Manufacturer‐supplier relationships: An empirical study of German manufacturing companies
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
ISSN: 0144-3577
Article publication date: 1 September 2005
Abstract
Purpose
Effective management of suppliers is one of the ways manufacturing companies can improve their performance. Typically, it has been argued in the literature that close relationships with suppliers should be developed, in contrast to the traditional price‐driven transactional relationships. However, there has been relatively little empirical research on how supplier management is applied.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents research probing how manufacturers manage their suppliers and takes a sample from Germany – which has a large manufacturing sector. In‐depth interviews with purchasing managers were used to understand whether relationships with suppliers were being utilised.
Findings
The analysis of the data indicates that a significant portion of the companies surveyed had experienced a change in their relationship with suppliers in the last few years. In the main, relationships had become closer and the use of partnerships was in evidence.
Practical implications
The research results have implications for German manufacturing companies, as they indicate the potential for improving performance through the greater adoption of best practices in the area of supplier management. The research results indicate the need for German manufacturers to adopt leading‐edge practices in the area of supplier management.
Originality/value
Although exploratory in nature, the investigation demonstrated the need for researchers to better understand the range of relationships in a typical manufacturer's supplier base.
Keywords
Citation
Szwejczewski, M., Lemke, F. and Goffin, K. (2005), "Manufacturer‐supplier relationships: An empirical study of German manufacturing companies", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 25 No. 9, pp. 875-897. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570510613947
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited