I was working with a Contractor who has the following process...

1. Requisition
2. Sourcing
3. Determine quote award
4. An approval is now required (REGARDLESS OF $ AMOUNT OR IMPORTANCE) by the

1. Project Manager (who has about 100 more important things to do)
2. Cost Manager (who already would be getting this cost information through accounting software)
3. Requisition Originator (what, he's not going to approve the purchase of something HE HAS ASKED FOR?!)

5. After 3 copies of the PO's are distributed and then signed off they are returned to the Purchasing department then the supplier is notified and the PO is sent to actually place the order.

This is a perfect example of a Contractor just doing things because they think they should. There is zero value added to the time and expense associated with 3 people approving a $30 order for dill bits or drinking cups. This particular Contractor is also a very large company with offices throughout the world. I don't know if this process goes on at all their projects or if it is just the way the person in charge wants on this particular project.

Now, I'm all for an approval process that is staggered by expense or strategic importance. Some type of sign off on a $1,000 order is fine. A more complex approval could also be put in place for a $25,000 order. My point is don't put self imposed barriers in place that take away resources. There are also a number of better ways to get approval than by just handing off copies of PO's. You can post to a internal server for digital signing or email the PO's and quotes as a package that can be forwarded back as an approval... you don't have to unnecessarilly print so much!