Warm-up questions
How do you select new suppliers?
I evaluate potential suppliers based on quality, reliability, pricing, production capacity, lead times, and previous experience in the furniture industry.
A formal document requesting goods from a supplier
Purchase order
Manufacturing defect
A flaw or problem resulting from the production process
The supplier wants to increase prices by 12%
How would you start the conversation?
Thank you for meeting with us today. We appreciate our long-standing partnership and would like to discuss the proposed price increase.
We would like to ________ an order for 5,000 units.
place
What challenges do you face when working with international suppliers?
Language barriers, time zone differences, customs regulations, transportation delays, and fluctuating material costs can all be challenging.
The network involved in producing and delivering products
Supply chain
Quality inspection
The process of checking products for defects and compliance with specifications
Your company wants to keep the increase below 5%.
What arguments would you use?
We understand that your costs have increased, but our order volumes have also grown significantly. We believe this should help offset some of the additional costs.
Could you please provide an updated ________ schedule?
delivery
What materials are commonly used in premium furniture production?
Solid wood, veneer, MDF, plywood, metal hardware, glass, natural stone, and high-quality upholstery materials are commonly used.
A quantity of goods transported from one place to another.
Shipment
Procurement
The process of purchasing goods and services needed by a company
A shipment of premium oak table legs from Turkey is delayed at customs. The delay may stop production in 10 days.
What short-term solutions could be implemented?
I would provide regular updates to production, planning, purchasing, and management teams.
The shipment is currently being held at ________.
customs
How has global logistics changed in recent years?
Global logistics has become more unpredictable due to supply chain disruptions, rising transportation costs, and geopolitical factors.
The process of checking whether products meet required standards
Quality control
Logistics
The management of transportation, warehousing, and distribution
Several batches of furniture hardware arrived with defects.
We've noticed an increase in quality issues in the last two shipments and would like to discuss the root causes.
We are looking for ways to optimize our ________ chain.
supply
What makes a supplier a good long-term partner?
Consistency, reliability, transparency, responsiveness, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
The process of obtaining permission for goods to enter a country
Custom clearance
Sourcing
The process of finding and selecting suppliers
You are evaluating a potential supplier from Vietnam.
Negotiate favorable payment terms.
Would you be open to 30% upfront and 70% after shipment instead of full prepayment?
The agreed lead ________ is six weeks.
time