Globalisation and the dynamics of the new economic geography is increasingly influencing supply chain management across different industries. Although the literature combining purchasing and logistics in the global supply chain is crucial, it has scarcely been reviewed in this combined approach. With companies like DELL, Walmart, and Li & Fung who are orchestrators in supply chains capitalising upon globalisation, the future trend is for a greater need to understand the purchasing and logistics aspects of global supply chains. In this study a review, analysis and synthesis of the literature in purchasing and logistics in global purchasing is conducted to. The research synthesis will aid both practitioners and researchers in a broader and better understanding of purchasing and logistics issues in the context of global supply chain design.