Choosing the right supplier involves much more than scanning a series of price lists. The choice will depend on a wide range of factors such as value for money, quality, reliability and services.

A key criterion in selecting the right supplier is value. Cost should not be the only factor. The total cost of ownership should also be considered, which looks at the supplier’s:

• Customer service

• Delivery commitments

• Reliability and responsiveness

• Resource savings (hard and soft)