The process of selecting suppliers is a strategic process involving multiple departments within an organization. It directly impacts the performance of time, safety, quality, and cost indicators, and if properly performed can give a competitive edge to companies delivering Engineering Procure Construct (EPC) projects. This paper presents the results of a research project sponsored by the Construction Industry Institute (CII) on the topic of supplier quality surveillance (SQS) and suppliers' ability to provide products that conform to specifications. The paper specifically addresses the need to better understand the process of supplier selection and evaluation in the EPC industry using data gathered from multiple sources: literature, purchase orders (POs), procedures provided by CII member organizations, and face-to-face discussions with subject matter experts (SMEs). Supplier selection process maps were developed to illustrate how the process in the EPC industry unfolds and compares to what is found in the industry at large. Additionally, the study revealed that quality and delivery time are the most important characteristics of prior performance of suppliers, considered by EPC purchasers, followed by experience and cost. In general, items grouped under Procurement and Quality are the categories of prior performance that contain characteristics used most often to select suppliers.
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