C.V. Sunil Kumar

Analyzing supplier development program enablers using fuzzy DEMATEL

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify, quantify and establish relationship (i.e. cause and effect) among various supplier development program enablers (SDPEs) in a specific manufacturing environment. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed methodology runs into four phases, i.e. defining supplier development program (SDP) environment, identifying relevant SDPEs, collecting experts’ qualitative opinions regarding SDPEs and analyzing the SDPEs using Fuzzy DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory). The fourth phase is programmed using Matlab 7.10.0 (R2010a). The proposed methodology is implemented in an Indian manufacturing company and the results are analyzed to provide directions for the company while implementing SDPs. Findings – The proposed methodology leads to the ranking of SDPEs, classification of SDPEs into cause and effect groups and establishment of interactions for each SDPE using impact relationship map. Of the 20 SDPEs considered in the analysis, “top management ...

Analysis of preferred customer enablers from supplier’s perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify, rank, classify and establish the structural relationships between the preferred customer enablers (PCEs). This analysis would assist a manufacturer in selectively exercising the PCEs and effectively run-through the concept of reverse marketing in the buyer-supplier relationships. Design/methodology/approach In the current study, the interpretive structure modelling and Fuzzy Matriced’ Impacts Croises Appliquee a un Classement methods are used to analyze and structurally relate the PCEs for Indian automotive component manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the structural relationships among the PCEs were confirmed by applying a Student’s t-test. Findings The classification of PCEs through driver dependence diagrams, structural digraphs of PCEs and statistical significance of the relationships between the PCEs are the main outcomes of this study. Further, certain PCEs (under supplier interest and common interest domains) were recommended in the Indian manufacturing environment to broadly control and monitor for achieving the preferred customer status (PCS). Research limitations/implications The current study provides certain basis for a manufacturer to selectively emphasize and monitor the right PCEs and in turn effectively achieve the PCS from its key suppliers. The findings from the current analysis are more applicable in the context of Indian automotive component manufacturing industry. Practical implications The outcomes from the methodology would provide a basis for a manufacturer to develop the right strategies to become a preferred supply chain partner. Originality/value Even though the concept of PCS or reverse marketing can make remarkable impact on the business practices, it has been an ignored topic of research and its practice has been passively prophesied. In this regard, the current study could be a worthy addition toward the practice of preferred customer concept.

Evaluating the implementation performance of a supplier development program

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to quantify, evaluate and compare the implementation performance of a supplier development (SD) program using graph theoretic approach (GTA). Design/methodology/approach Broadly 13 critical success factors (CSFs) were identified and they were classified into four significant categories (SCs). Featuring these SCs and CSFs under each SC, GTA was proposed for evaluating the implementation performance of SD programs. The analysis was further extended to evaluate the performance of a SD program along the timeline to capture the other influences (if any), eventually compare the results with different performance situations and accordingly set the future targets. Findings In order to demonstrate the utility of the proposed approach it was applied to an Indian manufacturing company. The results obtained shown that there has been a significant growth achieved in the implementation performance of a SD program over a period of three years (i.e. 12 quarters) along the chosen SCs and CSFs under each SC. It was also found that still there was a performance gap and scope for improvement in the SD program of the case company. Practical implications The proposed approach is aimed at providing a procedure for evaluating the implementation performance of a SD program. This study is an attempt to assist a manufacturer to assess its SD program and accordingly define its course of actions. Originality/value Although many issues related to SD have been widely recognized and studied, there are no specific studies available in the literature to assess the implementation performance of SD programs along the timeline. The proposed model has the ability to capture the performance and interdependencies of SCs, CSFs under each SC and also to quantify the implementation performance of a SD program along the timeline.

An approach to address principal supplier development impediments

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assist a manufacturer for determining the principal supplier development impediments (SDIs) that are affecting the supplier development programs (SDPs) and yield a basis for drawing the appropriate mitigation strategies. Design/methodology/approach The proposed approach starts with the application of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and Pareto analysis to obtain the principal SDIs. Subsequently, the interpretive structural modeling and Fuzzy-Matrice d’Impacts Croises-Multiplication Appliquee a un Classement analysis are applied on the principal SDIs to explore the root causes inducing ineffectiveness in the SDPs. Findings The outcomes of the proposed approach were demonstrated through a case study conducted in an Indian automotive components manufacturing company. The principal SDIs were identified, ranked, classified and structurally related for the said case company’s manufacturing environment. It was found that the lack of competent workforce, level of nascent relationship between manufacturer and suppliers and poor devolution of authority were the main SDIs that the case company has to primarily focus to make its SDPs effective. Research limitations/implications Although the study was conducted in a practical case situation, the obtained results are not indiscriminate to the other case situations. However, the proposed approach can be applied for analyzing the SDIs in any manufacturing environment once the set of SDIs relevant to that environment are carefully chosen. Practical implications The methodology would assist a manufacturer to proactively identify the SDIs that it has to primarily focus and subsequently devise the mitigation strategies for smooth running of its SDPs. Originality/value By utilizing the identified SDIs and applying the proposed methodology a manufacturer can find the main SDIs that are making the SDPs ineffective and accordingly fix the hindrances through certain mitigation strategies designed.

