Public Supplies Work

Public Supplies Work: In Principle and Practice with Particular Reference to Hospitals considers the concepts of supply management. This book is composed of 12 chapters that discuss the nature of the job of supplies officer and the organization of the supplies department.

The opening chapters deal with the purchasing for the public service; influence of provisioning on purchasing arrangements; methods of purchasing supplies; making a list of approved suppliers; keeping stocks to a minimum; principles and systems of keeping records; definition of joint purchasing, central purchasing, and central storage. The succeeding chapters describe the nature, conditions, and types of contracts, as well as the management and maintenance of funds. The discussion then shifts to the importance of knowledge of commodities and its functions. The closing chapters are devoted to the classification and storage of equipment, as well as the examination of function, design, and materials of purchased items.

The book can provide useful information to office administrators, students, and researchers.

Chapter I. The Nature of the Job of Supplies Officer

Purchasing as an Art

Logical Thought in Purchasing

Co-operation with Others

Chapter II. Purchasing for the Public Service

Differences between the Public Service and Private Commerce

Buying for Use and Buying for Resale

Buying to a Price

Ethics: Public Accountability,Attitude to Suppliers, Invitations to Supply, Giving and Receiving Favors

Chapter III. Organization of the Supplies Department

Definition of Task to be Performed

Buying and Stores: The Staff Problem in the National Health Service

The Purchasing Office

Centralization: Buying, Stores

Chapter IV. Provisioning

The Influence of Provisioning on Purchasing Arrangements, and the Provisioning Function at Different Staff Levels

Fixing Stock Levels: The Practicability of Formulas

Chapter V. Purchasing Methods

Running Contracts: Fixed Prices and Permissible Variations

Short-Term Buying

Buying on Discount Terms

'Lollipop' Contracts

The Reference System

Approved List of Suppliers

Division of Purchasing Labor

Timing of Long-Term Contracts

Chapter VI. Stores

Keeping Stores to a Minimum

Principles of Storage: Stock Turnover, Stock Segregation, Security, a Dry Atmosphere

Cleanliness

Stores Personnel

Avoidance of Obsolete Stock

Chapter VII. Paper Work and the Principles and Systems it Represents

Stores Accounts: General Observations (Subjective Expenditure, Objective Costing, Machine Accounting) Stores Records: Design and Purpose of Books and Forms of Prime Entry

The Indent: Consumable Goods, Non-Consumable Replacements, Indent for Inventory Additions

Inquiries for Quotations and Invitations to Tender

The Order

Documents Sent by the Supplier in Respect of an Order: Acknowledgment, Advice Notice, Packing Note, Invoice, Statement

Goods Received Book

Bin Card

Stocktakingcheck List

Filing

Chapter VIII. Joint Purchasing, Central Purchasing, And Central Storage

Definition of Terms

Advantages and Disadvantages of Central Purchasing and Central Storage

Joint Purchasing: The Messer and Hunt Reports

Variety Reduction: Factors Affecting Suitability of Goods for Central or Joint Contracts Value Analysis: Examination of Function, Design, and Materials

Standardization in Specifications

Performance and Manufacturing Specifications

British Standards: Limitations and Correct Use of Them

Chapter X. The Contract

Nature of a Contract

Contracts for Sale of Goods: Conditions, Implied Conditions, Authority to Contract the Contract Document

General Conditions of Contract: Examination of a Typical Set of Conditions

Chapter XI. Capital Projects

Capital and Maintenance Funds

The Supplies Officer's Role: Classification of Equipment, Difficulties in Storage of Equipment Before Installation

Chapter XII. The Quality of the Goods

Importance Of Knowledge of Commodities and Understanding of Their Function

Meaning of 'Quality'

Pre-purchase and Post-Purchase Quality Control

Appendix I. The Hunt Report: A Criticism

Appendix II. Notes on Some Commodities etc.

Textiles

Tea

Timber

Aluminum

Some Observations on Food Quality

Choosing Proprietary Articles

Floor Finishes

Going Metric

Staff