The purchasing function – as a boundary-spanning function within
the supply chain and the
firm's gate-keeper influencing forward flow and material quality
– can help in implementing resource reduction
activities, assessing the inter-organizational environment for product,
lead in process transformations and
in assessing firm supply chain competencies. Purchasing is potentially a more powerful
agent of change than any other corporate function
and an important agent for changing environmental initiatives in the
supply chain (Preuss, 2001).