Procurement Certification Pages

Purchasing Certification - Do you want an impressive new qualification that will set you apart from the average purchaser? If so, you will want to earn the Senior Professional in Supply Management (SPSM) Certification.

SPSM Certification Success Stories - Hear the secret of procurement professionals who have earned more rewards in their careers.

Pay-As-You-Go Certification Plan - If you've wanted to earn your SPSM Certification but have struggled with deciding to pay the up-front costs, there is good news! Next Level Purchasing has launched the Pay-As-You-Go Certification Plan.

Purchasing Jobs - This page lists procurement jobs where the SPSM Certification is preferred. Browse or post procurement jobs for FREE!

Online Procurement Training Courses (by course title)

Mastering Purchasing Fundamentals - If you are new to procurement, are you ready for the many challenges you'll face in the months ahead? Our online procurement training course "Mastering Purchasing Fundamentals" walks you through the procurement process step-by-step. Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

Microsoft Excel For Purchasing Professionals - Are you failing to take advantage of Microsoft Excel's powerful techniques for procurement? Our online procurement training course "Microsoft Excel For Purchasing Professionals" will enable you to perform sophisticated procurement analyses through exercises that are based entirely on the situations that you face in your procurement work. Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

Supply Management Contract Writing - Are you putting your organization at significant risk by not having a good contract in place? Our online procurement training course "Supply Management Contract Writing" will help you reduce your procurement risks. Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

Microsoft Project For Purchasing Professionals - Have you struggled with completing your procurement projects on time? By taking our online procurement training course "Microsoft Project For Purchasing Professionals," you will not only learn how to use the software, you'll learn how to apply it to your procurement work. Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

14 Purchasing Best Practices - Wouldn't it be great if you could implement the procurement programs that are used by the world's top corporations? Through the use of step-by-step instructions, examples, exercises, and our 39-page Sample, Tool, and Template Pack, our online procurement training course "14 Purchasing Best Practices" makes it realistic for you to quickly and significantly improve your performance and the performance of your procurement department. Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

Savings Strategy Development - Your CEO wants to know: "Are you executing a cost savings strategy or are you just 'winging it'?" If you can't respond by producing a top-notch written strategy, our online procurement training course "Savings Strategy Development" can help you. Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

Powerful Negotiation For Successful Buying - Could not knowing the newest and best negotiation techniques be preventing you from saving a lot more money on your purchases? Our online procurement training course "Powerful Negotiation For Successful Buying" will give you the prowess of an expert negotiator. Counts towards the SPSM2 Certification or SPSM recertification.

Expert Purchasing Management - Are you a purchasing manager who worries about balancing the many demands of your leadership role? Our online procurement training course "Expert Purchasing Management" will teach you everything you need to know to lead your procurement department to new levels of success! Counts towards the SPSM2 Certification or SPSM recertification.

Basics of Smart International Procurement - Are you responsible for increasing your organization's international procurement and don't know where to begin? International procurement is a challenge. Buying internationally is much more complex than buying domestically. Buying internationally involves having to expand your knowledge of many aspects of procurement that you don't have to worry about when buying domestically. Differences in cultures, laws, communications, currencies, and more have to be understood to support international procurement. Counts towards the SPSM2 Certification or SPSM recertification.

Executing A Global Sourcing Strategy - With all the talk about the global sourcing that many companies are doing, one may think that it is easy, right? That perception could not be further from the truth. Global sourcing may be one of the most complex activities you’ll encounter as a purchasing professional. There’s no doubt about it – global sourcing is a challenge with many opportunities to fail. There are many complex processes that need to be done right. It’s not enough to know what those processes are. You need to know how to perform those processes in order to be successful. Counts towards the SPSM2 Certification or SPSM recertification.

Negotiation No-No's - Are these 7 little-known negotiating mistakes letting your suppliers laugh all the way to the bank? Our online procurement training mini-course "Negotiation No-No's" will teach you how to avoid the common negotiation mistakes that can cost your organization dearly.

