In search of loyalty: an analysis of the determinants of buyer–supplier relationship stability under a quality management approach

Abstract

Managing the relationship with suppliers is considered a fundamental element in successful quality management implementation in the firm, but the determination of a set of factors to guarantee the relationship stability has received little study. The goal of this article is to advance the literature by providing an empirical model of the factors that condition relationship stability with suppliers. A survey was used to collect the data, which provided useful insights into the field of buyer–supplier relationships (BSR). Conclusions drawn from this study demonstrate the importance of: using reliability and quality as criteria when choosing suppliers, suppliers' participation in product design, product complexity and the level of perceived certainty. Our conclusions also demonstrate the positive effect of suppliers' commitment to quality on the relationship stability. These findings advance the theory on BSR, and provide new insights for firms looking to improve supply chain results.

Keywords:

• buyer–supplier relationships
• supplier management
• quality management
• quality assurance