Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to share the authors' experiences of using the repertory grid technique in two supply chain management studies. The paper aims to demonstrate how the two studies provided insights into how qualitative techniques such as the repertory grid can be made more...

Supplier base management is an important aspect of the management of manufacturing operations, as reducing the number of suppliers – the supplier base – is a key approach in many companies including the US and the UK. By having fewer suppliers, manufacturers have more time to work closely...

A key issue for manufacturers is supplier management, i.e. organising theoptimal flow of high quality, value-for-money materials or components fromappropriate innovative suppliers. Many companies now recognise the central rolethat supplier management plays in achieving long-term competitive...

Supplier partnerships can be the key in enhancing the performance ofmanufacturing companies. Consequently, partnership has been strongly recommendedby academics and practitioners alike. Surprisingly, the concept of partnershipis only poorly understood. Many authors have identified the advantages...

Streamlining the supplier base is a common approach in many US and UKmanufacturing companies. However, is this approach being adopted in Germany asfast as it has in the UK? This paper describes research that answers thisquestion and investigates how German companies are managing contacts with...

Streamlining the supplier base is a common approach in many US and UK manufacturing companies. However, is this approach being adopted in Germany as fast as it has in the UK? This paper describes research that answers this question and investigates how German companies are managing contacts with...

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...

Supplier partnerships can be the key in enhancing the performance of manufacturing companies. Consequently, partnership has been strongly recommended by academics and practitioners alike. Surprisingly, the concept of partnership is only poorly understood. Many authors have identified the...

Reports on interviews held with management at six factories in the UK, which had received awards for their manufacturing excellence, which aimed to discuss the TQM initiatives and, in particular, to gauge the degree and nature of the management commitment required to make these successful....