The impact of purchasing strategies on buyer/supplier relationships in United States repetitive manufacturin

The purpose of this research was to develop specific management theory concerning the impact of purchasing strategies on buyer/supplier relationships. The research focuses on repetitive manufacturing and the impact of the purchasing decisions on selected buyer/supplier relationship outcomes.;The research presents two major deliverables in order to completely answer the research question examining the linkage between purchasing strategies and buyer/supplier outcomes. The first deliverable is an operational definition of Partnership Buyer/Supplier Relationships. The second deliverable is a prescriptive model of purchasing strategies and buyer/supplier relationship outcomes.;In order to obtain an operationally-based definition of a purchasing strategy, the study examined much of the available literature regarding key attributes of purchasing strategies. In addition, numerous purchasing practitioners were interviewed in order to assist in the validation of the list of outcomes and strategies. Also, pilot study results validated the finalized list of strategies and outcomes.;Based on the descriptive data analysis and an exploratory factor analysis, the partnership definition encompassed eight characteristics. The prescriptive model was derived from a correlation analysis, a stepwise regression, ANOVA and pairwise comparisons. The purchasing model developed was titled the Strategic Purchasing Choice Model and has practical and theoretical implications for practitioners and academicians.;Based upon the results of this study, some partnership practices are in place in repetitive manufacturing; however, movement toward partnerships between buyers and suppliers is slow to occur. The eight-part definition presented is dynamic and complicated. It envelopes those characteristics any true partnership must strive for. The prescriptive model shows the linkages between the six purchasing strategies and the six buyer/supplier relationship outcomes. Practitioners hoping to achieve success in a particular area will be interested in the Strategic Purchasing Choice Model.