Supply Excellence

Sustainability Strategies for Real World Savings

December 1st, 2008 · 4 Comments · best practices, enviro/social sustainability, oil/energy, sourcing, supply management

In a recent post on the impact that corporate sustainability programs can have in driving bottom line savings during an era of shrinking top line revues, a commenter asked for a follow-up post on the tactics leading organizations are using to achieve results. Great request and I’ll do my best to oblige.
One of the first [...]

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Does the Struggling Economy Put Sustainability on Hold?

November 11th, 2008 · 7 Comments · LCCS and trade, enviro/social sustainability, oil/energy, sourcing, supply management, supply risk

The struggling world economy has some wondering if we - consumers and businesses alike - have raised expectations in the area of sustainability higher than we can afford. It’s a fair question since past environmental movements have stalled when the economy turned sluggish, as it did in the early 1990s.
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz wrote an [...]

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Marketing sees “Green”, Procurement sees “Cost Savings”

October 23rd, 2008 · 1 Comment · best practices, enviro/social sustainability, sourcing, supply management

Ryan Walicki of National City Bank leads a procurement team with some very aggressive savings goals. With their focus on indirect spend (a bank, after all, can’t print money), they’re tasked with a 500% ROI on their efforts this year and a whopping 700% next year!
Despite those massive goals, procurement has actually taken a lead [...]

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MeadWestvaco’s Global Approach to Supplies and Sales

October 20th, 2008 · No Comments · LCCS and trade, best practices, enviro/social sustainability, events, sourcing, supply management

Another enlightening presenter at last week’s Spend Management Day in Seattle - which by the way was at the Edgewater Hotel of Beatles fame and Led Zeppelin infamy - was Erik Rupinski from MeadWestvaco’s Supply Chain Solutions group.
Like many companies, MeadWestvaco (MWV) is global in terms of their supply chain, acquisition strategy and sales. Some [...]

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British Airways CEO: Spend Management “Vital to Survival”

October 13th, 2008 · 4 Comments · best practices, enviro/social sustainability, oil/energy, outsourcing, sourcing, supplier management

On a swing through Europe last week, I had the good fortune to attend a discussion with British Airways CEO Willie Walsh during the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) forum at the new Sofitel in the airline’s new Terminal 5 at London Heathrow.
In between pot shots at rival Virgin Airlines CEO Sir Richard [...]

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