Modelling the impact of payment delays on the performance of multi-echelon supply chains: the case of grocery distribution in Morocco

Abstract In today’s business world, financial constraints are one of the most important reasons for supply chain failures. In such an environment, supply and demand mismatch, lack of cash flow, and inventory shortage lead to poor financial performance. This study proposes a framework to develop a system dynamics model of multi-echelon supply chains called the ‘SSB model’, with financial attributes and ordering policies to explore how payment delays affect financial performance. The SSB model was tested in grocery distribution in Morocco using system dynamics. From this study, the authors have identified how payment delays affect supply chain surplus, cash in hand, and supply chain coordination. Moreover, the study addresses how payment delays influence the financial performance of the entire supply chain. Practitioners and researchers can refer to this study to make better decisions in supply chain transactions.