Supplier–supplier relationships in buyer–supplier–supplier triads: Implications for supplier performance

A growing number of studies and evidence from industries suggest that, besides managing the relationship with its suppliers, a buyer needs to proactively manage the relationships between those suppliers. In a buyer–supplier–supplier relationship triad, the buyer, as the contracting entity, influences the suppliers’ behaviors and the relationship between them. By considering the relationships in such a triad, we are able to gain a richer and more realistic perspective of buyer–supplier relationships. In this study, our goal is to examine supplier–supplier relationships in buyer–supplier–supplier triads, focusing on how such relationships impact the supplier performance. We frame the supplier–supplier relationship as co-opetition—one in which competing suppliers work together to meet the buyer's requirements. We investigate the role of the buyer on such relationships, and how the buyer and co-opetitive supplier–supplier relationships affect supplier performance. We find mixed empirical support for our hypotheses. However, we are able to demonstrate the dynamics of supplier–supplier co-opetition in the buyer–supplier–supplier triad. We point out the need for further studies in this area.     

基于供应链绿色度的第三方物流供应商评价与选择研究

针对绿色供应链构建中对第三方物流供应商选型问题,提出了结合GSC绿色度对供应商评价的方法。并构建了基于熵权的TOPSIS评价模型,运用秦皇岛港物流选型进行了实例分析证明了方法的经济性和绿色性。     

大规模定制下供应商选择问题研究

针对单纯采用模糊评价或灰色评价方法都不能客观、准确地评价大规模定制模式下供应商选择这一问题,建立了一种灰色评价与模糊评价相结合的供应商选择综合评价模型;在确定指标权重时,采用了熵的概念,避免了常用方法如层次分析方法所带来的主观因素的影响。将此方法应用于供应商选择的结果表明,该方法可行且有效。     

基于层次模糊评价法的供应商选择

供应商选择是供应链管理的重要内吝之一。文章在分析供应商选择评价指标体系的前提下,建立了基于层次分析法和模糊评价法的层次模糊评价法。该方法避免了不确定性对供应商选择结果的影响,为供应商的选择提供了一个更为科学、合理的方法。     

An empirical assessment of IT project selection and evaluation methods in state government

This study uses a survey of U.S. state government information technology (IT) project management practitioners to investigate the utilization of IT project selection and evaluation methodologies—financial and qualitative—and to assess the empirical relationship between the chosen methods and several measures of perceived project success. The analysis presents evidence that financial project selection and evaluation methodologies appear to be important in obtaining better control over project costs.     

Purchasing practices in small- to medium-sized enterprises: An examination of strategic purchasing adoption,supplier evaluation and supplier capabilities

The benefits that can be derived from effective purchasing have long been recognised in the management literature. Despite a growing body of research on purchasing practices in small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a number of key issues remain under-examined. We investigate SME purchasing practices in terms of (1) the degree to which purchasing is regarded as a ‘strategic’ activity by SMEs, (2) the use of supplier evaluation systems by SMEs and (3) the supplier capabilities emphasised by SME buyers. Through a survey of UK SME managers, we find that purchasing practices varied greatly across SMEs. Purchasing formality is generally low with limited evidence of purchasing being employed strategically and with many firms not undertaking formal supplier evaluations. In terms of supplier capabilities, we find that SMEs differ in the capabilities they prioritise, with three distinct groups evident. These groups are labelled ‘holistic’, ‘process’ and ‘logistics’ based on the supplier capabilities they emphasise. These three groups of firms also differed in terms of the emphasis they placed on strategic purchasing, supplier evaluation, technological focus and how they compete in their main markets, but not in terms of firm size or number of suppliers utilised. The implications of these findings are discussed and areas meriting future research are proposed.     

基于主成分分析的应急保障军队车辆器材供应商选择

分析了突发事件中军队车辆器材应急保障的特点,在此基础上建立了军队车辆器材供应商评价的指标体系,并将主成分分析应用于供应商的评价选择。根据应急保障车辆器材供应商的实际指标数据进行了实例计算,并对各供应商进行综合评价,验证了主成分分析在应急保障车辆器材供应商选择上应用的可行性与准确性。     

Supply chain integration and operational performance: The contingency effects of production systems

The boundary conditions of supply chain integration (SCI) have been widely studied in order to find out when SCI is applicable and effective. However, prior studies have mainly focused on external contextual factors, such as supply complexity, environmental uncertainty and country-level infrastructure. This study contributes to the SCI literature by examining the contingency effects of internal production systems on the relationship between supplier integration, customer integration and operational performance. Based on organizational information processing theory, we provide evidence to show that the impact of supplier and customer integration on operational performance varies across production systems, such as one-of-a-kind production, batch production and mass production systems. The empirical results also reveal how supplier and customer integration can be matched with different configurations of production systems in order to achieve the desired quality, flexibility, delivery or cost performance.     

