Are all Buyers automatically located in the Purchasing Department? This is not a trick question. The surprising answer to outsiders is that no, they are not.
Where are they then? Buyers often are geographically located with their key contacts in business units. There are pros and cons to this approach. Let's examine a couple of each.
Pros:
1) Proximity fosters teamwork and helps eliminate the "us against them" attitude that can exist between Purchasing and other business units.
2) Working in the other area will probably give the Buyer a better appreciation for the business units needs.
Cons:
1) The Buyer may feel cut off from the rest of the Procurement staff and may not feel that he or she fits in at either location.
2) The Buyer may fit in so well elsewhere that he or she is hired by the other business unit and Purchasing loses a valuable employee.
Do you have Buyers in your company that work out of locations other than the Purchasing Department?
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