Need help understand the relationship between Engineers and Procurement!

Since you are doing this for a job and getting paid, tell me how much you are going to pay me and I will give you a very clear and concise definition.

It's a love-hate relationship . . .

Engineers specify the correct equipment and material required to do the job; managers then change the specifications to cut costs, and then Procurement purchases the cheapest junk they can get hold of, guaranteeing project failure. After that, everyone blames the engineers for not doing their job properly.

Don't you ever read Dilbert?

RIGHT ON!! After being consulted for my opinion, I've heard numerous "I can get a cheaper one at so and so's that will do the same thing". I didn't specify the cheaper one because it's crap! Procurement, also known as buyers, purchasing agents, etc. has it's place but also need to understand that if you don't have the experience to recommend, stay out of the conversation.

Some thing are similar in Eastern Europe:)