Supply chain planning and trust: two sides of the same coin

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between supply planning, trust and integration, and the influence of them on operational performance.

The paper used a survey with 335 respondents from three different industries. The paper analyzed the data with structural equation modeling.

The results suggest that supply planning and trust are positively related and both influence supply integration and operational performance. At the end the paper proposed a classification for supply integration based on planning use and trust.

The sample is composed by companies from only three industries (machinery, electronics and automobile), what does not allow generalization.

Managers are challenged to develop simultaneously supply chain planning practices and trust-based relationship within buyers and suppliers. They must pay attention to different integration drivers and use them accordingly and in the context analyzed. The study suggests a 2×2 matrix that might help managers’ decision making.

Despite the importance of planning in supply and manufacturing management, few papers analyzed the role of supply planning integrated to trust. The combination between these aspects brings a more realistic and pragmatic view of the supply chain management.