Canadian Packaging Machinery Market Research Report - PMMI

4. Future Packaging Machinery Plans (next 3 years):
Saputo is constantly upgrading its packaging machinery. It is presently intensively
examining case packaging and vacuum packaging.
5. Key Factors in Purchase Decisions:
Factor Ranking
(1 = Most
Important)
Quality/Reliability/Durability 1
Operating Reliability/Accuracy 1
Service & Technical Support – In General 2
Price 3
Speed of Delivery/Delivery Wait Period 4
Brand/Supplier Reputation 5
6. Attitudes Toward Suppliers:
Saputo has no real preference in regard to country of origin of the packaging
machinery it purchases. The specific decision is based on circumstances.
a. Perception of Machinery by Country:
Country Overall Quality Up-to-date
Technology
Service
Britain Good/Excellent Excellent Average Average
Canada Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Germany Excellent Excellent Excellent Average/Poor
Italy Excellent Excellent Excellent Average/Poor
Japan Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Switzerland Excellent Excellent Excellent Average/Poor
United States Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
b. Perception of Pricing by Country:
Country Price
Britain Good Pricing
Canada Somewhat Expensive
Germany Very Expensive
Italy Average
Japan Average
Switzerland Average
United States Average
7. Purchasing Policies and Financial Arrangements:
Saputo makes its packaging machinery purchase decisions on a team basis with
input provided by individual project managers. This is built into the annual capital
planning process.
The Company employs a tendering process if there are options available and
attempts to obtain a payment discount. It uses a 10% performance holdback based.
SMG/Columbia Consulting Group Page 109