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Purchasing and supply chain management

Our selection of books, articles, links and guides can help you with finding and managing suppliers, purchasing, managing stock and planning for supply chain disruption.
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Latest on purchasing and supply chain management

Read our latest features and articles on purchasing and supply chain management.
Why businesses need to plan ahead on energy
  • Article
  • 30 Nov 2022
Government support schemes are currently offering some respite to the stress of rising energy bills for business. But now is the time to plan ahead for when they come to an end.
Late payments for small businesses hit two-year high
  • Article
  • 03 Nov 2022
Research findings prompt calls for tougher penalties to ensure businesses are paid on time so they can manage their cash flow and handle rising costs.
Running a business in 2022: the challenges beyond energy
  • Article
  • 26 Oct 2022
While energy pricing has dominated coverage of the pressures that businesses are currently facing, it is vital to bear in mind an array of further concerns.
How to assess the risks within your supply chains
  • Article
  • 11 Oct 2022
Advances in digitisation are great for businesses, but they’re also helping organisations to review their supply chains and identify the potential risks from cyber attacks.
The impact of late payments on small businesses
  • Article
  • 10 Oct 2022
New research shows that half of invoices issued by small businesses are paid late. Could stricter penalties and more transparency in regulation and reporting make a difference?
How to manage the cyber security risks lurking within supply chains
  • Article
  • 06 Oct 2022
As cyber attacks on supply chains escalate, we highlight the driving factors and what corporates can do to mitigate them.
How to deal with global volatility
  • Article
  • 28 Sep 2022
EY Chief Economist Peter Arnold talks through the factors creating volatility and uncertainty in the global economy and offers advice on how businesses should respond.
Supply chain challenges: where are we now?
  • Article
  • 26 Sep 2022
How are businesses coping with persistent, global supply chain issues – and which concerns are looming on the horizon?
Read more

Topics in depth

Retail bakery cakes
Finding and managing suppliers
Resources to help you find suppliers for your business and manage supplier relationships.
Delivery boxes
Managing stock
Find out more about stock management and inventory control.
Hot air balloons
Managing supply chain disruption
Articles and guides to help you plan for potential supply chain disruptions.
Woman with calculator
Purchasing
Find out more about purchasing and procurement with our selection of articles, links and guides.

Webinars

How to increase budgetary impact without spending more money
  • Webinar
  • 16 Nov 2021
This webinar will focus on some of the key procurement practices and mindsets essential for getting maximum value and reliability from your suppliers.
Modern slavery: how to prepare a s54 statement
  • Webinar
  • 17 Mar 2021
This webinar explains Pentland's approach to preparing the section 54 statement.
Are your procurement activities adding value in 2021 and beyond?
  • Webinar
  • 19 Feb 2021
This webinar explores the latest innovations in procurement and supply chains, and how to drive and improve your performance.
5144 reasons you should take the Modern Slavery Act seriously
  • Webinar
  • 01 Dec 2020
Nick Wildgoose, a supply chain risk management expert, provides a brief background on the Act itself and international context and potential developments.
Supply chain assurance in the retail sector
  • Webinar
  • 16 Oct 2020
Abigail Harper talks through a risk-based approach to providing supply chain assurance within the retail sector.
What happens when everything generates data?
  • Webinar
  • 21 Apr 2020
The internet of things, where sensors are integrated into many kinds of objects, is growing rapidly. This webinar explores how finance professionals can take advantage of this powerful technology.
Coronavirus impacts on supply chain and financial performance (COVID-19)
  • Webinar
  • 27 Mar 2020
This online resource, created by the ICAEW Business and Management Faculty, looks at the evolving situation and its implications from a supply chain perspective as well as what you can do now to protect yourself from the impact on business performance.
Reducing the risk of supply chain fraud
  • Webinar
  • 09 May 2018
This webinar goes through practical steps to reduce the likelihood of your business suffering from supply chain fraud.
More webinars

eBooks

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.

