Integrative Activities with Suppliers and Customers to Achieve Supply Chain Integration

Abstract

This paper analyzes nine integrative activities about demand forecasts, production plans, long-term relationships, joint planning, information through technologies, product development processes, product design processes, joint goals, that companies do in their daily activities with suppliers and customers in order to achieve supply chain integration. The objective is to analyze these integrative activities to determine if it exists collaboration among external partners of the supply chain in the food industry companies, to know the level or intensity of the exchange of information, communication and collaboration between companies and their external partners of suppliers and customers. The measurement instrument was applied to 93 companies from the food industry sector of Michoacán, México which are divided into nine sectors; grinding grains and seeds, obtaining oils and fats, confectionery with and without cocoa, preserving fruits, vegetables and prepared foods, dairy products, meat and poultry processing, preparation and packaging of fish and seafood, bakery and tortillas. The Integrative activities are analyzed by means of statistical descriptions, paired samples test, one-sided contrast, mean difference and confidence intervals and associations. The results indicate that the difference is always in favor of customers than for suppliers.