THE ROLE OF THE RAW-MATERIAL SUPPLIER

The growing trend towards the purchase of ready-made components in the automotive industry means that the raw materials supplier has to shift his main areas of activity: In the area of quality assurance, increasing emphasis is being placed on control of the production process and on identity of source. In logistics, the holding of buffer-stocks must be reduced substantially, whilst maintaining flexibility of supply. At each stage from raw materials supplier to car manufacturer, technical cooperation must be intensified, so that requirements and specifications are defined as clearly as possible before new development projects are begun.