A supplier is an individual or organization that provides goods, services, or raw materials to another business or entity, typically as part of a business- to-business (B2B) relationship. Suppliers can be manufacturers who produce the products themselves or distributors who purchase goods from manufacturers to supply to other businesses. They play a critical role in the supply chain by supplying the necessary inputs for production or operations, such as raw materials, components, or services
. Suppliers may include:
- Producers of raw materials and semi-finished products
- Manufacturers of parts or assemblies
- Trading companies that sell products without manufacturing them themselves
The relationship between a business and its suppliers is essential for ensuring quality, reliability, and timely delivery of goods or services, which directly impacts the production process and the final product quality
. In summary, a supplier is a key business partner that supplies the materials or services needed by another business to operate or manufacture products
