Leading and Managing Strategic Suppliers

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Supplier Management: Some Simple Truths

There is an old saying that not all customers are equal; by the same token, not all suppliers are equal. Therefore, supplier management is not one thing, as there will be different approaches and processes driven by how the customer categorizes specific suppliers, ranging from very transactional to long-term partnerships. The management of strategic suppliers is of key importance, and these suppliers form the focus of this book. Put simply, strategic suppliers are important because what they provide is essential to the successful operation of the business. The consequences of nondelivery or poor service delivery are serious, and typically, but not always, customers spend a lot of ...