Research Guides: Supply Chain Management: Find Suppliers (2024)

FAQs

How to find out what supplier a company uses? ›

Use SEC Filings

Search a company's SEC filings in Edgar Online or LexisNexis. In addition, search the company website. Companies also report information about customers, suppliers and market partners in press releases, conference calls and investor presentations that are found on the company website.

Supply chain management includes all activities that turn raw materials into finished goods and put them into customers' hands. This can include sourcing, design, production, warehousing, shipping, and distribution. The goal of SCM is to improve efficiency, quality, productivity, and customer satisfaction.

“…a supplier is a party in the supply chain that makes goods and services available to companies or consumers.” Suppliers are also called vendors and the two words can be used interchangeably. Vendors can be both sellers of finished products and a manufacturer of goods.

To do this, you can use supplier databases and directories. Some popular options include ThomasNet, Global Sources, and Alibaba. These databases allow you to search for suppliers by product type, location, and other criteria. You can also check trade publications for your industry.

Since 1991, Weber & Al. have identified three main criteria: price, delivery and quality.

One great skill you need to break into supply chain management is the ability and willingness to create strong and mutually beneficial relationships between suppliers, vendors, customers and management. Being able to identify interdisciplinary efficiencies will likely help you grow relationships throughout your career.

SAP stands for Systems, Applications and Products in data processing.

What are the 5 basic steps of supply chain management? ›

The five most critical phases of SCM are planning, sourcing, production, distribution, and returns.

A key supplier is a supplier who plays a critical role in a company's supply chain by providing essential products or services that are difficult to find elsewhere.

Supplier selection is the process of choosing which prospective vendor or supplier should an organization get into business with. One of the primary goals of supplier selection is to establish a mutually-beneficial business-to-business relationship with a reliable supplier that provides the most value for money.

Supply chain information on an industry or a company will often comprise one very tiny chart or section of a book (e.g. search 'supply chain and food industry'). If the section you wish to read isn't available on Google Books, check the library catalogue.

Consider conducting supplier audits to assess their capabilities, QC processes, and adherence to their industry standards. Look for suppliers with relevant certs & accreditations that demonstrate their commitment to quality and compliance.

You should also check the reputation, credentials, and reviews of the suppliers you find. You can use criteria such as experience, expertise, capacity, reliability, innovation, and customer service to evaluate them. The way to determine the most qualified suppliers for my project is to research the market.

The first thing you can do is ask your supplier to provide you with any documents that contain proof that their business is registered and recognized as legitimate. This may include an emailed copy of a certificate of incorporation, a tax number, or a business ID number.