​Academic research has identified several operational drivers in manufacturing companies that have an effect on either the physical production of goods or its distribution: working capital requirements, manufacturing performance, supply chain performance and supply chain risk. Despite the fact that these four operational drivers have been operationalized in empirical studies and theoretical discourses, no-one has yet conducted a holistic study of how they interrelate and what specific contribution they make to overall firm performance. The key question addressed by this study is...