A new model of the customer–supplier partnership in new product development

This paper proposes a new model of customer–supplier relationships with special interest in their new product development processes. The partnership model includes the following four types of distinctive index: satisfaction index, flexibility index, risk index, and confidence index. These indices measure the extent to which both the customer requirements and the supplier capabilities match or mismatch and therefore reflect the potential or risk of signing a project contract. The bidding party or parties with the most promising contract indices are considered further for awarding the contract.