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Right material: right material is the one chosen as a result of value analysis, standardization,
variety reduction etc.
Right price: right price is determined by costing the production process of the supplier. Right
price is determined by allowing reasonable profit for the supplier and insisting and helping to
reduce cost. Tender system should be used to identify lowest responsible bidder rather than
lowest bidder. Principles normally used to ensure right price are cost structure and learning curve
Right quantity: right quantity of purchase is the one that ensures no excess and no shortage.
High priority items are subjected to EOQ analysis to determine the right quantity for purchase.
This ensure overall minimum cost for inventory.
Right quality: in an item purchased should ensure adhering to mutually accepted standard by
supplier and customer at the time of finalizing the purchase order. The accepted standard may be
a drawing, a sample, a grade or a universal standard like DIN, IS, BS etc.
Right place: is the one where the item is going to enter the value stream. If the item is not
available here, when needed, it is in short supply for the process.
Right source: right source meets the QCD expectations of the customer
Right time: is as decided by production schedule for meeting customer’s requirements.
Right terms of contracts: terms in a contract are legally enforceable. In case of dispute between
supplier and customer, courts will go by the terms decide who is wrong. Hence right terms are
those which protect the interests of the company. At the same time right terms ensure that neither
parties do anything illegal.
Purchase Systems
In an organization all activities are carried out according to systems and procedures for reducing
variations and errors arising out of individuality. This makes performing the function simple and
less prone to errors. Purchase organization also consists of such systems established for smooth
running of purchasing function. These systems are pre purchase system, ordering system, post
purchase system.
1. Pre purchase System
This system lays down how purchase activity is initiated. Various activities controlled by this
system are requisitioning, selection of suppliers and obtaining & evaluating quotations.
Requisitions: Requisition for an item may be made by anyone in the organization. Pre purchase
system prescribes separate requisition form for capital equipment as this purchase activity is
controlled by a separate system. Requisition for an item shall be made in a standard format. This
format ensures that indenting person furnishes all relevant information like quantity,
specifications etc. and gets the purchase authorized by competent authority in the organization.
Thereby making purchase activity easier and less time consuming. This system shall identify the
hierarchical level competent to authorize the purchase depending on the nature and value of the
item
Traveling requisitions: in an inventory system where an item is made a stock item to be
perpetually maintained at a minimum level, purchase activity is triggered by stores function based
on ROL. The requisition is a permanent document with specification, authorization and quantity
required permanently marked on it. The traveling requisition returns to indenting department after
purchase is initiated
Inquiries: pre purchasing system prescribes standard formats for making inquiries in the market
for supply of a particular product. These are standard forms boldly declaring that they are not
explicit or implicit purchase orders
NEGOTIATIONS?
2. Ordering system
Purchase order is the most important element in ordering system. Purchase manager releases the
purchase order after selecting the supplier and finalizing the price and other conditions of sale.
Once the purchase order is raised and accepted it becomes a legal document. Contents of the
purchase order are
purchase order reference number
description of materials and specifications
quantity required and delivery schedule
price and discounts
shipping instructions
location where the material is to be shipped
signature of the authorized officer
detailed terms and conditions
several number of copies made to be forwarded to various recipients. Many companies colour
code the copies making the colour destination specific.
Original and a copy is sent to the supplier for acknowledgment of the original order. This
acknowledgment is acceptance of terms and conditions of purchase order.
One copy is sent to the receiving department for making necessary receiving arrangement
One copy is sent to the indenting department for information
One copy is sent to finance department for organizing payment to the supplier
3. Post purchase system
This system includes follow up procedures, receipt and checking invoices.
[a] Follow up procedures: follow up is an expensive activity for an organization. Hence this
should be minimized and made more effective. A sound procedure for follow up is required to
eliminate duplication and ineffectiveness. After conducting FSN analysis follow up frequency
should be fixed for follow up according to FSN status so that follow up doesn’t become wasteful.
Follow up responsibility is assigned to buyers responsible for areas in which suppliers are
situated.
[b] Receipt: receipt system should ensure that defects in receipt process are eliminated
proactively. A systematic record of all receipts, carrier details and descriptions is maintained.
