Risk factors affecting relations with suppliers

• Main Author: Maciej Urbaniak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Poznań School of Logistics 2019-06-01
• Series: LogForum
• Subjects: relationships with suppliers; risk management; safety management standards in the supply chain
• Online Access: http://www.logforum.net/vol15/issue2/no7/15_2_7_19.pdf

Background: In the recent period, one could notice that more and more international companies implementing their strategies based on the concept of risk management. These companies when they evaluate and qualify their suppliers use the requirements of quality management standards, quality assurance standards (in particular sectors), safety and security management standards for supply chain, as well as business continuity management standards. This article aims to determine the importance of the risk factors affecting relations with suppliers. Methods: The research was carried out between October and November 2017 using the Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) technique. The study covered 300 producers from the automotive, metal and chemical sectors operating in the Polish B2B market. Results: The surveyed enterprises indicated as the most critical sources of threats in relations with suppliers: the possibility of untimely deliveries, quality defects of products, the financial situation of suppliers, communication problems (related to the understanding of the requirements by the supplier), low level of supply flexibility, product assortment errors, limited production capacity. Conclusions: Recapitulating the theoretical considerations and the results of empirical study, it can be stated that the role of the risk management concept in relations with suppliers is significant. Risk management is still essential to ensure the safety of purchased products as well as to ensure the continuity of processes and to avoid disruptions in supply chains.