Purchasing and inventory control systems management.

This article introduces a 13-part series of articles on managing the purchasing and inventory control systems for the hospital pharmacy department. The series will focus on the various components of the purchasing and inventory control process. Though the purchasing and inventory control functions are substantially interrelated, each will be presented separately. Most installments will present examples of applications in a wide variety of institutional settings. Topics to be discussed include historical perspectives, assessment of vendors and product selection, bid solicitation and contract negotiation, evaluation of drug procurement alternatives, development of a purchasing system, coordinating the purchasing process, objectives of inventory control, quantitative measurement of inventory control, methods of inventory control, management of the system, automated information systems, and quality assurance.