If you want to take time and cost out of your supply chain, a facilitated supplier council is a key strategic vehicle for making the changes. Optima Consulting will design and facilitate the council for the maximum payoff in the shortest time.

Many large companies have "vendor forums" or "supplier input sessions." Often these sessions do little to change the business effectiveness of the customer/supplier relationship. Why? Too often, the forums lack the right environment for innovative thinking and genuine collaboration. Making fundamental changes in the way the supply chain works takes a true partnership. Trust must be built among all parties so that traditional assumptions about the customer/supplier relationship can be overcome and change can occur.

Our experience in designing and facilitating council sessions will enable you to build the trust essential to developing joint strategies for radical innovation. Your council will have a clear direction that all participants are prepared to support. By developing open communication and collaborative processes among all members of your council, you and your suppliers will get the satisfaction of true win/win solutions to supply chain cost, flexibility, and speed issues.

There are five steps to a building a successful strategic supplier council.

1. Make high quality business decisions
2. Build the consensus necessary to drive decisions
3. Enhance the power and effectiveness of your team's leadership.
4. Conducting the Council session.
5. De-briefing the Council session.

A facilitated supplier council will enable you to make supply chain innovations that dramatically

• Reduce cost
• Shorten lead times
• Increase manufacturing flexibility.

If you are ready to explore the use of a supplier council to achieve these benefits for your company, call us. We'll discuss your supply management strategy and see whether a facilitated strategic council might further your objectives.