Procurement
An efficient management of the value chain is important for the Fresenius Group’s profitability. Global procurement management plays a crucial role here, assuring the availability of goods and services as well as the consistent quality of the materials used in production. In an environment characterized by ongoing cost-containment pressure from health insurers as well as price pressure, security of supply, and quality play a crucial role. For this reason we are constantly optimizing our procurement processes, tapping new procurement sources, and striving to achieve the best possible pricing agreements while remaining flexible and maintaining our strict quality and safety standards.
Global procurement processes are coordinated centrally within the Fresenius Group, enabling us to bundle similar requirements and negotiate global framework agreements. Current market and price developments are also analyzed on an ongoing basis. In addition, these central coordinating offices organize purchases for the production sites and arrange comprehensive quality and safety checks of purchased materials and goods.
In 2012, the cost of raw materials and supplies and of purchased components and services was €5,838 million (2011: €5,171 million), as the table shows:
€ in millions | 2012 | 2011 |
---|---|---|
Cost of raw materials and supplies | 5,097 | 4,508 |
Cost of purchased components and services | 741 | 663 |
Total | 5,838 | 5,171 |
The cost of raw materials and supplies of €5,097 million were 13% above the previous year’s level (2011: €4,508 million). The increase was mainly due to higher production volume. Purchased components and services accounted for 13% of the Group’s total cost of materials, which remained at the previous year’s level.
Fresenius Biotech
Fresenius Medical Care