Background: Global sourcing has impacted inventory levels, lead times and the availability of working capital, affecting the standard financial flow of a supply chain. Poorly managing the link between the financial and physical supply chains could therefore lead to unnecessarily high inventory investments or to a short supply of inventory, affecting cash flow, working capital, sales and, subsequently, a firm’s profitability. Objectives: The aim of this generic qualitative study was to explore how firms manage their financial supply chain alongside their physical supply chain. Method: Data were collected from 12 semi-structured interviews with senior managers across six small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) importing firms in various industries. Results: The research finds that the buyer is the driver of both upstream and downstream financial supply chain management (FSCM) as SME importers in Gauteng are proactively managing their financial alongside their physical supply chains. Through the continuous evaluation of sourcing strategies, exchange rate risk management strategies and inventory investment management strategies, firms can align their physical and financial supply chains. Conclusion: This study highlights the lead time and disruption risks and costs of global sourcing and identifies FSCM tools that can be used to alleviate the financial burden associated with long lead times.

中文翻译：

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供应链中的装运后资金流动：对中小型企业进口商的研究

背景：全球采购影响了库存水平，交货时间和营运资金的可用性，影响了供应链的标准财务流程。因此，如果对金融和实物供应链之间的链接管理不善，可能会导致不必要的高额库存投资或库存短缺，从而影响现金流，营运资金，销售，进而影响公司的盈利能力。目标：这项一般性定性研究的目的是探索公司如何管理其财务供应链以及其实际供应链。方法：数据来自对来自六个行业的六个中小型企业（SME）进口公司的高级管理人员进行的12次半结构化访谈。结果：研究发现，买家是上游和下游金融供应链管理（FSCM）的驱动力，因为豪登省的中小型企业进口商正在与其实体供应链一起积极管理其金融。通过持续评估采购策略，汇率风险管理策略和库存投资管理策略，企业可以调整其实际和财务供应链。结论：这项研究突出了全球采购的前置时间，中断风险和成本，并确定了可用于减轻与较长前置时间相关的财务负担的FSCM工具。汇率风险管理策略和库存投资管理策略，企业可以调整其物理和财务供应链。结论：这项研究突出了全球采购的前置时间，中断风险和成本，并确定了可用于减轻与较长前置时间相关的财务负担的FSCM工具。汇率风险管理策略和库存投资管理策略，企业可以调整其实际和财务供应链。结论：这项研究突出了全球采购的前置时间，中断风险和成本，并确定了可用于减轻与较长前置时间相关的财务负担的FSCM工具。