Triple-A supply chains: unveiling the mediating power of collaboration and innovation on operational performance

Triple-A (agile, adaptable, and aligned) Supply Chain (SC) has been analyzed as a source of competitive advantage, but the influence of mediating variables in this relationship remains underexplored. This research seeks to advance the Triple-A SC framework by considering and testing the mediating effects of SC collaboration and innovation levels on the Triple-A SC–operational performance (efficiency and responsiveness) relationship. The research model was tested with PLS-SEM using a sample of 277 Spanish manufacturing firms with a minimum of 50 employees from 14 different sectors. The results show that SC collaboration and innovation levels significantly mediate relationships between Triple-A SC and operational performance. Additionally, collaboration level plays a more important role in responsiveness than efficiency, while innovation level has similar effects on both performance dimensions. This work contributes to knowledge on the impact of Triple-A SC on operational performance and alerts managers to the need to strengthen their levels of collaboration with SC partners and innovation over their main competitors.