In any new product development program, early involvement of the critical suppliers is the key. Once they are a part of the program, they are clearly aware of the milestones involved, their role and responsibilities in the project, as they are an integral part of the journey. Hence, scaling up is also a key milestone that comes up as a part of the program rather than a surprise, no matter if the project is delayed due to many reasons. Supporting and handholding the suppliers technically and commercially will ensure smooth transitioning from prototype to pre-production and production ramp up.

Supplier Relationship Management is crucial when transitioning from Prototype to mass production. However, the step by step approach helps in navigating the process. A. Select the right suppliers involved in the prototype and identify their potential in terms of capability and capacity to manage mass production. B.Ensure their early involvement at the time of creating a long term strategy to cater to mass production. C.Finalise contracts after effective and integrative negotiations. D. Implement quality control process. E.Foster collaborative relationship by way of regular coaching and regular business reviews. F. Develop a supplier score card to monitor their performance. G. Create a constructive feedback forum.

As an OEM we have to plan for bigger picture first and then align with suppliers. Every supplier always look for consistency and long term business relationship.

1)Supplier Selection and Evaluation. 2)Clear Communication. 3)Develop Long-term Partnerships. 4)Performance Monitoring. 5)Quality Assurance. 6)Risk management. 7)Technological Integration. 8)Training & Support. By fostering a collaborative and transparent relationship, you can ensure your suppliers grow alongside you, supporting the transition from prototype to mass production smoothly.

Managing supplier relationships is crucial when scaling up from prototype to mass production. Here's a step-by-step approach to help you navigate this process: *Scaling Up* 1. Communicate with your suppliers: Inform them about your scaling plans, expected volume increases, and any changes in requirements. 2. Negotiate contracts and pricing: Work with suppliers to agree on pricing, payment terms, and contract conditions that support your scaled-up production. 3. Implement a supplier management system: Use tools like supplier scorecards, dashboards, or software (e.g., SAP, Oracle) to monitor performance, track shipments, and manage relationships. 4. Conduct regular business reviews: Schedule meetings with suppliers to discuss performance.

Prioritize transparency and open communication with your key suppliers. The scale up process is rarely a straight line and building strong relationships before setbacks will greatly help to quickly resolve the inevitable issues that will arise. I strongly suggest you meet your counterparts face to face as often as possible, nothing will build strong relationships faster than spending time together in person. Some additional tips are regularly sharing production forecasts, providing detailed quality requirements, and maintaining constant feedback loops. Even more important is aligning ASAP if anything changes.

While scaling up from prototype to commercial, all things has to be made clear with suppliers specially their sales/supply chain team before hand. No hidden areas. We can give them phase wise details Ideation/prototype/commercial trial/commercial production like wise. Suppliers are brand partners or we can call them partners so they must be treated equally and amicably