基于灰色层次分析法的供应商评价研究

供应商评价是企业进行供应商管理、监督和改善等一系列活动的基础和标准,对实现企业利润最大化有着举足轻重的作用。文章主要介绍了灰色层次分析法的基本原理,并通过算例分析演绎了该方法的求解过程。针对算例,将供应商的整体运营情况分为目标层、准则层和指标层,建立了供应商评价指标体系,并采用层次分析法计算得出了影响供应商评价等级的各项指标权重。随后,应用灰色关联分析法得到了供应商评价指标体系的灰色评价权矩阵,并结合各项评价指标的权重,得出供应商整体运营状况的评价等级。算例结果表明,该方法能够客观反映供应商的整体运营状况,可以作为企业选择供应商的依据。     

家电制造企业绿色供应商的选择

近年来,随着各国纷纷制定更加严格的环境保护法规,我国家电制造企业实施绿色采购已是刻不容缓,这对提高我国家电企业的产品竞争力、实施可持续发展具有重大意义。绿色供应商选择是实施绿色采购的关键一环。本文在对已有供应商选择的相关研究成果回顾的基础上,构建了家电制造企业绿色供应商综合评价体系,最后进行了供应商选择的实证分析,对推动我国家电企业实施绿色采购具有一定的实际指导意义。     

What is required for greener supplier selection? A literature review and conceptual model development

This paper examines the existing literature on green supplier selection. In total, 60 articles are reviewed, all published in peer-reviewed journals between 1991 and 2011. The articles are analyzed in terms of several general variables such as type of research and theoretical viewpoint, as well as more specific variables such as the supply chain position considered, stages of the supplier selection process studied, and the perspective taken on environmental criteria. The main findings are threefold. First, analytical research, focusing on developing normative decision models for the final stage in green supplier selection is clearly most dominant, employing a wide range of techniques. Second, empirical research is less prominent and generally lacks a clear theoretical background. Third, very little conceptual research has been done linking green supplier selection to an organization's strategy. Research on green supplier selection is highly fragmented and in danger of overemphasizing the technical aspects of supplier selection. Based on this review of the articles, a conceptual model of green supplier selection is presented, aimed at integrating the different dimensions of green supplier selection and identifying directions for future research.     

Relationship between supply chain integration and performance

This study analyzes survey-based studies examining the benefits of supply chain integration (SCI) and presents opportunities for further empirical examination. The literature review method is used to evaluate the empirical research published from 1990 to 2012. The analysis reveals that internal integration serves as a foundation for establishing external collaboration. There is empirical evidence on the positive effect of supplier integration on performance, whereas the findings on benefits through customer integration are conflicting. While researchers have made significant progress in our understanding of SCI, there is a substantial need for more work to provide in-depth insights into the potential of SCI and to improve the methodological issues. This study makes three contributions. First, this study expands the current understanding of benefits and considerations in implementing internal, supplier, and customer integration. Second, this study provides a critique of the empirical work and offers research agendas that can stimulate future researchers to carefully explore the topic. Finally, this study enhances the quality of analysis by employing the five-step approach proposed by Vokurka and O’Leary-Kelly (J Oper Manag 18(4):485–501, 2000).     

Supplier involvement in new product development and innovation: Taking stock and looking to the future

This paper provides a comprehensive and critical review and synthesis of the current state of empirical research into supplier involvement in new product development (NPD). The paper begins by defining supplier involvement in NPD and evaluating the rationale for supplier involvement in NPD. This suggests that early and extensive supplier involvement in NPD projects has the potential to improve NPD effectiveness and efficiency, however, existing research remains fragmented and empirical findings to date show conflicting results. The paper takes stock of the research on supplier involvement in NPD, tracing the origins of the literature to the late 1980s, and evaluating the development of the field up to the present day. From this broad base of empirical research the analysis identifies a set of factors affecting the success of supplier involvement projects. The paper concludes with a discussion of two emerging themes: (1) supplier relationship development and adaptation; (2) supply network involvement in product innovation.     

