• interested in increasing your knowledge and expertise in the field of global supply chain management, specifically in the areas of customer relations, international trade, information technology enablement, and physical logistics.
• consulting or facilitating supply chain functions or working with ERP systems.
• creating a common standard of understanding, vocabulary, resources, and frameworks within your company to address your supply chain challenges and opportunities.

• master the necessary tools to effectively manage global supply chain activities, including suppliers, plants, distributors, and customers around the globe.
• acquire the skills you need to create consistency and foster collaboration through best practices, common terminology, and corporate communication.
• understand how to use enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems and other technologies to improve the entire supply chain process.
• maximize your organization's ERP investments by millions of dollars.
• increase your professional value and secure your future.

1. Explain the principles of purchasing (applicable to both private and public sector organizations and to both for profit and non-profit organizations.)
2. Explain the Pareto Principle and how it applies in purchasing.
3. Demonstrate the computation of percentages and calculate simple formulas found in the purchasing process.
4. Given mathematical problems typically encountered in purchasing, calculate fractions, decimals, and ratios.
5. Calculate interest rates, payback period, net present value, and other calculations considering the time value of money.
6. Employ the several methods of forecasting used in the purchasing process.
7. Compute various types of averages (mode, mean, and median).
8. Explain standard deviation and how to calculate and use it in purchasing.
9. Describe the forms typically used in purchasing and explain how those forms can be modified for use in E-Procurement.
10. Describe the various hardware and software options available for automation of the purchasing process.
11. Develop/utilize a computerized purchasing system (e.g., online buying, EDI, Web-based electronic commerce) with an ultimate goal of “paperless purchasing”.
12. Develop/implement/maintain a database of specifications, suppliers, products, and/or services.
13. Develop/utilize a computerized inventory and/or capital equipment tracking system.
14. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of single and multi-sourcing.
15. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of centralized and decentralized purchasing.
16. Establish procurement plans and make decisions necessary to purchase products or services in congruence with organizational objectives and sourcing strategies.
17. Explain how the purchasing manager uses the concepts of supply and demand in evaluating markets and potential suppliers.
18. List and describe the various types of markets, including free markets, oligopolies, monopolies, monopsonies, and oligopsonies and how they affect the ability of the purchaser to obtain competition and fair and reasonable prices.
19. Describe the different methods of acquisition (direct, off-shore buying office, etc.) for global sourcing.
20. Explain how to develop global procurement plans stemming from organizational goals.
21. Explain how different business customs and courtesies of key nationalities affect the offshore purchasing process.
22. Describe several global trade barriers and how they affect the global sourcing process.
23. Read blueprints and engineering drawings and explain the various symbols and notations on those drawings.
24. Explain how engineering supports the purchasing process and the methods of cooperation between purchasing and engineering.
25. Review purchase requisitions in accordance with organizational requirements and/or budgetary constraints.
26. Determine appropriate methods of procurement, including the different methods of E-Procurement.
27. Perform cost/benefit analyses on planned purchases.
28. Develop/review specifications, statements of work, performance terms, and/or acceptance criteria.

1. Locate (through internet market surveys and other means) potential sources of materials or services.
2. Explain the process of qualifying/prequalifying and selecting domestic and offshore suppliers.
3. Manage and develop automated lists of recommended sources.
4. Explain how to use supplier catalogs, including online catalogs.
5. Review supplier samples and/or demonstrations with the buying organization management and/or user departments.

1. Prepare bid and proposal solicitations with pertinent specifications, terms, and conditions including digitalized solicitations for posting to an internet, extranet, or intranet “bid room” and solicitations appropriate for “online auctioning” and “reverse auctioning”.
2. Explain the use of third parties in the solicitation and bidding process.
3. Describe the various E-Procurement tools available to the buyer, including internet, intranet, extranet, application service provider (ASP), server-based, ERP, stand-alone, exchanges, and B2B hubs.
4. Describe how Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Value Added Networks (VANS) can be used to facilitate the purchasing process.
5. Use price, cost, and financial analytical techniques to evaluate offers and proposals to determine the overall best offer for a product/service.
6. Explain the various economic theories relating to supplier pricing of good and services.
7. Explain the concept of price elasticity of demand.
8. Explain how the purchasing manager uses supplier financial accounting information, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements to make decisions concerning supplier financial capability and qualifications.
9. Using supplier financial statements, calculate the current ratio, acid test/quick ratio, and debt to equity ratio and explain how those computed ratios will influence your decision concerning that supplier.
10. Explain how the purchasing manager uses internal and/or supplier management or cost accounting information to make decisions, including cost/volume/profit and breakeven analysis, make or buy analysis, learning curve analysis, and development of cost estimating relationships.
11. Describe the process of developing the total landed cost of acquisition.

1. Explain the principles of negotiation according to Lewicki, Karras, and Fisher/Ury.
2. Explain when purchasing people should negotiate and when they probably should not negotiate.
3. Explain how to plan, organize, and conduct a negotiation conference.
4. Prepare for and develop strategies and tactics for negotiations.
5. Conduct negotiations with domestic and international suppliers and explain how global negotiations differ from domestic negotiations.
6. Conduct supplier visits/evaluations and conduct “due diligence” to determine qualification and responsibility of potential suppliers either on a “prequalification” basis or immediately prior to award.