Managing Supplier Performance - Is poor supplier performance driving you crazy? If you have wanted to implement a supplier evaluation program but had difficulty getting started, Managing Supplier Performance is the perfect online procurement training mini-course for you.

Supply Chain Courses - A list of all of our full-length procurement courses including the number of hours per course.

Supply Chain Online Classes - A list of all of our full-length procurement courses with brief descriptions of each.

Supply Chain Management Mini-Courses - A list of all of our procurement mini-courses with brief descriptions of each.

Log In - A screen from which you can log in to our procurement training courses.

Online Procurement Training Courses (by subject)

Fundamentals of Purchasing - This links to our world-class procurement training course "Mastering Purchasing Fundamentals." Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

Excel Purchasing Course - This links to our world-class procurement training course "Microsoft Excel For Purchasing Professionals." Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

How To Write A Contract - This links to our world-class procurement training course "Supply Management Contract Writing." Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

Project For Purchasing Class - This links to our world-class procurement training course "Microsoft Project For Purchasing Professionals." Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

Purchasing Best Practices - This links to our world-class procurement training course "14 Purchasing Best Practices." Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

Sourcing Strategy - This links to our world-class procurement training course "Savings Strategy Development." Counts towards the SPSM Certification.

Procurement Negotiation - This links to our world-class procurement training course, "Powerful Negotiation For Successful Buying."

Purchasing Management - This links to our world-class procurement training course, "Expert Purchasing Management."

Negotiation in Purchasing Tutorial - This links to our world-class procurement training mini-course "Negotiation No-No's."

Supplier Evaluation - This links to our world-class procurement training mini-course "Managing Supplier Performance."

Procurement Articles (by topic)

