Toyota considers the Internet marketplace only a means to efficiency and not an end in itself, Jagawa said. Because the procurement process involves not only the price but also the quality, lead time, and delivery of components, Jagawa said Toyota doesn't want to put competitive components on an open market, such as GM TradeXchange; it would go against Toyota's philosophy of treating suppliers as partners. "We help suppliers cut costs through a guarantee of a long-term contract; putting those parts on the open market pits us against suppliers in an adversary relationship"
Jagawa stressed that Toyota is in discussions with GM" with an open mind." Although it may mean Toyota would trade only raw materials and commonly used parts on either the GM or Ford system, Toyota is interested in making its buying more efficient, he said.
STANDARDIZING AUTO PARTS
some of Toyota's talks with GM also involve standardizing components. That would allow the two companies and GM's other partici