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Fundamentals of Purchasing

 Fundamentals of Purchasing

Author:Dr. George L. Harris
Credit: 2.0 CEUs
Testing Format: multiple choice
Your Price: $159.00
ISBN: 9780761214007
Format: Book

Overview

Purchasing has a direct and powerful effect on the organization’s bottom line.

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, Fundamentals of Purchasing leads you through the six core functions 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.

Course Objective: Understand the purchasing process and the strategic role of the purchasing professional as it impacts the organization.

Selected Learning Objectives

• Perform all basic purchasing functions

• Establish an effective purchasing system

• Identify the best suppliers

• Implement key purchasing strategies to reduce costs for your company

• Negotiate terms and conditions of purchasing agreements

• Identify how purchasing impacts company profitability

Testing Format

This course contains one multiple choice test valued at two Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Table of Contents

About This Course

How to Take This Course

Pre-Test

1. Importance of Purchasing Today 1

Purchasing Costs Identified on the Balance Sheet

Cross-Functional Participation

Personnel in Purchasing Add Value to Their Organizations

1. Leveraging Purchases

Exercise: Leveraging

2. Managing the Total Cost of the Supply Chain

3. Conducting Value Analysis

Exercise: Value Analysis

4. Reducing Administrative Processes

5. Selecting the Best Suppliers

6. Certifying Suppliers

Exercise: Supplier Certification

7. Taking Corrective Action

8. Receiving Input and Assistance from Suppliers

The Role of Purchasing

Organization and Job Descriptions

Exercise: Staffing

Recap

Review Questions

2. Purchasing Policies and Procedures 19

Implementing Corporate Strategy

Problems

Documentation

Typical Policies and Procedures

Developing Procedures

Developing Policies

Tie to Business Strategy

Recap

Review Questions

3. The Purchasing Process 33

The Generic Stages of Purchasing

The Standardized Purchasing Process

Step 1. Gather Information and Survey Market

Step 2. Develop a Purchase Strategy

Step 3. Develop and Send the Request for Quotation or Proposal

Step 4. Evaluate and Select Suppliers

Step 5. Negotiate the Terms and Conditions of Purchase

Step 6. Implement the Agreement

Involving Other Functions

Steps Often Overlooked

Negative Consequences

Recap

Review Questions

4. Gather Information and Survey Market 47

Information Needed

Company Data

Market Data

Market Research

Recap

Review Questions

5. Develop a Purchase Strategy 61

Five Key Elements of the Purchase Strategy

#1—What Product/Service Are You Purchasing?

Guidelines for Writing Statements of Work or Specifications

#2—When Do You Require the Product/Service?

#3—What Quantity Should Be Purchased?

Economic Order Quantities

Exercise: Calculating the EOQ

Minimum-Maximum

Exercise: Columbian Packing Company

#4—Selection Criteria for Suppliers

#5—Implementation Date

Recap

Review Questions

6. Develop and Send the Request for Bids or Proposals 79

Solicitation

Definition

Contents of the Solicitation

1. Statement of Work/Specifications

2. Legal Terms and Conditions

3. Business Conditions

4. Due Date and Time for Response

5. Evaluation Criteria

Solicitation Process

Transmitting the Solicitation

Best Practices: Writing Solicitations

Recap

Review Questions

7. Evaluate the Bids/Proposals and Select the Best Suppliers 95

The Evaluation Team

Using the Evaluation Criteria

Evaluating Costs

Price Analysis

Exercise: Price Analysis

Cost Analysis

Total Cost Analysis

Supplier Assessment and Audit

Recap

Review Questions

8. Negotiate the Terms of the Deal 117

Essentials of Contracts

Purchase Orders

Goals of Procurement

The Negotiating Process

Step 1. Describe the Deal

Step 2. Consider the Supplier’s Reaction

Exercise: Cost Calculation

Step 3. Devise a Plan

Step 4. Share Your Goals with the Supplier

Step 5. Attempt to Reach Consensus

Gaining Acceptance

Typical Problems

Trends in Negotiations

Recap

Review Questions

9. Implement the Deal 131

Focus of Supply Management Activities

Existing Supplier/Existing Product or Service

Existing Supplier/New Product or Service

New Supplier/Existing Product or Service

New Supplier/New Product or Service

Supplier Development

Supplier Management Activities

Exercise: Selecting a Supplier for Performance Management

Recap

Review Questions

10. Pulling It All Together to Be an Effective Purchaser 143

Professional Development

Core Competencies

Competency Assessment

Purchasing Products versus Services

Supplier Quality

Work More Effectively with Other Functions

Teamwork

International Purchasing

Processes

Logistics and Distribution

Costs

Recap

Review Questions

Glossary

Recommended Reading List

Post-Test