Supplier development : the challenges of being developed by many

• Purpose:  This study investigates supplier development from the supplier perspective. The purpose is to explore the supplier’s experienced challenges of being developed by many buyers simultaneously and over time.Research Approach:  The research is exploratory, using a qualitative approach. The chosen investigative strategy is a methods triangulation study involving a case study in the heavy vehicles industry and focus groups with supplier representatives from an industrial network. Focus groups were performed in order to validate and further develop the case findings. Findings and Originality:  The findings point towards challenges in supplier development due to frequent turnover of the buyer’s supplier development and purchasing staff, and the related changes in supplier development agenda.  They also point towards changes and developments of the supplier that does not reach the core of the supplier’s business, as different buyers request different developments at different times. This makes it the management staff’s task to present the right information at the right time to the buyer(s), rather than implementing changes based on the buyers’ supplier development work.Research Impact: To date there is limited understanding of how suppliers perceive and experience the supplier development and the challenges they are experiencing. Through the network approach an increased understanding of challenges, owing to the many actors and interrelatedness between actors in supplier development have been created.Practical Impact: This study sheds light on that different buyers affect one another’s possibility to develop the capabilities and resources of the supplier. This interrelatedness is something buyers should consider when implementing their supplier development

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Transportteknik och logistik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Transport Systems and Logistics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Supplier development

Network

Logistics

Logistik

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