The BIG Baking Theory — Introduction
Purchasing Agent
Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents buy products for organizations to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review product quality.
Although educational requirements for buyers and purchasing agents may vary by the size of the organization and the type of product, all need extensive on-the-job training. Purchasing managers need a bachelor's degree and work experience as a buyer or purchasing agent.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Your Mission
Do you wonder where products come from? Are you curious about what goes on behind the scenes to make the things we use on a daily basis? Purchasing agents make the manufacturing of products possible. They buy raw or semi-finished materials required to produce finished products.
Purchasing agents research suppliers to find the best quality, selection, and price for the materials needed. They negotiate contracts and schedule deliveries from suppliers to ensure that materials are available to the manufacturer on a reliable basis.
Purchasing agents are problem-solvers. The job responsibilities require strong mathematical and analytical skills for problem-solving. They also need to be proficient at using a computer for spreadsheets and word processing. Strong communication and negotiation skills help purchasing agents develop relationships with their suppliers.
In this project, you are the purchasing agent for a big baking company. You are in charge of obtaining raw materials to manufacture the most popular lines of bread. The company is growing, so the job is fast-paced; by finding the freshest ingredients at the lowest cost, you can contribute to the company’s success!
