Chemical use in the metal finishing industry can cost a company hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, and cause headaches from the purchasing, management, and disposal of these chemicals. Though metal finishers have made great progress in reducing these burdens, substantial opportunities remain. Chemical and equipment suppliers have unique knowledge which could help metal finishers reduce chemical burdens, but significant barriers to cooperation exist in traditional supplier relationships. In other industries, a few manufacturers have used a variety of highly innovative relationships with their suppliers to reap the benefits of supplier expertise and cooperation. As a business strategy, these relationships have given the manufacturers and suppliers who use them a competitive edge in their industries.
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