Despite the vast research within the fields of buyer-supplier relationships and the fashion industry, a lack of comprehensive understanding concerning the connection between the two seems to be found. Research regarding long-term relations and key concepts in form of trust and commitment, are stated to be crucial in order to create a long-term relationship. However, the importance of these concepts application regarding small-sized fashion retailers was identified to be an unexplored area; thus, a research gap was detected. This highlights a need for further research of the characteristics of the buyer- supplier relationships within small-sized fashion retailers. The purpose of this study was consequently to investigate buyer-supplier relationships within small-sized fashion retailers. Furthermore, based on the literature review of the theoretical framework, three research questions were formulated. To gather empirical data, a multiple-case study was conducted and semi-structured interviews with four purchasing managers working in the fashion industry were performed.   This study discloses that the concepts of trust and commitment were identified as being of great importance, in order to maintain a long-term relationship between the parties. Further, several factors, e.g. communication, conflict resolution and identification were distinguished to have a significant impact on the character of a close relationship. Finally this study concluded that the relation between the buyer and supplier is highly valued; with especially trust as a key factor. Both affective and calculative commitment was identified to exist, often depending on the size and dependence of the supplier. However, the prosperity of the business was ultimately argued to be the main reason for maintaining a partnership. Hence, the retailers preferred a close relationship, but sometimes accepted a transactional one due to their own customer demand.

ABSTRACTNowadays the importance of environmental logistics is increasing while organizations are trying to pay more attention to their transport activities. Since PNL is a famous logistics company in Nordic countries and transport activates are done by sub contractors they intend to make sound environmental choices by assessing their suppliers from environmental performance in order to identify the best suppliers which is comply with the PNL environmental policy.In this project the survey study and questionnaire has been made in order to evaluate the supplier performance from environmental perspective. At first the investigation has been made for improving the previous questionnaire which was made by PNL. Some parts were revised according to researchers‟ knowledge, reliable references and suggestion of environmental consultant. Lots of study has been made in order to find the most importing effects that can affect environmentalism. Obtained results from questionnaire were analyzed and appropriate suggestions were given in order to enlighten the significant importance of environmental issues.Due to complexity of decision making environment, the applicable and reliable method should be applied to cope with complexity and the factors that can affect the objective while simplifying the process. Analytical Hierarchy process has been applied for this project in order to change the qualitative situation into quantitative manner to rate the suppliers based on their performance.The first step in AHP process is constructing hierarchy in two or more level for evaluating the alternatives. The goal of the project is environmental performance .Second level is criteria which has been made according to literature and the importance of them while the suggestions of consultant has been applied as well. Third level is sub criteria which are questions of questionnaire and finally the forth level include alternative which is suppliers.Next step in AHP process is weighting criteria and sub criteria and making pair wise comparison between them. Procedure of weighting is done by researchers and managers from PNL in order to decrease the subjectivity of decision making process. The result from suppliers has been investigated and points were given to them according to their performance and ability regarding environmental logistics.Sensitivity analysis was made for analyzing the result from AHP in order to investigate the responsiveness of the result.Key words: Logistics, Environmentalism, AHP Method, Supplier Assessment, Survey Study.

This study aims at presenting a strategic supplier evaluation model that can assist Cederroth in strategic supplier selection and give indications on potential areas for strategic supplier development. The evaluation model aims at assessing supplier performance also with respect to environmental aspects. The final model has been developed through five steps, five models, with starting point in a theoretical review and basic empirical data. Following the model was developed through four iterations of workshops, interviews, weighting and case studies. The final model includes 7 criteria categories and 41 criteria whereas one category including 7 criteria assesses a supplier’s environmental performance.

