Plante & Moran Global Services Expands Supplier Development Program

Manufacturers Employ “Squeaky Wheel” Approach

Southfield, Mich. — April 2, 2007 — Midwest-based Plante & Moran Global Services has expanded its supplier development program in China to meet a broad and growing menu of client needs, according to Jeff Moyer, Plante & Moran Global Services Vice President.

“In the last 24 months, we have tripled our supplier development assignments, for the primary reason that owners and managers of China-based operations are increasingly realizing they need a third party looking out for their interests,” explains Moyer. “Manufacturers are often familiar with running an operation one or two states away from their home base, but China is a world away and clients want someone to be their eyes and ears to protect their investment and ensure quality parts and processes.” Continues Moyer, a mechanical engineer with several years of experience in international sales and consulting, “The one constant in manufacturing is that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. We act as that squeaky wheel to independently assess, monitor and, when necessary, redirect the sequence of events required to successfully launch a quality product on our client's behalf."

Moyer notes that clients range from multi-million dollar middle market businesses to FORTUNE 500 companies.

“We have created an oversight model that works, regardless of our client's size,” says Moyer, adding that much of the work is completed by Plante & Moran Global Services staff in the firm’s Shanghai office.

Plante & Moran Global Services’ projects under the supplier development umbrella have expanded to include supplier identification and capability assessment, launch support, program management, production audit and inspection, production supervision, and setting up capital assets effectively and efficiently. While the emphasis is on China now, Moyer notes that supplier development programs will follow client needs.

“We are not geographically focused, we are client focused,” affirms Moyer. “That being said, we are getting requests from clients who want similar operations oversight models set up in Mexico, which we will launch later this year. Services in India will likely follow shortly thereafter.”