One continuously sees references to Partnering, collaborative working, integrated supply teams etc. Are they different things, or one and the same?
They are fundamentally the same. To all intents and purposes they all describe a group of suppliers working in a collaborative manner with the objective of achieving performance improvements from project to project. Any problems that arise during a project are dealt with co-operatively, on the basis that the client and the contractor have the shared objective of achieving superior project performance over a number of projects.
As a result, all parties deliver lower costs and improved quality without squeezing each other's profit margins. Steady profits then provide the basis for investment in improved products and processes, and a virtuous circle of continuous improvement is established.
Source
Ðǿմ«Ã½ Sustainable Design