Tomes have been written on how technology has streamlined and improved existing supply management processes — from ordering paper clips via a Web-based catalog to sourcing complex assemblies via highly competitive online negotiation methods with suppliers from all corners of the globe.
Yet, little ink has been shed on the real value technology will bring to [...]

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If you didn’t heed my warning last week to read Purchasing magazine’s cover story, Best Practices in Risk Management, maybe this will entice you to take a look:
Click image to enlarge.
 
According to the article, “Executives have learned that it’s not just continuity of supply that’s affected: It’s the company’s financial performance.”
Indeed, as the above graphic [...]

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In a call with Purchasing magazine Editor-in-Chief Paul Teague earlier this week, the discussion inevitably turned to the big issues facing purchasing and supply management executives today. Top of mind for the CPOs Teague’s been talking to: supply risk.
“The role of purchasing has transitioned to become one of risk portfolio manager,” said Teague. “Low-cost country [...]

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Inquiring minds at the Aberdeen Group want to know.
The industry analyst cum new-age benchmarking firm has launched its latest investigation into how supply management organizations are aggregating, classifying, and analyzing spend data. Andrew Bartolini, head of Aberdeen’s Supply Management research practice, says the study will:

Assess major drivers for spend analysis
Examine successful strategies, and
Provide quantifiable benchmarks [...]

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As proof that you can’t believe everything you read, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that overall employment for purchasing and supply managers is expected to “grow slower than the average for all occupations through the year 2014.”
What?

Don’t tell that to the VP of Procurement and Operations at a Massachusetts-based manufacturing company I met [...]

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