Masterclass in Contracts and Purchasing for Non-Lawyers (10 Days)

Introduction

The integration of industry benchmarking standards in purchasing and contract management is crucial today. The Mercury Training Center is pleased to announce a two-week intensive seminar designed to enhance strategic capabilities in managing purchases and contracts.

This seminar will cover a wide range of essential topics, equipping participants with the knowledge and experience needed to offer effective and innovative solutions in their organizations.

Objectives

By the conclusion of this Master of Purchasing and Contract Law course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the major elements of purchasing and contract management.
• Analyze contract options and associated risks.
• Define team composition and responsibilities.
• Understand the reasons for changes in purchasing and contracts.
• Analyze commercial contracts for typical clauses.
• Implement changes within the team and organization.
• Develop strategies and tactics for effective purchasing and contract law.
• Utilize methods such as tendering and negotiation.
• Identify critical components of a purchasing contract.
• Manage performance in purchasing and contracting.
• Measure success through the use of KPIs.

Training Methodology

• Workshops
• Case studies
• Role play and simulation games
• Group discussions
• Expert panels

Course Outline

Unit 1: Objectives of Contract Administration

• Effective contract management
• Communicating contract priorities
• Understanding contract administration roles
• Facilitating post-award conferences
• Conducting procurement reviews
• Defining and monitoring key results
• Establishing performance measures

Unit 2: Outputs and Contract Types

• Outcomes of good contract administration
• Contract monitoring
• Examining and responding to risk
• Types of contracts
• Performance in cost-type contracts
• Economic price adjustments
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Unit 3: Maintaining Schedules and Contract Changes

• Ensuring adherence to contract schedules
• Expediting techniques
• Reasons for contract change orders
• Dealing with price increases and cost impact
• Bond and guarantee issues

Unit 4: Issues in Contract Performance

• Contract termination and legal risks
• Service level termination events
• Understanding and responding to breaches
• Importance of manuals and drawings
• Improving supplier/contractor relationships
• Problem-solving with subcontractors

Unit 5: Acceptance and Close-Out

• Importance of warranty clauses
• Payment forms and progress distribution
• Claims and disputes resolution
• Final acceptance procedures
• Contract close-out and performance evaluation meetings

Unit 6: Efficient Purchasing in Modern Organizations

• Role of the purchasing function
• Interdependence of purchasing with other functions
• Fundamentals and current methods of purchasing management
• Effective communication and team assignments
• Goals related to the purchasing department

Unit 7: Purchasing Effectiveness Tools

• Spend mapping
• Supply position strategy
• Supplier intelligence and selection
• Management of distributors and agents

Unit 8: Financial and Non-Financial Tools for Purchasing

• Pricing systems and their effects
• Value analysis in purchasing
• Cost analysis and total cost of ownership
• Lifecycle costing of fixed assets
• Early involvement of other functions in purchasing

Unit 9: Use of Appropriate Sourcing Techniques

• Tendering, negotiation, direct sourcing, e-sourcing
• Techniques for RFIs and RFQs
• Overcoming negotiation difficulties
• International negotiation strategies
• E-procurement systems

Unit 10: Implementing Purchasing Improvements

• Key performance measures
• Metrics for evaluating performance
• Strategies for process improvement
• Communication planning
• Formulating an action plan for purchasing improvement