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Purchasing Agent Definition

Purchasing Agents buy machinery, tools, equipment, supplies, parts, or services needed for running an establishment. Raw or semi-finished materials are purchased for the purpose of manufacturing.

A Little More on What is a Purchasing Agent

A purchasing agent is an administrator who helps in selecting and purchasing goods and services. This is achieved by gathering, as well as, screening information about suppliers, prices, and products. In addition, the agent may also ask for bids from vendors and also make awards of purchasing contracts. The Purchasing Agent Job Responsibilities entail the following, to verify, prepare, and forward purchase orders. He or she verifies item receipts and authorizes payment. Purchasing agents make sure that companies, as well as, organizations have the resources and services needed to work effectively on a daily basis. These may include chemicals, farm or retail products, office supplies or manufacturing equipment. Buyers and purchasing agents consider quality, price, reliability, technical support, and price when choosing both suppliers and merchandise. Purchasing agents and buyers purchase products and services for organizations to either utilize or resell. A purchaser refers to a consumer who buys a product for his or her personal use. Usually, a buyer is a trader that purchases a product for the purpose of trading. How much do purchasing agents make? In the United States, a Purchasing Agent has a national average salary of $57,699. In order to see the salary of a Purchasing Agent in your area, you can filter based on location. Purchasing Agent employees submit 1,269 salaries anonymously to Glassdoor and this determines salary estimates. Who is a Senior Purchasing Agent? A Senior Purchasing Agent creates purchase orders and submits these orders to the suppliers. Another major responsibility of the Senior Purchasing Agent is to resolve complex problems. Duties of a Purchasing Agent:

• Verifying purchase requisitions by engaging in a comparison of items requested to master list, clarifying vague items, and recommending other options.
• Forwarding inventory items that are available by verifying stock and scheduling of delivery.
• Preparation of purchase orders by verifying price and specifications; getting requisitioning departments approval; getting suppliers recommendations for substitute items.
• Procuring purchased items by sending orders to suppliers; monitoring, as well as, expediting orders.
• Verifying item receipts by doing a comparison of items received and items ordered; resolving shipments in error with the supplier.
• Authorizing payment for purchased items by sending receiving documentation.
• Keeping information easily accessible by document sorting and filing.
• Providing information on purchasing planning and control through the collection, analysis, and summary of data and trends.
• Updating job knowledge by engaging in job opportunities.
• Accomplishing purchasing and organization goals by finishing related results as required.

Supply Management, Vendor Relationships, Tracking Budget Expenses, Supply Management, Organization, Documentation Skills, Customer Service, Cost Accounting, Manufacturing Quality, Control Engineering, and Manufacturing Methods and Procedures.

References for Purchasing Agent

• https://www.bestchoiceschools.com/faq/what-does-a-purchasing-agent-do/
• https://www.owlguru.com/career/purchasing-agents-except-wholesale-retail-and-farm-products/job-description/
• http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/purchasing-agent.html

Academic Research on Purchasing Agent

Tactics of lateral relationship: The purchasing agent, Strauss, G. (1962). Administrative Science Quarterly, 161-186.Why studying the purchasing agent is not enough, Weigand, R. E. (1968). The Journal of Marketing, 41-45.When the purchasing agent is a committee: Implications for industrial marketing, Jennings, R. G., & Plank, R. E. (1995). Industrial marketing management, 24(5), 411-419.The role of the purchasing agent in industrial innovation, Mogee, M. E., & Bean, A. S. (1976). Industrial Marketing Management, 5(4), 221-229.Industrial Advertising and the Purchasing Agent, Thompson, D. L. (1966). Journal of Purchasing, 2(3), 5-16.The purchasing agent: Friend or foe to the salesperson?, Banting, P. M., & Dion, P. A. (1988). Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 16(3-4), 16-22.The Attitude of the Purchasing Agent Toward Reciprocity, Dauner, J. R. (1967). Journal of Purchasing, 3(3), 5-15.Mathematical Decision Methods For The Purchasing Agent, Hough, L. (1965). Journal of Purchasing, 1(2), 41-53.Labor relations and the purchasing agent, Gershenfeld, W. J. (1966). Journal of Purchasing, 2(4), 41-46.Should the Purchasing Agent Be Part of Administration?, Preston, J. P. (1960). Hospital Topics, 38(8), 26-27.What Would You Do?: The Case of the Puzzled Purchasing Agent, Evans, J. (2001). Business Ethics: The Magazine of Corporate Responsibility, 15(6), 20-20.Comparing Online B2G Marketplaces: Purchasing Agent Preferences and Price Differentials, Canter, C. H., Gomez, C. T., Landale, L. C. K., & Muir, M. W. (2018).