How One Buyer Used Early Supplier Involvement to Cut Time-to-Market by 40 Percent

In this episode of The Buyer's Side, Lucas and Luna explore how early supplier involvement can dramatically accelerate product launches. They dive into the real-world case of a medical device company that brought its key contract manufacturer into the design phase, cutting time-to-market by 40 percent and reducing prototyping costs by a quarter. Lucas explains the five principles of successful early supplier involvement, from co-location to shared risk-reward models, while Luna challenges when it might not be the right move—like when IP protection is critical or suppliers lack design capability. The conversation also touches on the procurement professional's role as a matchmaker and the importance of building a culture of trust. A practical, example-driven look at a strategy that goes beyond cost savings to unlock speed and innovation in the supply chain. #EarlySupplierInvolvement #Procurement #Sourcing #B2BPurchasing #SupplyChain #TimeToMarket #MedicalDevices #ContractManufacturing #DesignForManufacturability #SupplierPartnership #CoLocation #RiskSharing #Innovation #ProductDevelopment #CostReduction #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo