Purchasing is a method by which an individual or organization acquires goods or services to achieve its objectives. Despite the efforts of numerous organizations to establish purchase standards, processes can differ widely between companies. Procurement managers/directors and purchasing managers/directors are in charge of the organization's procurement methods and standards. The majority of companies base their purchasing systems on a three-way check. This entails three different phases of the purchase process being completed by three other divisions inside the company. The three departments do not all report to the same senior manager to avoid unethical tactics and provide credibility to the process. Purchasing, receiving, and accounts payable; engineering, purchasing, and accounts payable; or a plant manager, purchasing, and accounts payable are examples of these departments.