Short Course
Strategic Procurement and Purchasing
Build a strong foundation in procurement and supplier management. Learn purchasing principles, supplier negotiation strategies, and approaches for navigating economic and regulatory challenges.
Current Offerings
Overview
Who Should Attend
Ideal for professionals who are new to purchasing, manage procurement teams, or want to strengthen their sourcing and procurement skills. Common participant roles include:
Purchasing and sourcing managers
Procurement specialists
Contract management professionals
Materials and inventory leaders
Accounting and operations managers
Program Benefits
Improve your ability to:
Discuss the importance of purchasing in the supply chain
Explain the dynamic environment of the purchasing industry including economic and regulatory issues
Decide what procurement strategies make sense for your company
Understand the basics of spend analysis
Discuss key issues in supplier negotiation
The course curriculum was a great blend of supply chain and procurement. It was also a great blend of people who brought different experiences to the program."
Bill Bianco
Buyer/Inventory Supervisor, Hussey Copper
Faculty
Ronald Schnur
Senior VP / Head of Procurement, Utz Brands
Ronald Schnur is Senior VP and Head of Procurement at Utz Brands. He's held procurement and supply chain leadership roles at The Jackfruit Company, Ripple Foods, Molson Coors, and Danone North America. A Penn State M.B.A. graduate and Certified Professional in Supply Management, he's a recognized industry leader and recipient of the Pashek Award.
Chris Norek, Ph.D.
Senior Partner, Chain Connectors
Chris brings over 20 years of supply chain expertise across consulting, industry, and academia. His experience includes strategy, demand planning, transportation, distribution networks, facility design, SKU and supplier rationalization, technology selection and implementation, and returns management. He was named a DC Velocity “Rain Maker” in 2018.
Program Content
Spend analysis
Commodity segmentation
Supplier bid evaluation
Supplier and industry research
Global/worldwide sourcing
Total cost of ownership analysis
Domestic trends
International trends
Sustainability in the supply base
Ethics in procurement
Supplier quality
Data and influence
How to get the most out of the supply base
Maintaining strong supplier relationships
Cost modeling techniques
Market intelligence
Negotiation
RFP Development in Manufacturing and Services
Professional Certificate
Supply Chain Certificates
This course is one of three programs required for our Supply Chain certificate. Complete the programs in any order and develop expertise in supply chain operations, leadership, and management.
Customize this Program
All programs and delivered to groups of 10 or more. A member of our team will reach out to discuss your goals and explore the right fit for your group. You can also reach us directly at 800-311-6364.
Additional Information
Our Learning Solutions Associate can hold a seat for you in the program. A reservation does not commit you until you submit the online registration form. To reserve your spot, email our office.
A 10% reduced rate on live remote delivery is available to military and government employees, Penn State alumni, individuals pursuing a professional certificate, teams of three or more from the same organization, and CSCR corporate sponsors or affiliated groups.
Yes. This program can count toward a . Complete three qualifying programs at your own pace to earn the certificate. Note: Each program can only count toward one certificate.
After you register, you’ll gain access to your personal learning portal. There, you’ll find pre-program assignments, information about faculty and fellow participants, plus other program resources.
Accepted applicants can transfer to another section if the transfer is arranged more than four weeks before the program begins. Additional transfers are subject to a charge of 10% of the current program fee. A sponsoring company may also identify a replacement candidate, provided the candidate is accepted into the program.
Refunds are based on when written notice of withdrawal is received:
More than six weeks before the program begins: Full refund
Between two and six weeks before the program begins: 50% refund
Two weeks or less before the program begins: No refund
All withdrawals, transfers, and substitutions must be confirmed in writing by the registered participant or their agent. If written notification is not received, the full program fee will be assessed.
Penn State may cancel or postpone a program due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled, registration fees will be refunded; however, Penn State is not responsible for other related expenses, including airline or travel agency cancellation or change fees. If a program is postponed, you may receive a refund or transfer your program fee to another session.
If you have questions about transfers or cancellations, please contact us.