Abstract
In consequence of the high impact of material costs on the total cost of a product, the importance of starting purchasing activities in an early stage of product development has become more and more important in recent years. This involvement or integration of purchasing from the beginning to the end of the product development process is also called Advanced Purchasing. In order-related companies, such as automotive suppliers, the acquisition of new orders becomes harder from day to day. This paper will describe the approach of advancing the collaboration between Sales Department and Purchasing Department, launching it already in the quotation and acquisition state. By illustrating a practical case, it will demonstrate how unprecedented synergies emerge thanks to this new proceeding.