How to define critical supply beyond spend and volume
Most procurement frameworks classify supply by spend tier or ABC analysis. Chapter 18 introduces a different logic — built on operational consequence and supply vulnerability, not transaction volume. The categories that can stop your operations are not always the ones with the highest price tag.
The six yes/no questions that classify any category
Three questions test operational impact. Three test supply vulnerability. Together they place every category into one of four classifications: Critical Supply, High Exposure, Moderate Exposure, or Low Exposure. The free Critical Supply Identifier applies this exact logic automatically.
Why the categories that surprise you are the ones that matter most
Every organisation has categories it has never formally assessed because they seem unremarkable on paper. These are frequently the ones that create the most disruption when they fail. The chapter explains why familiarity breeds underestimation — and what to do about it.