The key elements of supplier measurement are quality

1. The key elements of supplier measurement are quality, delivery, and price.  On the surface this appears to be a simple matter, but what are the complicating factors?

2.  David Atkinson, the founder and Managing Director of Four Pillars, a management consulting and training company, states that “supplier relationship management is . . . process-focused.  It’s a lot more about how the organization systematically plans, than it is about an ’interpersonal’ skill set of the procurement person or relationship manager.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? 

3.  Supplier performance measurement is an essential lever for successful supplier management that encompasses both pre- and post-contract management.  From this vantage point, how would you distinguish the focuses of supplier performance measurement undertaken pre-contract stage versus post-contract stage?