The steps to use are down below:

Step 1: Identification of potential suppliers: sources of information for initial selection and assessment - There are a variety of sources available to identify suppliers. Many of these can also be used in carrying out subsequent research on "short-listed" suppliers. Important sources of information include the following:

• Internet search engines. The internet provides purchasing and supply managers with a powerful and rapid technique and continuously updated information, not only to identify potential suppliers but also to provide important details about them.
• Chambers of commerce or business. These can provide invaluable information about possible sources of supply - local, regional and national.
• Embassies and consular general officers. These can be useful for obtaining information about international suppliers as they are usually keen to help purchasing and supply professionals find sources of supply in the countries they represent.
• National associations. There are several national associations and institutes representing various industrial sectors in the economy.
• Step 2: Pre-screening to reject unsuitable suppliers The actual process of supplier selection can be long and drawn out, and therefore a costly exercise, especially if it involves visits to potential suppliers. Thus, it is important to perform an initial screening operation to eliminate any suppliers that may be unsuitable. There are many grounds for the elimination of suppliers at this early stage.

Step 3: Conduct research on potentially suitable suppliers

There are several avenues available to purchasing and supply managers to obtain the information required to conduct research on potentially suitable suppliers in relation to the selection crite ria. Clearly, the depth of the investigation and the criteria used can vary widely depending on the product or service being purchased. Infor-mationsources for supplier research include the following:

• Supplier visits. Although time consuming and usually costly, a supplier visit can elicit information that cannot be obtained from a questionnaire, for example worker atti-tudes, safety consciousness, state and age of equipment, and the overall efficiency of the operation. If a cross-functional team visits a potential supplier, it presents an excellent opportunity not only to obtain first-hand information but also to perform an extensive audit of that supplier. Such an audit can be performed by using a weighted point supplier performance evaluation.
• Supplier Surveys and questionnaires.

Together with our suppliers, we strive to operate in a way that respects worker rights, maintains safe working conditions, and protects the environment and the welfare of animals. HERE'S HOW WE'RE SOURCING RESPONSIBLY: - Woolworths is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), a global enterprise which aims to create long-term change by helping farmers grow cotton in a way that reduces stress on the local environment and improves the livelihoods of farming communities. Woolworths is committed to sourcing 100% of our cotton as 'more sustainable cotton' by 2020. 'More sustainable' means Better Cotton and Organic Cotton. - All our suppliers, service providers and franchisees are bound by our Woolworths Code of Business Principles. This means that the quality of their workmanship must be the highest, their workforce must be treated fairly, their premises must be safe and that any negative impact their operations may have on the environment is minimised. Woolworths is also a member of SEDEX, a unique non-profit innovative web-based platform, helping companies to manage ethical supply chain risks. We're also working with NGO and partner, Canopy, to shift the fabric supply chain towards practices that protect the world's remaining ancient and endangered forests and endangered species habitat. As part of our packaging strategy, we have committed to sourcing packaging material from well-managed and/or controlled sources. These materials are easily identifiable by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC T ) logo that simply means piece of packaging (the sleeve, box, carton, tray, bag, etc.) is made with paper or board from well-managed forests and other responsible sources. FSC TM chain of custody certification means that the material is tracked through the production process - from the forest to the consumer and has been independently certified. Several years ago, we set about transforming the cocoa used in our chocolate by sourcing UTZ certified cocoa. UTZ provides assurance that the cocoa has been grown and harvested responsibly. The programme ensures that farmers learn to improve the quality and yield of their cocoa while reducing their impact on the environment and enabling them to take better care of their families. Woolworths was the first South African company to become a member of the global Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and has been working with suppliers and local refineries to create the demand and develop the market for sustainable palm oil since 2011. We are actively working with suppliers to develop time-bound plans to switch to sustainable palm oil, and already have several major suppliers using 'mass balance' certified sustainable palm oil. In 2018, Woolworths launched South Africa's first locally made product ranges bearing the RSPO certification logo, including the WBeauty "Longmarket" soap range and all Woolworths ready-made, frozen and hot counter pies. Q.3.1 Explain the first three steps of the supplier selection process and relate each step to Woolworths