Edition #	Article Title
181	10 Procurement KPI's, Part II
180	10 Procurement KPI's, Part I
179	NIP Poor RFP Response In The Bud
178	Are You Chief Procurement Officer Material?
177	The Superior Negotiation Advantage
176	Supply Disruptions Don't Have To Be Fatal
175	Negotiating After "No"
174	How To Influence A Negotiation Early, Part II
173	How To Influence A Negotiation Early, Part I
172	Procurement ROI & Other Executive Terms
171	How Purchasing Wins Favor In The C-Suite
170	How Purchasing Should Work With A/P
169	The Wrong Cost Savings Goal
168	Negotiating After Backdoor Selling
167	Cost Reduction Ideas (Beyond Sourcing)
166	Supplier Partnerships: Your End of the Deal
165	10-Step Procurement Transformation, Part II
164	Procurement Technology Success Secrets
163	Assess Supplier Financial Risk Now!
162	Commodities Prices: Managing The Insanity
161	10 Step Procurement Transformation, Part I
160	4 Rules For Negotiating By Phone
159	Does Cost Containment Have 2 C's or 4?
158	Negotiating Successfully In Inflationary Times
157	Global Strategic Sourcing Tools
156	Green Procurement: Let's Get Started!
155	Cost Savings: From Potential To Actual
154	Purchasing Services: The Pitfalls, Part II
153	Buyer Performance Measurement Mistakes
152	Skillfully Managing Supplier Relationships
151	Good Negotiation Tactics That Can Backfire
150	Supplier Quality Audit Basics
149	The Vendor Performance Myth
148	The Target Pricing Controversy
147	Purchasing Resume Perfection
146	Buyers Ask: What Is Market Intelligence?
145	The Purchasing Manifesto
144	Calculating Cost Savings In Multiple Years
143	Top 10 Purchasing Changes In 10 Years
142	Negotiation Psychology That Suppliers Use
141	Doing Better Business With Small Suppliers
140	Adjust Your Negotiation Approach
139	Are Big Suppliers A Big Supply Risk?
138	Your Requisition Template Isn't Enough
137	A Negotiating Technique With A New Name
136	Purchasing, Social Responsibility, & Animals
135	4 Supplier Relationship Management Tactics
134	Dual Source vs. Single Source
133	Negotiating The Ultimate Contract
132	2007's Purchasing Buzzwords
131	Supply Chain Optimization Simplified
130	6 Early Supplier Involvement Tips
129	7 Supplier Diversity Challenges, Part II
128	How A Skilled Negotiator Prepares
127	Cost Savings Reports: Why Some Are Weak
126	Spend Analysis: Whatcha Looking For?
125	Your Purchasing Salary: Is It Fair?
124	Procurement Card Pros & Cons
123	Inventory Purchasing Terms You Must Know
122	What Your Negotiation Power Depends On
121	7 Supplier Diversity Challenges, Part I
120	A Global Sourcing Strategy: What's Different?
119	Should Purchasing Manage The Warehouse?
118	Cost Savings: Tips For Recording Them
117	How To Negotiate Price Increases
116	Purchasing & Inventory Management Hook Up!
115	What Is Supply Chain Management, Anyway?
114	Accountability In Purchasing Processes
113	Office Supplies Sourcing Secrets
112	Negotiating Tactics You Can Use Today
111	Is Contract Management A Critical Process?
110	Cost Savings Reporting: Dot The I's!
109	Demystifying Group Purchasing Organizations
108	Tactical vs Strategic Purchasing
107	Supply Chain Technology: What's Next?
106	Suppliers' Secrets For Negotiating With Purchasing
105	The Strategic Sourcing Plan of Attack
104	The Purchasing Agent's 10 Commandments
103	Purchasing Services: The Pitfalls, Part I
102	Cost Savings Ideas: EDMC Case Study
101	What Management Wants From Purchasing
100	The Next Purchasing Crisis & Contingency Planning
99	Negotiation Questions That Surprise Buyers
98	Supplier Scorecard Price Comparison Formula
97	Trend Alert: The Supplier Code of Conduct
96	Negotiating a Time and Materials Contract
95	Starting A Supplier Diversity Program
94	10 Signs of a Modern Purchasing Department
93	Vendor Negotiations: Timing Is Everything
92	Supply Base Rationalization: Not 1, But 5 Options
91	Supply Chain Developments To Watch In 2006
90	The 3-Way Match, eProcurement, & Pain
89	The Procurement Project Management Plan
88	The Make Or Buy Procurement Decision
87	Is Your Force Majeure Clause Too Weak?
86	A New Safety Stock Calculation
85	Procurement Risk Analysis
84	Women In Purchasing & Supply Chain
83	Negotiating With Suppliers Over Policies
82	Contract Templates: False Sense Of Security?
