Benchmarking has long been recognized as an important business activity. The primary goal of benchmarking is to produce a product or execute a process that is at least as good as the best firms producing similar products or performing similar processes. Important components of benchmarking...

Presents an approach for evaluating the number of vendors to employ in a procurement situation using multi‐objective programming (MOP) and data envelopment analysis (DEA). The approach advocates developing vendor‐order quantity solutions (referred to as supervendors) using MOP and then...

While it has long been recognized that vendor selection is multi‐objective in nature, little has been done to develop techniques for measuring vendors’ performance on multiple criteria. Demonstrates the use of data envelopment analysis (DEA) as a tool for measuring the performance of vendors...

In this exploration of formal international purchasing alliances, a broad overview of why firms become involved in international purchasing alliances is developed. Then, using a data base developed based on formalized international alliance activity reported in The Wall Street Journal ,...

The concepts of a supply chain and supply chain management are receiving increased attention as means of becoming or remaining competitive in a globally challenging environment. What distinguishes supply chain management from other channel relationships? This paper presents a framework for...

Total cost of ownership is a concept which strives to analyze and understand the true cost of doing business with a supplier, going well beyond price. This paper briefly explores trends which have increased interest in total cost of ownership analysis. Barriers and benefits of total cost of...

Many firms have experienced significant benefits from engaging in supplier alliances. However, alliance relationships do not evolve in isolation. Support factors for supplier alliances include purchasing’s accountability for their actions, the use of information technology, the perceived...

Purchasing organizations are exposed to risk in their interactions with suppliers, whether it is recognized and managed, addressed in a cursory manner, or altogether ignored. In order to understand the supply risk that exists, purchasing organizations can proactively assess the probability and...

International purchasing partnerships are becoming an increasingly common and attractive way to procure goods and services in the global marketplace. Yet these complex relationships may require special effort and attention in order to be successful. A review of the relevant literature and case...

Purpose – This paper aims to present a managerial framework that facilitates successful supplier selection and ongoing management for purchasing services from offshore suppliers. Design/methodology/approach – This research is grounded in transaction cost theory and developed using data from...