基于OWA算子的供应商选择模型研究

目前,基于AHP法构建的供应商选择模型中,均未考虑实际决策时通常有多人参与,并且决策者会给出不同形式评价信息的情况。针对这一问题,将供应商选择视为一种不同形式偏好信息并存的群决策问题,结合AHP法,提出基于OWA算子的供应商选择模型。     

Operating decisions, supplier availability and quality: An empirical study

In the just-in-time (JIT) philosophy, purchasing strategies advocate the use of fewer sources of supply to enable a firm to improve the quality of its products. However, there is paucity of empirical evidence in support of the theory. We develop a model by integrating concepts from manufacturing, marketing, and business strategy to better understand the links between operating decisions of the firm, supplier availability, and product quality. We empirically test the hypotheses using cross-sectional PIMS data. Our analysis shows that operating decisions and environmental factors such as wider product lines, lower levels of competition, and greater frequency of product changes increase the likelihood of a firms' reduction of supplier base, which in turn raises quality levels.     

Structural model for analysis of key performance indicators for sustainable manufacturer–supplier collaboration: A grey-decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory-based approach

With growing competition in the market and dire need for sustainability, it has become imperative for companies to build long-term relationship with their supply chain partners through sustainable collaboration. Among these, the supplier–manufacturer relationship is crucial for improved organizational, business and sustainable performance. Sustainable collaboration with suppliers involves crucial decision-making processes such as continuous supplier monitoring and supplier development. Hence, a critical challenge that a company faces is to identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for assessing the performance of a supplier for sustainable collaboration. In this regard, this study focuses on identification of KPIs for an Indian home appliance company through exhaustive discussions involving multiple decision-makers. Further, a grey-based decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) model is proposed in the study for analysing the importance levels among the fifteen KPIs based on multiple stakeholder perspectives. The results of the grey structural model indicate seven KPIs as influencing KPIs and eight KPIs as influenced KPIs. The KPI ‘Information disclosure’ has been identified as the most influential KPI for the evaluation of suppliers for sustainable collaboration. The implications drawn from the result analysis model can provide meaningful insights to managers for identifying strategies towards strengthening the supplier–manufacturer relationship and achieving organizational and market competence.     

The effects of volume consolidation on buyer–supplier relationships: A study of Chinese firms

Volume consolidation is a major consequence of supply base reduction. This study explores the relationships between volume consolidation and supply chain outcomes such as buyer coordination costs, supplier performance, buyer environment learning ability, and buyer learning from the supplier. This study also examines the effects of these supply chain outcomes on buyer satisfaction. Based on results derived from an empirical study of 398 Chinese manufacturing companies, it is found that volume consolidation enhances supplier performance, buyer learning from the supplier, and its environment learning ability. It is also determined that coordination costs negatively affect supplier performance and buyer satisfaction. Environment learning ability does not affect buyer satisfaction, while supplier performance and buyer learning from the supplier positively affect buyer satisfaction. As such, the effects of volume consolidation are not limited to enhanced supply chain performance, but also to organizational learning in the supply chain.     

基于模糊组合权的模糊TOPSIS方法在供应商选择中的应用研究

供应商的选择在供应链管理中是很重要环节,供应商选择的成功与否将直接影响到整个供应链的竞争优势,故有必要对供应商选择进行深入研究。本文将已有的模糊组合权方法和模糊TOPSIS方法相结合,提出一种基于模糊组合权的模糊TOPSIS方法,并将其应用于供应商的选择研究中。文章首先总结已有的相关研究结果,给出供应商评价的准则,接着介绍三角模糊数的相关理论,推出模糊组合权及模糊TOPSIS的算法步骤,最后通过一个算例验证方法的可行性。     

基于动态集对分析模型的物流供应商评价

通过构建物流供应商评价指标体系,根据评价的性质建立基于动态集对分析的物流供应商评价模型,该评价模型既能评价物流供应商的现状,又能预测供应商的未来绩效。     

Supplier satisfaction and commitment: The role of influence strategies and supplier development

Although considerable research is dedicated to influence strategies and supplier development, a lack of empirical support exists of their effects on supplier satisfaction and commitment. This exploratory study aims to fill this gap by investigating first-tier suppliers in the German automotive industry. Supplier reactions to three different influence strategies and two types of supplier development efforts are examined. Results indicate that supplier commitment is affected by the use of promises and both human- and capital-specific supplier development, while supplier satisfaction is affected by indirect, other direct influence strategies and capital-specific supplier development.