ONTARIOBUYS: Frequently Asked Questions
- What is OntarioBuys?
- What is Supply Chain Management?
- What does OntarioBuys mean by leading practices in Supply Chain Management?
- What are the benefits?
- Have any Ontario organizations implemented Supply Chain leading practices already?
- Will BPS Supply Chain Secretariat implement the Supply Chain leading practice work?
- What organizations can participate in the OntarioBuys initiative?
- How do I apply for funding?
- How do I contact the BPS Supply Chain Secretariat/OntarioBuys initiative or get more information?
What is OntarioBuys?
OntarioBuys is a government initiative, managed by the BPS Supply Chain Secretariat. The initiative was launched in the 2004 Ontario Budget to facilitate and accelerate the widespread adoption of Supply Chain leading practices in Ontario's broader public sector.
The Ontario government is making taxpayer dollars go further by helping hospitals, school boards and other public institutions do business better to reduce costs and generate savings that could go back into vital public services and be directed to public policy priorities.
The OntarioBuys initiative is being sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Finance, in cooperation with the line ministries for the target sectors.
What is Supply Chain Management?
Supply chain management refers to the processes that manage the flow of goods and services, information and dollars between suppliers, their customers, and end-users.
The adoption of supply chain leading practices in the broader public sector can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of hospitals, school boards, colleges and universities.
What does OntarioBuys mean by leading practices in Supply Chain Management?
Supply Chain leading practices have numerous characteristics, including being comprehensive, tightly integrated, electronically networked, governed by common standards and, above all, end-user focused. See the iSCM Leading Practices for case studies and specific examples.
What are the benefits?
Implementing leading practices will result in lower supply chain costs, reduced cycle times, improved inventory turns, system integration and communication. The BPS Supply Chain Secretariat’s goals are to:
- Increase program delivery effectiveness
- Increase frontline time for core service delivery
- Increase staff and client satisfaction
Ultimately, improving back-office processes means that more taxpayer dollars can be spent on vital public services that can make a difference to Ontarians.
For example, this would provide more time for doctors and nurses to treat illness, or for teachers and faculty to focus on their students needs, rather than on administrative procurement.
Have any Ontario organizations implemented Supply Chain leading practices already?
Ontario has some impressive success stories in the health and education sector, as well as within the government. These include Health Materials Management Services (Health Materials Management Services) in London, Ontario, Plexxus in Toronto and the Toronto-area school boards purchasing cooperative prior to amalgamation.
More can be done. The BPS Supply Chain Secretariat is focused on more than discount buying and cooperation among a few organizations. It is geared to integrate supply chain processes across the broader public sector. This is how real gains in efficiency, effectiveness and client responsiveness can be realized.
Will BPS Supply Chain Secretariat implement the Supply Chain leading practice work?
BPS Supply Chain Secretariat will not itself implement integrated supply chain management on behalf of broader public sector organizations. It supports and enables organizations by expanding collaboration across organizations, making strategic investments to improve procurement and supply systems, and helping determine and share leading practices.
What organizations can participate in the OntarioBuys initiative?
The initial target sectors for the OntarioBuys initiative are hospitals, school boards, colleges and universities. The relevant supervising ministries and sector associations in these areas have expressed their support for the ideas of OntarioBuys.
OntarioBuys is beginning with these sectors in order to develop key learnings specific to the Ontario context. Over time, this invaluable information can be extended to other sectors to help them benefit from implementing integrated supply chain management best practices as well.
How do I apply for the funding?
It is important that the projects are aligned with the specific Ontario Government priorities in the sectors and have the support of the organization and the line ministries that the organization works with.
The 2006-07 funding application guidelines can be found in the Archives section.
For information on funding for subsequent years, please contact us at: Ontario.Buys@ontario.ca
How do I contact the BPS Supply Chain Secretariat/OntarioBuys initiative or get more information?
By Email: Ontario.Buys@ontario.ca
By Phone: 416-327-2882
By Mail: BPS Supply Chain Secretariat, 777 Bay St., 8th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 2C8
