Smith’s chief globalization officer, Mark Bollinger, explains how buyers can get maximum value from independent distributors during current long lead times and allocation?
Independent distributors like Smith help partners achieve maximum value through sourcing networks and quality-control processes. From a procurement perspective, one goal is helping partners gain access to market intelligence information. Customers who partner with Smith and make the organization part of their overall sourcing strategy get a jump on peaks in demand, which results in faster deliveries and better pricing.
Smith’s contacts and unique global view provide market insights that can be shared with customers to support their procurement strategies. The operational approach to quality helps optimize purchasing professionals’ efforts because Smith’s processes adhere to industry-leading certifications that guide the company’s individual quality standards, from inspection to delivery. Maintaining state-of-the-art testing laboratories on three continents helps mitigate risk and keep potential nonconforming product from entering the supply chain.
Disruptions around lead times and allocations are likely to continue in many sectors, especially more specialized industries, so purchasing professionals can expect market fluctuations to also persist. Smith offers a multifaceted partnership where optimization and quality are key aspects of supply chain management and partners gain the advantages of this unique business model. Other supply chain services, such as vendor-managed inventory programs, are especially helpful for organizations looking to establish a steady or long-term supply of parts in the current volatile market.
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