Proveïdor

Proveïdor is a term used in Catalan to denote a supplier or vendor—an entity that provides goods or services to a buyer within a commercial or institutional supply chain. It corresponds to the English "supplier" and the Spanish "proveedor." In Catalan spelling, the diaeresis over the i (ï) marks a hiatus and helps preserve the intended two-syllable pronunciation.

A proveïdor may supply raw materials, components, finished products, or professional services. Relationships can be direct (from manufacturer to buyer) or mediated through distributors. Depending on the level of importance and complexity, suppliers are categorized as strategic, preferred, or commodity suppliers. Collaborations typically involve contracts, price and delivery terms, quality specifications, and service level agreements. Risk management includes supplier diversification, audits, and contingency planning.

Procurement processes with proveïdors include supplier selection, issuing requests for proposals (RFPs) or quotes (RFQs), contracting, and ongoing performance monitoring. Common performance metrics include on-time delivery, quality defect rate, lead time, cost competitiveness, and supplier scorecards. Ethical, legal, and sustainability considerations are increasingly integrated into supplier management.

In public procurement and business contexts in Catalan-speaking regions, proveïdors are expected to comply with regulatory and contractual standards, disclose compliance information, and participate in audits. The term is primarily used in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands but appears in multilingual business literature and global supply chains where Catalan terminology is encountered.