Supplier Relationship Management can only occur if both sides obtain some gain from trade that occurs between the supply of goods or services and their exchange for money, is this a good enough reason for supplier relationship management? Probably yes because no one would trade with anyone else if both sides did not gain something that they value from the exchange relationship.
Whether we like it or not, whether we want to say that out loud or not, for me the buyer and suppliers primarily indulge in exchange relationship in order to satisfy their desire for money and benefit their businesses or organisations. So when buyers and suppliers think about the supplier relationship management or ways in which they conduct exchange relationships, they must focus on a share of value appropriated by both sides in the relationship.
What is Supplier Relationship Management
Over the years effective management of a supplier’s relationships has emerged as an essential organisational competence and should be used to identify the right projects and the right supplier to maximise output from the available resource. Supplier relationship management can be described as the systematic management of post-contract value from relationships with suppliers over the life of selected key relationship.
Supplier relationship management may become one of the few real core organisational competencies. Practitioners and supplier relationship management leaders potentially become true ‘custodians of value’, systematically capture value and innovation in working with key suppliers. As pointed out by Watts and Hahn (1993, p. 15)
“In the final analysis, a firm’s ability to produce a quality product at a reasonable cost, and in a timely manner, is heavily influenced by its supplier’s capabilities. Consequently, without a competent supplier network, a firm’s ability to compete in the market can be hampered significantly”.
So, to get the incremental value of supplier relationship management, buyers should proactively seek to integrate the supplier’s processes into its own and the customers’, thus minimising waste and moving cost out. There has been a great deal of research done on the subject of supplier relationship management in operations management; however, in my view, there are 4 strategic ways companies can improve supplier relationship management
1. Category or Commodity Strategy
Krause et al. (1998) have suggested the identification of critical commodities for development as a first key step of a strategic supplier development process. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS, 2007) have defined category management
“as organising the resources of the Procurement team in such a way as to focus externally onto the supply markets of an organisation (as against having a focus on the internal customers or on internal Procurement departmental functions) in order to fully leverage purchasing decisions”.
CIPS also outline key features of a structured category management approach as:
- Developing a thorough understanding of supplier spend and future demand.
- Segmenting spend into market sectors.
- Developing market division sourcing strategies.
- Supplier selection and segmentation.
- Supplier Performacne management, including strategic supplier partnering.
Krause et al. (1998) suggested many companies utilised a “purchasing portfolio analysis” while pursuing strategic SD, which is similar to Kraljic’s (1983) classification matrix for commodities as shown in Figure 1 below, which separates low-risk from high-risk commodities and low-volume from high-volume purchases. After classifying all commodities into each category, the resulting portfolio discriminates between non-critical commodities, and strategic commodities.
Krause et al. (1998) also argue that companies generally skip this step while efforts were driven at the individual supplier level, and where the situation is ‘fire-fighting’ in nature, to correct specific supplier deficiencies. Therefore, if companies use proper Commodity Strategy then they can focus on resources on what is important for them.
2. Selecting Suppliers for Development
During my Ph.D. in Supplier Development research I have found that the need for a Supplier Development programme must first be recognised by top management as a desire to improve the firm’s competitive position or specific competitive challenges. Either the top management or a small group in a purchasing and supply chain organisation translate this recognition of the need into a set of objectives dealing with various performance measures such as cost, quality, delivery performance or strategic objectives. The main input to formulate these objectives comes from technical capability, costs, quality and delivery performance from existing and new suppliers; customer requirements; and competitive challenges in the marketplace. Moreover, organisations need to ensure these objectives are aligned with their category or commodity strategy and supplier relationship management initiatives.
The main output of this strategic initiative is to select suppliers for development. Krause et al. (1998) suggests companies should have formal Supplier Performance measurement, i.e. a supplier rating system in place to formally assess suppliers’ cost, quality, service, delivery, technology, and environmental performance.
The research also emphasized that Supplier Development is a process where one partner in a relationship modifies or otherwise influences the behavior of the other partner with a view to mutual benefit. Therefore, the subject of Supplier Development is closely associated with supplier relationship management and partnering.
