Using supplier selection sub-criteria: selected illustrative demographic analyses

This study examines, through selected illustrative demographic analyses and by focusing on the sub-criteria for quality, delivery, price and service, if there are differences in the levels of importance that companies attribute to supplier selection sub-criteria. It further explores if the relative importance of pertinent selection sub-criterion will be inadvertently missed or over-emphasised had the sub-criterion been excluded or is aggregated with other sub-criteria for different type and size of the vendor firm. Our analyses show that manufacturing companies consider only 'cost reduction plans' and almost all of the 'quality' sub-criteria significantly more important than the non-manufacturing firms. While 'lead time' is more important for non-manufacturing firms, there are no differences in the consideration on the 'service' sub-criteria. There are significant differences in six sub-criteria (3 in quality, 1 in cost, 1 in delivery, and 1 in service) between large and small firms. Managerial implications of the findings are outlined.