# Why Building Supplier Relationships Is So Important

- Show: [Global Medical Device Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast)
- Published: 2023-04-12
- Length: 35m
- Episode: 314
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important
- Listen: https://podcast.greenlight.guru/episode/why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important

## Summary

Maxime Rochon, Director of Quality Assurance and Clinical Affairs at Puzzle Medical, and Taylor Brown, Manager of Onboarding and Implementation at Greenlight Guru, discuss the critical importance of human relationships in supplier management for medical device companies. They argue that building social capital and personal bonds with suppliers leads to faster innovation, better responsiveness, and mutual success, contrasting this with purely transactional approaches. The conversation highlights best practices for early-stage companies, such as defining specific requirements, sharing successes, and leveraging industry conferences to build networks, while noting that even low-volume startups can find supportive partners by demonstrating commitment and clear goals.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important#t=0) Introduction: Host Etti Nichols, Maxime Rochon, and Taylor Brown
- [5:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important#t=307) The Human Side of Supplier Management: Taylor Brown and Maxime Rochon's Relationship
- [8:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important#t=491) Pros and Cons of Knowing Suppliers: Professionalism vs. Personal Connection
- [11:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important#t=682) Establishing Early Connections: Understanding Goals and Being Accountable
- [15:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important#t=908) Best Practices for Selecting and Vetting Suppliers: Requirements and Audits
- [18:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important#t=1081) Evaluating Suppliers Virtually: Feedback, Warning Letters, and Risk Assessment
- [20:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important#t=1238) The Final Mile: Distribution, Urgency, and Patient Impact
- [23:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important#t=1390) Integrating Suppliers into Success: Sharing Wins and Internal Advocacy
- [25:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important#t=1547) Building Social Capital at Conferences: True Quality and Networking

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Puzzle Medical (company)
- Greenlight Guru (company)
- EQMS (product)
- True Quality (other)
- The Checklist Manifesto (other)
- Atul Gawande (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [179 - Sustainable Sourcing with Devin Nutter from Tag](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-01-18-179-sustainable-sourcing-with-devin-nutter-from-tag) (People of Packaging)
- [Julie Schulte | Parts & Hardware Tools for R&D Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-28-julie-schulte-parts-hardware-tools-for-r-d-engineers) (Being an Engineer)
- [Scaling Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-19-scaling-manufacturing) (Oxide and Friends)
- [How to Evaluate Suppliers and Manufacturers with Mike Morena and Shawn Litingtun](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-04-10-how-to-evaluate-suppliers-and-manufacturers-with-mike-morena-and-shawn-litingtun) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [BONUS - Cogiscan CEO Vincent Dubois on Collaboration at APEX 2023 - EMSNOW & SCOOP On Location](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-01-31-bonus-cogiscan-ceo-vincent-dubois-on-collaboration-at-apex-2023-emsnow-scoop-on) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-04-12-why-building-supplier-relationships-is-so-important. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Global Medical Device Podcast.