfer his information of p nor can transfer N his information of r project on the investor K in order to decrease the costs of financing; or the transfer is prohibitively expensive.
This means that G either is a very large or risk-free company, while N e.g. is a smaller company, or it is in a sector of higher volatility.
This can be achieved by precise additional conditions which do not influence the result of the survey on hand, as described in [49, p. 111].
Out of this follows amongst other that the error rate regarding the expected rate of return of the managers is minor to the one of the external investors. For this purpose cf. [7, p. 916].
This assumption implicates that—if N is able to achieve surplus returns by the help of G–G cannot claim a share in it, even though it theoretically could enforce it. G thus does not negotiate regarding the basic model.
“Information transfer” means that G does not only obtain more and better information concerning project P, but also that G is able to better observe and evaluate all actions and results concerning P (monitoring), e.g. by the possibility of accession to the project.
That company N can retain the complete surplus rate of return opposite to a financing by K is due to the assumed willingness of G to finance, even though he does not profit from it himself.
Using a curved function for the cost of information transfer leads to the same fundamental results but complicates the calculation at this point.
Consequently, in order to get complete information, only the costs in the amount of (1 − p 0 )*C would be necessary.
This optimum is annotated with the index “infopt” because it is the maximum rate of return to strive for if the overall rate of return of N can be increased by further information transfer. In the following, it will be notified that—depending on the point of departure—there exist different maxima.
The model is thus consistent with the intuitional insight that information are only valuable if other do not (yet) possess them. Due to the transfer (against payment), they lose their value for the sender as regards the receiver. However, the pieces of information could still continue to be valuable for the owner if he can sell them to third persons.It should be noted that there also are combinations in which there is absolutely no possibility for an optimisation by the help of information transfer. This always is the case if due to the parameters i N , i G and r project , the point p min is bigger than p infopt and the level of information p 0 of G is smaller than p min .
Cf. [24, p. 46].
Cf. [37, p. 1178].
Cf. [14, p. 852].
Cf. [21].
References
Avanzo R, Von Lewinski H, Van Wassenhove LN (2003) The link between supply chain and financial performance. Supply Chain Manag Rev 7(6):40–47
Baltensperger E (1980) Alternative approaches to the theory of the banking firm. J Monet Econ 6(1):1–37
Bessler W (1999) Bank: Theoretische Fundierung. In: Cramer JE, Dietz A, Fischer TR, Kohlhausen M, Köpfler T, Mathes M, Neuber F, Thiermann B (Hrsg.) Knapps Enzyklopädisches Lexikon des Geld-, Bank- und Börsenwesens, Band 1: A-I, Frankfurt am Main, pp 114–131
Bitz M (2005) Finanzdienstleistungen. 7., unwesentl. veränd. Aufl. München, Wien
Bohlmann B, Müller B (2006) Wertmanagement in der Logistik. Int Verkehrswesen 58(12):584–590
Brealey RA, Myers SC (2000) Principles of corporate finance. 6. Aufl. Boston u.a
Campbell TS (1979) Optimal investment financing decisions and the value of confidentiality. J Financ Quant Anal 14(5):913–924
Ceccarello C, Neser G, Pestre C, Roman N, Poisson V (2002) Financial indicators and supply chain integration: a European study. Supply Chain Forum 3(1):44–52
Christopher M (2005) Logistics and supply chain management—strategies for reducing cost and improving service. 3. Aufl. London u. a
Christopher M, Ryals L (1999) Supply chain strategy: its impact on shareholder value. Int J Logist Manag 10(1):1–10
Cooper MC, Lambert DM, Pagh JD (1997) Supply chain management: more than a new name for logistics. Int J Logist Manag 8(1):1–13
Croom S, Romano P, Giannakis M (2000) Supply chain management: an analytical framework for critical literature review. Eur J Purch Supply Manag 6(1):67–83
