CIPS L4M8 : Procurement and Supply in Practice

Correct Answer:

See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Condition performance monitoring is a surveillance system that is designed to get the maximum production uptime and availability out of an asset. And this can be achieved by timely monitoring and measuring of temperature, vibration, output, speed, noise, emissions and quality. With this, decision has to be made as to what, if any, action needs to be taken. The five approaches to condition performance monitoring are as follows:
1. Do nothing: Use like a commodity. This will bring worries later.
2. Reactive: Fix it when it breaks. This will run to failure.
3. Preventive: Scheduled maintenance.
4. Predictive: Fix it before it breaks. Predict faults.
5. Proactive: Continuous improvement defect elimination.
The most cost-effective approach is 'Proactive', because is the only approach that has continuous improvement in the process, people and policies to minimize downtime. Being proactive takes defect out f the system and continuously harness opportunity that will optimize the system
* Refer to the question column for response

Correct Answer:

See the answer in explanation.below.
Explanation:
4.4 Explain FIVE Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations for TechSpark Global when developing its sourcing approach for the new mineral. (25 marks) When developing its sourcing approach for the new mineral, TechSpark Global (TSG) must consider ESG risks carefully because the supply base is mainly in countries where labour, environmental and safety issues are known to arise. This is especially important because TSG's brand is built on sustainable and ethical manufacturing and sourcing . OECD guidance for mineral supply chains says companies should use risk- based due diligence to identify, prevent and mitigate adverse impacts linked to mineral sourcing, while ISO
20400 says sustainability should be integrated into procurement decisions and processes.
1. Environmental damage from mining and processing
The first consideration is the environmental impact of extracting and processing the new mineral. The case already highlights possible environmental degradation, and this could include land damage, biodiversity loss, water pollution, waste generation and harmful emissions from mining and mineral processing. TSG should therefore assess whether suppliers have effective environmental controls, permits, remediation plans and monitoring systems in place. This matters because the final product may be marketed as eco-friendly, but that claim would be undermined if the raw material is sourced through environmentally harmful practices. OECD' s environmental due diligence guidance for mineral supply chains specifically addresses these kinds of environmental risks.
2. Labour rights and working conditions
The second consideration is labour standards across the supply chain. The case states that labour rights and conditions may be problematic in the source countries, so TSG should assess risks such as forced labour, child labour, excessive working hours, low wages, discrimination and unsafe working conditions. This is a major issue in mineral sourcing because OECD guidance identifies serious human rights abuses, including the worst forms of child labour and forced labour, as risks that companies should not tolerate or contribute to through their sourcing decisions. TSG should therefore require labour due diligence, supplier codes of conduct, audits and corrective action plans.
3. Health and safety in mines and processing plants
A third ESG consideration is worker health and safety. The case specifically mentions concerns about the safety regulations of mineral processing plants, which means TSG should assess whether mines and processors have adequate safety controls, training, equipment, emergency procedures and incident reporting.
This is important because poor health and safety standards can lead to injuries, fatalities, production disruption and severe reputational harm for TSG. In practice, if TSG ignores safety conditions at supplier sites, it could damage the company's ethical reputation even if the final product performs well. OECD responsible business conduct guidance covers human rights and labour-related harms in supply chains, including occupational risks that companies should address through due diligence.
4. Governance, transparency and anti-corruption
The fourth consideration is governance in the supply chain. In mineral sourcing, governance risks can include bribery, weak traceability, opaque intermediaries, financial crime and poor disclosure of source locations or business relationships. OECD's mineral guidance says companies should avoid contributing to conflict, serious human rights impacts and financial crime through their mineral sourcing practices. Therefore, TSG should build strong governance controls into its sourcing approach, such as supply chain traceability, supplier declarations, contract clauses, audits and escalation procedures. Good governance is essential because TSG operates across 80 markets, so any scandal involving corruption or opaque sourcing could quickly become a global brand issue.
5. Ongoing due diligence and supplier monitoring
The fifth consideration is that ESG should not be treated as a one-off supplier selection issue. TSG should develop an ongoing monitoring approach that includes risk assessment, supplier segmentation, performance reviews, grievance mechanisms and remediation where problems are found. OECD guidance for responsible business conduct says companies should carry out risk-based due diligence to assess and address actual and potential negative impacts in their operations, supply chains and business relationships. ISO 20400 also emphasises embedding sustainability throughout procurement rather than treating it as a separate issue. This is important for TSG because fast market growth could create pressure to source quickly, but that increases the risk of overlooking ESG failures unless monitoring is continuous.
Conclusion
In conclusion, TSG should consider five main ESG issues when sourcing the new mineral: environmental damage, labour rights, health and safety, governance and transparency, and ongoing due diligence and monitoring . These considerations are essential because the company's commercial opportunity depends not only on product performance, but also on maintaining its reputation for ethical and sustainable sourcing. A sourcing approach that ignores these ESG issues could expose TSG to reputational, legal and supply risks across multiple global markets.

Correct Answer:

See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
After a need in an organization has been identified/understood, defined, justified and authorized, the next stages are to understand how commodity prices are reacting, which suppliers are available and their strength.
The make or buy decision can be reached with knowledge from this; the procurement professional can consider the organization external environment, strength, weakness opportunity and threat to develop strategy
/plan of how to achieve the procurement.
'STEEPLE' is an effective way to evaluate the external environment. It helps buyers to assess factors that could affect the need in hand and helps them to develop the plan accordingly. 'STEEPLE' is an acronym which stands for, Social, Technology, Economic, Environment, Political, Legal, Ethical
'SWOT' helps the organization to analyze its strength and within the organization and the oppor-tunity and threats outside the organization.
'SWOT' is an acronym which stands for, strength, weakness, opportunity and threats.

Correct Answer:

See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
Organizations which display good behavior create a positive social impact. The com-munity in which they are based and to which they supply will benefit from the following.
1. High employment
2. Fair wages
3. low pollution
4. sustainable resources
5. Engagement and movement with local organization

Correct Answer:

See the answer in explanation.
Explanation:
When organization has made the decision about which option is best for sourcing the asset, it can then begin to work on the whole life asset management strategy.
Whole life asset management is the process of evaluating the total price and all associated costs of a product to make an informed decision as to which option will provide the organization with the best value for money.
This strategy is only under taken for large-value procurements because; 1) It takes considerable time (2) It involves many stakeholders and require numerous resources; If whole life asset management were conducted on every purchase it would not create value for the organization and that may tie up valuable resources.