Verified Document

Strategies For Effective Supplier Relationship Management Essay

¶ … Air Force runs its supply chain, in particular with respect to supplier relationship management. The Blanchard article covers the same topic, but in a two page listicle sort of format. However, since they both cover roughly the same topic, they can be compared on the basis of the ideas that they put forth. Chenoweth outlines some best practices in supplier management. These include managing suppliers on the basis of total business, not individual products; measuring supplier performance; involve key suppliers at early stages of design; host high-level meetings with suppliers; recruit skilled personnel and develop personnel so that they have knowledge of suppliers.

Blanchard has a slightly different take. It begins with an overall understanding of the supply chain as holistic entity, where decisions made in one aspect of the supply chain affect other aspects. There is some overlap with taking the approach that Chenoweth recommends of measuring suppliers on the basis of their total business. Too often, supply chains are managed on the basis of individual products and both authors are arguing against that.

Blanchard and Chenoweth agree that supplier performance needs to be measured. Setting service levels and developing metrics are both important aspects to take into...

Blanchard goes a bit further, arguing that these measures have to be backed by appropriate rewards and penalties, which makes sense.
The other elements of the Blanchard approach, however, different from Chenoweth's recommendations. Chenoweth seems to take an approach that focuses on setting out terms and conditions for working with suppliers, but Blanchard looks at this from the buyer's point-of-view specifically. The buyer has to have contingencies for when things go wrong, and the buyer has to expect that at some point in the process there will be problems. Where Chenoweth argues for measuring supplier effectiveness, there is little talk in that article about what to do when a supplier is ineffective. In that sense, Chenoweth is more progressive in nature; focusing on how to make things go right with suppliers, where Blanchard is more defensive in nature, arguing more about how the company can protect itself when things go wrong.

Both authors recommend meetings with suppliers, however. Blanchard accepts that meetings are common, and argues that meetings should focus on important issues, but does not elaborate on what those issues might be. In contrast, Chenoweth is clear about the things that should be discussed with suppliers, in part because Chenoweth is oriented…

Sources used in this document:
References

Blanchard (2009). 10 strategies for managing suppliers. Industry Week. In possession of the author.

Chenoweth, M., Moore, N., Cox, A., Mele, J., & Sollinger, J. (2012). Best practices in supplier relationship management and their early implementation in the Air Force Material Command. RAND Corporation.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Supplier Relationship Management
Words: 2020 Length: 7 Document Type: Term Paper

Information Technology Building Streamlined Supplier Relationships Within the Organisation Using SAP Organisations are continually recognising the benefits of enterprise resource planning systems (ERPs) to streamline business processes. ERP systems typically address an organisations logistical, distribution, routine shipping and inventory needs. An SRM system typically addresses an organisations supply chain management system, which includes reducing costs, managing organizational performance, overseeing production centres and transportation planning. SRM's help integrate critical business processes from the

Addressing Legal Services Supplier Issues
Words: 960 Length: 3 Document Type: Case Study

GlaxoSmithKlineThis case study discusses the challenges faced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in sourcing complex professional services, such as legal, consulting, and marketing services, and the company\\\'s efforts to develop a centralized procurement function to better manage these services. The case also highlights the importance of strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management in achieving cost savings and driving innovation.Problems/IssuesThe problems and issues faced by GSK include inefficient procurement of complex professional services,

Customer Relationship Management Takes a
Words: 2801 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

The communication system may be able to facilitate the transfer of information, but an essential component of a CRM system is the transfer of responsibility. Somebody at the company must be responsible for every customer issue that arises. This is the only way that the company can ensure that its customers' needs are truly being met. Because of this need for responsibility, it is essential that customer relationship management

Managing Human Resources Change and Conflict Are
Words: 2759 Length: 8 Document Type: Essay

Managing Human Resources Change and conflict are some of the manager's current challenges. This thesis tries to inquire into the change processes and managers response to conflicts that arise as a result of change resistance. The manifestation of conflict and the impact of conflict are also discussed. The thesis also looks into the different theories formulated to explain change process and their relationship to conflict management. Also covered is the way

Management Seminar Demonstrate a Basic Understanding of
Words: 2864 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Management Seminar Demonstrate a basic understanding of the terminology, history and theories of business and management principles. Although the concept of management is already a few centuries old, the basis for the development of a science of management was laid during the Industrial Revolution. Until the 1960's diverse viewpoints on management were recognized leading to the development of a more integrated approach to management. The process approach emphasized the basic functions of

Supplier Service Quality the Importance of Supplier
Words: 2583 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

Supplier Service Quality THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPLIER SERVICE QUALITY Suppliers are an integral part of the value chain as they provide the raw materials, components and parts that are needed to manufacture a finished product. Their strategic value in the value chain has traditionally been obscured because of lower visibility and poor specialization and integration among suppliers. Firms have traditionally put increasing pressure on suppliers to offer supplies at lower prices, frequently

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now