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An exploratory study of ‘close’ supplier–manufacturer relationships
Author(s) -
Goffin Keith,
Lemke Fred,
Szwejczewski Marek
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of operations management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.649
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1873-1317
pISSN - 0272-6963
DOI - 10.1016/j.jom.2005.05.003
Subject(s) - purchasing , supplier relationship management , business , quality (philosophy) , context (archaeology) , empirical research , marketing , exploratory research , product (mathematics) , process management , supplier evaluation , new product development , knowledge management , supply chain management , operations management , supply chain , computer science , economics , paleontology , philosophy , geometry , mathematics , epistemology , sociology , anthropology , biology
Abstract Close relationships with selected suppliers can enable manufacturers to reduce costs, improve quality and enhance new product development. Although the advantages of close co‐operation are widely acknowledged in the literature, the specific attributes of such relationships are not well understood. To address this gap, 39 managers responsible for purchasing were interviewed using a technique from psychology, which is particularly effective at uncovering the characteristics of relationships. This approach is innovative in the context of supplier management research and gave insights into how manufacturers expect more from their suppliers than just reliable deliveries of high‐quality, well‐priced parts and components. The results of the empirical research enhance our knowledge of the attributes of manufacturer–supplier relationships and also indicate how manufacturers can establish close relationships with selected suppliers. Overall, the study has established the viability of a new approach for understanding the complex topic of manufacturer–supplier partnerships.