When it comes to sourcing industrial and MRO supplies (maintenance, repair, and operations), most procurement teams focus on the basics: price, quality, and delivery timelines. But behind the scenes, cost overruns, inefficiencies, and risks can quietly erode margins.
Whether you're managing sourcing for a manufacturing plant, utility, or facility operations, industrial and MRO procurement requires more than RFQs and catalogs. It demands visibility, control, and strategy.
Here are the 5 critical factors most teams overlook when sourcing industrial and MRO supplies, and what you can do to address them.
Many MRO purchasing teams default to comparing unit prices. But the real cost of a product includes more than what is printed on the quote.
Common misses:
MRO supply categories often suffer from unmonitored low-dollar purchases across locations and departments. This tail spend creates complexity and hidden waste.
Common misses:
Many organizations use far more suppliers than they need. This leads to excess administrative burden and fragmented volume discounts.
Common misses:
MRO supplies may seem low risk, but failure to meet compliance standards can result in fines, injuries, or lost certifications.
Common misses:
Even the best sourcing strategy will fail if it doesn't align with the needs and behaviors of internal stakeholders.
Common misses:
MRO and industrial supply sourcing is often seen as tactical. But it can become a strategic advantage when teams address the underlying inefficiencies most others miss. From TCO and supplier consolidation to compliance and stakeholder alignment, the payoff is measurable in both cost savings and operational uptime.
CenterPoint Group helps procurement leaders take control of MRO and industrial sourcing by providing access to pre-negotiated contracts, deep category expertise, and supplier networks that drive results. Our clients gain visibility, scale, and leverage in a category that is too often ignored.
If your MRO procurement strategies aren't delivering the results you need, CenterPoint Group is here to help you improve performance, reduce costs, and streamline operations. Get in touch to learn how.