Operations managers engage in the daily activities of material management: purchasing, inventory control, and work scheduling.
Purchasing and Supplier Selection
Purchasing is the process of acquiring materials and services to be used in the production process. It is also known as procurement. General business supplies such as pens, paper, etc. are not included in this category, only resources that are directly connected with the product.
Operations managers oversee choosing the best suppliers for the company. Following the supplier selection process, managers consider the next attributes:
- Materials price.
- Quality of materials.
- Reliability (are the products deliver on time?)
- Supplier Reputation.
- Supplier is easy to work with.