Analysis of the organizational purchasing process

A case study of a mining company in the municipality of Itabira/MG

Abstract

The purchasing process plays a strategic role within companies, especially in the mining sector, which depends on continuous operations and large scale equipment to maintain productivity and competitiveness. This study analyzed the purchasing process of a mining company located in Itabira/MG, identifying its main challenges, performance indicators, and contributions to organizational results. The research, conducted through a case study with document analysis and participant observation, considered the year 2024 as its scope. The results revealed significant weaknesses, such as lead times reaching 18 days, 11.08% of emergency purchases, 2.81% of specification errors, and 2.07% of supplier failures. These issues directly affect operational efficiency, increase costs, compromise planning, and heighten the risk of production interruptions. On the other hand, the study also highlighted the strategic role of the purchasing department, which generated 9.91% annual savings through negotiations and strengthened supplier relationships. It is concluded that improving the purchasing process is essential to reduce costs, ensure operational continuity, and enhance organizational performance in the mining sector, reinforcing the importance of cross-departmental integration, specification control, and continuous supplier monitoring.