To provide an auction system for determining a supplier of intermediate products which satisfy specific quality of the products for a manufacturer who manufactures use products to be products using the intermediate products.

Intermediate products, such as a signal processing circuit substrate, are standardized so that they can be used in many use products. The specifications are disclosed to manufacturers of the intermediate products and, by competitive bidding, an order is placed for a manufacturer who supplies intermediate products which have higher quality and are less inexpensive.