Procurement and vendor management in the global environment

Abstract The emerging dynamics of trade and technology in the global environment is having a tremendous impact on manufacturing companies and their strategies all over the world. One of the major aspects in the new strategies of manufacturing companies is the identification and development of global sources for procurement of raw materials and part components. This paper discusses some of the recent trends and strategies of manufacturing companies in identifying and managing vendors, both domestically and internationally. In particular, the discussion focuses on the role and implications of the ‘sourcing system’ on manufacturing companies that are contemplating on revitalizing their operations through strategies such as just-in-time (JIT), flexible manufacturing (FMS) and total quality management (TQM).