Suppliers as Strategic Partners

The complex company structure with 119 production subsidiaries in 25 countries requires the implementation of a company-wide solution for uniform and consistent supplier management at ZF Friedrichshafen.

Supplier classification at ZF takes place at the organization and material group levels according to defined criteria. This classification divides suppliers into five categories. Both hard and soft facts are used in supplier rating. Supplier development is carried out in two different programs: ZF pre-emptively develops suppliers that are not yet integrated into serial production as well as active suppliers, in order to improve their performance.

This way, ZF purchasing builds up an international network of high performing suppliers and identifies partners for strategic and long-term cooperation.