The role of purchasing in the supply chain -- Industrial buying behaviour: decision making in purchasing -- The purchasing process: the buyer's role -- Markets and products -- The purchasing management process -- Purchasing market research -- Purchasing and business strategy -- Sourcing strategy: getting better results from suppliers -- Purchasing and supply strategy, electronic market places and e-procurement -- Purchasing, engineering and quality control -- Purchasing and supply chain management -- Getting organized for purchasing -- Purchasing performance measurement -- Supplier assessment: cost approaches and techniques -- Negotiating techniques and rules of conduct -- The purchasing function in trade and retail companies -- Buying in a facilities environment -- Public procurement and EC Directives.