Exclusive Imports
  • eBook chapter
  • 2016
  • Andrew Rimmer
  • Spiramus
This chapter explains the operation of VAT and trade tariffs for goods imported into or within the European Union. It includes advice on Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs) and the customs procedures for imports across the various transport methods.
Exclusive Winning with partners: a practical guide to international expansion for SMEs
  • eBook
  • 2013
  • David Sellings, Viveka Odlen Persson
  • Me4U
Aimed at managers of small-to-medium size companies (SMEs) interested in establishing a partner-based export business.
Exclusive Insightful quality: beyond continuous improvement
  • eBook
  • 2012
  • Frank Fair, Victor Sower
  • Business Expert Press
Operations management from a US perspective.
Exclusive Managing commodity price risk: a supply chain perspective
  • eBook
  • 2012
  • Janet L. Hartley, George A. Zsidisin
  • Business Expert Press
Managing price volatility from a US perspective.
Exclusive Currency rate volatility and Small and Medium Enterprises
  • eBook chapter
  • 2012
  • Janet L. Hartley, George A. Zsidisin
  • Business Expert Press
This chapter begins with a discussion of how supply chain managers can modify the process for managing currency exchange rate risk when sourcing or selling products or services from or to other countries. A process appropriate for managing commodity price risk at larger companies is suggested, along with some guidance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on how they can manage commodity price risk.
Exclusive Better business decisions using cost modeling
  • eBook
  • 2012
  • Victor E. Sower
  • Business Expert Press
Discusses the benefits of using cost modeling for procurement, operations, and supply chain professionals.
Exclusive Supply chain planning and analytics: the right product in the right place at the right time
  • eBook
  • 2011
  • Gerald Feigin
  • Business Expert Press
Supply chain management from a US perspective.
Exclusive Supply chain risk management: tools for analysis
  • eBook
  • 2011
  • David L. Olson
  • Business Expert Press
Guide to risk management for supply chains from a US perspective.
Terms of use

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.

More eBooks

Business press

The Library provides access to leading business, finance and management journals. These journals are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users subject to suppliers' terms of use.
Exclusive Respect "good" inventories
  • 01 Nov 2022
  • Larry Lapide
  • Supply Chain Management Review
Some supply chain managers believe having excess inventory is a bad thing. But is it really? It depends, says Larry Lapide. Excess inventory mainly comprising high-margin items that contribute to long-term market share can be a smart investment.
Exclusive Procurement has a significant role to play in the pursuit of ESG goals
  • 01 Jul 2022
  • Elouise Epstein
  • Supply Chain Management Review
By looking at Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors across your supply chain it's possible to create an exponential gain of benefits, says Elouise Epstein. Procurement teams should use both digital tools and a boots-on-the-ground approach to ensure accurate intelligence gathering.
Exclusive Using governance to improve procure-to-pay
  • 01 May 2022
  • Marisa Brown
  • Supply Chain Management Review
Marisa Brown discusses the benefits of an end-to-end process for procurement-to-payment, to help organizations ensure increased interaction and alignment between procurement and accounts payable.
Exclusive Buy now, pay later: Is it a supply chain thing?
  • 01 May 2022
  • Tan Miller
  • Supply Chain Management Review
Buy now/pay later is one of the hottest trends in marketing, creating new sales for organizations. It's also creating headaches for supply chain professionals, from procurement to operations. Tan Miller presents an analytic model to facilitate evaluating the logistics impacts of BNPL.
Exclusive Don’t let negotiations upset the apple cart
  • 01 May 2022
  • Jacqueline K.Eastman, Monique L.Murfield, Stephanie P.Thomas
  • Supply Chain Management Review
When it comes to successful negotiations, a buyer's history with a supply chain partner creates expectations. Any changes in that negotiation strategy can create confusion, as buyers search for explanations for the unexpected behaviour. Here are suggestions for buyers dealing with supplier relationships in a turbulent supply chain environment.
Exclusive Many happy returns
  • 01 Mar 2022
  • Gary Forger
  • Supply Chain Management Review
Returns are a proverbial mess for all but the most accomplished retailers. Going forward, part of a company's reputation and success will be a reflection of the sophistication and responsiveness of their reverse logistics strategy and processes.
More articles

