"Leading-edge companies around the world are rapidly moving toward what some business trend spotters have called "virtual corporations." These companies have fluid, moving organizational boundaries, allowing them to create a collective enterprise advantage. One of the most critical aspects of this trend is the radical shift away from the traditional, adversarial relationships between suppliers and their customers." "Breakthrough Partnering reveals how leading companies such as Honda America, Apple Computer, Solectron, Becton Dickinson, Nypro, and Boeing are creating a new, collective advantage. Through first-person stories, powerful examples, and penetrating insights, Moody shows how these, and dozens of other companies, are blazing the way in supplier partnering. Through these innovative partnerships, companies have created an entirely new level of organization. This new "enterprise level" of business enables companies to leverage their combined resources, innovative talent, and market position to achieve remarkable results." "Moody describes the entire process of developing new, long-term relationships with suppliers based on the Seven Drivers of Breakthrough Partnering. This proven blueprint starts with an initial visioning process, the first step in partnering. Beyond developing a strategic view, the Seven Drivers enable companies to: benchmark the best companies; develop the appropriate partnering systems; create and sustain communication "touchpoints" with each partner; develop people "systems" that support partnering; nurture essential partnering values; and continually energize partnerships through committed enterprise leadership." "Breakthrough Partnering shows companies and their suppliers how to raise their relationship to a new level, based on mutual trust and committed to creating a powerful, collective enterprise advantage."--BOOK JACKET.