Diamond DW (1984) Financial intermediation and delegated monitoring. Rev Econ Stud 51(3):393–414
Diamond DW (1989) Reputation acquisition in debt markets. J Polit Econ 97(4):828–862
Disselbeck K (2007) Die Industrialisierung von Banken am Beispiel des Outsourcings. Frankfurt am Main 2007
Eitelwein O, Wohlthat A (2005) Steuerung des working capital im supply chain management über die cash-to-cash cycle time. Zeitschrift für Control Manag 49(6):416–425
Ester B, Baumgart G (2000) Cash-flow Aspekte bei der Supply-Chain-Gestaltung. In: Pfohl H-C (Hrsg.) Supply chain management: Logistik plus? Logistikkette, Marketingkette, Finanzkette. Berlin, pp 141–160
Feinen K (2003) Leasing von Logistik-Immobilien. In: Bundesvereinigung Logistik e.V. (BVL) (Hrsg.) Finanzierung—eine neue Dimension der Logistik. Ergebnisse des Arbeitskreises Logistik und Finanzen. Berlin, pp 187–200
Fettke P (2007) Supply chain management: Stand der empirischen Forschung. Zeitschrift für Betriebswirtschaft 77(4):417–461
Franke J, Pfaff D, Elbert R, Gomm M, Hofmann E (2005) Die Financial Chain im Supply Chain Management: Konzeptionelle Einordnung und Identifikation von Werttreibern. In: Ferstel OK, Sinz EJ, Eckert S, Isselhorst T (Hrsg.) Wirtschaftsinformatik 2005—eEconomy, eGovernment, eSociety. Heidelberg, pp 567–584
Gomm M (2008) Supply Chain Finanzierung—Finanzierung in unternehmensübergreifenden Wertschöpfungsketten. Berlin
Göpfert I (2002) Einführung, Abgrenzung und Weiterentwicklung des Supply Chain Managements. In: Busch A, Dangelmeier W (Hrsg.) Integriertes Supply Chain Management—Theorie und Praxis effektiver unternehmensübergreifender Geschäftsprozesse. Wiesbaden 2002, pp 25–44
Gurley JG, Shaw ES (1960) Money in a theory of finance. Washington D.C
Hellwig M (1991) Banking, financial intermediation, and corporate finance. In: Giovannini A, Mayer C (Hrsg.) European financial integration. Cambridge, pp 35–63
Hendricks KB, Singhal VR (2005) Association between supply chain glitches and operating performance. Manag Sci 51(5):695–711
Hofmann E (2003) The flow of financial resources in the supply chain: creating shareholder value through collaborative cash flow management. In: Kotzab H (Hrsg.) 8th ELA Doctorate workshop 2003. Brüssel, pp 67–94
Hofmann E, Elbert R (2004) Collaborative cash flow management. Financial Supply Chain Management als Herausforderung der Netzkompetenz. In: Pfohl H-C (Hrsg.) Netzkompetenz in Supply Chains—Grundlagen und Umsetzung. Wiesbaden, pp 94–117
Jensen M, Meckling W (1976) Theory of the firm: managerial behavior, agency costs, and ownership structure. J Financ Econ 3(4):305–360
Karrer M (2006) Supply chain performance management. Entwicklung und Ausgestaltung einer unternehmensübergreifenden Steuerungskonzeption. Wiesbaden
Keebler JS (2000) Financial issues in supply chain management. In: Mentzer JT (Hrsg.) Supply chain management. ORT, pp 321–345
Keown AJ, Scott DF, Martin JD, Petty JW (1994) Foundations of finance. The logic and practice of financial management. Englewood Cliffs
Krahnen JP (1985) Kapitalmarkt und Kreditbank. Untersuchungen zu einer mikroökonomischen Theorie der Bankunternehmung. Berlin
Kümpel T (2006) Konzeptionelle Grundlagen der Rechnungslegung nach IFRS. Das Wirtschaftsstudium 35(11):1373–1377
Lambert DM, Cooper MC, Pagh JD (1998) Supply chain management: implementation issues and research opportunities. Int J Logist Manag 9(2):1–19
Leland HE, Pyle DH (1977) Informational asymetries, financial structure, and financial intermdediation. J Financ 32(2):371–387
Löffler E (1991) Der Konzern als Finanzintermediär. Wiesbaden
Mayer C (1988) New issues in corporate finance. Eur Econ Rev 32(5):1167–1183
Mentzer JT, DeWitt W, Keebler JS, Min S, Nix NW, Smith CD, Zacharia ZG (2001) Defining supply chain management. J Bus Logist 22(2):1–25
Miles J, Ezzell J (1980) The weighted average cost of capital, perfect capital markets and project life: a clarification. J Financ Quant Anal 15:719–730
Partsch W (2000) Free cash flow—Management des Nettoumlaufvermögens in der Supply Chain. In: Pfohl, H-C (Hrsg.) Supply Chain Management: Logistik plus? Berlin, pp 119–140
