Identifying Interfirm Total Cost Advantages for Supply Chain Competitivenes

摘要: Supply chains, partnerships, and strategic alliances are popular interfirm linkages designed to attain joint cost savings, product enhancements, competitive services. Much research exists showing the operating advantages nature of these links between firms. Though productivity differences firms provide opportunities for relationships, this article shows that key financial factors also support rationale them. These can be used effectively as extensions current purchasing analyses suppliers when considering potential partner or simply conducting homework prior negotiations. INTRODUCTION The supply chain concept opens new dimensions relationships. Found in a variety settings with different motives objectives, many developed chains during 1980s way seeking enhanced competitiveness through containment, value, channel efficiency, compressed development launch times, customer responsiveness. Few industries world have not utilized some form management approach. alliances, other terms portray cooperative link buying-selling interface, all from daily transaction long-term offerings.[1] Many been existence long time. American examples Kraft Pillsbury refrigerated distribution.[2] Corning has more than twenty ventures lines.[3] A standing venture existed DuPont Burlington Industries textile fibers technologies.[4] More recently, Merck joined Johnson & combine manufacturing one firm distribution marketing strengths other.[5] relationships take forms various purposes, cited literature. This treats them collective efforts by cooperate ways closer traditional arms-length Purchasing significant player management. On level, supplier rationalization programs early were based on consolidation buying power price advantages. led mutual total savings. much higher added value savings is evidenced commodity applied at Caterpillar Corporation.[6] In setting, serves company/supplier/ team improve efficiency effectiveness. role it evaluator, creator, manager links. intent present six central most successful use today. Two evaluative source select decades. Four additional both enhance theory managerial insights into evaluating, implementing, maintaining four generally part relationship evaluation, but they an effective cost-savings effort. They upper managements major elements top level THRUST OF THIS ARTICLE visits interviews managers personnel production, logistics, finance, sales marketing, planning 241 organizations 1987 1990. interviewed United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Bloc, Asia, Africa. …