Early Supplier Involvement


This concept explains the advantages of involving suppliers in cross-functional teams at the early stages of product development. It also reviews the process for working with suppliers to ensure alignment and accountability throughout the product launch and innovation processes.

Technique Overview

Early Supplier Involvement

Early Supplier Involvement Definition

Early Supplier Involvement (ESI) is a form of vertical collaboration between supply chain partners in which the manufacturer involves the supplier at an early stage of the product development process (Mikkola and Skjott-Larsen, 2006; Van Weele, 2010).

Early Supplier Involvement Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Early Supplier Involvement *

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of Early Supplier Involvement *

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Professional Tools

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Further Reading

Early Supplier Involvement web and print resources *

Early Supplier Involvement references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Bonaccorsi, A. and Lipparini, A. (1994) Strategic partnership in new product development: An Italian case study. Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol.11(2), pp.134-145.
  • Dowlatshahi, S. (1998) Implementing early supplier involvement: A conceptual framework. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol.18(2), pp.143-167.
  • Economist Intelligence Unit (2005) The new face of purchasing.
  • Hong, Y., Pearson, J.N., and Carr, A.S. (2009) A typology of coordination strategy in multi-organizational product development. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol.29(10), pp.1000-1024.

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