According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations. | 91% |
| Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services. | 91% |
| Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives. | 90% |
| Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts. | 90% |
| Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices. | 86% |
| Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services. | 81% |
| Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters. | 80% |
| Maintain and review computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories. | 80% |
| Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action. | 80% |
| Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history. | 80% |
| Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes. | 77% |
| Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods. | 75% |
| Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies. | 73% |
| Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased. | 70% |
| Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services. | 67% |
| Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices. | 64% |
| Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets. | 64% |
| Arrange the payment of duty and freight charges. | 63% |
| Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments. | 60% |
