The Fine Art of Purchasing and Materials Management Today's competitive environment calls for unprecedented excellence in purchasing and materials management. No other text prepares students to meet this challenge like the new edition of Gary Zenz's landmark text! Comprehensive and to-the-point, this invaluable resource provides complete coverage of the most vital purchasing issues. From the effects of global currency fluctuations on purchasing to TQM to ISO 9000 to strategic partnering, it covers all the critical issues today's managers face. 53 short cases round out topic coverage with hands-on demonstrations of purchasing in action. This outstanding resource uniquely prepares managers in all departments to understand and take advantage of the current state of the art: * Outstanding international purchasing chapter provides more current and detailed coverage of fluctuating currency values and how to benefit from these fluctuations. 4 new cases address such critical issues as ethics, evaluating buyer performance, installing the materials management concept in an existing organization, and buying from foreign sources.* This edition includes the latest information on strategic partnering, research, sourcing, reverse marketing and partnering, and TQM and ISO 9000.* New boxed examples open each chapter to set the scene. Critical thinking questions follow each chapter to stimulate discussion. The Seventh Edition also offers unprecedented preparation for a career in Purchasing. You'll find: * The best available preparation for the Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) exam, with helpful chapter summaries and end-of-text glossary.* Detailed information on such practitioner-oriented issues as economic forecasting, how to build a library for the purchasing department, and simulation applications for controlling inventories.* Integrated use of the computer throughout the text.