ABSTRACT
In summary, there are many easy steps that can be employed to facilitate supplier enhancement. Suppliers should be considered to be valued partners because they have a significant impact on the profitability of both their and the customers’ top and bottom lines. Unfortunately, some suppliers do not have the experience necessary to provide a qualified product economically. If a supplier is not sufficiently capable or sophisticated, the costs associated with the product they provide to the customer can be excessive. In other cases, the provision of substandard services or products can result in final customer dissatisfaction that will lead to reduced sales. These expensive and unnecessary costs can be reduced through the application of supplier mentoring. The effort involved in advising suppliers will have a direct impact on the performance and profitability of the customer and supplier organizations.
