Which of the following is a key metric for measuring supply chain performance?

Order fulfillment rate is a key metric for measuring supply chain performance because it directly reflects the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain in delivering products to customers. This metric indicates the percentage of customer orders that are completed accurately and shipped on time, which is critical for maintaining customer satisfaction and loyalty. A high order fulfillment rate signifies that a company is effectively managing its inventory, production, and logistics processes, leading to increased operational efficiency and profitability.

In contrast, while employee satisfaction, marketing effectiveness, and product design quality are important aspects of a business's overall performance, they do not directly assess the supply chain's ability to meet customer demands and deliver products. Employee satisfaction is more related to human resources and organizational culture, marketing effectiveness reflects the success of promotional activities, and product design quality focuses on the attributes of the products themselves. These metrics can influence supply chain performance but do not serve as direct measures of it.