Supplier Relations

We purchase a variety of materials and services from suppliers in our different geographies. Materials range from basic items, such as gloves and safety supplies, to specialized chemicals for water treatment. Services range from craft labour, such as pipe fitters and welders, to highly specialized services.

In 2004, we continued to develop strategic relationships with suppliers. Developing these relationships is a critical element of our major maintenance plan to reduce our long-term costs, increase the efficiency and reliability of our equipment, and ensure that TransAlta maintains technological leadership in all our assets.

For example, we entered into a new strategic contractor alliance in 2004 for outage work on our boilers. In selecting our contractor partner, cross-functional teams examined companies for a variety of performance indicators, including financial capability, risk exposure, pricing, safety performance and their alignment with TransAlta’s culture and values. Companies were required to complete detailed surveys on their safety management and performance.

We use our strategic relationships to identify collaborative opportunities that help to improve our operating and EH&S performance. In 2004, TransAlta and our boiler contractor partner developed a joint safety plan for plant turnarounds, focusing on near miss reporting to prevent safety incidents. Our strategic relationship with our transportation supplier also helped us to improve how we track and manage the movement of dangerous goods.