Driven by a down economy and difficult economic realities, many organizations are discovering that what worked well in the past may not be what is needed now to move forward or even survive. This comprehensive and analytical resource draws comparisons between practicing basic procurement and the more advanced modern principles of strategic supply management, and clearly demonstrates how merely practicing the basic procurement principles and methods of the past in our new economy can lead to disastrous consequences. This valuable guide shows readers how to attain best-in-class supply management performance to help insure survival and achieve competitive advantage. For the individuals in the trenches actually doing the work, it shows why strategic supply management and procurement practices are important to their jobs, why and how to use them, and what benefits can be derived from using them. Supply Management and Procurement: From the Basics to Best-in-Class contains proven tools and techniques and a wealth of information that procurement and supply management professionals at any level can use to improve both their organization’s performance and their individual performance in real-world situations they face on a daily basis. This unique text is ideal for individual learning, corporate training, and academic course instruction. About the Author: Robert W. Turner Robert W. Turner is President and CEO of Business Training Solutions which offers printed, CD-ROM, audio, and web-based training solutions to businesses that can be used to self-train employees internally on various business functions and activities such as supply management, negotiating, marketing, and other important topics. Robert was a former CEO in the coal industry and has held numerous other senior management positions over the past 40 years. He has over 30 years of successfully applied supply management and procurement knowledge in a variety of industries, including his role as a financial analyst and procurement specialist in the Strategic Sourcing department of UPS, where he was responsible for contract development, negotiations, and procurement of several hundred million dollars worth of goods and services to support UPS airline operations in 220 countries and territories.