QIC Guru

The very nature of the question of supplier involvement invites discussion. When is the right time to include your suppliers in the product life cycle? My choice would be, first, last and always. The earlier you involve your suppliers in the business planning process, the better the chances of coming up with a business solution that works for all concerned. Supplier involvement promotes better resource utilization, the development and sharing of technological expertise and network effectiveness. In today’s world, outside suppliers represent increasingly important members of the new product development team.

When you involve your suppliers in your business management system you gain two very important business advantages over your competition. The first advantage is you get to understand what drives your suppliers and what they have to offer to you, both technologically and intellectually. The second advantage, your suppliers will gain a better understanding of what drives your organization and what you bring to the table. This discovery process will lead to faster turnaround times, lower costs, and reduced false starts. Given this, is there anyone out there who wouldn’t want to improve their business right now using this supply management tool?