Improve existing suppliers

An existing supplier has one defined delivery, quality, cost or communication problem. We document the baseline, agree concrete actions and check what was actually implemented. You can then continue, escalate, shift volumes or build a second source.

At a glance

Suitable for: For an existing supplier with one defined problem, such as late delivery, recurring defects, an incomplete corrective action or a cost or process issue. Unclear responsibilities may also be blocking progress.
What we do: Delivery delays and date commitments
Recurring quality deviations and 8D reports (eight-step problem solving)
Unclear responsibilities and communication
Cost and process problems
Your result: You receive the documented baseline, an action plan and our assessment of the implementation evidence. We also document any failure to act so you can decide how to proceed.
What you can decide: Whether to continue, renegotiate, escalate, shift volumes or build a second source. You assess verified implementation as well as supplier commitments.
Price: Single-Issue Resolution €390
Improvement Package (4 weeks) €990
Improvement Programme (8 weeks) from €2,490
Prices and scope in detail
You send us: Send the supplier, problem and current position. Describe the change you want to achieve.
Not the right fit if: you need continuous monthly follow-up (MANAGE), want to clarify a product before series production (DEVELOP) or are looking for a replacement supplier (BUILD).
MANAGE DEVELOP BUILD
Next step: Request this service Request the free 48h Check

You can see the cause, owner, deadline and evidence of whether the action was effective.

The three tiers compared
Compared	Single-Issue Resolution	Improvement Package	Improvement Programme
Starting point	One clearly defined problem that can be clarified remotely	One problem with a defined goal whose implementation must be followed up	Several suppliers with one problem each that should be steered together
Suppliers and goals	one supplier, one problem	one supplier, one goal	up to three suppliers, one goal each
Duration	no more than five Chinese working days from the confirmed start of work	four weeks	eight weeks
Follow-up	required communication within the five-day period	two follow-ups with assessment of the implementation evidence	follow-up as the case requires; written status every two weeks, weekly for time-critical or high-risk cases
You receive	documented status, proposed actions and a recommendation for the next step	baseline, action plan and assessment of implementation	joint action overview, current status and a documented end state for each goal
On site	not included; agreed separately where needed	not included; agreed separately where needed	not included; agreed separately where needed
Price	€390	€990	from €2,490

If the supplier does not cooperate: we cannot force it to improve. We document any failure to act or provide evidence. That finding supports your next decision. Further meetings or additional follow-up require your prior approval.

Included in the service

We check how planning, material or capacity limits the delivery date and which commitment is realistic.

Process

No.	Step	Description
01	Record the baseline	We record the agreed measure with its date and source: price, minimum order quantity, lead time, defect pattern, communication status or another baseline.
02	Clarify the cause	We review specification, process, material, planning, communication and commercial terms and separate facts from supplier claims. We work remotely. Any on-site assignment needed is agreed separately.
03	Agree actions	We agree concrete actions with owners, deadlines and the required evidence.
04	Assess implementation	Within the commissioned period we follow up the agreed actions and assess the implementation evidence against the baseline.

Deliverables

No.	Deliverable	Description
01	Documented Baseline	The measurable starting position for lead time, quality, responsibilities, cost or the agreed goal.
02	Cause & Evidence Package	Observations, data, supplier claims, missing evidence and the most supportable working hypothesis.
03	Action plan	Exact actions, owners, deadlines and the required evidence.
04	Implementation assessment	You can see completed and open actions, verified changes or documented failure to act. We also state the remaining risk and our recommendation.

IMPROVE – work on concrete problems

IMPROVE – work on concrete problems
Service	Price	Scope and result
Single-Issue Resolution	€390	We handle one defined problem at one supplier remotely. The required communication runs for no more than five Chinese working days. We close with the solution or the verified position if the supplier does not cooperate or implementation is not possible. Otherwise, we record the position at the end of the agreed period. An on-site visit or another problem is not included.
Improvement Package (4 weeks)	€990	One supplier, one defined goal: baseline, action plan, two follow-ups with assessment of the implementation evidence.
Improvement Programme (8 weeks)	from €2,490	We work with up to three suppliers on one goal each over eight weeks and follow up actions as the case requires. You receive a written status every two weeks, or weekly for time-critical or high-risk cases. At the end, we record whether each goal is achieved, has open conditions or remains blocked by verified non-cooperation or inability to implement.

We address one defined problem per existing supplier. This may be a delivery delay, recurring quality deviation, incomplete corrective action, cost or process problem, or unclear responsibility. We agree on-site assignments separately where needed.

Contract terms: Terms section 4: Content of services, deliverables and limits

The accepted written proposal for the confirmed scope remains authoritative.

Two examples: what we do in China – and what you decide

These two examples are fictional, not client cases. Both start as remote Single-Issue Resolution assignments. Visits to suppliers or sub-suppliers, technical specialist reviews and laboratory tests each require separate scope and your prior approval. We cannot promise a particular outcome.

Delivery date postponed for the third time (fictional)

Situation: The foundry supplier has postponed the date for the third time; assembly needs the parts in six weeks.
Documented finding: Raw material is available; outsourced machining is two weeks behind. The promised extra shift is only a supplier claim, and the sub-supplier's capacity remains open without a visit.
WJY recommendation: Partial delivery by the required date, the balance after a documented restart; check a second machining source in parallel.
Your decision: Approve the partial delivery and a visit to the sub-supplier, or knowingly accept the later full delivery date.
Follow-up: Check the plan during the agreed period against photographs, quantities and shipping documents; document deviations immediately.

Corrective action reported as complete (fictional)

Situation: After repeated porosity defects, the supplier reports the 8D action as complete; porosity appears again in the next lot.
Documented finding: A machine log documents the parameter change; inspection results are missing for two of three lots, so effectiveness is not demonstrated.
WJY recommendation: Keep the action open, require inspection results for the next three lots and inspect the next lot before shipment.
Your decision: Approve the pre-shipment inspection and keep the complaint open, or escalate to the supplier's management.
Follow-up: Track the required evidence against agreed dates; close the action only after the agreed results are available.

Common questions about this service

What does the Single-Issue Resolution include?

One supplier and one defined problem, handled remotely. Required communication runs for no more than five Chinese working days. We finish when the problem is solved, non-cooperation or inability to implement is documented, or the agreed period ends. On-site work and further problems are excluded.

Do you guarantee savings or an improvement?

No. We record the baseline, agreed actions and verified implementation. The supplier remains responsible for carrying out its actions. You receive the status supported by evidence.

Terms section 4: Content of services, deliverables and limits

What if the supplier does not implement the action?

Then we document exactly that, with evidence. This result is also a basis for decisions: renegotiate, escalate, shift volumes or build a second source.

When is a programme appropriate?

When up to three suppliers with one goal each need to be followed up together over eight weeks. You receive a written status every two weeks, or weekly in time-critical or high-risk cases. For ongoing management beyond eight weeks, MANAGE is the better fit.

Improve existing suppliers