Someone showed us this article from Purchasing Magazine and we thought it was right on target. It illustrates the competitiver advantages that are created when suppliers team up with buyers (and their companies) to find better ways of working together. Real partnerships (which got a lot of lip service back in the 1990's).
One example:
Steve Strongosky, purchasing manager at paint giant The Sherwin-Williams Co. in Cleveland, says that deeper and longer-term relations with suppliers can be an important element in differentiating his company from its competition. Thus, Strongosky, who is an engineer by training, works closely with both R&D internally and outside suppliers to try to spot promising areas of cooperation.
"We look for a robust commercial relationship with our partners focusing on price and quality but we also take into consideration what they have to offer us in terms of product innovation," he notes.
At Dalco, we couldn't agree more. We don't just try to close sales. We try to build a relatuionship that works!
Find the full article here.