Perridon L, Steiner M (2004) Finanzwirtschaft der Unternehmung. 13., überarb. u. erw. Aufl. München
Pfaff D, Skiera B, Weiss J (2004) Financial supply chain management. Bonn
Pfohl H-C (2000) Supply chain management: Konzepte, Trends, Strategien. In: Pfohl, H-C (Hrsg.) Supply chain management: Logistik plus? Logistikkette—Marketingkette—Finanzkette. Berlin, pp 1–42
Pfohl H-C (2004) Logistikmanagement. Konzeption und Funktionen. 2., vollst. überarb. und erw. Aufl. Berlin
Pfohl H-C, Elbert R, Gomm M (2006) Supply chain finance—Antwort auf die Forderung nach einer wertorientierten Logistik. In: Wolf-Kluthausen H (Hrsg.) Jahrbuch Logistik 2006. Korschenbroich
Pfohl H-C, Elbert R, Hofmann E (2003) Financial supply chain management. Neue Herausforderungen für die Finanz- und Logistikwelt. Logistik Manag 5(4):10–26
Schäfer H (2002) Unternehmensfinanzen. Grundzüge in Theorie und Management. 2. überarb. u. erw. Aufl. Heidelberg
Scherr FC (1989) Modern working capital management. Englewood Cliffs
Stein JC (1997) Internal capital markets and the competition for corporate resources. J Financ 52(1):111–133
Steinmüller T (2003) Finanzierung von Logistik-Immobilien. In: Bundesvereinigung Logistik e.V. (BVL) (Hrsg.) Finanzierung—eine neue Dimension der Logistik. Ergebnisse des Arbeitskreises Logistik und Finanzen. Berlin, pp. 171–186
Stemmler L, Seuring S (2003) Finanzwirtschaftliche Elemente in der Lieferkettensteuerung. Erste Überlegungen zu einem Konzept des Supply Chain Finance. Logistik Manag 5(4):27–37
Stenzel J (2003) Finanzierung als Dienstleistungskomponente. In: Bundesvereinigung Logistik e.V. (BVL) (Hrsg.): Finanzierung—eine neue Dimension der Logistik: Ergebnisse des Arbeitskreises Logistik und Finanzen. Berlin, pp 139–150
Stillhart G (2002) Theorie der Finanzintermediation und Regulierung von Banken. Bern
Sure M (2004) Kosten- und Liquiditätsoptimierung durch integriertes working capital management. Controlling 16(7):393–398
Tang CS (2005) Perspectives in supply chain risk management: a review. In: Decisions, operations, and technology management. Paper CT39
Uhlig S (2007) Working capital: Stille Wasser gründen tief. Control Magazin 32(2):176–181
von Eisenhart-Rothe F, Jütte S (2003) Innovative Logistikfinanzierung rund um die Supply Chain. In: Bundesvereinigung Logistik e.V. (BVL) (Hrsg.) Finanzierung—eine neue Dimension der Logistik: Ergebnisse des Arbeitskreises Logistik und Finanzen. Berlin, pp 151–170
Wallmeier R (2004) Die Optimierung der Financial Supply Chain. In: Read C, Scheuermann H-D (2004) CFO—Die integrative Kraft im Unternehmen. Bonn, pp 71–106
Weber J, Eitelwein O, Wohltat A (2007) Cash-to-Cash Cycle als Instrument zur Steuerung des Working Capital im Supply Chain Management. In: Wolf-Kluthausen H (Hrsg.) Jahrbuch Logistik 2007. Korschenbroich, pp 110–114
Wenger E, Terberger E (1988) Die Beziehung zwischen Agent und Prinzipal als Baustein einer ökonomischen Theorie. Wirtschaftswissenschaftliches Studium 17(10):506–514
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Appendix: Model variables
Appendix: Model variables
- P :
-
A supply chain-related project
- N :
-
A company in the supply chain with demand for project P (e.g. N is an OEM)
- G :
-
A company in the supply chain related to P, thus having revenue-relevant information on P (e.g. G is a supplier of N)
- K :
-
A source of capital for N and G (e.g. K is a bank)
- i N :
-
Interest rate of K for N
- i G :
-
Interest rate of K for G
- y :
-
Benefit from positive effects for G if G finances project P
- c :
-
Marginal costs for transferring information on P from N to G
- r project :
-
Rate of return of project P
- p :
-
Probability of project P success from the point of view of G (0 < p ≤ 1)
- r G :
-
Expected rate of return of G from N for financing project P
- r G _total :
-
Overall rate of return of G
- r N :
-
Overall rate of return of N
- C :
-
Cost for all information on project P
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pfohl, HC., Gomm, M. Supply chain finance: optimizing financial flows in supply chains. Logist. Res. 1, 149–161 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12159-009-0020-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12159-009-0020-y