Buyers and Purchasing Agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products
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Print Occupation
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents
Manufacturing
What do they typically do
- Evaluate suppliers on the basis of the price, quality, and speed of delivery of their products and services
- Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices
- Attend meetings, trade shows, and conferences to learn about new industry trends and make contacts with suppliers
- Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other information to determine reasonable prices
- Negotiate contracts on behalf of their organization
- Work out agreements with suppliers, such as when products will be delivered
- Meet with staff and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action
- Evaluate and monitor contracts to be sure that vendors and suppliers comply with the terms and conditions of the contract and to determine the need for changes
- Maintain and review records of items bought, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories
Number of Jobs
Average Annual
Job Growth -0.2%
Job Openings 1,345
Industry/Employer
Aerospace Product & Parts Manufacturing
Animal Slaughtering and Processing
Architectural and Engineering Services
Automobile Dealers
Automotive Repair and Maintenance
Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing
Book Retailers and News Dealers
Building Equipment Contractors
Building Foundation/Exterior Contractors
Building Material and Supplies Dealers
Commercial & Service Industry Machinery
Commercial Goods Merchant Wholesalers
Computers and Peripheral Equipment
Converted Paper Product Manufacturing
Electrical Equipment Manufacturing
Electronic Instrument Manufacturing
Electronic Markets and Agents/Brokers
Electronics and Appliance Retailers
Fabric Mills
Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloys
Junior Colleges
Machine Shops and Threaded Products
Machinery & Supply Merchant Wholesalers
Management of Companies and Enterprises
Medical Equipment and Supplies Mfg
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing
Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Mfg
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
Motor Vehicle/Part Merchant Wholesalers
Nonresidential Building Construction
Office Administrative Services
Offices of Physicians
Other Electrical Equipment & Components
Other Food Manufacturing
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
Other Miscellaneous Retailers
Other Professional & Technical Services
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
Other Wood Product Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical & Medicine Manufacturing
Plastics Product Manufacturing
Power Generation and Supply
Printing and Related Support Activities
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills
Residential Building Construction
Sawmills and Wood Preservation
Scientific Research and Development Svc
Semiconductor and Electronic Components
Spectator Sports
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers
Support Activities for Air Transport
Tobacco Manufacturing
Turbine and Power Transmission Equipment
Utility System Construction
Veneer and Engineered Wood Products
Warehousing and Storage
Education & Training
- Education Most require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.Associated Programs or MajorsLicense
NC Workforce Credentials
Private Training Programs
15335
15093
Change -242