The evolution of buyer-supplier collaboration for resilient supply chains in South Africa’s chemicals sector

Abstract

Amidst increasing global disruptions that threaten supply chain continuity, this study examined the evolution of buyer-supplier collaboration in enhancing supply chain resilience within South Africa's chemical sector. It identifies key themes, including the evolution of collaborative practices and processes, illustrating how they have dynamically adapted to recent global disruptions to enhance flexibility, visibility, and velocity. The study also uncovers challenges, detailing the risks and barriers hindering effective buyer-supplier collaboration, and presents solutions, outlining strategic approaches and enablers for overcoming these barriers to enhance collaboration. Purpose: This study is driven by the need to address vulnerabilities exposed by recent global disruptions, which have significantly impacted supply chain continuity and competitiveness. It seeks to bridge gaps in existing literature that predominantly rely on secondary data and overlook the adaptive role of buyer-supplier collaboration in response to ongoing disruptions. Furthermore, the study examines the applicability of collaborative practices within South Africa’s chemical sector and evaluates their alignment with findings from other studies to assess their broader generalisation in managing supply chain disruptions. Design/methodology/approach: An exploratory qualitative approach was employed, using inductive approach to provide in-depth insights. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 11 key stakeholders in South Africa's chemical sector, ensuring diverse perspectives from different supply chain and sales roles. The thematic analysis was used to identify emerging patterns in buyer-supplier collaboration and resilience strategies, allowing for a rich, nuanced understanding of the evolving dynamics of buyer-supplier collaboration. Findings: The findings reveal that buyer-supplier collaborative practices have evolved significantly in response to recent global disruptions, enhancing supply chain resilience by improving flexibility, visibility, and velocity. By aligning these findings with global insights, the study demonstrates the broader generalisation of these practices.