If you could change one aspect of the purchasing process, what would you change?

"Purchasing needs to be seen more as a strategic part of an organization and brought into business decisions earlier. An example is product design. Traditionally, purchasing is made aware of future products well into the design phase, sometimes even after a product has been fully designed. Strategic purchasing models, where we are brought in earlier in the process can affect products by making the business aware of purchasing issues such as the availability of materials, alternatives, or market conditions."