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Most purchasing
departments aspire to be "strategic." They seek to minimize
their tactical tasks and spend more time on strategic ones. Here
are 10 characteristics of strategic, in contrast to tactical,
purchasing :
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Spend Analysis: Strategic
purchasing teams examine the amount of money they spend in each
category of goods and services and use this analysis to identify
opportunities for improvement.
Supplier Relationship Management:
Strategic purchasing teams measure supplier performance and
regularly spend time meeting with their most important suppliers
to implement improvements.
Technology Implementation:
Strategic purchasing teams frequently update and add
technologies that measurably reduce costs, decrease cycle time,
and make the purchasing process more efficient.
Developing Project Plans: Strategic |
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Enterprise-wide Contracts:
Strategic purchasing teams consolidate spend across all parts of
their organizations and enter into contracts with a limited
supply base to serve the needs of the entire organization.
Forecasting: Strategic purchasing
teams regularly document changes that they foresee in price
levels, availability, and markets to ensure a competitive
advantage for their organizations.
Involvement in Spec Development: Strategic purchasing teams are
involved at the early stages of specification development,
lending specialized knowledge in material availability, cost
drivers, standard parts, and reliability of supply. |
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Development of Productivity Tools:
Strategic purchasing teams develop tools (e.g., RFP templates)
so repetitive tasks can be done more quickly and error-free.
Supplier Development: Strategic
purchasing teams don't blindly accept the suppliers and products
that are currently available. They work with suppliers to
develop new capabilities or products that will improve cost or
quality.
Work Responsibility Refinement:
Strategic purchasing teams constantly identify ways to automate,
delegate, or eliminate tactical, non-value-added work. |
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