While I'm on a roll here talking about building rapport with co-workers, let's complete the three-way match participants and talk about Receiving.
The most important point in this discussion is this: If Receiving says an item is not in the building, it's not there. In this case, perception is reality. The item can't be delivered to internal end users or shipped to customers if it can't be found. I know that may sound silly or trivial to say, but Buyers had better believe this is the truth and learn how to deal with this situation.
Indulge me on this point for a moment longer. Suppose you are waiting for a long overdue backordered shipment. The supplier swears it was sent overnight and has the UPS or FED EX records to prove it was delivered to and signed for at your facility. "I know it's down there!" you may scream to anyone who will listen. (I've always worked on a floor above the Receiving Department, hence "down there.") Unless your package can be located, you are out of luck. (In their defense, have you ever actually taken a tour of your company's Receiving area? With all the deliveries coming and going and the hundreds or thousands of boxes [many look alike], it resembles the subway station at rush hour.)
This is where your rapport comes into play with Receiving personnnel. If you have an adversarial relationship, no matter how many times you say it's there, Receiving is going to say it's not showing up on the Receiving logs and that's it. However, with a good relationship, Receiving personnel will offer to look again and ask questions which will help them find the missing package. If you have an excellent rapport and it's phycially possible depending on your location, you will be welcomed to go and help them search.
See the next post for more about working with Receiving.
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