81	RFP Templates & Social Responsibility
80	The 21st Century Procurement Department
79	Strategic Sourcing & Stakeholder Resistance
78	Spend Management Technology Trends
77	Email Guidelines For Purchasing Professionals
76	Supplier Size: It Matters
75	6 Ways Purchasers Get More Respect
74	Will This Purchasing Trend Take Your Job?
73	Purchaser's Lesson In RSS Technology
72	Negotiation, Ethics, & You
71	What Salespeople Learn To Say To You
70	How To Create A Suppliers' Guide
69	Creative Ideas For Purchasing Leaders
68	Government vs. Private Sector Purchasing
67	Charles' 2005 Purchasing Predictions
66	Procurement & World-Class Quality, Part II
65	Procurement & World-Class Quality, Part I
64	A Cool Excel Exercise For Purchasers
63	When To Lease Instead Of Buying
62	eSourcing & Supplier Relationships, Part II
61	eSourcing & Supplier Relationships, Part I
60	eProcurement & Retail-Type Items
59	3 Ways To Trim Costs In The Supply Chain
58	Critical Ingredients For A Good RFP
57	Cultural Aspects of International Sourcing
56	Identifying Supplier Alliance Candidates
55	2004's Supply Management Buzzwords
54	How Careless Purchasers Lose Credibility
53	An Easy Time-Saving Tip For RFP's
52	Competing For Downsized Purchasing Jobs
51	Service vs. Manufacturing Industry Purchasing
50	4 Purchasing Profit Center Models
49	The Lean Concept In Supply Management
48	11 Signs of Ethical Competitive Bidding
47	Sharing Purchasing's Bottom Line Value
46	Is It All About Price?, Part II
45	Is It All About Price?, Part I
44	A Key To Good Purchase Recommendations
43	Avoiding Global Outsourcing's Dangers
42	Guide To International Negotiation Planning
41	Negotiation's Newest Purpose
40	Charles' 2004 Purchasing Predictions
39	Autopsies of Dead Supplier Relationships
38	How To Debrief Unsuccessful Bidders
37	Purchasing & Public Relations Nightmares
36	Ensuring Long-Term Supplier Service
35	Purchaser's Introduction To Six Sigma
34	How To Improve Your Time Management
33	Achieving Savings In Non-Traditional Ways
32	Service Principles For Purchasing, Part II
31	Service Principles For Purchasing, Part I
30	Interview With Former ISM President Robert A. Kemp, Ph.D., C.P.M.
29	Keeping The Risk On Suppliers
28	The Purchaser's Worst Excuse...And A Strategy That Ensures You'll Never Make It Again
27	More Purchasing Project Tips
26	Power Negotiation Made Easy
25	Interpersonal Skills For Win-Win Negotiation
24	What Separates A World-Class Purchasing Professional From The Average Buyer?
23	Purchasing Goals: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
22	Purchasing Best Practices Definitions
21	Purchasing Best Practice # 3: Managing Supplier Performance
20	When Suppliers Request Concessions…Use These 3 Techniques To Avoid Giving Up Too Much
19	5 Negotiation Improvement Strategies What You Can Do To Sharpen The Most Sought After Purchasing Skill
18	Interpersonal Etiquette For Purchasing Professionals
17	Renegotiation & Specifications... The Connection
16	Buyer-Driven Innovation
15	Being Careful About Selecting Online Purchasing Training Not All Online Classes Are Created Equal
14	Protect Your Compensation From 2003's Mid-Year Budget Cuts
13	11 Questions You May Encounter On Your Next Purchasing Interview… Will You Give The Right Answers?
12	Purchasing Best Practices: 80 Hours of Training Per Employee/Year
11	Don’t Think That You Can Fit Training Into Your Busy Schedule?
10	Do You Know About The End-Of-The-Year Secret That Will Prevent Purchasing Professionals Like You From Improving Their Skills?
9	CEO To Purchasing Agent: "Other Companies Are Saving Billions of Dollars By Conducting Internet Reverse Auctions…Why Aren't We?"
8	Myth #1: Online Training Is Less Interactive Than Old Fashioned Training
7	3 Tips For Successfully Managing Purchasing Projects
6	The Training Comparison Matrix
5	Are You Executing A Cost Savings Strategy or Are You Just "Winging It?"
4	How do your contract skills compare with those of world-class purchasing professionals?
3	Busy Purchasing Professionals Demand That Training Be Made More Convenient: Spending On Online Purchasing Training To Triple In Next Year
2	Are you as good at using Excel as world-class purchasing professionals are?
1	How qualified is your purchasing trainer? Ask these 7 questions to find out!