This record is in chronological sequence of arrival of supplies. The system ensures that inspection
of consignments received is arranged in time and payment to suppliers for accepted consignments
is organized. In many organizations a receipt section handles this activity centrally
[c] Invoice checking
supplier sends his invoice to customer’s finance department for payment for the goods supplied.
Invoice checking system ensures that the invoice is checked against the PO terms, reciept details,
quantity received, inspection reports [accepted quantity and rejected quantity], losses, damages
etc. this system helps materials management to coordinate with finance department for payment
to suppliers.
Special purchasing systems
Forward buying: when an organization enters into a contract with another company for buying
an item for a period as long as a year or more it is called forward buying. Forward buying is a
commitment for a long period. This commitment is made after studying availability of the item,
financial position, EOQ for that item, discounts, staggered deliveries etc. there is no speculation
in this buying.
Tender buying: tender buying is practiced in public sector companies and in private companies
for purchases above specified limits. There are two types of tendering systems in practice. One is
called open tendering system that is adopted by public sector companies. In this case bids are
invited by advertisements in papers. On the day of opening the tenders the lowest bidder is
chosen for awarding the contract of purchase. This method is time consuming and expensive.
Private companies make a list of well known and serious bidders known in the market and invite
tenders from these bidders. When the tenders are opened lowest bidder is identified. Care is taken
to ensure that the lowest bidder is also a responsible bidder and capable of meeting QCD
expectation
Blanket orders: order covers a long period like a year. Price is fixed. Delivery is as and when
customer desires. Supplier to hold inventory. Benefits are no of orders are less, inventory is
passed on to the supplier
Zero stock: Supplier holds the stock for the buyer. Supplier and customer are close to each other
and the inputs flow in a pipe line or on a conveyer. Obsolescence is minimized. Suppliers
production schedule is as per customers. Dedicated supplier and customer
Rate contract: after finalizing the rates through negotiations for a definite period, customer shall
buy required quantity from the specified supplier. Railways and other government organizations
practice this method. Price shall not be negotiated once again. Rate contracts normally do not
specify lead time. Hence suppliers demand higher rates for early delivery.
Reciprocity
Organizations resort to reciprocal buying when they find it difficult to do business in highly
competitive environment. Reciprocal buying is buying form one’s own customers. If this is done
in conditions of competition, there should not be anything wrong about this. But, in this situation
one tries to take care of the other as each one keeps changing the role of customer & supplier.
This leads to over all deterioration of product quality and downfall of the pair.
Systems contract
Purchase order is used as a single document during the course of completing entire transaction.
Same document is used as delivery challan at the time of delivery. The document is updated at
every stage of the process. Reduction in number of documents and documents preparation is
major saving in administration expenses. This results in cost reduction to the value chain.
Importance of source
Source is the place from where we procure our inputs. These inputs may be in the form of raw
materials, out sourced components or semi finished items. Manufacturing companies out source
large number of items as they slim down processes.
As outsourcing is gaining importance in business, importance of source is becoming high.
Following reasons are considered to be making source an important element in materials
management.
1. Source of market intelligence: source is a window through which the buyer organization
looks at the world outside. Source provides access to the real time information about the
phenomenon. Information about current trends and industrial climate is obtained from the
sources.[market conditions, industrial climate, what is new?]
2. Crucial for product quality: buyer organizations depend on out sourced components for
producing the product which central to the objectives business. Reliance on capabilities of
supplier to meet tough quality standards is very high in current business environment.
3. Member in the value chain: supply source is an important element in the value chain. Any
cost added to the value chain reaches the end user as price. Hence effectiveness and
efficiency of the source becomes vital to business.
4. Import substitution, cost reduction, value improvement: as indigenization of sub
assemblies, components and spare parts is necessary to reduce the cost of product in
competition, buyer organizations turn to supply sources to develop these items. Several trials
and corrections may be required to finalize the substitute. In house capacity is generally not
available for this kind of trials. A resourceful supplier is very useful in this process. Same
logic holds good in other exercises for cost reduction and value improvement. It is quite
logical that entire process is not outsourced but isolated developmental activities are
invariably done. It is common knowledge that many small scale companies do not have full
fledged tool rooms but rely on sources for all tool room activities.