Supplier Relationship Success Strategy: Balancing Costs, Risk and Stability

In turbulent times like these, the typical procurement response is to take a short-term, blanket view of all suppliers — negotiating the best prices to improve the company’s working capital. At the same time, suppliers may have a similar motivation to protect their own interests — thereby putting strain on the buyer-supplier relationship. Such an approach also creates elevated supplier risk through excessive demands for cost or payment term improvements.

In this webinar, GEP and Supply Management Insider will discuss a program for working with suppliers in ways that help both sides successfully manage through this uncertain time and emerge in a favorable longer-term position. The key tactic: Adopting a tiered approach to the supply base by differentiating operational suppliers from critical and strategic suppliers.
 

On the Agenda:

• The right tactics for strategic/critical suppliers and for operational/transactional suppliers
• Risk assessment guidelines for both categories of suppliers
• Making a smooth transition from a short-term, cost savings focus to a longer-term, cost advantage goal