What effect would turning around a chronically late, over budgeted, and under performing supplier have on your ability to serve your customers?  Most suppliers who are two tiers or more from the end use customers have lost touch with understanding their needs.  They have become to focused on just delivering their products to the next level in the value chain. Understanding and improving the disconnect that currently exists between most suppliers and the end user customers can dramatically effect how customer's view your service offering and marketplace image and identity. 

World-class supplier management goes beyond ensuring cost-effectiveness, capacity control, quality, and responsiveness to create a competitive advantage for the organization through a superior relationship management.  It has application and benefits not only in production, but also in marketing, sales, and support operations.

When assembling your customer loyalty system, your organization needs to be sensitive to all aspects of the distribution system.  By coordinating and soliciting feedback from suppliers and vendors, your organization will realize new ways to bring benefits to the end consumer.  Involving suppliers and vendors in the process and creating a business partnership environment will allow your company to increase its flexibility and more quickly meet the changing needs of your customers.