Supplier integration and firm performance: a multiple case study of American manufacturing and services firms

Several researchers have investigated the relationship between supplier integration and firm performance; however, the findings remained inconsistent. This called for more research, specifically the qualitative research to better understand supplier integration and performance relationships. Through case study of four US firms belonging to manufacturing and service industry, this study tries to understand their supplier integration strategy and how this leads to performance improvement. The findings suggested that the supplier integration and performance relationship vary across the organisation despite the same level of supplier integration efforts. This difference can be attributed to the product variety, customer service level and nature of industry in which firms operate. These findings provide directions for conducting future research.