Integrating Business Management Processes

Chapter 6

Purchasing

6.1 Historical Aspects

The purchasing function is vital to the success of an organisation. It has evolved from being a part of manufacturing or management to an extended financial contributor. The history and supply chain management provides a window to the growth, development and stature of the profession. Each historical period has made a unique contribution to the developments of purchasing that have shaped the modern purchasing and supply chain management system. The developments can be considered in terms of seven periods (Handfield et al., 2009; Pooler & Pooler, 1997; Lu Harding & Lu Harding, 2001), which are shown in Table 6.1.

Table 6.1 Evolution of the Purchasing

Period	Description	Developments
1	Early years ...