Supply chain costs and their impact are all too often shuffled to the bottom of the ‘to do’ list for many companies. However, those companies that have performed an honest analysis of their operation and made a commitment to practical and integrated solutions with their trading partners have created significant returns to nearly every link in the chain. A candid review of company performance will unveil the overlooked contributing costs and open doors to competitive advantages that only the courageous are likely to achieve. In the case of one successful high tech company, Thales Avionics, the journey has just begun but with such positive results up and down the supply chain within the first six months, there is no question of a strong return on investment