An approach for measuring a manufacturer’s preferred supplier status

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assist a manufacturer with a process to measure the level of preferred supplier status (PSS) of its key suppliers along the timeline. Design/methodology/approach In measuring the PSS, the prominent preferred supplier enablers (PSEs) were identified and were broadly categorized under manufacturer’s interest component, common interest component and supplier’s characteristic component. These PSEs were further analyzed by using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, Euclidean distance measurement and grey relation analysis methods. In order to demonstrate the application and utility of the proposed approach, a case study conducted in an Indian automotive component manufacturing company has been presented. Findings By applying the proposed methodology in a case company, the PSSs of five of its key suppliers were measured and then the suppliers’ characteristic scores were determined. Based on these scores, a preferential status plot of the suppliers was developed. Through the status plot, the manufacturer was suggested with whom the proposed initiatives can be productive and with whom the manufacturer has to appeal for improvement strategies. Research limitations/implications Since the methodology was tried in the Indian manufacturing environment, the emphasis laid on the PSEs and in turn the measurement of PSS may not address the concern at large. Practical implications Measuring PSS would not only earn competitive advantages for the manufacturers but also facilitate the evolution of competitive suppliers. Originality/value Measuring PSS along the time would assist a manufacturer to effectively manage the preferences given to its suppliers and thereby enhance the supply base contribution in the value addition process.

Performance analysis of supplier development programs

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an approach that a manufacturer can periodically use to measure the performances of its supplier development programs (SDPs). It also quantifies and indicates the specific supplier development outcomes (SDOs) that a manufacturer has to concentrate in improving its SDPs. Design/methodology/approach The proposed methodology integrates fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (to determine the importance of SDOs), Pareto analysis (to choose the significant SDOs) and fuzzy logic (to periodically determine the performance indices and grades of the SDPs) methods to measure the performances of SDPs. In order to demonstrate the utility of the methodology, a case situation is presented where the performance measures of SDPs running at five key suppliers of an Indian turbine manufacturing company were determined. Findings By periodically applying the above mentioned methodology, the performance indices of a manufacturer’s SDPs are measured, monitored and managed effectively. It is shown that the methodology is advantageous in clearly indicating the scope of improvement for the SDPs along the specific SDOs. Research limitations/implications Since the obtained results in this study are specific to a manufacturing environment, they may not be generalized. However, the generic lists of SDOs mentioned in the paper and the proposed approach can be used in any manufacturing environment for analyzing the performances of SDPs. Practical implications The performance analysis of SDPs would help a manufacturer to know more about the functioning of its SDPs along the timeline and provide the scope for improvement. Originality/value The proposed approach successfully measures and also grades the performances of SDPs. The results enable the supplier development managers to effectively distribute their investments and efforts along the SDPs.

Case Application of a Methodology for Determining a Manufacturer’s Preferred Customer Status with Suppliers

Abstract As most suppliers’ role in the value addition process has been elevated to a strategic level, manufacturing supply chains are pushed to establish and develop competitive supply bases. In practice, these strategic suppliers often have multiple manufacturing-customers, making a particular manufacturer one among several manufacturers competing for the same type of products/services. This makes a supplier implicitly biased in extending and offering its best to few preferred customers, making it difficult for the manufacturer. Hence, it is always a test for a manufacturer to manage and distinguish itself as a preferred customer, specifically from its key suppliers’ perspective. Although the concept of preferred customer can bring about a tremendous change in business practice, it has been an ignored topic both in research and practice. Therefore, in this article, a methodology is proposed using extended fuzzy analytic hierarchy process for assisting a manufacturer by providing paradigms to determine its favorable disposition from its key suppliers’ perspective. This work forms a basis for a manufacturer to create the best strategies with the right suppliers and in turn, secure a strong return on investment.