Buyer-Supplier Relationship and World Class Manufacturing as Correlates of Supply Chain Performance: A Literature Review

This literature review explores the critical roles of Buyer-Supplier Relationships (BSR) and World-Class Manufacturing (WCM) in enhancing supply chain efficiency. BSR is the collaborative relationship between buyers and suppliers and is shown to improve supply chain performance by fostering trust, commitment, and effective communication. Key elements such as relationship continuity, power-sharing, and strategic supply management enable organizations to streamline their sourcing processes, reduce costs, and drive innovation. On the other hand, WCM focuses on process excellence, including practices like lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Total Quality Management (TQM), which optimize production, reduce waste, and improve product quality. The integration of these two frameworks provides a comprehensive approach to supply chain management, ensuring flexibility, resilience, and long-term sustainability. This review highlights the significant contributions of both BSR and WCM in industries such as automotive, electronics, and consumer goods, where their synergy leads to competitive advantage and improved supply chain performance. Furthermore, it identifies gaps in current research and offers opportunities for future studies to explore the deeper integration of these practices to drive further advancements in supply chain resilience and innovation.