When IKEA sources suppliers to manufacture IKEA products, the aim is to
find those who can produce products of good function and design at the
lowest possible price (although not at any price). Some of these, in the
Swedish forests around the birthplace of IKEA, have been working with IKEA
since its earliest days. Others have their production plants in China, Poland or
Germany. But no matter where in the world its suppliers are, IKEA is always
committed to long-term cooperation and does its best to cultivate close and
cordial relations. IKEA buys production capacity rather than product
quantities. In other words, they order 10,000 hours of production from their
suppliers rather than 10,000 bookcases.