Characteristics of a Purchasing Manager

(1) Knowledge of various materials:

The material manager should have adequate knowledge of materials and tools in addition to technical knowledge of engineering. He should be well conversant with the procedures and problems of all the sections of the stores.

(2) Knowledge of Government Regulations:

He should have good idea of the Government regulations which affect materials, customers, excise, price control etc.

(3) Sound common sense:

He should be able to express his thoughts clearly both in talking and writing. He should be able to get along with other departmental heads.

(4) High character, talent and Experience:

A purchase manager should have three qualities viz, talent, character and experience. He should possess strict moral code and must be ready to work under pressure. He should possess analytical intelligence, arithmetic reasoning and numerical skill.

It is very difficult to check character and talent at the time of interview but experience however is easy to check. He should possess experience in all types of stores. However for junior appointments, general education is sufficient.

(5) Commercial knowledge:

The purchase manager should possess the knowledge of accounts, commercial law, company law and other areas of business.

(6) Initiative:

The purchase manager should possess initiative of high degree. Total framework within which buyers operate is largely unstructured. Most of the purchase managers have to depend on their own initiative and imagination in developing sources of supply.

(7) Tactful:

A good buyer should be tactful and must develop good relations both with his own staff and suppliers. A buyer’s success greatly depends on his relationships with others which can be achieved only through tact and co-operative abilities.

A successful buyer should possess two types of ‘know-how’ viz ; Business and Technical. Business know-how is concerned with thorough understanding of purchasing principles and their applications. Technical know-how consists largely of knowledge of materials and manufacturing process.