Patterns of technological innovation in subcontracting firms: an empirical study in the food machinery industry

This study examines changes in inter‐organizational relationships in the specific context of the food packaging machinery industry. The study presented in this paper has a twofold aim. First, to investigate how and to what extent the type of buyer‐supplier relationship is associated with specific supplier profiles (in terms of the technological as well as organizational set of competencies and skills). Second, to indicate the attributes of the best‐performing suppliers from the different groups identified. The study is based on a survey performed on 111 subcontractor firms located in northern Italy. More specifically, the study aims at evaluating the impact of a set of factors characterizing the competencies which subcontractors must have in order to succeed in this industry.