DEVELOPING PURCHASING'S FOUNDATION

This is the first of a two‐part paper, which reviews the evolution of the supply management function from the 18th century to 1940. A second paper will examine the continued evolution of supply management from 1940 until the present. The 1830–1940 period in North America was one of tremendous develo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of supply chain management 2008-04, Vol.44 (2), p.17-27
Main Authors: LEENDERS, MICHIEL R., FEARON, HAROLD E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
archival research
Associations
Construction costs
Cost control
Evolution
History
Logistics
Materials management
organization
Outsourcing
Purchasing
Purchasing agents
purchasing history
Railroads
scientific purchasing
Seeds
strategy
Studies
Suppliers
Supply chain management
World War I
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Summary:This is the first of a two‐part paper, which reviews the evolution of the supply management function from the 18th century to 1940. A second paper will examine the continued evolution of supply management from 1940 until the present. The 1830–1940 period in North America was one of tremendous development for purchasing. It started with occasional reference in management texts and, particularly after 1900, saw the evolution of a host of ideas representing the foundation of today's perspective on supply management. At no time did purchasing practitioners and academics see the function as a narrow buying activity. Clearly, our predecessors were well aware of the benefits of integration and would have been comfortable with today's supply chain management precepts. They also recognized value, cost and price analysis, value analysis, purchasing research, talent management, outsourcing the supply function, supplier relationships, strategy and the need for performance measurement. They strived to contribute effectively to organizational goals and strategies, well aware of the potential impact of their actions on organizational success. An understanding of supply's evolution may not only assist today's supply management practitioners and academics in placing current practices and theories in context but also in charting our future.
ISSN:1523-2409
1745-493X
DOI:10.1111/j.1745-493X.2008.00052.x