Case Study: Securing a New and Mono-source Supplier in China for a Leading European Medical Device Group

Overview

Our client, a leading European medical device group, wants to secure a new and mono-source supplier in China who is newly introduced through a M&A action of the group’s competitor: supplier contigency
plan. KEPLER offers a customized approach to facilitate the communication and to build up trust between both parts, in order to conduct a two-ways risk assessment, then to deliver a risk mitigation plan.

Context

The group acquired a competitor (hearing aid device) in Europe, who has a mono-source ODM/OEM supplier in China
The supplier shows an ambiguous attitude to keep this partnership with our client, besides of an uncertainty of their future leadership, since the CEO (founder) is approaching to retirement
During risk identification workshop with the client, 9 aspects have been detected: relationship and interest, business continuity, cost competitiveness, capacity, supply chain & delivery, R&D, tier-N supplier management

Objectives

Category: Securing the Business Plan

Switching the supplier’s mind-set and working ways according to a more standardized QMS
Risk identification and evaluation, gap analysis and mitigation plan definition for both parts
Fair-play spirit to gain trust and agreement to mitigate risk from the supplier

This project successfully enhanced the trust and partnership and secured the business plan for the future between our client and its mono-source supplier. We customized our tools: FEMA, Risk mitigation plan, PMO etc, to adapt to this specific business environment which eventually showed a significant impact on reconnecting the partnership between our client and the supplier. Meanwhile, our mix-cultured project team ensured a smooth communication while facing the cultural difference, which was also a key success factor.

COMPLETE VERSION

Discover the methodology, tools and results supporting this business case

Operations Referent

Mingmin Zhou

General Manager - KEPLER China

Graduated from Ecole des Mines D’Albi-Carmaux (Master in Pharmaceutical Engineering), Mingmin started his first steps of professional career in pharmaceutical and medical device…

Mingmin Zhou

Mingmin Zhou

General Manager - KEPLER China

Graduated from Ecole des Mines D’Albi-Carmaux (Master in Pharmaceutical Engineering), Mingmin started his first steps of professional career in pharmaceutical and medical device industries, with experience from Pierre Fabre, BioMerieux and Famar Lyon. He joined KEPLER China in 2011 to pursue more challenge and insights from other industries, such as FMCG, Retail, Heavy industry and Automotive industry. He is specialised in Continuous improvement (Lean 6 Sigma black belt), process management, value chain mapping & analysis, risk management and contingency plan, and Project Management Office (a certified PMP). Mingmin became our China office general manager in July 2021 and now he is leading our local office to better serve our clients with a Chinese and European culture integrated perspective and a result-oriented & excellence-focus attitude.
Yannig Le Roux

Director

Engineer with a degree from Mines Paris – PSL and certified CSCP by APICS, Yannig Le Roux has over 18 years’ experience in the FMCG industry, where he occupied operational…

Yannig Le Roux

Yannig Le Roux

Director

Engineer with a degree from Mines Paris – PSL and certified CSCP by APICS, Yannig Le Roux has over 18 years’ experience in the FMCG industry, where he occupied operational positions in Production, Procurement and Product Development before moving into consulting and joining KEPLER in 2019. Yannig has a 360° vision of industrial challenges, and is involved in global diagnostics and transformation plans, as well as in missions more focused on his areas of expertise.