Conclusion
In nutshell, the ability and competence for buyers and suppliers must reside in their respective ability to make appropriate choices about how they conduct themselves in exchange relationships. Means, buyers and suppliers often face difficult choices about how to conduct their relationships in circumstances of uncertainty, lack of visibility of each other motivation. These choices can be eased off by formulating solid commodity strategy and engaging key strategic supplier for development and building mutually benefiting relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Supplier Relationship Management
What is the fundamental purpose of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)?
At its core, SRM is driven by mutual gain. Both buyers and suppliers engage in exchange relationships to secure financial benefits and organizational growth. Effective SRM focuses on maximizing the share of value appropriated by both sides, ensuring that the trade remains beneficial and sustainable for everyone involved.
How is Supplier Relationship Management defined?
SRM is the systematic management of post-contract value from relationships with suppliers over the lifespan of selected key partnerships. Rather than just negotiating a contract and walking away, SRM involves proactively integrating a supplier’s processes with your own to minimize waste, reduce costs, and capture ongoing innovation.
What is a Category or Commodity Strategy, and why is it important?
A Category Strategy organizes procurement resources to focus externally on supply markets rather than just internal administrative functions. Utilizing tools like Kraljic’s classification matrix—which categorizes purchases by low/high risk and low/high volume—companies can distinguish between non-critical and strategic commodities. This prevents procurement teams from constantly “fire-fighting” and allows them to allocate resources where they deliver the most strategic value.
What are the key features of a structured Category Management approach?
According to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), a structured approach includes:
- Developing a thorough understanding of current supplier spend and future demand.
- Segmenting spend into specific market sectors.
- Developing sourcing strategies tailored to different market divisions.
- Executing targeted supplier selection and segmentation.
- Managing supplier performance and fostering strategic supplier partnering.
How should a company select suppliers for development?
Selecting suppliers for development begins with top management recognizing the need to improve the firm’s competitive position. From there, companies should:
- Establish formal supplier performance measurement (a rating system assessing cost, quality, delivery, technology, and environmental impact).
- Align development objectives with the overarching category strategy.
- Choose suppliers willing to modify their behaviors for mutual benefit, shifting the dynamic from a simple transaction to a collaborative alliance.
References:
Watts, C.A. and Hahn, C.K. (1993), “Supplier Development programs: an empirical analysis”, International Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 11-17.
Krause, D.R., Handfield, R.B. and Scannell, T.V. (1998), “An empirical investigation of supplier development: reactive and strategic processes”, Journal of Operations Management, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 39-58.
Recommended Reading:
Supplier Relationship Management: Unlocking the Hidden Value in Your Supply Base
About the Author- Dr Muddassir Ahmed
Dr. Muddassir Ahmed is a globally recognized supply chain expert, thought leader, and keynote speaker. As the Founder & CEO of
SCMDOJO, he has built one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to empowering supply chain professionals with cutting-edge knowledge, practical tools, and access to expert insights. With over 19 years of leadership experience spanning the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, Dr. Ahmed has held key roles at Bridgestone, Doncasters Group, Eaton, and Volvo Cars, managing multi-million-dollar supply chain operations.
His expertise spans all facets of supply chain management, with a particular focus on leveraging technology and innovation to optimize processes and build resilient supply chains.
Recognized among the Top 10 Supply Chain Influencers in the World by Supply Chain Digital, Dr. Ahmed has been instrumental in shaping industry best practices through his extensive research, vlogs, and thought leadership. Holding a PhD in Management Science from Lancaster University Management School, he is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.
His platform, SCMDOJO, serves a vibrant community with over 51,000 monthly visitors. Moreover, he has 72,000 newsletter subscribers, and a social media following exceeding 105,000 supply chain professionals
A sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader, sharing his insights on industry trends, best practices, and the future of supply chain management. Dr. Ahmed delivers high-impact talks on supply chain excellence, digital transformation, and strategic leadership. His mission is clear: to help supply chains thrive
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