Fundamentals of Purchasing
- 2h 32m
- George L. Harris
- AMACOM
- 2000
Purchasing has a direct and powerful effect on your organization's bottom line. Your role in this strategic function is a complex one. You have to orchestrate a dynamic chain of events from bid solicitation to final delivery—often as a member of a multifunctional team—and satisfy the needs of your internal customers without breaking the bank. This course is designed for new purchasing professionals. It will ground you in the basics as they are practiced in a contemporary business environment. With a strong emphasis on real-world practices and corporate teamwork, it leads you through the six fundamentals of purchasing: how to gather the necessary information, set a purchase strategy, develop and send your RFQ (request for quotation or proposal), evaluate and choose suppliers, negotiate terms and conditions, and implement the agreement. At each step, you'll find work assignments, sample documents, and exercises that are directly relevant to your job. Those involved with global procurement will appreciate the special guidance on the logistics of international purchasing.
Learn how to:
- Perform all basic purchasing functions
- Establish an effective purchasing system
- Identify the best suppliers
- Reduce costs for your company
- Work with other staff members on purchasing activities
- Identify how purchasing impacts company profitability
About the Author
George L. Harris, C.P.M. is President of Harris Consulting, a training and consulting services company specializing in procurement, contracting, quality, and manufacturing, located in Lexington, Massachusetts. Harris specializes in the areas of procurement, materials management, and quality management. He previously held positions at Prime Computer and Digital Equipment Corporation as director of materials. Over the past twelve years, he has trained over 5,000 individuals in purchasing topics. Publishing credits include various articles in NAPM Insights, NCMA Journal, Grants Magazine, Electronics Buyers News, and a book titled Negotiations: Six Steps to Success, published in 1995.
Harris holds a B.S. from Georgetown University and a M.B.A. in Government Procurement and Materials Management from George Washington University.
In this Book
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Importance of Purchasing Today
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Purchasing Policies and Procedures
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The Purchasing Process
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Gather Information and Survey Market
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Develop a Purchase Strategy
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Develop and Send the Request for Bids or Proposals
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Evaluate the Bids/Proposals and Select the Best Suppliers
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Negotiate the Terms of the Deal
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Implement the Deal
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Pulling It All Together to Be an Effective Purchaser
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Recommended Reading List
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Post-Test
