Proactive Purchasing in the Supply Chain: The Key to World-Class Procurement

Transform purchasing operations from reactive to proactive supply management
Written for purchasing managers, Proactive Purchasing in the Supply Chain reveals how to use the latest and best procurement practices to help your organization maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of its supply chain. The ability of purchasing to dramatically increase return on investment, reduce costs, improve quality, and shorten time to market is highlighted throughout this practical guide.

Essential topics such as legal issues, green purchasing, negotiation, ethics, price-cost analysis, production-inventory control, purchasing risk management, sourcing, and demand-logistics management are addressed. Real-world case studies in each chapter demonstrate the strategies presented in the book. A detailed planning model for implementing these world-class procurement methods is also contained in this definitive resource.

The authors combine extensive industry, educational, research, and consulting experience to cover topics such as:

The latest "best-in-class" purchasing methods, tools, procedures, and systems
Price-cost analyses and how to fight price increases
How to organize the purchasing department to achieve maximum value added in the supply chain
Green purchasing
Purchasing risk management programs and procedures
How to separate strategic from tactical buying
Step-by-step checklists for major purchasing functions
How to overcome obstacles
Forecasting methods for demand management
How to transform the purchasing department from a cost center to a value-added operation
Social responsibility and ethical issues
Planning steps and basic management skills
Preparation for relevant certification programs