The concept of supplier selection is inextricably linked to the purchase of goods (raw materials, supplies, or products) over which the manufacturer exercises full production control. The essence of a market economy is the fact that a product with the same characteristics (parameters, properties) can be offered by many competing companies. The primary criterion for selecting suppliers should be the pursuit of minimizing all costs associated with purchasing goods and maintaining inventory, as well as ensuring an uninterrupted production process while maintaining an optimal level of quality for the offered products. A solidly conducted evaluation and selection of suppliers is of great importance. Choosing the right supplier is one of the most important and difficult decisions to make when managing an enterprise. For this reason, one must always keep their eyes open in search of new, reliable suppliers and constantly ask oneself whether there are suppliers who can offer new and better products. In the article, the author presents the process of supplier evaluation and selection implemented and used at Browar Namysłów Sp. z o.o.
Theoretical aspects of supplier evaluation
The requirements of modern market rules have radically influenced the relationships between suppliers and manufacturers. Currently, employees involved in supplying the enterprise with necessary goods must not only analyze the relationships formed with suppliers but also evaluate them and decide whether there are other entities in the supply market that could provide more favorable terms for the delivery of required materials. S. Krawczyk believes that the selection of a supplier should be preceded by an in-depth evaluation, taking into account the following criteria: (Table 1). However, the same author emphasizes that the presented list of criteria can be supplemented or modified depending on the organization’s own preferences.
When selecting suppliers of materials, raw materials, or services, various principles and criteria are applied. Logically speaking, the best supplier is one that meets all (or most) of the customer’s requirements – ideally in accordance with the 6R rules. However, due to the fact that enterprises operate in a free market, there may be many companies that meet specific conditions. For this reason, there is still no single, unambiguous method for identifying the best supplier. The issue of supplier selection is very complex. This is evidenced, among other things, by the rapidly developing economic discipline known as purchasing (i.e., the general theory of purchasing).
The article comes from the journal “Logistyka” 3/2008.