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Purchasing agent skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Purchasing agent example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical purchasing agent skills. We ranked the top skills for purchasing agents based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 30.1% of purchasing agent resumes contained purchase orders as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a purchasing agent needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 purchasing agent skills for your resume and career

1. Purchase Orders

Here's how purchasing agents use purchase orders:
  • Supervised and monitored purchase orders, service agreements, bids and vendor selection, government subcontracting reports and contract administration.
  • Research discrepancies involved in reconciliation of vendor invoices to purchase orders or notification from vendor and resolves shipment discrepancies.

2. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how purchasing agents use customer service:
  • Led, mentored and developed high performance cross-cultural/cross-functional operations teams that consistently exceeded customer service/satisfaction/performance/quality improvement goals over top competitors.
  • Book Keeper/Credit Collector/Clerical Assistant/Customer Service Rep/Head Cashier

3. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how purchasing agents use logistics:
  • Collaborated with superintendent/project manager regarding logistics.
  • Administered all service logistics from handling customer communications and quoting prices to conducting technical queries and developing solutions for obsolete parts.

4. Inventory Control

Here's how purchasing agents use inventory control:
  • Promoted to Inventory Control Supervisor because of recognized depth of experience, capability and leadership qualities and consistently strong performance reviews.
  • Handled all aspects of purchasing and scheduling, customer order processing and inventory control in a contract manufacturing environment.

5. MRP

MRP is an abbreviation of Material Requirements Planning and refers to the control system which is implemented in the planning and management of the activities related to manufacturing. Through MRP, manufacturers can easily schedule the production and it can also be used for inventory. MRP systems are mostly software-based but the process can also be carried out manually.

Here's how purchasing agents use mrp:
  • Reviewed MRP generated inventory reports and expedited necessary material to meet customer order deadlines on a daily basis.
  • Prepared purchase orders using a mechanically run MRP forecast utilizing SAP stabilizing and reducing on-hand inventory.

6. Cost Savings

Here's how purchasing agents use cost savings:
  • Negotiated and executed contracts in accordance with competitive bidding policies, risk mitigation guidelines and cost savings objectives.
  • Complete strategic sourcing objectives leveraging cost reduction strategies to issue long term agreements with documented negotiated cost savings.

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7. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how purchasing agents use erp:
  • Supplied previous system implementation expertise and inventory transaction subject matter expertise when Optima Batteries implemented QAD's ERP software.
  • Achieve company milestone of transferring Third Party Manufacturing purchasing operations to Ireland purchasing within new ERP platform.

8. Corrective Action

Here's how purchasing agents use corrective action:
  • Monitored and analyzed the downtime and used the problem solving methodology to locate bottlenecks and assist in implementing corrective action plans/tasks.
  • Audited and reviewed major acquisitions of similar complexity and findings, and recommended corrective actions and policy or procedure improvements.

9. R

R is a free software environment and a language used by programmers for statistical computing. The R programming language is famously used for data analysis by data scientists.

Here's how purchasing agents use r:
  • Formed an important part of the Supply chain by creating a link between R and D and commercial purchasing.
  • Produce yearly Tier II and Form R reports from MIRS program (hazardous chemicals).

10. Supplier Performance

Supplier performance refers to practices aimed at optimizing a supplier's performance and capabilities.

Here's how purchasing agents use supplier performance:
  • Maintained strong relationships with domestic and international suppliers, obtained cost savings opportunities, updated pricing and reviewed supplier performance.
  • Participated within a team environment to identify and implement process improvements to resolve problems related to supplier performance and/or billings.

11. Delivery Dates

A delivery date is a day on which a stock, bond, or option trade must be finalized. In other words, it is a final date on which the underlying commodities for a forward contract must be delivered for the fulfillment of the terms of the contract.

Here's how purchasing agents use delivery dates:
  • Coordinate with different transportation Companies to schedule expected delivery dates to ensure manufacturing Schedules are properly achieved for the customers.
  • Maintained an excellent relationship with raw material vendors ensuring delivery dates for materials ordered supported the ever changing production schedule.

12. On-Time Delivery

On-Time Delivery, or OTD, is a metric that measures the rate at which finished goods and deliveries are completed on time. This rate is measured by the overall number of units shipped within a specified time frame agreed upon by the consumer and supplier. On-Time Delivery allows suppliers' compliance with delivery deadlines, and hence their consistency, to be assessed using a continuous and collaborative development approach.

Here's how purchasing agents use on-time delivery:
  • Created a process for expediting material to customers which insured on-time delivery, increased customer satisfaction and repeat customers.
  • Created and maintained program metrics including on-time delivery, inventory levels, forecast accuracy, and available-to-promise rate.

13. RFQ

A request for quotation (RFQ) is a document that a corporation submits to one or more potential suppliers obtaining quotations for a service or product. Typically, an RFQ seeks a detailed list of prices for something that is measurable like hardware and it involves more than the price per item. RFQ, call for bids and invitation for bid generally mean the same thing.

Here's how purchasing agents use rfq:
  • Processed purchase orders from electronically generated RFQ'S.
  • Review request for small purchases, complete RFQ with required FAR / DAR requirements, place orders based on quotes received.

14. POS

POS is an abbreviation of "Point of Sale" which is the time and place where a customer completes a transaction. It can either be a physical shop that consists of POS terminals or a virtual shop. A POS system helps simplify the retail functions and track important sales data.

Here's how purchasing agents use pos:
  • Procured materials including - electronic components, POS systems, computers, peripherals, software and other OEM and raw materials.
  • Trained employees on the use of Point-of-Sale (POS) system and Radio Frequency (RF) hand held terminal.

15. Inventory Management

Here's how purchasing agents use inventory management:
  • Developed user-friendly inventory management system.
  • Participated in the implementation of an inventory management program consisting of identifying, managing and deploying spare parts or materials cost-effectively.
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List of purchasing agent skills to add to your resume

Purchasing agent skills

The most important skills for a purchasing agent resume and required skills for a purchasing agent to have include:

  • Purchase Orders
  • Customer Service
  • Logistics
  • Inventory Control
  • MRP
  • Cost Savings
  • ERP
  • Corrective Action
  • R
  • Supplier Performance
  • Delivery Dates
  • On-Time Delivery
  • RFQ
  • POS
  • Inventory Management
  • ISO
  • Production Schedules
  • Cost Reduction
  • Product Quality
  • MRO
  • Vendor Relations
  • Place Orders
  • Office Equipment
  • Supplier Relationships
  • Strategic Sourcing
  • Computer System
  • Cost Analysis
  • Bid Proposals
  • Payment Terms
  • Delivery Schedules
  • AS400
  • RFP
  • Price Analysis
  • Vendor Performance
  • Unacceptable Goods
  • Capital Equipment
  • Cycle Counts
  • HVAC
  • Product Line
  • BOM
  • Master List
  • Product Availability
  • Customer Orders
  • Quality Issues
  • Kanban
  • Sales Orders
  • Financial Reports
  • Vendor Management System
  • Physical Inventory
  • RMA

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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