A strong customer-supply relationship is crucial to the success of a hospital's supply chain, according to Ruben Taborda, senior director of supply chain customer solutions at Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems.
"Supply chains operate on a relationship continuum between customer and supplier, and supply chain managers are becoming more directly involved in all aspects of the supply chain," he said. "This direct involvement may be slower to materialize than in other industries, but supply chain managers are increasingly viewing their role as one that supports the outcomes of the entire health system."
Mr. Taborda shared the following tip on customer-supplier relationships with Becker's Hospital Review.
"Relationship benchmarking exercises can be a helpful tool to assess the customer-supplier relationship, although they are not performed as often as needed because some suppliers or supply chain managers do not fully appreciate the benefit of undertaking these exercises. Never underestimate the power of relationship benchmarking exercises: They are a critical part of developing a relationship with a supplier.
"By developing a stronger relationship with their suppliers, rather than just focusing on ways to reduce costs, supply chain managers can drive greater efficiencies across the health system to help achieve their Triple Aim objectives."
If you would like to submit a supply chain tip, please email Mackenzie Bean at mbean@beckershealthcare.com.