Final answer:
To set up qualified/preferred suppliers, set preferences, create supplier profiles, and establish qualification criteria which ensures a robust supplier selection process aligned with company needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The steps to setting up qualified/preferred suppliers involve a series of actions to ensure that the suppliers meet the company's standards and expectations. The correct sequence is to first set preferences, which involves defining what's important in a supplier relationship, such as cost, quality, reliability, or ethical practices. Then, create supplier profiles that detail the information and metrics you will use to assess each supplier. Finally, establish criteria for qualification which is used to evaluate potential suppliers to ensure they meet the company's requirements. This comprehensive approach ensures a robust supplier selection process that is capable of identifying suppliers that are most aligned with the company's needs.