Title: Supplier selection and business process improvement

Authors: Reza Mohammady Garfamy

Addresses: Department of Purchasing, Olds College, 4500 50 St., Olds, AB T4H 1R6, Canada

Abstract: While prior research provides considerable evidence for the existence of a relationship between supplier selection and Business Process Improvement (BPI), it yields little insight into the level of the relationship. By examining the level of the relationship between these practices based on a developed conceptual model, the study contributes to the body of knowledge in both fields by providing the results of an empirical test of the model at different divisional levels of large firms operating in different industries in London (the UK). In general, the data support the proposed research model. The results show that higher levels of Quality, Service, Organisation and Relationship, as well as lower levels of Cycle Time pertinent to the suppliers significantly contribute to the buyers| process Improvement Initiative and Customer Focus. The study is one of the first empirical studies to find the relationship between supplier selection and BPI by representing a new multifactor model.

Keywords: supply chain management; SCM; operations management; business process outsourcing; purchasing; supplier selection; business process management; business process improvement; BPI; survey research; United Kingdom; UK; multifactor modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2009.023234

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2009 Vol.5 No.2, pp.233 - 250

Published online: 15 Feb 2009 *

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