Purchasing Performance: Measuring, Marketing and Selling the Purchasing Function

If the only measure of your organization's purchasing performance is forcing down prices from suppliers then not only is your purchasing team failing to add value, they may also be damaging your supply chain and the medium to long-term competitiveness of your organization. Derek Roylance's Purchasing Performance - Measuring, Marketing and Selling the Purchasing Function is a blueprint to help you identify the performance measures and marketing expertise that matter for your purchasing team. Buyers don't exist in isolation but often find it easier to focus excessively on the external market place leading to neglect and subsequent alienation of their internal customers. The book recommends operating the function as a business within a business. Part of this approach is to increase market share by better internal marketing and selling of their procurement expertise. The author provides practical methods for measuring purchasing performance and then communicating effectively - to the whole organization - the contribution the function can make to increase competitive advantage, profitability and all-round efficiency. In an intensely competitive world marketplace, purchasing can only achieve its true potential if it can persuade top decision makers that it will pay them to involve their procurement specialists in all major strategic decisions; the book shows how to achieve this top-level influence.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction; The management role; The profit and loss measurement system; Measuring and improving buyer performance; Measuring supplier performance; Marketing theory; Presentation and selling skills; The practical application of marketing and sales theory; Marketing research questionnaire - sample questions; Reverse marketing; Body language (non verbal communication); Technology comes to our aid; Ethics; Conclusions; Appendices; Index.

About the Author :
Derek Roylance has had a wide range of experience of quality and purchasing related responsibilities with companies such as Reader's Digest before becoming Group Purchasing Manager of Abbey National. At that time Derek formed, and was an early Chairman of, the Financial Services Purchasing Forum, which is now affiliated to CIPS as a special interest group. He has also been a guest speaker at UK and international purchasing conferences. He started his own business, Horizon Associates, in 1995 offering procurement consultancy, training and recruitment. (www.purchasing-consultants.co.uk)

Review :
'The practical advice provided throughout this book is presented in a no-frills, snappy style that ensures the essential information is not lost in a clutter of unnecessary detail. ...This is an excellent volume that in every sense is a handbook for procurement specialists and beginners alike.' Economic Outlook and Business Review 'An ideal guide for any buyer that aspires to be a procurement manager. It goes beyond the mere process manual and explains purchasing's role at the heart of a successful organisation. I particularly approve of the way that Roylance stressed the need for purchasing to act as an example of good practice in business ethics. It distills a lifetime of experience in purchasing into an easily digestible read full of wisdom.' Trevor Kitching, Director, ACS Supply Chain Consultancy Ltd 'Written in Roylance's humorously dictatorial style, the book condenses a year's worth of instruction into one handy volume. It covers everything you need to know and consider when engaging your internal customers on procurement's offer to your company. ...Well done.' Supply Management