Some of the most recent tendencies observed in supply chain management practices - such as strategic outsourcing, differentiation, specialisation and collaborative arrangements - are being driven by firms interested in optimising logistic coordination in a scenario of increasing customisation and complexity in the business world. The supplier and client strategic segmentation processes in a SCM context represent an opportunity to enhance the creation of collaborative environments that may foster the quality of services and products offered to final customers along with a reduction in production and logistical costs. This article, therefore, highlights the fact that segmentation strategies in certain partnership relations and quasi-market relationships can perhaps bring about a better infrastructure relationship to sustain collaborative practices between economic agents and, consequently, favour sustained competitiveness in the production chain.
Supply chain management; segmentation strategies; logistics integrated processes; competitiveness; associative economies
