Total quality management supply base management, customer driven corporate
policy, and other elements of supply chain management are frequently cited
as strategic options to achieve competitive success in the 1990s. However,
attempts by companies to implement these options have not been: universally
successful and have in many cases failed to yield the desired results. Thi
s study presents details of a survey carried out to determine whether parti
cular quality management, supply base management and customer relations pra
ctices can impact corporate performance In addition a examines the impact a
nalyzing the competitive environment has on performance. Regression models
identify several factors that directly and positively impact corporate perf
ormance. These include the extent to which companies analyze the strategies
of competitors and determine future customer requirements, and the commitm
ent they have to evaluating performance throughout the supply chain.