In addition to having an unclear role in many organizations today, procurement executives must also contend with a variety of complex issues that few departments are prepared to manage properly, according a recent survey from consulting firm KPMG International. Companies that take a strategic and integrated approach to procurement can not only reduce costs, but also realize value and efficiencies as new issues continue to influence their buying decisions, according to Samir Khushalani, principal for the firm's advisory services. Some results of the survey include:
93 percentage of procurement executives who say the most important criteria for selecting suppliers is quality
88 percentage who say price is the most important criteria for selecting suppliers
43 percentage who have started to consider human rights issues in procurement decisions
30 percentage who regard a supplier's environmental record as "important" or "very important"
21 percentage who believe outsourcing has improved the performance of their procurement function
