Are you having trouble managing the "big picture" of Purchasing effectively within your organization?
Do you need help setting goals and objectives to improve the bottom line?
Are you making the most of sourcing strategies to enhance supplier quality and productivity?
How do supply management organizational concepts, training and educational factors, and job descriptions affect the purchasing function overall?
What are you doing to improve vital communications among vendors, suppliers, contractors and staff?
Where are your supply management initiatives taking you in terms of electronic commerce and internet-based procurement?
Purchasing as a vital element of the company, must be able to function at top efficiency at all times. To do so, there must be flexibility and proper organization. Each purchasing manager must be able to review the purchasing function objectively and determine whether its current structure and system of operation fills the needs of the company as well as the needs of purchasing. In such an analysis, such matters as purchasing policies, job descriptions, operational procedures, and departmental structure must be considered with care.
A preoccupation with "us versus them" purchasing that pits buyer against supplier; or "place and chase" purchasing, which places then expedities orders; or "three quotes and a cloud of dust" purchasing, which places emphasis on the lowest price rather than the lowest overall cost for the best value - all are indicative of 20th century vintage purchasing. The new breed of purchasing professional has added new dimensions to the responsibilities of physical supply management that will continue to bring their organizations into the 21st century.
Strategic Purchasing and Supply Management will address these critical management concerns and will provide practical techniques and vital information to enhance the purchasing function's contribution to your organization's bottom line.
