Overview

Built for Off-Road and On-Road Performance

Powersports OEMs run some of the fastest-moving, most competitive supply chains in manufacturing — fabrications, plastics, driveline, castings, machining, wheels, tires, electrical, batteries, and logistics, sourced globally across hundreds of suppliers. Tenet brings the spend analytics, category strategy, and execution discipline to turn that complexity into realized, sustainable savings — and supply resilience that holds up under pressure.

Focus: Global Spend Analytics & Strategic Sourcing
Results Snapshot — Polaris Inc.

A multi-wave sourcing transformation across $3B of addressable spend

Tenet ran a spend diagnostic across multiple MRP systems, then executed multi-wave strategic sourcing across direct materials and logistics — with dedicated cross-functional teams collaborating across all 19 plant locations.

$165M
Annualized Savings
~12.4% across two waves
40%+
Supply Base Reduction
Supplier rationalization
50%
Better On-Time Delivery
Through peak disruption

Source: Tenet Consulting client engagement — Polaris Inc.

Two Waves. $3B of Addressable Spend.

Polaris Inc. — the $8B global powersports leader, designing and manufacturing off-road and on-road vehicles across 19 locations worldwide — engaged Tenet after a spend diagnostic identified $3B of addressable spend across multiple MRP systems. Tenet executed strategic sourcing in multiple waves spanning direct materials and logistics, with dedicated cross-functional teams from Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Aftermarket, and Finance.

Fabrications & Castings

Fabricated metal and cast structural components — core to every chassis and frame.

Machining

Precision-machined components requiring deep supplier capability and quality control.

Plastics

Molded plastic components and body panels balancing cost, quality, and finish.

Driveline & Powertrain

Driveline, powertrain, and related assemblies that define vehicle performance.

Wheels, Tires & Rubber

Wheels, tires, and rubber components engineered for terrain and durability.

Electrical & Batteries

Electrical components and batteries where part-family clarity unlocks leverage.

Logistics & Transportation

Inbound and outbound freight and logistics — sourced alongside direct materials for end-to-end value.

The Challenge: Margin Compression in a Competitive Market

Despite clear market leadership, intense competition was compressing margins — and legacy procurement practices were quietly adding cost. Three patterns, in particular, were working against the organization.

"New Part Tax"

Cost crept in with every model year

Model-year changes triggered "New Part Tax" charges that inflated cost with each platform refresh.

Rebate-Driven Pricing

Upfront price was obscured

Procurement strategies emphasized annual rebates over transparent upfront pricing, masking true cost.

Fragmented Supply Base

The "three-quote system"

A reflexive three-quote process scattered volume across suppliers and eroded negotiating leverage.

Margin Compression

Competition outpaced sourcing

Intense market competition squeezed margins faster than legacy sourcing cycles could respond.

The fix: a spend diagnostic and transparent should-cost modeling — eliminating the "New Part Tax" and consolidating volume to suppliers worth competing for.

The Approach: Tenet's Proven 7-Step Process

Working alongside dedicated cross-functional teams — Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Aftermarket, and Finance — across every plant location, Tenet guided the organization through its 7-step sourcing process, reinforced with both classroom and hands-on training throughout execution.

Process
Seven Steps. One Outcome: Realized Value.
Each step is structured to eliminate guesswork, elevate supplier competition, and deliver measurable value that hits the P&L. Click any step to explore.
Research
RFP Dev
Conference
Analysis
Site Visits
Negotiate
Selection
Step 1 of 7
Supplier Research
Deep market research to build a qualified supplier database across geographies, capabilities, and cost structures — for fabrications, plastics, driveline, machining, wheels, electrical, and logistics.
We map the full supply landscape so you negotiate from a position of knowledge, not habit.
Step 2 of 7
RFP Development
Tailored RFI/RFQ packages designed for transparent cost modeling and apples-to-apples comparison across every part family.
Structured to surface true total cost of ownership — not just unit price.
Step 3 of 7
Supplier Conference
Executive briefings that position your company as a customer worth competing for — raising supplier engagement and effort, even where capacity was assumed to be closed.
Setting the stage for suppliers to bring their best proposal, not their standard one.
Step 4 of 7
RFP Analysis
Structured scoring and savings analysis across all proposals — normalized for true comparability.
Quantitative rigor replaces gut feel. Every dollar delta is documented.
Step 5 of 7
Supplier Site Visits
On-the-ground validation of capability, quality systems, and cultural fit before any award decision.
Because a great proposal still needs proof. We verify what the data promises.
Step 6 of 7
Negotiations
Data-backed best-and-final offers on price, terms, SLAs, and risk allocation — plus non-price benefits like on-time delivery and transparent pricing models.
We negotiate with facts, not pressure. Suppliers respect it. Results prove it.
Step 7 of 7
Supplier Selection
Award decisions, contract execution, and transition planning — compiled into an Approved Supplier List with full documentation for audit and governance.
The finish line isn't a signature. It's a realized result on the P&L.
1 / 7
Realization: Tenet stays engaged through execution — building the data system, transferring capability, and tracking value until savings are realized and your team owns the new way of working.

The Results: Two Waves, $165M Realized

After executing multiple waves across direct materials and logistics, Tenet and the client team delivered measurable, durable value — including supply resilience that proved itself when the global supply chain came under maximum strain:

$3B
Addressable spend analyzed
$165M
Annualized savings realized
40%+
Supplier rationalization
140+
Professionals trained

"The proof of the process became clear under real pressure. The suppliers we identified performed 50% better on delivery and 40% better on quality versus prior suppliers—despite severe global supply challenges."

Polaris — VP of Strategic Sourcing, Polaris Inc.
Read the Full Case Study

About Tenet Consulting

Tenet Consulting is a Chicago-based strategic sourcing and supply chain consultancy. Over the last three decades, our team has delivered more than $1 billion in documented client savings across 20+ manufacturing industries, driving measurable value at an ROI of 6–15×. We use a proprietary 7-step sourcing process to turn complex direct-material spend into realized, sustainable results. Contact us to start a conversation.