What do you do if your manufacturing process is suffering due to poor supplier relationships?

1 Assess Needs

The first step towards resolving supplier issues is to thoroughly assess your manufacturing needs. Understand what materials, components, or services are critical for your operations and how supplier performance impacts your productivity. This insight will help you prioritize which supplier relationships need immediate attention and set clear expectations for what you require from these partnerships. Remember, a successful relationship is based on mutual understanding and respect for each other's business needs.

3 Set Objectives

Once you've opened the lines of communication, it's time to set clear and achievable objectives with your suppliers. These should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that both parties agree upon. Establishing these objectives can help to realign your expectations and ensure that both you and your suppliers are working towards common goals that enhance the manufacturing process.

4 Monitor Progress

After setting objectives, it's essential to monitor progress and provide feedback. This doesn't just mean tracking whether deadlines are met or if product quality improves; it also involves recognizing efforts made by the supplier to address issues. Regular check-ins can help maintain momentum and ensure that any small problems are dealt with before they escalate into larger ones. Monitoring progress helps maintain accountability on both sides and reinforces the importance of the relationship.

5 Build Trust

Building trust with suppliers involves more than just contractual agreements; it's about creating a partnership where both parties feel valued and understood. This can be achieved by honoring commitments, being transparent about your manufacturing needs and limitations, and showing appreciation for their work. Over time, these actions contribute to a stronger, more resilient relationship that can withstand challenges and adapt to changes in the manufacturing landscape.

6 Innovate Together

Finally, consider how you can innovate together with your suppliers to improve the manufacturing process. Collaboration on new ideas or approaches can not only solve current issues but also lead to advancements that benefit both parties. Innovation can come from streamlining processes, adopting new technologies, or finding creative ways to overcome supply chain obstacles. By working closely with your suppliers on innovative solutions, you can turn a struggling relationship into a competitive advantage.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?