We’ve been talking about “the factory of the future” for so long that it’s beginning to seem like an ever-receding horizon. But at least one electronics-manufacturing executive believes the future is already here.

The supplier-buyer relationship is dynamic and in a constant state of change. We have seen first-hand how successful suppliers position themselves to capitalize on the partnership.

Procurement departments worldwide are facing the imperative to transform from a trusted operator into a strategic contributor within businesses.

On the surface, the nation’s biggest manufacturers would appear to be doing a great job improving the performance of working capital. But the achievement becomes less impressive when you learn how they’ve managed to do it.