Purchasing

The tragedy from Paris was planned by people with no regard for human life. It was planned by terrorists whose personal values don’t support basic humanity.  A terrible tragedy. As humans, what do we all want more of? I have this saying I sometimes repeat to myself. “I wish you and I a life of safety, health, happiness and much to be grateful for” It’s a simple saying, but when I find myself getting irritated with co-workers or...

I have an attitude problem. I once had a user accuse me of having an attitude problem. I was new to the company and was introducing myself to purchasing. I had already data mined (using MD04 – my favorite SAP Supply Chain monitor) and seen that a user was placing their SAP POs late. During my introduction I told a story about how a senior VP at my previous company would have to explain to multi-million dollar clients why we were late...

I have spoken at World Class Supply Chain conferences on how to execute major business transformations. I have consulted at large aerospace and pharmaceutical companies as well as advised the US Navy based on audit recommendations sent to the Secretary of Defense at the White House. What I’m about to tell is the number one reason why you aren’t #1 in your business and how to get to #1. You aren’t focusing enough on your client. Or you...

Think about these points before embarking on a Supply Chain transformation project. Have the executives fully on board and have them communicate (it is a business project not an IT only project) Is there product portfolio alignment between Finance, Marketing, Sales and the Supply Chain? It all starts with Forecast accuracy and understanding forecast bias Do a comprehensive ROI (Return On Investment) analysis on Projects Use standard...

Here are a few sobering statistics on how IT automation has eliminated non value adding tasks – from Quartz magazine. Between 2000 and 2010, the jobs of 1.1 million secretaries were eliminated In the same period, the number of telephone operators dropped by 64%, travel agents by 46% and bookkeepers by 26%. “Two-thirds of the 7.6 million middle-class jobs that vanished in Europe were the victims of technology”. Let’s talk about...

Without a doubt Kaizen. Kaizen When I was at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Canada more than 14 years ago, our VP of Operations brought in Japanese Kaizen experts that had worked at Toyota in Japan. With the multiple and continuous improvements that this method brought, we gained enormous efficiencies in the supply chain and in some cases reduced engine lead times from 24 to 4 months. That VP, Louis Chenevert went on to become Chairman...