Forging closer supplier-customer relationships

Strong relationships drive supply chain resiliency

Strong commercial relationships between customers and suppliers drive long-lasting mutual benefits, and recent supply chain disruptions prove resilient relationships have never been more critical. As supply chains become more complex, with more frequent disruptions, partnerships with strong end-to-end communication help customers and suppliers better navigate market turbulence. Our experts will help you understand what stakeholders want from you and what you can do to improve commercial relationships. We can conduct surveys from all points of view of the supply chain, including voice-of-the-customer or voice-of-the-supplier studies, and then help turn that feedback into actionable steps. Read on to learn more or contact our experts.

We know that using honest feedback from surveys to facilitate improvement reduces friction and unintended costs along the supply chain. That’s why, in addition to other industry studies, Plante Moran offers the widely quoted industry benchmark, the Working Relations Index® (WRI®) Study, which allows suppliers to provide confidential feedback to the Big Six North American OEMs. For more information on the WRI or to participate, reach out to our team.


Automotive factory workers assembling vehicles at OEM production facility.
June 15, 2023

Auto supplier and OEM relationships: Insights from the 2023 WRI® Study

This year, OEMs and suppliers fought to keep plants and service bays running amid inflation and supply chain disruption, while investing heavily in electrification. Learn what else we found and how you can use it to help OEM-supplier relationships thrive.
Article / 4 min read Read More


Are you ready for the future of mobility? It's time to rethink your business model and adopt new strategies to compete in tomorrow's electrified automotive market.

Get actionable feedback from suppliers and customers

Do you understand how your supply chain partners view you? How can your business grow and improve with the benefit of smoother supplier and customer relationships with better communication? In addition to our WRI® Study, our experts can provide several services to help you understand what stakeholders want from you and what you can do to improve commercial relationships.


What’s now, what’s next: Exclusive data and insights