Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-08

The modern purchasing agent Is logi-
cal result of economic pressure. Just
as the manufacturer was forced, by the
tremendous growth of things, in order
to keep pace with the times, to install
a bookkeeper, a sales manager, super
intendent and other subOrdinates who
relieved him of details, so he was driven
to the purchasing agent. But the pur-
chasing agent came last.
Your old time manufacturer, the older
purchasing agents say, generally was
more interested in the mechanics of his
business than anything else. 1t also was
true. the modern buyers assert, that most
any business man was willing TO entrust
to employees the job Of bringing in other
peoples dollars. But to let some one
else spend his hard earned money. Never !
However, he finally came to it, and, with
the development of the men in the pro-
fession to a point where they are invalU-
able adjuncts to all kinds of concerns
which buy and sell materials, no one
expects the purchasing agent ever to de-
part from business.
CHANGES COME WITH
GROWTH OF BUSINESS.
Originally. when concerns were small,
the head of the business did his own
buying" said Dwight S. Ritter. city pur-
chasing agent and president of the Indi-
ana Purchasing Agents Association.
when a salesman came in this manu-.
facturer knew what he wanted and told
the salesman about it right off the bat
"As business grew the heads of bus1-
ness institutions found their work grow
ing so heavy that they had to be re-
Heved of some of 1t so they got book
oF Fine aToI do
tails. A great many manufacturers found
they could not handle the outside and
inside work both, and being largely
mechanics. they were more interested in
production than in selling. SO there were
developed sales departments.
when business grew stiu greater the
manufacturers found they had to con-
suit the other fellows statesmen. who
gradually became more numerous and
took more of their time. With com
Eetitive conditions as they were he often
found that he had to give less time to
the shops and keep supervision of the
whole affair. but he hung onto the buy
ing probably longer than anything else
because that represented a direct outgo.
It is a natural human tendency to be
.areful about entrusting the spending of
-FOUR money to anybUoy else.
WELL BOUGHT
WE'LL SOLD.
''As time went on the realization has
some about that thing well bought Is
well sold and that a man who trains
himself to buy is really a producer for
The company because or wnar ne saves.
with the development of accounting
methods the number of records demanded
In connection with purchasing has in
cre-sed so that most up-to-date pur-
chasing departments are responsible for
lie stock in the plant, the specifications
for proper quantities for the future, a
complete record of all obligations Of the
company for material and labor and con
tinuous advice regarding business con
ditions and plans for the future.
In an increasing number Of concerns
he purchasing agent is a director of the
company and his individual signature OBJ
ugates the company in unlimited amounts
He is expected to know all about every
thing, never TO have too much stock, but
to be able to get more without delay, to
listen to the troubles of every one in the
organiza ton and fill their needs, To give
a courteous hearing TO every salesman
who may wish to call on him and to
have a change of subject every minute
in the day and still be fresh In the eve
ming.
The purchasing agent may see twenty
five statesmen N day who are experts