In 2002 CIPS celebrated its 70th birthday and this article chartered the history of the purchasing profession.
It references the F J White book Purchasing Pioneers published in 1970. In it White says bid rigging was endemic and companies would request tenders to supply products and raw materials, only to receive a dozen or so exactly equal tenders, all at the same price.
Given the recent OFT investigation into supplier collusion in the construction industry, do you think the profession has moved on?
If not, is bid rigging an issue buyers will always be faced with?