Improving supplier selection process in a Finnish nuclear new build project
Lintunen, Maiju (2021)
Lataukset:
Lintunen, Maiju
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021100318266
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021100318266
Tiivistelmä
In the case organization, current supplier selection and approval process has initially been developed to serve nuclear power plant’s design and construction phases. During those phases the plant supplier covers most of the technical and commercial risks. This thesis focuses on the upcoming nuclear power plant’s commissioning and operating phases, with target to improve the supplier approval process and methods used for selection of direct contract partners. For direct contracting, enhanced focus has to be put on the thorough risk assessment of supplier candidates.
In this research work I applied qualitative research methodologies and followed the case study approach. At first, I analysed the case organization’s current supplier approval process properly to formulate the starting point for development work. Then by literature review I obtained information about the best practices for selection of suppliers. By interviewing case organization’s experts, I gained in-depth knowledge about what was working well and what could be improved in the current process. These interviews turned out to be very valuable for the development work, as I received versatile insights from the experts working in several departments. Each of them having unique perspective and knowledge on the supplier selection and approval practices.
As an outcome of my research work, I provided new process model for the selection and approval of suppliers. This included creation of three new templates to support this new process. I developed Supplier questionnaire -template to standardize the information collection from supplier candidates. Also, the grading of suppliers was totally renewed because former way of grading was not supporting the supplier assessment from the beginning of the process. Moreover, the former grading method was considered to be confusing by users. As a third template, I generated new Supplier approval -template which compiles the supplier assessment information for easy decision making.
To validate the outcomes of this research, I organized a focus group. This focus group consisted of the interviewed experts and case organization’s thesis supervisor. Via open group discussion I was able to collect feedback from the experts, and finetune the proposed new process model and templates, before handover to the case organization for implementation.
In this research work I applied qualitative research methodologies and followed the case study approach. At first, I analysed the case organization’s current supplier approval process properly to formulate the starting point for development work. Then by literature review I obtained information about the best practices for selection of suppliers. By interviewing case organization’s experts, I gained in-depth knowledge about what was working well and what could be improved in the current process. These interviews turned out to be very valuable for the development work, as I received versatile insights from the experts working in several departments. Each of them having unique perspective and knowledge on the supplier selection and approval practices.
As an outcome of my research work, I provided new process model for the selection and approval of suppliers. This included creation of three new templates to support this new process. I developed Supplier questionnaire -template to standardize the information collection from supplier candidates. Also, the grading of suppliers was totally renewed because former way of grading was not supporting the supplier assessment from the beginning of the process. Moreover, the former grading method was considered to be confusing by users. As a third template, I generated new Supplier approval -template which compiles the supplier assessment information for easy decision making.
To validate the outcomes of this research, I organized a focus group. This focus group consisted of the interviewed experts and case organization’s thesis supervisor. Via open group discussion I was able to collect feedback from the experts, and finetune the proposed new process model and templates, before handover to the case organization for implementation.