SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS.

To achieve the full benefit from competitive, modern, manufacturing systems engineering methods, these methods must extend into relationships with suppliers, the elimination of bad supplies practices and to developments of manufacturing systems improvements in suppliers' factories. This is of particular importance in supporting Just-in-Time and Total Quality approaches aimed at reducing product costs and improving reliability of supplies. Systems Engineering methodologies are applied to the design of good supplies practices and the management and monitoring of supplier relationships and rationalization.