Ready for Supplier Relationship Management?: A tool for a structured approach

The consolidation trend within the industries has shortened the pool of suppliers to work with. Supply Chain Managers and Purchasers need to take a different view on their interfaces in order to exploit them most efficiently. Which specific methods of Supplier Relationship Management can and should be used by enterprises purchasing in international oligopolistic markets in order to improve their results? This paper targets to point out which methods there are and in which situation they are applicable. It also describes how these methods can contribute to the company¿s success. It will line out possible methods of Supplier Relationship Management. Furthermore, it will show that the capabilities of the companies in question will profoundly influence the choice of methodology. Finally, it will propose a tool kit that shall help develop a structured approach to Supplier Relationship Management in practice. This book has been written for Purchasers and Supply Chain Managers willing to reflect more consciously on their supply side.

Mag. Gudrun Gradinger, MSc has studied International Business Economics at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, spending one year at Aston University, UK and one year at the HEC, Switzerland and holds a degree in Supply Chain Management. With several international experiences she currently works as a strategic buyer in the rubber industry.