A survey of buyers for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) revealed that their first criterion used for choosing a prime supplier is the quality of the supplier's product, followed closely by timeliness of delivery. The next two considerations are price and overall costs. OEM buyers are reevaluating their relationships with suppliers based on major changes within corporations, such as a growing awareness among company leaders of the role that purchasing plays in a company's overall performance.

If you ask the average ORM buyer what's the most important piece of information he or she needs to know before choosing a prime supplier, the answer is nearly always the same. First comes quality and hardly a heartbeat behind is on-time delivery. Price and total cost register third and fourth.