In a context characterized by increasing competitive pressure, supply chain collaboration has gained greater relevance and lean principles have been integrated into supply chain management to address the challenge of achieving better organizational performance. The purpose of this study is to understand the roles of strategic supplier performance and competitive intensity in Lean Supply Chain Management (LSCM) implementation and its performance. We use a variance-based Structural Equation Model analysis with empirical data from a sample of 273 Spanish companies to analyze the relationships among strategic suppliers, competitive intensity, LSCM implementation, and performance. Our findings indicate that strategic supplier performance is positively associated with LSCM implementation and that this relationship is heightened in highly competitive industries. Our results also reveal the indirect association of LSCM implementation in the strategic supplier performance-organizational performance relationship. JEL CLASSIFICATION: M11.
