The key component of a firm supply chain: purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing_______________. 2. What they buy: the goods and services that the company or needs. 3. Purchasing professionals consider price, quality, availability, , and _________support when choosing supplies. 4. The purchasing managers try to buy the goods at the best price by studying sales ___________ and inventory levels of current stock, and identifying foreign and ________ suppliers. 5. The man thought that the purchase was a useless in the company, but now he knows it is an ___________ one indeed.