Bakgrund & Problemdiskussion: Inköpsfunktionen har på senare år fått en ökad strategisk betydelse inom organisationer och har idag en mer aktiv roll i att skapa och bidra till konkurrensfördelar. Inköpsfunktionen är en viktig del i kedjan från leverantör till kund och bidrar till att denna inte bryts. Inköpsfunktionen har därmed fått axla en mer komplex och strategisk roll som kan antas påverka inköpsfunktionens arbetssätt och struktur. Sambandet mellan dessa ses som komplext där roll anses vara en första bestämmande faktor som påverkar hur arbetssätt och struktur utformas. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att kartlägga en strategisk inköpsfunktions roller, arbetssätt och struktur samt utifrån denna kartläggning identifiera problem och förändringsmöjligheter. Metod: Denna studies resultat är baserat på en kvalitativ fallstudie för ett fallföretag inom verkstadsindustrin. Totalt genomfördes 15 intervjuer med medarbetare både inom och utanför fallföretagets avdelning för strategiskt inköp. Resultat: Studien visar på att en avdelning för strategiskt inköp utför arbetsuppgifter som är operativa, stödjande samt strategiska där det operativa arbetet inte är önskvärt av fallföretaget. Det är heller inte något som beskrivs vara del av en strategisk inköpares arbete enligt teorin. Tre roller har identifierats utifrån detta resonemang; Firefighter, Leverantörsansvarig samt Leverantörsutvecklare där den förstnämnda inkräktar på de andra två. En anledning till varför det operativa arbetet tar sådan plats är att gränserna mellan vad som är operativt, stödjande och strategiskt arbete inte är helt tydliga. Det finns arbetssätt som bemöter den oönskade rollen som Firefighter men det tar tid att införa rutiner. Vidare har studien även visat att strukturen bidrar till den strategiska inköpsfunktionens strategiska fokus. / Background & Problem definition: In recent years the purchasing department has been the subject of increased strategic importance and has taken an active role in creating and contributing to competitive advantage. This due to the fact that the department is an important part of the supplier-customer-chain and contributes to make sure that it does not break. Consequently, the department has taken a more complex and strategic role and this can be assumed has had an impact on the department’s work practices and structure. The connection between role, work practices and structure is complex where the role is the determinant variable and affects how work practices and structure are designed. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe a strategic purchasing department’s roles, work practices and structure and to identify problems and potential changes from the description. Method: The result of this study is based on a qualitative case study of an organisation that operates in the engineering industry. In total, 15 interviews were performed with employees both at the strategic purchasing department and other departments in the organisation. Results: The study has shown that a department for strategic purchasing performs tasks that are operative, supportive and strategic where the operative work is not described in theory as part of the strategic buyer’s work description. It is also not wanted by the organisation. Three roles have been identified this; Firefighter, Supplier-Responsible and Supplier-Developer where the first of them intrudes on the other two. One reason for the existence of operative work is that the difference between what is operative, supportive and strategic work is not always clear. There are ways of undermining the unwanted role Firefighter but implementing routines takes time. Furthermore the study has shown that structure contributes to the strategic focus of the strategic purchasing department.

Vietnam is a developing country in South-East Asia with borders toward China, Laos and Cambodia. As other countries in the same area are far more developed, Vietnam can gain a lot from international trade. It is an important factor for a country to build prosperity and gain economic growth and thereby reach a higher standard of living. But for a company to succeed in the international market is a demanding task. Both internal and external factors that influence a company’s competence need to be taken into consideration. The awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility is increasing every day and it is becoming a more and more important factor for the end-customer as well as the buyers and suppliers. This Master Thesis deals with the relationship between Vietnamese suppliers and their international buyers and how Corporate Social Responsibility affects that relation. The result of the study shows that there are advantages for both the Vietnamese supplier and the international buyer. Companies that work together and care for each other will end up with a strong and long-term relation. Both the quality and the productivity increased and that the staff turn-over decreased when introducing CSR. One also has to understand that the international customers are in command and that the suppliers are merely following the customer’s demands. Furthermore, quality, price and delivery time are the most important factors when choosing a supplier but by working with CSR these factors will also be affected positively. It was also, apart from the main focus of this thesis, interesting to discover how corruption and cultural differences affected the supplier-buyer relation and also the discussion about whose responsibility it actually is to work with these issues; the buying rich customer or the relatively poor supplier?

