Governance Model
Segment suppliers (strategic, preferred, transactional) and assign clear owners for commercial, quality, and logistics. Define escalation paths and RACI so issues resolve quickly without straining the relationship.
Scorecards & KPIs
Track OTD (on-time delivery), PPM/defect rate, response time, cost-down ideas, and capability upgrades. Share quarterly scorecards with evidence, then align on targets for the next quarter.
Communication Rhythm
Adopt a cadence: weekly ops calls during production, monthly planning calls, and quarterly business reviews. Keep a shared action log with owners and due dates. Celebrate wins—fast fixes and proactive ideas deserve recognition.
Improvement & Risk
Run 8D or 5-Whys on defects, track CAPA until closed, and reward suppliers who reduce defects sustainably. Maintain a backup supplier and dual-source critical components to de-risk geopolitical or capacity shocks.