nonsense such as the adversarial accusations associated with non -
trusting relationships , which are much more dificult to maintain . With
a collaborative , trusting relationship things run more smoothly and , if
a problem does arise , it can be resolved in a quick and
straightforward manner .
So what does it take to become a customer of choice ? First , get the
foundation in place . Customers need to follow good business
practices that are conducive to suppliers wanting to work with them :
pay invoices on time , resolve any payment issues in a timely manner ,
and have purchasing personnel who are willing to work to develop
good supplier relationships . Second , build on this foundation with
relationship initiatives that benefit all involved . For instance , help
suppliers reduce their costs by sharing information with them early
in the product development cycle , and minimise any conflict
between purchasing and engineering or other functions in the
business .
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