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The perceived impact of quality assurance systems on tomato supply chain performance

Agri-food supply chains are currently being confronted with many requirements regarding the product quality of their products. In recent years, concerns about food quality have risen among consumers as a result of several outbreaks of diseases and various environmental concerns. This has stimulated governments to introduce stricter regulations concerning food quality and safety issues. Besides governmental regulations, retailers also impose food quality requirements and standards on their supply chains. The goal of this paper is therefore to develop a method for analysing the impact of different quality assurance systems (QAS) requirements on the performance of the different stages of the supply chain and of the chain as a whole. Performance in this study includes components of efficiency, flexibility and responsiveness as well as food quality. This study uses perceptions of the Dutch tomato supply chain members in an effort to understand the perceived impact of different QAS requirements on the performance of the tomato supply chain. These perceptions are obtained using an adapted self-explicated method. Results indicate that some QAS requirements are perceived to have a positive impact on some supply chain members' performance, while they are perceived to have a negative impact on other supply chain members' performance. Overall, results reveal that all selected QAS requirements are perceived to have a positive impact on the performance of the supply chain, as a whole, although the total impact is relatively small. The performance measurement model developed in this study allows supply chain members to develop a clear view of the impact of QAS requirements. Also, the model makes it possible to make trade-offs between issues such as production costs and food safety, within the own firm as well as throughout the chain.