Supply or be supplied

Ok, some more fuzzy thoughts about supplier management.

Some different ways to a work-split for development between a supplier and OEM:

• Do it all yourself 
• Specify the solution; send it in writing to the supplier 
• Model it; transform the model to text and send to supplier 
• Model it; send the model to the supplier and “forget it” 
• Model it; send the model to the supplier and feedback potential changes to the model  
• Model it together with the supplier; let the supplier use the model to produce the final product 
• Specify your need in fluffy terms and let the supplier realize it anyway wanted as long as it fits with the rest 

Maybe I forgot some examples but you get the picture. Each of these slightly different ways to approach it will definitely have implications to your design department, your A&V department, your purchasing department etc. Sometimes you and your departments will control the work-split; sometimes the work-split will control you.

The key should be to realize the impact and choose based on a choice that best serve your purpose.

Simple? Perhaps. Still forgotten.