Articles and books in the Library collection

The collection of the ICAEW Library & Information Service includes a range of articles, books and reports on purchasing and supply chain management. Use the links below to see what we have available in our Library catalogue (Libcat).
Fundamentals of risk management: understanding, evaluating and implementing effective risk management
  • 2018
  • P.Hopkin
  • Kogan Page
A comprehensive introduction to commercial and business risk for students and risk professionals. It provides a full analysis of the changes in contemporary risk areas including supply chain, cyber risk, risk culture and appetite, improvements in risk management documentation and statutory risk reporting.
Financing trade and international supply chains: commerce across borders, finance across frontiers
  • 2014
  • A.R.Malaket
  • Gower
The book includes observations on the effective use of traditional mechanisms such as documentary letters of credit, as well as an overview of emerging supply chain finance solutions and programmes.

To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to borrowing books.

You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports through our document supply service.

External resources - Atom Content Marketing guides

Essential guide to purchasing
  • Atom Content Marketing
A guide to business purchasing. Effective purchasing helps you control costs and can significantly improve margins and profits. Your purchasing choices also have an impact on the quality of your own products or services and on your cash flow.
Financing equipment
  • Atom Content Marketing
A guide to hiring or leasing equipment for your business. Hiring or leasing equipment is one way of making your working capital go further. Instead of paying out up front, you spread your payments over a set period.
Select and negotiate with suppliers
  • Atom Content Marketing
A guide to selecting and negotiating with suppliers. Selecting the right suppliers makes a major difference to the cost and quality of your firm's products and services, especially when your company is expanding.
Cost control
  • Atom Content Marketing
A guide to cost control for your business. Cutting costs is the simplest way to improve your bottom line. Introducing a cost control system can bring immediate savings and make sure that you remain competitive in the longer term.
Terms of use

ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided 'as is' with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.

External resources - organisations and reports

BCI Supply Chain Resilience Report 2021
  • Business Continuity Institute
Report from the Business Continuity Institute, exploring trends in logistics and supply chain management. Requires free registration to access.
CDP Global Supply Chain Report 2019/20
  • CDP
Annual CDP report looking at large companies and their efforts to create sustainable supply chains. It explores which environmental actions buyers should consider integrating into purchasing processes when looking to reduce risk, drive environmental action and meet public commitments.
Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
  • Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
Professional body representing individuals and organisations in the field of purchasing and supply chain management. Resources on the website include supply management models (member-only), CIPS Risk and Resilience Assessment Tool, document templates and glossary of procurement terms.
Creating resilient supply chains: a practical guide
  • Cranfield University School of Management
This 2003 Cranfield University School of Management report provides insight and practical tools to assist managers in improving the resilience of their organisation's supply chain networks. The report was accompanied by Understanding Supply Chain Risk: A Self-Assessment Workbook, which provides model worksheets to assist companies in identifying and planning for vulnerability and resilience in their supply chains.
Deloitte - Supply chain collection
  • Deloitte
Deloitte's latest resources on topical global supply chain disruption issues, and how to build a resilient and customer-centric supply chain.
Five tips: How to map your supply chain
  • Supply Management
With natural disasters, economic pressures and health and safety failures increasingly impacting global supply chains, mapping the supply chain down through every tier is the only way to mitigate a growing burden of risk. To avoid the pitfalls, here are five top tips on mapping out your supply chain.
Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI)
  • Federal Reserve Bank of New York
The GSCPI index tracks the state of global supply chains using data from the transportation and manufacturing sectors. It is updated monthly.
International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM)
  • International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM)
Federation of national and regional purchasing associations. The body provides a blog and news articles.
Terms of use

ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided 'as is' with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.

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