Customer contacting Subs
Customer contacting Subs
(OP)
I am program manager on on rather large ($23 million) program that is just getting off the ground. We are building first article right now, getting a little bit behind schedule. There are a number of reasons for that, some ours, some out of our control. My customer is overseeing many other subs on the program, every one has the same issues we do, so we aren't unique.
My problem is this, it has come to my attention that my customer has been contacting my subs asking status on this or that, talking about problems on drawings. I probably wouldn't worry about it as much if they talked to me first, but I just found out about it in casual conversation with my subs. What is everyone's thinking on here? I would think that would not be considered an acceptable thing to do, but want some opinions from the people on here who have much more experience with this. Thanks
My problem is this, it has come to my attention that my customer has been contacting my subs asking status on this or that, talking about problems on drawings. I probably wouldn't worry about it as much if they talked to me first, but I just found out about it in casual conversation with my subs. What is everyone's thinking on here? I would think that would not be considered an acceptable thing to do, but want some opinions from the people on here who have much more experience with this. Thanks





RE: Customer contacting Subs
RE: Customer contacting Subs
RE: Customer contacting Subs
His talking to subs suggests that he either does not trust you or you are not adequately communicating the status, so all of this may be a problem at your end.
TTFN
RE: Customer contacting Subs
in a nutshell, it says that you have a contract with your subs and they must honor the privelages and legalities of such contracts and should not allow anyone into the contract process or particulars.
now, read your contract with your customer, does it have a right of access clause in it, that you accepted?
i have found that when the "owner" (your customer) has this clause in their contract documents (that you have accepted) you need to set out ground rules for both sides.
however, it requires a special talent to carry off such an exercise. i know, because i have coordinated millions of $ in contracts with right of access to any level of subs.
anyway, you must have a good line of communications with the owner and work together in coming to a successful completion of the contract. do not let this ruin your project or the relationships between you, your customer and/or your subs. sometimes, "owners" just aren't familiar with the privity issue and once you clue them in to it things usually get better, if expalined the proper way.
hope this helps, i know what you are going thru.