Streamlined Procurement

The Problem

Scattered supplier data often causes chaos. Teams forget past quotations, prices, and order history. Every purchase feels like starting from scratch, wasting time and missing opportunities for better pricing.

Real Experience

A manufacturing company I consulted for had procurement staff sending the same RFQ to suppliers multiple times per year because they couldn't find previous quotes. They had no visibility into price trends or supplier performance, resulting in inconsistent pricing and missed volume discount opportunities.

The Solution

Centralizing procurement ensures every inquiry and supplier record is searchable, linked to PDM for accurate item info, and supports faster order execution. Historical data becomes a strategic asset for negotiation and planning.

Key Recommendations

• Maintain comprehensive supplier profiles with performance metrics
• Link procurement records directly to PDM item master data
• Track all quotations, purchase orders, and delivery performance
• Implement approval workflows for purchase requisitions
• Analyze historical pricing data for better negotiations

Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring historical data and treating each purchase as isolated
• Failing to integrate supplier records with item master data
• Not tracking supplier performance and delivery reliability
• Allowing uncontrolled purchasing without proper approval workflows
• Missing opportunities for volume discounts due to lack of visibility