The 90 day sourcing plan

Now we put together what you learned in a plan with dates and owners. A small plan carried out beats a huge one on paper.

Three phases

1. Weeks 1 to 3: the base. The sourcing brief, the target cost, the long list of suppliers, and sending the RFQs.
2. Weeks 4 to 8: vetting. Reading the offers, vetting the best three, samples and negotiation.
3. Weeks 9 to 13: commitment. The purchase order, the first payment, production start, and the inspection and shipping plan.

A weekly review

• What moved this week?
• Which supplier has not replied, and when will we follow up?
• What risks appeared?
• What is the most important step for next week?

The final checklist

• The sourcing brief is written and your target cost is calculated.
• You vetted at least three suppliers.
• You compared offers by landed cost.
• The purchase order is written and the payment schedule is protected.
• Your designs are protected.
• Inspection and shipping are arranged.

Exercise

Open the sample and production tracker, go to the 90 day plan sheet and set its dates from your start day. Put the date of your first RFQ message in your diary today.