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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.
ESG for SMEs: Make energy saving in your business
  • Article
  • 19 Sep 2023
ICAEW is supporting the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero in its campaign promoting energy efficiency. We take a look at what businesses can do to drive down energy bills and boost savings.
ESG for SMEs: risk assessment and where to start
  • Article
  • 12 Sep 2023
The need for smaller businesses to transition to a lower carbon economy and measure their efforts is critical, but many are too overwhelmed with the day-to-day business to focus on sustainability.
ESG for SMEs: future proofing supply chains
  • Article
  • 08 Sep 2023
The impacts that environmental, social and governance issues can have on supply chains is stark, but if SMEs don’t comply with new ESG rules they could also risk their entire business.
Procurement: lowering the hurdles for small business
  • Article
  • 23 Aug 2023
The government is falling short on UK spending targets for SMEs. ICAEW’s Charles Worth explains how the playing field could soon be levelled.
The late payments problem: a growth killer for SMEs
  • Article
  • 21 Aug 2023
At a recent ICAEW round table discussing payment and regulation challenges for small businesses, attendees called for better partnerships with larger companies – and an easier path to funding.
Cast the leadership net wider, UK SMEs urged
  • Article
  • 16 Aug 2023
New research shows that almost two thirds of PE investors are seeking new executive leadership for their portfolio firms, and that they should look to recruit from countries that have weathered similar economic and regulatory storms.
Supply chain human rights issues a huge challenge for CEOs
  • Article
  • 08 Aug 2023
Mid-market corporates’ concerns lead the field, posing broader implications for global trade, says latest Supply Chain Barometer from procurement specialists Proxima.
What the MOVEit hack tells us about supply chain risks
  • Article
  • 27 Jun 2023
In light of the recent cyber attack on the payroll data of a number of large organisations including BA, Boots and BBC, what are the implications for the accounting sector and those involved in providing payroll services?
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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

Supply chain cyber security series
  • Webinar
  • 22 Sep 2022
Your business is only as secure as its weakest link. Watch this series to understand and manage supply chain cyber security risk.
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.
Why collaboration with suppliers matters
  • Video
  • 09 Jun 2020
9 June 2020: As businesses look for ways to emerge successfully from the pandemic, supply chain management will be key. The best supplier relationships not only support cost effectiveness but also innovation and the generation of sustainable value.
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.
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 Changing auditors
  • eBook
  • 2013
  • Mike Metcalf
  • ICSA Publishing
Provides an explanation of the statutory rules on auditor appointment, the termination of the old auditor’s appointment, and professional and contractual matters.
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 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 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 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.
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 ICAEW Library & Information Service 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 Stories from the front lines: Leadership accounts from the globe's top supply chain executives
  • 01 Sep 2023
  • Brian Straight
The article highlights the book 'From Source to Sold: Stories of Leadership in Supply Chain', by Radu Palamariu and Knut Alicke, which offers insights from 26 top global supply chain executives on leadership skills and decision-making. One of the questions the book attempts to answer is why relatively few supply chain professionals have become CEOs. The article includes a diagram showing the attributes of the ideal supply chain leader.
Exclusive The CFO as supply chain manager
  • 01 Jun 2023
  • Thomas G.Canace, Ayaz Jaffer, Paul E.Juras
The CFO and finance team are well positioned to mitigate the prolonged supply chain disruptions that have challenged cash flow and profitability. Strategic Finance magazine shares insights from several CFOs on the short-term and long-term ways they're addressing supply chain disruptions.
Exclusive Ghost kitchens are dying and nobody noticed
  • 16 May 2023
  • Leticia Miranda
The ghost kitchen was an innovation that promised to change the world, but has turned out not to be a reliable business model, says Leticia Miranda. Recently restaurants such as Wendy's have announced ghost kitchen closures in the US. Issues with transparency appear to have made customers and also food delivery service platforms such as Uber Eats wary.
Exclusive How AI and automation can streamline procurement
  • 25 Apr 2023
The article explains the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in streamlining procurement, reducing costs and dealing with economic slowdown. Topics discussed are the need to build a single version of procurement data and standardize all information into a unified system as part of automating the procurement process and the potential capability of generative AI, machine learning and the digital ecosystem to make autonomous purchasing decisions.
Exclusive How AI and automation can streamline procurement
  • 25 Apr 2023
  • Cliff Saran
The article explains the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in streamlining procurement, reducing costs and dealing with economic slowdown.
Exclusive Planning in a recession
  • 01 Apr 2023
  • Rene Ho
Companies need to future-proof their business as they transition from pandemic-related supply chain issues to a potential recession - and the radically different economy that may lie beyond, says Rene Ho. The article covers key tried-and-tested best practices for businesses to take when navigating through tough times.
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 2023
  • 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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