Relationship configurations in the apparel supply chain

Purpose - This study aims to identify the types of relationships that intermediaries form with their suppliers and customers in the apparel supply chain and their implications for performance.Design methodology approach - Cluster analysis was conducted on the supplier and customer relationships of 9...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of business & industrial marketing 2013-04, Vol.28 (4), p.303-316
Main Authors: Chen, Ivy S.N, Fung, Patrick K.O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clothing industry
Collaboration
Competitive advantage
Customers
Discriminant analysis
Outsourcing
Packaged goods
Studies
Suppliers
Supply chains
Theory
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Purpose - This study aims to identify the types of relationships that intermediaries form with their suppliers and customers in the apparel supply chain and their implications for performance.Design methodology approach - Cluster analysis was conducted on the supplier and customer relationships of 90 trade intermediaries in the apparel industry.Findings - Three configurations were identified: moderately dependent relationships with suppliers and customers and moderate flexibility upstream; highly dependent relationships with suppliers and customers but low flexibility upstream; and relationships with suppliers and customers that are low in dependence. Performance of firms using these configurations differed. Firms that cultivated some dependence upstream and downstream performed best. Firms with highly dependent relationships with suppliers and customers but low flexibility upstream performed almost as well. This group was highly skilled in relationship management. Firms that maintained low dependence with suppliers and customers performed the worst.Research limitations implications - Findings were based on a limited sample of 90 firms. Relationship configurations may differ in other industries, e.g. car industry.Practical implications - For a supply chain to be effective, firms need to consider how they structure the relationships along the supply chain to facilitate the flow of information, goods and resources.Originality value - Prior research has considered relationships as independent dyads. This study looks at tripartite relationships involving suppliers and customers in the supply chain.
ISSN:0885-8624
2052-1189
DOI:10.1108/08858621311313901