Procurement clerks compile requests for materials, prepare purchase orders, keep track of purchases and supplies, and handle inquiries about orders. Usually called purchasing clerks or purchasing technicians, they perform a variety of tasks related to the ordering of goods and supplies for an organization and make sure that what was purchased arrives on schedule and meets the purchaserŐs specifications.
Automation is having a profound effect on this occupation. Orders for goods now can be placed electronically when supplies are low. For example, computers integrated with cash registers at stores record purchases and automatically reorder goods when supplies reach a certain target level. However, automation is still years away for many firms, and the role of the procurement clerk is unchanged in many organizations.
Procurement clerks perform a wide range of tasks and also have a wide range of responsibilities. Some clerks act more like buyers, particularly at small to medium-sized companies, while others perform strictly clerical functions. In general, procurement clerks process requests for purchases. They first determine whether there is any of the requested product left in inventory and may go through catalogs or to the Internet to find suppliers. They may prepare invitation-to-bid forms and mail them to suppliers or distribute them for public posting. Once suppliers are found, procurement clerks may interview them to check on prices and specifications and thereby put together spreadsheets with price comparisons and other facts about each supplier. Upon the organizationŐs approval of a supplier, purchase orders are prepared, mailed, and entered into computers. Procurement clerks keep track of orders and determine the causes of any delays. If the supplier has questions, clerks try to answer them and resolve any problems. When the shipment arrives, procurement clerks may reconcile the purchase order with the shipment, making sure that they match; notify the vendors when invoices are not received; and verify that the bills concur with the purchase orders.
Some purchasing departments, particularly in small companies, are responsible for overseeing the organizationŐs inventory control system. At these organizations, procurement clerks monitor in-house inventory movement and complete inventory transfer forms for bookkeeping purposes. They may keep inventory spreadsheets and place orders when materials on hand are insufficient.
.Employment of procurement clerks is expected to decline through 2012 as a result of increasing automation. The need for procurement clerks will be reduced as the use of computers to place orders directly with suppliers—called electronic data interchange—and as ordering over the Internet—known as "e-procurementÓ—become more commonplace. In addition, procurement authority for some purchases is now being given to employees in the departments originating the purchase. These departments may be issued procurement cards, which are similar to credit cards, that enable a department to charge purchases up to a specified amount.
Although employment in the occupation is expected to decline overall, job opportunities will vary by type of employer. As the manufacturing sector continues to decline, fewer procurement clerks will be needed in that sector. In contrast, procurement clerks will be increasingly employed by companies in the service sector, which are beginning to realize that a centralized procurement department may be more cost effective than units making purchases independently, as many service companies had been doing. However, most job openings will arise out of the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. Persons with good writing and communication skills, along with computer skills, will have the best opportunities for employment.
Information on employment opportunities for procurement clerks is available from local offices of the State employment service.
(See the introductory statement on financial clerks for information on working conditions, training requirements, and earnings.)
This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. Job Training Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. Job Zone Examples These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas.
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Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
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Purchasing and Inventory Clerks Purchasing and Inventory Clerks Purchasing and Inventory Clerks process purchasing transactions and maintain inventories of materials, equipment and stock. They are employed by retail and wholesale establishments, manufacturing companies, government agencies and other establishments. Employment requirements Completion of secondary school is usually required. Additional information The duties of purchasing and inventory clerks may overlap in some establishments. Progression to supervisory positions or more senior occupations such as purchasing agent or retail buyer is possible with additional training or experience.
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Orders for goods now can be placed electronically when supplies are low. Some clerks act more like buyers, particularly at small to medium-sized companies, while others perform strictly clerical functions. In general, procurement clerks process requests for purchases. They first determine whether there is any of the requested product left in inventory and may go through catalogs or to the Internet to find suppliers. They may prepare invitation-to-bid forms and mail them to suppliers or distribute them for public posting.
Summary of: http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos279.htm
It could be the first sign of a budding career in supply management. Purchasing and inventory clerks work together to organize and manage the flow and supply of materials to and from their company. Related careers You might be also be interested in these careers that have similar educational and/or training requirements, or that share similar duties. They are not pre-requisites to post secondary programs, nor are they necessary to obtain employment. They may expect some education in purchasing management or a related area, such as logistics.
Summary of: http://www.ilc.org/cfmx/CM/Careers/cm_career_bottom.cfm?career_id=143
Determine if inventory quantities are sufficient for needs, ordering more materials when necessary. Respond to customer and supplier inquiries about order status, changes, or cancellations. Contact suppliers in order to schedule or expedite deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed or late deliveries, and other problems. Review requisition orders in order to verify accuracy, terminology, and specifications. Monitor in-house inventory movement and complete inventory transfer forms for bookkeeping purposes.
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They keep records of items entering or leaving the stockroom and inspect damaged or spoiled goods. They sort, organize, and mark items with identifying codes, such as price, stock, or inventory control codes, so that inventories can be located quickly and easily. They also may be required to lift cartons of various sizes. In larger establishments, where they may be responsible for only one task, they may be called stock-control clerks, merchandise distributors, or property custodians. In many firms, stock clerks and order fillers use hand-held scanners connected to computers to keep inventories up to date.
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Typically, they coordinate, expedite, and track orders for personnel, materials, and equipment. Dispatchers receive requests for service and initiate action to provide that service. Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks track all incoming and outgoing shipments of goods transferred between businesses, suppliers, and customers. Stock clerks receive, unpack, and store materials and equipment, and maintain and distribute inventories. Meter readers, for example, spend a good portion of their workday traveling around communities and neighborhoods taking readings, either directly or with remote reading equipment.
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Depending on the employer and the type of stock to be purchased or inventoried, clerks may have to work in cold, draughty warehouses and handle large, heavy items. Courses in production and inventory management and ability to operate a computerized inventory system may be required for Inventory Clerks. Upgrading is possible on-the-job and through Purchasing Management Association of Canada certification. For example, computerized cash registers at retail outlets can automatically monitor inventories and prepare orders to replenish depleted stocks. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems permit order information to go directly to suppliers, largely eliminating the need for clerical inventory and order functions.
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