Monday, May 14, 2012
DETROIT — Honda and Toyota plummeted in a survey on relations with suppliers, while gains by Chrysler and General Motors helped close the gap between top and bottom performers.
While no company changed places on an annual list with the six largest automakers by U.S. sales, the gap from Chrysler at No. 6 in supplier relations to Toyota at No. 1 was 19 percent, the narrowest in 12 years of research by Planning Perpectives Inc. In 2005, Toyota's score was more than triple that of GM, then No. 6. All six companies now are in the "low adequate range," the researcher said Monday.
Collaboration with suppliers can help automakers lower costs, improve quality and spur innovation. When sales drop, as in the recession and last year's tsunami and earthquake in Japan, automakers have leaned on suppliers to cut costs, said John Henke, Planning Perspectives ...