Early Supplier Involvement (ESI)
The practice of engaging key suppliers during the design phase of product development — before designs are finalized — to incorporate their manufacturing process knowledge, material expertise, and cost input.
Why it matters
ESI reduces costly late-stage design changes by surfacing manufacturability and cost problems during the design phase when they are least expensive to fix, and improves supplier commitment to aggressive cost and quality targets on new programs.
External References
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Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “Early Supplier Involvement (ESI).” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/early-supplier-involvement-esi