Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing Agents is a global career option. The responsibility of a purchasing agent is to attain utmost quality merchandise at the lowest purchase cost for their employers. Generally, purchasing manager buy services and goods for their organization whereas, buyers purchase items for resale.
These managers decide which services or commodities are best, choose suppliers of the service or product and negotiate the lowest cost. To achieve these tasks productively, purchasing managers, buyers and purchasing agents study inventory levels of current stock, sales records, make out domestic and foreign suppliers, demand materials and products, which they are responsible for.
Educational Qualification
Candidates wishing to make a career in the field of purchasing management need to have completed bachelor's degree with major in business management. However, some of the organizations seek graduates in business, engineering, economics, applied sciences. Candidates who have completed master's degree in business management are preferred.
Wholesale and retail firms prefer to employ candidates who have completed degree in merchandise and completed special training in retailing and wholesaling. Some of the firms hire and give the position of assistant buyers to candidates. However, most of the employers offer a designation of purchasing manger to fresher candidates.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of a purchasing manager, buyers and purchasing agents vary depending upon the company size and work prospects. These managers examine suppliers based upon price, service support, quality, selection and reliability. In order to help them in their search, they evaluate industry periodicals, review catalogs, directories, internet sites and trade journals.
These managers research the history of suppliers and the reputation. They examine services and products, evaluate supplier's distribution and production capabilities, discuss with business and technical considerations that controls the purchasing decision. A purchasing manger oversees whether orders are placed, contracts are awarded to suppliers; information about suppliers is collected, etc.
Job Prospect
The government agencies and manufacturing firms may employ purchasing managers who generally called contract specialists, industrial buyers, buyers, directors and managers. A purchasing manger needs to acquire the knowledge of product materials, machines, intermediate goods, supplies and other materials used to produce products.
A purchasing manager specializes in supervising and negotiating supply contracts. Purchasing managers and agents attain items including fabricated parts, raw materials, machinery, construction services and office supplies. To become a successful purchasing manager, one ought to have technical knowledge of goods and services.
Generally, in large organization, buyers and purchasing managers lay emphasis upon everyday purchasing. They work in a group to buy materials such as cotton, lumber, steel, grains, fabricated metal products, petroleum products, etc. A purchasing manager usually tracks things like price trends, market conditions or future markets.
A purchasing manger generally deals with more critical or complex purchases and oversees a group of purchasing agents dealing with other services and goods. A professional is titled buyer, purchasing manager, purchasing agents as it depends upon specific job responsibilities.
The increasing business practices have modified the conventional roles of purchasing managers in many industries. For instance, every manufacturing company employs purchasing managers to develop their business horizon. The problems arise in the early stages of product design can be avoided or lessened by conferring with purchasing department.
Purchasing managers work together with other managers in an organization. They determine purchases, arrangements and team buying. For instance, they discuss with production supervisors and quality engineers about design and modification of custom-made products, quality problems, etc.
Advancement and Certification
To become a purchasing manager, one has to start his/her career as a purchasing buyer or agent. An experienced assistant manger may also become supply manager, purchasing manager,, director of materials management, etc. In many large companies, the responsibilities of a purchasing manager may overlap with other management functions like planning, production, marketing and logistics.
Many buyers, purchasing managers and purchasing agents participate in workshops and seminars organized by professional societies. These profession societies also conduct workshops on supply management. Professional certificate is very important to become purchasing manager. A list of many recognized qualifications for purchasing managers and purchasing agents is given below.
Purchasing agents, purchasing managers and buyers should know how to use word-processing, internet and spreadsheet software. A purchasing manager should possess some qualities such as good communication, ability to evaluate technical data, ability to analyze financial data, knowledge of supply-chain management, knowledge of mathematics, etc.
People who desire to become retail and wholesale buyer ought to be good at decision making and planning and must have interest in merchandising. A buyer or purchasing manager should be able to take risks and decisions quickly.