Survive & Thrive Ep 2 - Understanding Cost Structures and Index-Based Negotiation

In this episode of the Survive and Thrive series on the Quality Hub podcast, host Xavier Francis is joined by Scott Dawson of Core Business Solutions and Jeanne Perron of IMEC to explore how small manufacturers can regain control of their cost structures and supplier strategies. Jeanne introduces the concept of the “silent slide,” where suppliers fail to pass on cost savings, and emphasizes the importance of using commodity price indices to negotiate fair pricing and avoid overpaying. The conversation covers practical steps for identifying key suppliers, preparing data-driven negotiations, planning for tariff volatility, and leveraging resources like IMEC and the nationwide MEP network to build resilient, informed supplier relationships.   Helpful Resources: Contact Jeanne: 847-337-2224 or email jperron@imec.org How is ISO 9001 Implemented?:  https://www.thecoresolution.com/how-is-iso-9001-implemented For All Things ISO 9001:2015: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-9001-2015 Contact us at 866.354.0300 or email us at info@thecoresolution.com A Plethora of Articles: https://www.thecoresolution.com/free-learning-resources ISO 9001 Consulting: https://www.thecoresolution.com/iso-consulting

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The Quality Hub podcast is where we chat with ISO experts about “all things Quality.” Many businesses find themselves required to or find it valuable to implement a Quality Management System. Our goal is to share the knowledge we’ve gained by working with Quality Management Systems (QMS’s), ISO standards, and other business best practices with our podcast listeners. We want you to be encouraged by our education and experiences. We know that QMS and ISO standard concepts can be confusing, and we want to act as “translators” to simplify these principles, so you can apply them to YOUR business. Our organization has a vast amount of combined experience, having worked with 1000’s of customers over the past 23 years. We want to share these stories and lessons learned with YOU, our listeners! Tune in weekly as we share our experiences to help you get the most from your Quality Management System.