More World-Class Procurement Training Links

Purchasing & Supply Management Podcast Series^SM - Check out audio recordings that you can listen to on your computer, download onto your iPod or MP3 player, or burn to a CD.

Group Purchasing Training - A page for procurement leaders looking for training large procurement staffs. Discounts and additional services are available.

Purchasing Certificate - Take a look at the Certificate of Completion you'll receive after completing one of our full-length online procurement training courses.

Purchasing Articles & Resources - Get your FREE copy of Purchasing Skills Report, access to an online procurement training mini-course, and bi-weekly articles featuring procurement tools and tips today!

Supply Chain News - Learn the latest developments in the procurement world!

Purchasing Management Certification FAQ - Dozens of common questions about earning the SPSM Certification are answered here.

Our Purchasing Education Customers - A partial list of the prestigious organizations to whom we've provided procurement certification and training.

Buyer Training Policy & Guarantee - We guarantee that our procurement certification and training will benefit you.

About NLP - Learn more about Next Level Purchasing.

Purchasing Seminars - If you are seeking to book a procurement seminar for your association or company, visit this page to see a list of the procurement seminars that we offer to present live.

Procurement Conference - Earn Continuing Education Hours (CEH's) towards SPSM^® Recertification by attending these eligible procurement conferences.

Interact

Purchasing Classes Online Registration - You can sign up for our world-class procurement certification program, procurement training courses, and other programs online. The FREE Purchasing Resources Program does not require a credit card.

Sign Up By Mail Or Fax - We accept credit cards, purchase orders, checks, and international money orders for enrollment in our procurement training courses and procurement certification program.

Questions About Procurement Courses - Have a question about procurement certification or training? You can send a message to Next Level Purchasing through our site or contact us by email, phone, fax, or mail.

Charles' Purchasing Certification Blog - Next Level Purchasing's president shares additional procurement training/education, answers, and interaction with you.

The Purchasing Certification Channel - Watch online videos discussing the hottest topics in procurement on The Purchasing Certification Channel on YouTube.

Charles' LinkedIn Profile - Establish a personal connection with Charles at his LinkedIn profile.

Charles' Facebook Profile - Establish a personal connection with Charles at his Facebook profile.

Earn Rewards

FREE Purchasing Report - Get your FREE copy of the report entitled "Career Survival In Supply Management" today!

Purchasing Association Info - If you represent a business or procurement association, you can offer discounted procurement certification and training to your members and earn big commissions for the association.

Purchasing Career Rewards - An overview of the three above described reward options.

External Links

Supply Chain Articles - Our procurement articles featured in PurchTips are set up on del.icio.us for easy searching

Purchasing Blogs - Our procurement blog posts are set up on del.icio.us for easy searching

Cheap Stock Photography - Cheap stock photography is available from sharondominickphotography.com

Natural Gas Broker - GRP Services, a minority-owned and operated natural gas broker with NMSDC certification, focuses its knowledge and expertise on providing you with competitive gas pricing in an easy to do business environment.

Utility Auditing - GRP Services' expense audit services concentrate on obtaining vendor refunds due to billing errors and recommending actions that will reduce costs on an on-going basis.

Purchasing Consulting - Bendorf & Associates offers consulting and training in supply chain management, purchasing, global sourcing, international procurement, and developing world class purchasing operations.

Supplier Pricing Models - This article, by Bendorf & Associates, helps purchasers identify supplier pricing models.

Eye Glasses Pittsburgh - Centre City Optical is an impressive, independently-owned optical shop in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Spyware Removal - Molexa is a Pittsburgh-based company specializing in spyware removal and other technology-related services.

Enterprise Networking - Arcadia Solutions is a Pittsburgh-based company that has the expertise and the processes in place to provide end to end networking for all small and mid-sized organizations.

Server Administration - Arcadia Solutions is a Pittsburgh-based company that can provide installation and maintenance services for servers on Unix, Linux, and Windows NT/2000 platforms.

Electricity Service - Premier Power Solutions uses its knowledge and expertise in the deregulated electricity marketplace to provide you with competitive electricity pricing for your commercial, manufacturing, or industrial business enterprise.

Free RFP System - WhyAbe.com provides a free online RFP system.

Masters degree in Procurement - if you are a qualified purchasing professional you can enroll in this fast-track UK Masters degree

Kitchen Design Pittsburgh - Creative Bath & Kitchen is an excellent remodeling firm specializing in kitchen and bath design and transformation.

Kitchen & Bath Pittsburgh - Creative Bath & Kitchen, mentioned above, has pre-priced bathroom remodeling packages.

Purchasing Courses - A list of our procurement training courses in letter format.