We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
  • TOPICS
    • Design
    • Manufacturing
    • Applications
    • Components
    • Industry
    • MRO
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Departments
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
  • NEWSLETTER
  • VIDEO
    • Power Transmission Engineering TV
    • Webinars
  • BLOGS
    • Revolutions
    • Editors Choice
    • Motor Matters with George Holling
    • Bearings with Norm
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • NEWS and EVENTS
    • Product News
    • Industry News
    • Events
  • Advertising
    • Brand Awareness
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Print: Engineering Showcase
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • Email: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
    • Response & Lead Generation
      • E-Mail: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Newsletters
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • Online: Buyers Guide
      • Online: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
    • Print
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Print: Engineering Showcase
      • Print: MPT Expo Showstoppers (October 2023)
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Engineering sMart
      • Print: Specifications
      • MPT Expo Show Guide Advertising
    • Online
      • Online: Web Banners and Keyword Banners
      • Online: Buyers Guide
      • Online: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • Online: Specifications
    • E-Mail
      • E-mail: Newsletters
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Specifications
    • Special Promotions
      • Print: Engineering Showcase
      • Print: Showstoppers (MPT Expo)
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Engineering sMart
      • MPT Expo Show Guide Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • AGMA
    • Membership
    • Events
    • Education
    • Emerging Technology
    • AGMA Media
      • Gear Technology
      • Gear Technology India
    • Standards
Subscribe
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Home » Blogs » Bearings with Norm » Treat Your Suppliers Well

Bearings with Norm
Bearings with Norm RSS FeedRSS

Design / Applications / Components / Departments / Industry / MRO / Power / Motion Control / Bearings / Industry News / Trade Shows / Hannover Messe / Purchasing

Treat Your Suppliers Well

February 4, 2015
No Comments
I recently had a supplier give me a call to let me know that we had some outdated paperwork floating around that was going to wind up costing us a ton of money. The mistake was just purchasing related, but the supplier called me because we had a good rapport and they felt comfortable contacting me directly. This particular issue was going to be locked into a several year contract and took no more than a half-hour to fix.

It seems to be fairly common for us at the OEs to develop a superiority complex of sorts over those that supply the goods. There is the obvious customer/client relationship that tends to breed ‘the customer is always right’ mentality, but in your company, this attitude will harm you more than it will help.

I think of suppliers as the real gatekeepers of the technology that I need. Are they going to really step up to the plate and give me their best if I am condescending and treat them as if my time is more valuable than theirs? No, they aren’t. Are they going to tell me what they have in the pipeline 3-5 years from now if they think I’m going to turn around and tell their competitor? Of course not.

Granted, the face of your supplier is only as good as the person you are dealing with. There are some folks that aren’t interested in doing much more than collecting a paycheck, but don’t those people show up in every company somehow? You can’t save them all, but the ones that want to work with you can be very valuable to your company and your career.

In addition to helping you stay on top of the latest technology and industry news, the supply base is full of retired part-timers that were heavy hitters in their companies. In my little world of bearings, I have two former VPs — a chief engineer, an engineering director, and a few very talented people who have always been in the bearing business that seem to know everything about everything. For some of these guys, this job is just pocket-money. Don’t let your ego ruin this wealth of talent available to you.

I encourage you to treat your suppliers like your peers — not your assistants. Go out and have lunch together. Go to their facility for a meeting every now and then. Have an occasional dinner and a couple of drinks. Pick up the tab once in a while — even if it’s out of your pocket. Foster these relationships and I promise your career will be headed in the right direction.

 

 

Recent Comments

Good advice, so are the big majors rebranding...

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Free Power Transmission Engineering Subscriptions
Subscribe
Free Power Transmission Engineering Subscriptions
Subscribe
FEATURED VIDEO
  • Huco1
    Huco Couplings for Forklift Steering Columns
January 9, 2023
RECOMMENDED
  • Highlights of Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia 2022

    December 2, 2022
    Sundyne-Ansimag Pump.jpg
  • Bearing Design Considerations for the Food Processing Industry

    December 2, 2022
    pt1222_Page_24_Image_0001.jpg
  • 2022 PTE Buyers Guide

    December 2, 2022
    BuyersGuide-01.jpg
  • FVA Presents Transmission Design Considerations

    January 3, 2023
    FVA.jpg
  • Bearing Reinvention with Schaeffler

    December 23, 2022
    Bearing6.jpg
  • FVA Presents Transmission Design Considerations

    January 3, 2023
    FVA.jpg
  • Bearing Reinvention with Schaeffler

    December 23, 2022
    Bearing6.jpg
  • Highlights of Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia 2022

    December 2, 2022
    Sundyne-Ansimag Pump.jpg
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Gear Technology
Powered byAGMA
Copyright © 2023 Power Transmission Engineering
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact