Buyers play a pivotal role in the financial success or failure of an organization. Since purchasing activities can account for as much as 80 percent of your organization’s total budget, your purchasing decisions directly influence the company’s profit margin.

This fast-paced, two-day seminar is packed with useful information, from the basics of purchasing to the finest points of shaving costs.

Program Agenda

The Successful Buyer

• As a purchaser, what exactly do you want to accomplish?
• How do you arrive at the "right price?"
• A 10-step plan for getting - and staying - organized.

How to Be Successful While Maintaining Professional Ethics Within a Legal Environment

• Objectivity is key to your purchasing decisions
• Eight practices NOT to use
• When and how to apply the various specialized purchasing instruments and contracts
• The Federal Antitrust laws you must know

Policies and Procedures

• The critical components of a successful purchasing policy
• Clearly write your purchasing procedures in a step-by-step fashion
• Keeping records - which ones and for how long?
• Fourteen types of forms you need
• How to get the most out of purchasing reports
• The essential "buy" functions you’ll want to automate

The Supplier Relationship

• The four major steps for selecting a vendor
• How to precisely rate different vendors based on quality, service, flexibility, and delivery
• Nine major rules your vendor should live by
• Protecting the security of both parties involved

Specialized Purchasing Techniques

• The good news, and the bad news, about blanket orders
• The fundamental elements of a lawful contract
• Value analysis/engineering to reduce costs
• See how you, as a purchaser, fit into the quality assurance process
• Deming’s principles and how they relate to purchasing

Negotiating Successfully

• Six essential tips for negotiating
• Be prepared before you negotiate
• Communicating effectively - key strategies to use at the negotiation table

Inventory Control Made Easy

• The ABC classification system
• How to control inventory using the Pareto Principle
• How to anticipate future inventory needs
• The basic aspects of replenishment lead-time
• Inbound Freight Control
• The three essential purposes of a bill of lading
• Clearly understand FOB terms of sale
• The four categories of loss and damage claims

Who Should Attend
This program is designed for both the newly appointed as well as more experienced buyers, materials managers, production and inventory control staff, engineers and managers who interact with buyers and suppliers. Those who wish to expand their knowledge base or want formal training should attend.

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