Abstract
The performance of Swiss based chemical and
pharmaceutical companies regarding their working
capital management and its underlying
components, namely accounts receivable, inventories
and accounts payable differs over time and between
the single firms. The calculation of a cash potential
for the year 2008 shows that 17 billion CHF is tied
up in the companies’ balance sheets if they would
realise the Swiss best practice performance. It has
also been shown that in recent years Swiss chemical
and pharmaceutical companies have a considerably
higher working capital level compared to their
European and US peers. The managerial implications
for the achievement of best practice are the
awareness of the top management, efficient
processes on the operating level as well as an
enhanced collaboration within the company as well
as throughout the entire supply chain.
Seeger, S