Background:  Supply risk becomes a crucial risk that manufacturing companies are facing while supplier information integration is one of the most important parts of supply chain management and supplier integration. The research based on the relationship between them is rarely found. Purpose: To find, describe, and compare the significant relationship of supplier information integration and supply risk and identify whether supplier information integration can help to mitigate supply risk in Chinese and Thai manufacturing industries. Methods: In order to answer the research questions, the search of the relevant literatures were carried out. The theoretical frame was made of basic concepts, approaches of supplier information integration, and sources of supply risk. The questionnaire was designed based on the theoretical framework and sent out among Chinese and Thai listed manufacturing companies. The correlation analysis was carried out as the main approach to check the significant relationships while the   descriptive statistics were used to described, compared, and analyzed in order to indentify the level of SII and perception of supply risk. Conclusion: The level of supplier information integration and the perception of supply risk showed differences in Chinese and Thai manufacturers. Chinese manufacturing industry was at medium level of IT and share tactical and strategic information with suppliers with a concern on suppliers’ suppliers while the Thai manufacturing industry was at low level of IT and shared only tactical information with suppliers with very less concern on suppliers’ suppliers. Chinese manufacturers showed an obvious lower perception of getting affected by terrorist incidents and natural disasters while Thai manufacturers showed the same perception of all sources of supply risk. The results indicated that most of relationships between the sub items of supplier information integration and supply risk were not significant with some special cases that showed small and medium relationships. The contribution and suggestion were concluded at the end.

Research questions:  Main Question: How do companies with different types of products, who have implemented CSR, work with CSR in their purchasing process? Sub Query 1: How do companies with different types of products, who have implemented CSR, choose their suppliers based on CSR criteria? Sub Query 2: How do companies with different types of products, who have implemented CSR, ensure that their suppliers uphold the CSR criteria? Purpose: The purpose with this thesis is to identify how companies who have implemented CSR, work with their suppliers in different situations. Methodology: The thesis’ research method was quantitative with a deductive approach and a positivistic viewpoint. The empirical data was collected through two case studies in which interviews was be made and documents studied. The method for analysis was qualitative as a pattern matching was made. The authors reviewed the thesis according to qualitative measurements for quality.

Business Administration, Business Process & Supply Chain Management, Degree Project (master), 15 higher education credits, 4FE06E, Spring 2011 Authors: Marjorie Laporte and Jérôme Le Duff Tutor: Fredrik Karlsson Title: Trust and contract effects on the efficiency of the supplier-manufacturer relationships – A dyadic perspective Background: The current global situation leads to a tightening of the supply chains. Since supply chain management is primarily about managing relationships, developing an efficient relationship appears to be the best way to stay competitive. Trust and contracts are elements that influence the efficiency of the relationships, but there is a debate concerning the way they impact efficiency. The focus has been made on the supplier-manufacturer relationships. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the supplier-manufacturer relationships of Ferrero France, in order to increase the understanding of trust in relation to different types of contracts, while providing a managerial contribution by describing their impact on efficiency. Method: Interviews have been run among Ferrero France, manufacturer of confectionery products, and two of its suppliers. The empirical findings have been analyzed and compared to the existing theory in order to draw relevant conclusions. The results and conclusions also give rise to a broader strategic reflection about the impact of trust and contract on the whole supply chain, and not only on the supplier-manufacturer relationship. Results, conclusions: The results of this research point out some similarities and differences compared to the existing theory. The dyadic perspective provides a broader point of view, and results in stating that trust is the most important factor leading to efficiency. Moreover, several types of contracts exist. Formal contracts and trust are substitutes and can work together to improve the efficiency, even if the legal framework may limit the increase of efficiency. Informal contracts and trust have a much moreTrust and contract effects on the efficiency of the supplier-manufacturerrelationshipsMaster Thesis – Spring 20123important relationship, and are key elements to achieve greater efficiency and long-term success of the supplier-manufacturer relationship, as well as the whole supply chain. This study provides managers with a better understanding of the role of trust and contract to improve the competitiveness of the whole supply chain, while contributing to enrich the existing theory with new perspectives.

