INTRODUCTION

In the past the traditional view of the procurement and supply process is that, so longas the product, pieces parts and raw materials are available, there is no problem, and if they are notavailable, when needed they should be obtained as quickly as possible at whatever cost.
Recentle, the impact of pressures both from within the company and from the external operating environment,are forcing managements to review their materials management operation in a bid to improve the quality, reduce costs and obtain delivery assurances. The result is that managements are moving towards a materials management concept.