工業供應鏈夥伴的 7 個關鍵素質

COVID-19 has rocked our public health, economy and company financials. With so much at stake, we’re all only as good as the partner standing next to us at this moment. Finding the 正確的 industrial supply chain partnerships are key to surviving the pandemic and beyond.

目前的供應鏈狀況

製造和分銷行業以前曾面臨不確定性，但不是像現在這樣。

As the Vice President Supply Chain & Strategic Sourcing at Optimas Solutions, I’ve had a front-row seat to some of these struggles–from minor sourcing disruptions to businesses closing their doors for good.

Even the businesses that are ‘figuring it out’ are working through challenges from the top floor to the plant floor:

• 供應商的時間表不符合他們的需求
• 工廠和配送中心暫時關閉
• 提供 個人防護裝備 & safety checkpoints
• 旅行和流動性有限
• 員工優惠和休假
• 居家辦公

這些挑戰耗費了數百萬美元，在某些情況下還導致他們因無法滿足需求而失去終生合作夥伴關係。

The more complicated the current landscape, the harder and more costly it is for our customers to manage all of their suppliers. I’d estimate our customers would need 10x the staff and systems they currently have just to keep up and manage all of their suppliers themselves.

隨著大流行的蔓延，我們 Optimas 不得不不斷地問自己尖銳的問題，並評估我們自己的合作夥伴關係，因為它們是我們向客戶提供產品的基礎：

• 我們可以捲起袖子繼續戰鬥嗎？
• 我們可以多靈活和敏捷地滿足需求？
• 我們可以為客戶提供哪些創造性和高效的解決方案？

我們希望我們的供應商能夠回答這些問題，而我們也希望為我們的客戶提供同樣的東西。

Partner of “解決方案” vs. Partner of “現狀“

More than ever before, it’s important to be a solutions provider. Whether that’s supporting operational changes – demand fluctuations – or simply just to spend some extra time on the phone or video chat to troubleshoot problems.

當需求上升時，迅速而自信的反應將是讓客戶滿意或讓他們失望的關鍵。

When the chaos of this moment settles, people will remember who provided solutions and made good on their promises–and those that couldn’t.

小細節現在也很重要。我們的客戶依靠我們來管理數十萬 C級 組件，每個部分都很重要。反過來，我們依靠供應商提供相同水準的服務和信心來幫助我們滿足客戶的需求。

One small screw or part on a delay can shut down a customer’s entire operation. We want to work with suppliers who have our best interest in mind, and our customers’, as well.

From the big picture to the small details, it’s critical to have a partner that has the muscle to flex with business conditions today–and tomorrow.

工業供應商合作夥伴必須具備的 7 大品質

Whether it’s seeking a more flexible partnership or simply re-evaluating current relationships, there are important supplier qualities to ensure the best support. Here’s what we’ve found:

1. Asking what you need – Communication is a critical element of every relationship. Good partners will either anticipate or ask you directly about how they can help alleviate uncertainty. They’re also transparent with you when they’re having issues.

2. 關注增長 – Quality partners proactively find ways to upgrade their customer experience through training and growth plans that support future business initiatives. A quarterly business review is a great model to discuss today’s mechanics and future needs.

3. Excellent Forecasting – A partner with a tech-enabled approach, using demand forecasting tools and other technologies to help manage through the ebbs and flows of producing in times of changing demand. A technology-based approach is a critical asset to elevating efficiencies and reducing risk and cost.

4.發票靈活性 – A partner who asks and understands your organization’s financial drivers and is willing to apply some creativity during difficult times.

5. Support for Operational Changes – 一個敏捷的合作夥伴，可以對計劃和生產修改充滿信心和解決方案做出反應。

6. Alter Inventory Quantities – 真正的合作夥伴總是願意就改變庫存要求以滿足需求進行對話。

7. Developing Contracts and MSAs – 為了長期穩定，考慮一個合作夥伴將根據可衡量的質量、成本和服務指標籤訂主服務協議。

Bottom Line – “Who has my back?”

創建高效的供應鏈需要先期投資。合作夥伴的選擇以上述質量為基礎，以幫助我們最好地服務和滿足客戶的需求。

Alternatively, since Optimas effectively manages hundreds of trusted providers, it’s well within our wheelhouse to support our customers with the same “must have qualities of an industrial supplier partner” that we expect of our own partners.

最重要的是，如果事情沒有按計劃進行並且時間變得艱難，那麼優秀的合作夥伴會支持您。更重要的是，他們將直面問題並提出解決方案。

If you’re a supplier looking to partner with Optimas or a manufacturer looking for the right supply chain partner to weather the current storm, we’re ready to listen and solve supply chain challenges. 今天就聯繫我們尋求幫助。