This paper deals with the perspective of autoparts suppliers in Brazilian automotive industry in the context of the renewed buyer-supplier relationships under lean production practices, based on a comprehensive case study research. The suppliers perceived advances in relationships as far as operational issues were concerned. On the other hand, they saw less advances in terms of strategic issues. The suppliers also identified both organizational, firm-specific barriers and environmental barriers originated in the peculiarities of local economic and business environment. These results are discussed in view of the perspective of buyers (the assemblers) uncovered in the same research, leading to the identification of elements to formulate an explanation for the path of buyer-supplier relations in Brazilian automotive industry.
buyer-supplier relationships; supply management; brazilian automotive industry
