The Impact of Lean Inventory Management on Export Intensity

Jingbin Wang; Xuyao Liu; Xuechang Zhu

doi:10.5755/j01.ee.36.3.35105

Authors

Jingbin Wang School of Management, Tianjin University of Technology, China
Xuyao Liu School of Management, Tianjin University of Technology, China
Xuechang Zhu School of Management, Tianjin University of Technology, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.36.3.35105

Keywords:

Inventory leanness, Export intensity, Environmental dynamics, Environmental complexity

Abstract

This study aims to explore the impact of lean inventory management on export intensity and explain how environmental dynamics and complexity moderate this relationship. The Heckman two-step method was used to examine this relationship during periods from 2000 to 2013. The results reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between inventory leanness and export intensity. Furthermore, this study indicates that environmental dynamics and environmental complexity weaken the relationship between inventory leanness and export intensity. These findings convey a message to managers which can enhance export intensity and improve international competitiveness by realizing the optimal level of inventory leanness. Managers should pay more attention to inventory management when the intensity of competition is weak or the environment is less dynamic. This paper contributes to understand the relationship between inventory leanness and export intensity by studying the moderating role of environmental dynamics and environmental complexity.

Author Biographies

Jingbin Wang, School of Management, Tianjin University of Technology, China

Jingbin Wang is a professor at the School of Management at the Tianjin University of Technology, China. His present research interest includes operations management and performance.

Xuyao Liu, School of Management, Tianjin University of Technology, China

Xuyao Liu is a doctoral student at the School of Management at the Tianjin University of Technology, China. Her present research interest includes operations management and performance.

Xuechang Zhu, School of Management, Tianjin University of Technology, China

Xuechang Zhu is an associate professor at the School of Management at the Tianjin University of Technology, China. His present research interest includes operations management and performance.