5 Must-Read Procurement Books to Get to the Top of Your Field
We’re big fans of lifelong learning and we’re constantly reading about ways to improve our performance or change our way of thinking.
No matter how long you’ve been in procurement, there are always new things to learn. New technologies might change how you track your inventory or place orders. Changes to regional laws might influence how your supply chain operates. Whatever the issue in procurement, resources are available to help you get to the top of your field, and stay there.
5 must-read procurement books
1. The Procurement and Supply Manager’s Desk Reference by Fred Sollish and John Semanik
This book is an authoritative guide on everything you need to know about being a procurement manager. Filled with information about trends in sourcing, avoiding specification traps, and best practices in supplier diversity. This book answers many of the important questions facing procurement managers. This book was written by experts in supply chain management and well worth the cost. It even offers suggestions on legal issues.
2. The Procurement Game Plan by Charles Dominck and Soheila R. Lunney
New and seasoned procurement managers will gain a great deal from this read. This book covers everything involved in setting up and running a procurement division, including choosing the right people, contingency planning, and social responsibility. It’s not a dry business read either. The Procurement Game Plan is loaded with meaningful and easily understandable procurement strategies.
3. Essentials of Supply Chain Management by Michael H. Hugos
You have a supply chain, but do you know how to measure its performance? Do you know how to use information technology in your supply chain? Are there gaps in your supply chain? For anyone dealing with supply chain issues, Essentials of Supply Chain Management has the answers and even references supply chain games. At fewer than 350 pages this is an easy book to read and gain valuable insights.
4. Proactive Purchasing in the Supply Chain by David Burt, Sheila Petcavage and Richard Pinkerton
Purchasing plays an important role in a company’s success. It’s also oftentimes misunderstood at an organization. Proactive Purchasing in the Supply Chain explains how an efficient purchasing process can increase returns on investment, reduce costs, and improve quality. It even includes purchasing checklists, to make the process easier.
5. Common Sense Purchasing: Hard Knock Lessons Learned From A Purchasing Pro by Tom DePaoli
If purchasing and negotiation keep you up at night, this is the book for you. Combining expert insights, practical examples, and tons of advice, Common Sense Purchasing can help any purchasing manager. The author shares his tales of woe from the purchasing department and explains why relationships are the foundation of a good purchasing program.
These five books are our favourites for procurement managers looking to increase their skills or stay on top of procurement trends. Now that you’ve got your book list, we hope you enjoy your reading and maybe even learn some new procurement tips and tricks.
Have you read any of these books? Leave us a review about what you thought of them!
