Eternal search of good supplier and a good customer for SME

1. Article no1
10.03.17
I am not so Tech savvy. I don’t know how to right a blog. When I decided to write a
blog the first question came to my mind how people will know that I have written
something, forget about reading it, and appreciating/discarding it.
When I broached this subject to my son, a know-all as far as I am concerned, pat
came the answer, put it on Linked In. I had got lot of invitations from Linked-in. I
always opted for the easiest solution. DELEAT. This was all I knew about it. I asked
him to help me to learn it. The result was as can be expected. He could not keep up
with my level of skills which was near nonexistitant. He misused his position and
skipped.
Now I had to find out somebody who could not walk off however he may like to.
At least it must be difficult.
I caught hold of my friend’s son. He agreed.
With his help. I opened my account. Uploaded my profile. I started with enthusiasm
but soon it petered out. It is too much for me. My profile, the way I have presented is
not to my liking. In the whole process more than 6/7 weeks passed.
I thought this preparation itself is taking so long and so frustrating, I will not have
enough enthusiasm at the end to write an article. Why not write 10 articles first.
Circulate then amongst few friends first who I am very sure will miss 100 good points
but not miss single mistake/bad point. If the bad points are only in two digits I can
edit once more get ready and then start once more.
I had a very peculiar experience in my professional career. I worked in material
department of an organisation. After my retirement I worked as a supplier to my
erstwhile employer’s competitor.
15.03.17
I have seen the supply chain functions from both the ends. At one time I was
constantly in search of good suppliers and then I was searching for the good
customer. I always imagined, if I become the good supplier I was looking for then I
will get a good customer.
Now I realise, it is like looking for a perfect match, it does not exist.
There is no supplier or customer who is perfect in every aspect you are looking for.
You have to decide the level off compromise. It is better to have a bad supplier or
customer then to have none.
I think, if I share the parameters I was looking for in the good supplier with all my SSI
friends it may be useful for them. Similarly if I share the parameters for good
customer then my friends in supply chain of big companies it may give them some
clue. I don’t have doubt that at both ends my views may not be fully acceptable. But
if it makes them think before discarding it, my purpose is served.