Background: The need to cut costs, save money, become profitable, be innovative, improve product quality and be responsive to customers’ demands is encouraging some organizations to form strategic relationships with suppliers. In achieving this, certain joint investments, called structural bonds, are developed within the relationship life-cycle. Although the bonds tend to tie down the partners and also create impediments for the termination of the relationship, they inevitably contribute to the achievement of mutual goals and sustaining competitive advantage. Past researches failed to relate the structural bonds’ development to any of the stages of the relationship life-cycle, which this study investigated. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate why and in which stages of a strategic buyer-supplier relationship are structural bonds initiated. Method: A multiple case study approach, involving four companies, was undertaken to achieve the purpose of this study. The method used in collecting the empirical data is in-depth interviews with purchasing employees of these companies: Lagermetall AB, Atlas Copco AB, SAAB Tech AB and Husqvarna AB. Results: Most of the structural bonds, based on this study, were introduced at the beginning of the relationships. Some of the reasons for introducing these bonds are: improved product quality, joint product development, knowledge transfer, innovation and communication. Though the bonds may be introduced by the more powerful organization in the relationship, there is interdependency in the relationship. The bonds influenced the following in the relationship: trust, commitment and cooperation, information sharing, and performance but also generated lock-in effects.

Background:China could be seemed as a highly developing country. There are many opportunities and challenges inChina. Its preferential policies and huge potential market attract a lot of foreign companies to come toChina. Meanwhile, Chinese government encourages the development of domestic enterprises. Therefore, at present there mainly coexist three forms of enterprises inChina: foreign-funded companies, private companies and state-controlling companies. In order to enhance competitiveness, almost every company in china has its own supply chain network. Supply Chain management plays an important role in Chinese companies. Research question: 1.     What is the current situation of purchasing process and purchasing process integration for some manufacturers of different ownerships in China?   2.     How can purchasing process be integrated for some manufacturers of different ownerships in China from manufacture’s perspectives?   Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to study the current situation in purchasing process integration in Chinese manufacturing industry of three kinds of ownership and evaluate the purchasing process of three kinds of companies in China. In addition, it gives some suggestions to remove potential obstacles and optimize the purchasing process; and aims to help the companies to gain competitive advantage in the long term.   Method: The empirical foundation for this thesis is intended to be on multiple case study method. It studies of the three types of manufacturing enterprises in China. To represent these three types of companies, three companies are chosen from each as selected research objects. Data is collected through semi-structure interviews, so the questionnaire would be open-ended. Long-distance telephone interview with purchasing managers and material managers separately for each company would be adopted.   Conclusion: The purchasing process of three companies who represent three different types of ownership is studied. It studies the current situation in purchasing process integration in Chinese manufacturing industry of three kinds of ownership and evaluates the purchasing process of three kinds of companies in China. Then the obstacles in purchasing process are found out. Then suggestions on purchasing process integration are used to tackle these obstacles.   Future Work: This thesis focuses on three manufacturing companies in China. The result of this thesis cannot represent all the obstacles in purchasing process in manufacturing industry in China. But the purchasing process, characteristics, strength and weakness are similar in the same type of ownership. Meanwhile, the recommendation on purchasing process integration also cannot solve all the obstacles found, due to the companies’ own condition. In future research, it recommends to add more research companies. Furthermore, more studies could be included to identify common obstacles and dig out solutions related to purchasing process integration in Chinese manufacturing industry.