Supply Flexibility Strategies in Spanish Firms: Results from a Survey Articles uri icon

authors

  • MENDONÇA TACHIZAWA, ELCIO
  • GIMENEZ, CRISTINA

publication date

  • March 2010

start page

  • 214

end page

  • 224

issue

  • 1

volume

  • 124

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0925-5273

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1873-7579

abstract

  • This paper focuses on supply flexibility, i.e., the ability of the purchasing function to respond in a timely and cost effective manner to the changing requirements of purchased components in terms of volume,
    mix and delivery date. Although sourcing strategies have been
    extensively analysed, the study of supply flexibility is in its infancy.
    The aim of this paper is to analyse how different sourcing practices
    are combined to form particular supply flexibility strategies. To do
    this, a survey among Spanish purchasing professionals was conducted.
    Three supply flexibility strategies ("integrated", "domestic" and
    "offshore") were identified and their relationship with contingent
    factors was investigated. The results show that Spanish firms have no
    single approach to achieve supply flexibility and that the type of
    flexibility achieved (supplier responsiveness, delivery policy and
    adaptability) depends on the strategy followed.