Supplier management is the discipline of governing supplier relationships to deliver commercial, operational, and risk objectives. It overlaps with vendor management and often refers to the same practice, particularly in manufacturing and industrial contexts.
The supplier lifecycle view
Identification, qualification, onboarding, contracting, performance monitoring, relationship development, and eventual exit or renewal. Each stage has distinct data and workflow requirements.
Strategic versus transactional suppliers
Mature supplier management differentiates handling by criticality and spend. Strategic suppliers get executive engagement and joint planning; transactional suppliers get automated procurement and standardized terms. Structured contract data supports both.
