Best Practices from the October Call: Communicating with Manufacturers and Suppliers
Below are some of the main takeaways from the August 28 Supply Chain Shark Community Call, where a dozen business owners shared supply chain challenges and best practices.
Best Practices for Communicating with Manufacturers and Suppliers
Communicating product specifics, manufacturer responsiveness, and general communication can be challenging. Some of the best practices shared by business owners during the call include:
Explain the WHY: Explain why you want a modification to the product, rather than just submitting details of the change. By understanding the WHY, the manufacturer can understand what you are trying to accomplish.
Provide a visual: Providing physical prototypes or a visual of changes is essential to help cross language and cultural barriers. One textile business owner shared that they send detailed pictures of the product, with sticky notes, showing specific changes to be made and suggested sending detailed videos.
Build detailed tech packs: Build tech packs, a blueprint detailing product specifications, to communicate product specs and changes. One member of the Supply Chain Shark community shared Techpacker as a useful resource for building tech pack.
Control use of file-sharing tools: Use tools that are available globally, like Dropbox, to share all files and control the information the supplier accesses can be beneficial in setting expectations and making sure the manufacturing partner has the correct information. This is a better solution than sending files over email, which can get lost or difficult to locate.
Leverage Chat GPT / AI: Consider using AI to support with translations to help bridge the cultural barriers in communication. This can be leveraged by telling the AI to adapt the language so it is appropriate for a salesperson, engineer, etc., and can aid in the communication process.
Sign up for the next Shark Community Call on the Supply Chain Shark portal here: Community Call Sign-Up
