1. Procurement and Suply Chain Management
In operational procurement, much of the focus is on the efficient processing of orders and daily communication with suppliers. Here, speed and precision are paramount:
Order management: Capturing requirements from the departments, creating and placing orders with suppliers.
Delivery date monitoring: Ensuring that orders are delivered on time and tracking any delivery delays.
Supplier communication: Daily interaction with suppliers to clarify operational questions such as delivery quantities, deadlines, or adjustments.
2. Inventory and stock management
A central aspect of operational procurement is optimizing inventory levels to ensure smooth operations while minimizing costs :
Demand planning: Continuous coordination with production and other departments to anticipate needs and trigger corresponding orders.
Warehouse management: Optimizing inventory levels by avoiding overstocking and shortages to achieve efficiency and cost savings
Just-in-time procurement: Implementing methods that ensure materials arrive exactly when needed to minimize inventory costs.
3. Cost control and invoice verification.
In operational procurement, cost control plays a crucial role in efficiently utilizing the procurement budget and identifying potential savings:
Price monitoring: Tracking price fluctuations on recurring orders to identify short-term savings.
Discounts and payment terms: Utilizing payment deadlines and discount offers to secure financial benefits.
Invoice verification: Checking incoming invoices for consistency with orders and resolving any discrepancies.
4. Quality control and complaint management
Operational procurement is also responsible for ensuring quality and handling complaints.
Goods receipt inspection: Checking incoming deliveries for quantity, quality, and compliance with order data.
Complaint handling: Processing complaints regarding defective or incomplete deliveries in collaboration with the supplier.
Continuous improvement: Collecting feedback from production and other departments to continuously enhance procurement quality and optimize processes.