Re: Single supplier for foodbank

["Dirk Van Putten" <dvanputten@linear.com>]

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 22:19:24 -0600
 "Doug Hensler" <Hensler@colorado.edu> wrote:
> Hi Jim,
> 
> When considering the supplier relationship, one thing to
> keep in mind is
> the nature of the input you are acquiring.  If the input
> is a commodity,
> then the single supplier has a weak application.
>  Alternatively, if the
> input has significant differential knowledge content then
> single
> supplier is a very appropriate approach.


Hello Doug:

If appropriate, will you please explain this statement
further? I am no expert, for sure, but I have always been
taught that a mutually beneficial, mature realtionship
between a customer and supplier can allow for a single
supplier relationship to be effective and efficient in any
industry or market. Breifly, this means to me that if there
is a healthy and supportive relationship between the
supplier and the customer, then the customer can benefit by
having one supplier and one supplier's business system to
interface with. This reduces the possible varibles in the
product or service provided to the customer or that
varibales that are factors in the process of provding the
service or product.

I know I have used some words that may need defintions such
as "healthy and supportive."

My wife and I just had our first baby 2 days ago so I am a
little out of it. Anyway, I hope I communciated the essence
of my question. The idea of single Vs. multiple suppliers
interests me.

Thank you, Dirk van Putten