PROCUREMENT AND THE VALUE CHAIN
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Businesses are built around processes that are designed to add value through the creation of an end product / service that will meet the needs of customers.The international market offers exciting opportunities to the small business in terms of growth potential.

These processes require certain inputs, and they result in specific outputs. The inputs to this process include the raw materials, the knowledge and the technology that is required to start the process.

The output is a product / service that, if it meets the needs of the customers sufficiently and better than anyone else does, will create profits for the business owner and satisfaction for the customers.

The activities that a business conducts in order to create a competitive advantage in the market place are referred to as the Value Chain.

This consists of a series of value - generating activities your business undertakes in order to provide a value added end product to your customers.

A basic understanding of this value chain, i.e.:
INPUTS -> PROCESS -> OUTPUTS

procurement systems that support it, are an important component of the small business owner’s operational requirements.

If you consider your own business, or your plans to start your own business, then the stages in the value chain may be represented by the following simple flow diagram:



THE SUPPLY CHAIN
Definition:
A co-ordinated system of organizations, people, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service in a physical or virtual manner from supplier to customer.

The supply chain therefore consists of:

  • Manufacturers.

  • Service providers.

  • Distributors.

  • Sales channels e.g. retail outlets.

  • Consumers / end users.

  • Customers.

The supply chain activities transform raw materials into a finished product that is delivered to the customer.

Supply chain management involves meeting customer needs through the most efficient use of resources.

THE VALUE CHAIN
Definition:
The Value Chain is each organization's contribution to the supply chain.

The idea of the value chain is based on the process view of a business, made up of sub-systems each with inputs, processes and outputs. How Value Chain activities are carried out determines costs and affects profits.

Porter's Value Chain


Secondary activities are:

  1. Procurement

  2. Human Resource management

  3. Technological Development

  4. Infrastructure

METHODS OF OBTAINING BUSINESS
There are various methods of securing business for your company. You will need to decide which method/s best suit your product / service. The various methods are:

  1. Tendering

  2. Joint Venturing And Sub-contracting

  3. Cold Calling

  4. Sales Networking

  5. Direct Selling

PROCURING GOODS AND SERVICES
Procurement is defined as the acquisition of goods and services at the best possible cost, in the right quantity and at the right quality, at the right time, in the right place.

Procurement is the purchasing function of an organisation.In a small business, the owner would most likely oversee this entire process, but in the larger businesses an entire department takes care of this function.

When procuring supplies for your business, consider the following:

  • How much should you buy?

  • When should you buy?

  • How much will it cost?

  • How will the supplies be handled / stored / requisitioned?

  • What are the risks involved?

There are 2 main types of procurement, i.e.:

  1. Direct production - related procurement

  2. Indirect procurement

* Buy the SME Toolkit for more details about Procurement and Value Chain