Supplier base management: Experiences from the UK and Germany
Lemke, Fred Goffin, Keith Szwejczewski, Marek Pfeiffer, Rolf Lohmüller, Bertrand
Lemke, Fred
Goffin, Keith
Szwejczewski, Marek
Pfeiffer, Rolf
Lohmüller, Bertrand
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Publication Type
Journal article with impact factor
Editor
Supervisor
Publication Year
2000
Journal
The International Journal of Logistics Management
Book
Publication Volume
11
Publication Issue
2
Publication Begin page
45
Publication End page
58
Publication NUmber of pages
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Abstract
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 their suppliers. The research was conducted in two stages. First, a postal survey of German and UK manufacturers identified the supplier base trends. Second, a follow‐up telephone survey of a random sample of German plants investigated supplier management processes. The findings show that German manufacturers have not reduced their supplier base by as much as their UK counterparts. However, German manufacturers that have reduced their supplier base perceive significant benefits. Currently, many companies appear to have failed to recognize the potential of working with a reduced supplier base.
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Keywords
Suppliers, Supplier relations, United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, Supply‐chain management