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The performances of three workload limiting policies are analysed, and the following are the three objectives: (i) assessing whether the method of workload limiting a ects the performances of Order Review and Release strategies; (ii) investigating the performances of the workload limiting methods when the mix imbalance changes; (iii) evaluating the robustness of the workload limiting methods considered. The methodological pattern followed required a simulation model of a dynamic job shop system and all the workload limiting methods are tested by resorting to a fractional factorial experimental design with repetitions. Results coming from simulation campaign show that the`upper bound only' method is the best performer. Furthermore three di erent mix imbalance levels have been tested, showing that`workload balancing' method allows closer performances to those of the`upper bound only'. Finally`workload balancing' is proven to be the most robust, but not all the results are statistically signi®cant for all performance indexes.

Supply chain management (SCM) is explored from an operational perspective, following a threefold approach. The article introduces a set of management techniques and supporting tools that can be used to analyse and describe SCM strategies. It proposes a new normative tool and uses it to examine a large set of relevant SCM case studies pertaining to seven industries: apparel, automobile, grocery, white goods, pharmaceuticals, computers and book publishing. The article develops a new conceptual framework for SCM strategies and test it based on empirical evidence. The new schemes proposed here provide a normative tool to define and represent supply chain strategies, a contingency model to support managers in designing supply chain strategies, and some hints for further research.

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