对于美国的制造业来说,国际互联网和全球化如同一把双刃剑。网络增强了许多商务功能,提供了即时的数据和信息,改变了旧式的低工作效率。在全球化给美国工业带来恩惠的同时,也给一些公司带来了倒闭的危险 ;既带来了过去几十年中不可获得的机会,也迅猛地增加了交易中的竞争。这两股力量的变迁触及到商务活动的方方面面,在采购方面尤为突出。当采购经纪人的工作被效能增加了的电子商务所简化的同时,全球化的影响也出现了。举例来说,中国已成为一个主要的廉价品来源地。同时,它也发展成为一个主要的原材料消费国。市场发育不健全和价格增涨为整个工业界带来挑战。当今的采购经纪人其工作是解决处于全球市场萌芽中的问题,并且能从这个市场中获利。我们请在机械工业领域里的职业采购人描述了当前的状况和发展趋势以及在他们里所起的作用。 For the U.S. manufacturing industry, the Internet and globalization are like double-edged sword. The network enhances many business functions, provides instant data and information, and changes old-style low productivity. While globalization has brought benefits to American industry, it has also brought some companies the risk of bankruptcy; it has both brought about opportunities that have not been available in the past few decades and rapidly increased competition in transactions. The changes in these two forces touch all aspects of business activities, especially in terms of procurement. As purchasing agents’ work has been simplified by the increased effectiveness of e-commerce, the effects of globalization have also emerged. For example, China has become a major source of cheap goods. At the same time, it has also developed into a major consumer of raw materials. Imperfect market development and rising prices pose challenges to the entire industry. Today’s buying agents work to solve problems that are in their infancy in the global market and to benefit from this market. We invite career buyers in the field of machinery industry to describe the current situation and trends as well as the role they play in them.