There is a growing awareness in the global business environment of the importance of managing the supply side, also referred to as the input side, of an organisation or supply chain as a strategically important area. South African managers are certainly also aware of the potential of the supply side to contribute to strategic competitive advantage in an increasingly difficult and competitive business environment. This seventh edition of Purchasing and supply management provides contemporary insights into this dynamic field.Purchasing and supply management introduces current concepts and management tools to make purchasing and supply management more efficient in functioning within the broader concept of supply chain management. It covers not only basic principles, but also the activities incumbent on a purchasing and supply manager. It addresses the relationships between purchasing and concepts such as strategic sourcing, and areas of application. This new edition has been comprehensively updated and includes case studies and multiple choice questions. It is student friendly, while at the same time remaining a valuable aid to the purchasing fraternity in South African business.Some of the more prominent topics that are included in this edition are the following: