Evaluation of Potential Suppliers in the Selection Process on the Operations of Goldfields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mine

Abstract

The dynamics of the present day competitive environment places increasing pressures on organizations to reinvent themselves continuously (McAdam & McCormak 2001), to adopt the supply chain management philosophy (Tracy & Tan 2001), develop long-term strategic partnerships with a few competent and innovative suppliers and collaborate with them in non-core process outsourcing in order to maintain or improve overall organizational performance and generate sustainable competitive advantage.  One of the most important activities in any organization today pertains to procurement of materials and services that it requires in order to convert raw material into finished products that are useful for the customers. Sourcing has become strategic on two counts; operational and economic. Operationally there is a growing importance of sourcing due to several developments. An analysis of the cost structure of manufactured goods over the last 30 years reveals that increasingly organizations spend over 70% on raw materials and purchased components and services. This puts a special emphasis on procurement and sourcing. Further there is a significant change in the trading partner relationships. From an era of “independence” between the supplier and the buyer, we have transformed into an era of “mutual dependence” and even further into a “state of interdependence”. Finally, the increasing cost pressure that organizations face translate directly into reducing the input cost of materials and components even while increasing the quality and performance of these components. Clearly these operational considerations have pushed the importance of sourcing in organizations.

Keywords:  Potential Suppliers, Selection Process, Supply Chain Management

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