Success factors in supplier development

Presents results of a survey on supplier development. Surveys were mailed to a random sample of 1,504 NAPM members. The sample was split into two groups depending on how respondents judged the results of their supplier development effort, either exceeding or falling short of expectations. The responses of these two groups to various questionnaire items were investigated to identify and gain insight into factors that contribute to supplier development success. The analysis suggests that buying firm respondents who reported their firms’ supplier development efforts to be satisfactory were more likely to have a proactive philosophy regarding suppliers’ performance, put more effort and resources into their supplier development efforts, and exhibit a greater willingness to share information with their suppliers than their counterparts who were generally dissatisfied with their firms’ supplier development results.