Relationship with Suppliers During the start-up period of the program, a very aggressive timeline and target cost drove emotions to a frenzied pace. Early supplier involvement in prototype and testing activity was cultivated to encourage active participation in the development of this new product line by all that had equity in its future. Suppliers were pushed to the limit on material and tooling lead-times, exhausting goodwill and testing commitments. Everyone involved, including suppliers, invested personal time and effort toward meeting the market timelines. Purchase agreements were negotiated, and parts now were being received to support production ramped-up toward market introduction.