Managing inventory and supplies from a marketing for manufacturers stance

Abstract

This study uses the framework of Industrial Marketing Management (IMM) to reflect on the state of buying and supply management (PSM) research from an industrial marketing viewpoint. A comprehensive literature study of IMM shows that the journal has seen an increasing number of publications on PSM and that many of them use the IMP Interaction Approach as their theoretical framework. We theorize on the idea of supply networks, explore the concept of managing supply networks, and debate the established "best practices" in PSM as we analyze the themes of PSM research and suggest future PSM research possibilities for industrial marketing researchers.The recommendation is thus to spend additional research to build more theory on supply networks and how to manage within supply networks, since there is a startling lack of conceptual clarity as to the meaning of supply networks and the notion of managing supply networks. This study argues that innovative approaches
to influencing and managing supply networks are necessary because of the growing complexity and hazards associated with these networks, particularly with respect to sustainability.