Final answer:
While creating a list of potential suppliers is a critical step in the purchasing cycle, it typically follows the identification of the need and specification of requirements, not as the very first step.
Step-by-step explanation:
Creating a list of potential suppliers is indeed an integral step in the purchasing cycle, but it is not necessarily the first step. The purchasing process typically starts with identifying the need for a product or service, followed by specifying the requirements.
Once the requirements are clear, the next step would be to create a list of potential suppliers who can provide the product or service. This ensures that the business can assess and compare the offerings and prices to determine what is best for them.
Suppliers are chosen based on a variety of factors including cost, quality, and capacity to meet demand. In the context of a manufacturing system, finding the right suppliers for components such as motors and solar cells, or facilities for manufacturing the frame, is critical to implement the design and eventually produce the final product.