PM409 - Procurement Management Foundations for Project Managers
Program Description
Every successful project depends on the right partners, products, and contracts. Whether you’re buying software, hiring vendors, or managing service providers, understanding how project procurement works is essential.
In this interactive 4-hour session, you’ll learn the essentials of procurement management: what it is, why it matters, and how to do it effectively. We’ll break down the key steps, from deciding what to buy to selecting vendors and tracking contracts, all in plain language and with real-world examples. You’ll walk away with practical tools, ready-to-use templates, and a new level of confidence managing project procurement.
You can earn 4 PDHs toward your PMP certification with this workshop.
What You’ll Learn:
By the end of the workshop, you’ll be able to:
- Understand the end-to-end project procurement process.
- Write a simple, clear procurement plan.
- Make smart make-or-buy decisions.
- Create effective RFIs, RFPs, and Statements of Work (SOWs).
- Select and manage vendors with confidence.
Who Should Attend:
This workshop is designed for:
- Project managers and team leads who handle purchasing or vendor relationships.
- New PMs who want to understand procurement without the jargon.
- Business analysts or coordinators involved in planning or supplier selection.
- Anyone curious about how procurement impacts project success.
Course Outline
- Introduction to Project Procurement: Purpose, processes, and key concepts
- Planning & Make-or-Buy Decisions: How to decide what to source externally
- Contracts & Vendor Selection: Types of contracts, RFPs/RFIs, and choosing vendors
- Statements of Work & Purchase Orders: Essentials for procurement documentation
- Tracking & Managing Procurement: Avoiding common pitfalls and ensuring compliance
- Interactive Case Studies: Apply concepts using templates and real-world examples
Claude Scher has extensive experience in project and portfolio management, holding various leadership roles in different companies. Claude currently works as a Senior Project Manager at Veolia North America. Prior to this, Claude served as the Chief Project Officer at Senta Technologies LLC. Claude also volunteered as the President (Elect) of the PMI Milwaukee Chapter at PMI-Milwaukee/SE WI Chapter. In addition, Claude has held significant positions at Charter Manufacturing, ISO, Johnson Controls, MillerCoors, CNH, Serigraph, and Johnson Controls Battery Group, Inc., where he has contributed to the development and implementation of various IT projects and programs.