Practical Purchasing Solutions for Small to Medium-Size Companies

Author(s):

Richard H. Skonier
Richard H. Skonier, Purchasing Manager, New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc., 814 / 766-2211; rskonier@nesl.com

91st Annual International Conference Proceedings - 2006 - Minneapolis, MN

Abstract

The general perception is that "Purchasing is Purchasing", regardless of the size of the organization. The conclusion is that the main difference is just the number of zero's on the order, whether it is the quantity or the total dollar amount of the purchase. To some extent, this is true for the basic principles of purchasing and supply management. Many purchasing principles and functions apply regardless of the size of the organization, however small to medium-size companies face different challenges than do their large company counterparts.

We hope to point out many advantages that the smaller companies have to handle challenges and uncover practical solutions that have been successfully field tested by other companies similar in size.