Supplier Selection Using Capability Maturity Model

Abstract

AbstractThe Systems Engineering Capability Maturity Model (SE‐CMM) is designed to help organizations improve their practice of systems engineering through self assessment. Although version 1.0 of the SE‐CMM is not intended to be used for supplier selection, the characteristics of a systems engineering organization that indicate mature processes in a self assessment are similarly desirable in assessment for purposes of supplier selection. The existing appraisal method, on the other hand, needs modification for application to supplier selection. The author was a member of a team that used the SE‐CMM with a modified appraisal method to assess the systems engineering capability of four companies for the purpose of supplier selection. As the assessment progressed, the appraisal method was tuned to account for differences between supplier selection and self assessment. In the end the appraisal team successfully accomplished their goal of advising the customer as to the relative and absolute systems engineering capabilities of each candidate supplier.