Electronics procurement and manufacturing strategic objectives

There is increasing recognition in recent years that the procurement function has much strategic relevance with the competitiveness of manufacturing firms. On the other hand, the advent of the internet has greatly affected the way organisations procure goods and services. Much discussion has been presented in the literature on how the application of the internet could result in costs as well as time savings. However, given the strategic importance of the procurement function, the objectives of any initiatives should not be assessed in terms of costs and time savings only, as strategic competitiveness of manufacturing companies are also determined by other aspects, including quality, flexibility, and innovation. This paper is an attempt to offer a more holistic conceptual view on how e-procurement contributes to various aspects of procurement management in manufacturing companies and how their competitive objectives are affected. The paper also outlines opportunities for future research in the relevant field.