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How exposed to AI is a Purchasing Manager?

Of the 18 tasks O*NET lists for purchasing managers, 2 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 3 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Category Purchasing ManagerCommodity ManagerMaterials DirectorMaterials ManagerProcurement DirectorProcurement ManagerPurchasing DirectorPurchasing ManagerPurchasing SupervisorStrategic Sourcing Director
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
18
tasks rated for this occupation
63%
hold a degree, from a survey of only 19
69k
people do this job in the US
9 of 56
least protected in management

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

2
  • Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures
  • Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment

Only with software built on top

13
  • Represent companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with suppliers
  • Develop cost reduction strategies and savings plans
  • Prepare bid awards requiring board approval
  • Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies
  • Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales
  • Control purchasing department budgets
  • Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy
  • Administer online purchasing systems
  • Maintain records of goods ordered and received
  • Analyze market and delivery systems to assess present and future material availability
  • Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products, or substitute materials
  • Prepare reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs
  • Arrange for disposal of surplus materials

Cannot be sped up

3
  • Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training
  • Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids
  • Resolve vendor or contractor grievances and claims against suppliers
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.