Value chains are complex in nowadays’ networked business ecosystems. 60-80 % of the company’s costs can easily come from materials, components, assemblies, systems and services bought from external suppliers.
It’s often forgotten that it’s the same with knowledge. More and more know-how is outside the company. Many processes have been outsourced already long ago and company’s internal understanding e.g. about latest manufacturing technologies, materials and ways of working is lacking.
Therefore, it is definitely not enough anymore to involve only own employees to development and continuous improvement (CI), such as product and process improvement, and DFMA (design for manufacture and assembly) activities. Company’s own people know the final products’ customer requirements, but suppliers know the details of products and services they are delivering much deeper.
It is time to start thinking about the whole value chain instead of internal operations only. In this way it is possible to achieve great benefits in costs, quality and lead-times. This is actually not even difficult. It’s about creating cross-company multi-disciplinary teams between you and your suppliers, agreeing the ways of working and utilizing a tool to manage this whole process.
Good news: You do not need to worry about the tool, ‘cause it is ready! Jakamo’s Ideas, Development and Project apps, and Teams feature provide easy way to manage the process between your company and the suppliers.
Timo Rossi
CDO & Partner at Jakamo
