SUPPLIER-BUYER RELATIONSHIPS IN INDIAN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES TO EXPLORE PROCUREMENT FLEXIBILITY

GUJAR A.J.¹, KHODKE P.M.^2
1Government College of Engineering, Amravati- 444 604, MS, India.
²Government College of Engineering, Karad- 415 124, MS, India.

Received : 28-12-2013     Accepted : 11-02-2014     Published : 03-07-2014
Volume : 4     Issue : 1       Pages : 37 - 47
J Pol Organ Manag 4.1 (2014):37-47

The supply chain consists of those activities associated with manufacturing from raw materials acquisition to final product delivery. Owing to the recently changed environmental uncertainties requirements that affect manufacturing operations and transportation systems at manufacturer as well as supplier end, growing attention is given to the development of supplier-buyer relationship management strategies for supply chains. This paper presents an detailed study of supplier-buyer relationships practices in the Indian manufacturing industries. Although the research in the area of supply chain management (SCM) has grown in recent time, the literature has yet to furnish an accepted explanation for supplier-buyer relationships are to be manifested in SCM given external and internal uncertainties to explore procurement flexibility. These manufacturing industries have been involved in such supplier-buyer relationships management practices to the extent of their participation as suppliers, their distributors and in other capacities as business partners. This study authenticates and validates that Indian manufacturing industries’ are facing significant pressures from external as well as internal stakeholders to adopt such relationships practices. Initial results gave a better understanding of which procurement flexibility is preferred when facing different environmental challenges. The results indicate strong, positive, and direct relationships between factors affecting supplier-buyer relationships and external as well as internal uncertainties.