Subscribe:
RSS feed
Procurement decisions don’t fail inside procurement. They fail when real-world conditions hit them. That’s what we assess.
Generative AI Video: An Uncut, Unedited Webinar Sneak Peek with Bill Michels, Rob Handfield, (and Dr. Marcell Vollmer*)
November 20, 2023
With 900 plus radio interviews under my belt as a host, plus numerous television and webinar appearances, the only thing I have enjoyed more than the live broadcasts are the green room discussions before going live. While the live events are energized and engaging, the raw, uncut, and unedited discussions have a different feel that […]
Posted in: Commentary
Which Is Better – A Centralized or Decentralized Procurement Practice?
November 19, 2023
Editor’s Note: The following response/post was inspired by another interesting LinkedIn share by Joël Collin-Demers under the heading: “Standing up a new centralized Procurement department is a tough gig.” The following excerpt from a June 2007 post talks about decentralization and centralization in procurement – https://bit.ly/40HDpfL The theory behind the balanced approach is that self-sufficient […]
Posted in: Commentary
Price Industries: The Best Example Ever of Stepping Out From Behind The Company Logo!
November 18, 2023
Like reaching the summit of Everest, of course, the closest I ever came to such a feat was accidentally skiing down a black diamond run, falling only twice and not breaking any bones. That’s a story for another post. Over the past weeks and months, I have written several posts about how service provider leaders […]
Posted in: Commentary
Inexpensive O-rings Prevent An EV Manufacturer From Delivering Dozens of $250K Vehicles – WHY?
November 17, 2023
Until I get the right answer, I am going to keep asking WHY. What is the difference between the following excerpts from the 2009 article and the 2023 LinkedIn post comment: 2009 ARTICLE “Here’s another real-world example of how a little break in a supply line can have a big impact. (The pandemic-related concern about […]
Posted in: Commentary
We don’t need maps with logos – we need to see the expertise of the leaders behind them.
November 16, 2023
Here is my response to another thought-provoking LinkedIn post by Kelly Barner regarding the meteoric rise and sensational collapse of Convoy Inc. Why should you care about the Convoy failure? Because it is another example of how we put tech ahead of the essential experience and expertise of the leaders behind the service provider logos […]
Posted in: Commentary
When Does A Five Cent Part Cost You A Million
November 15, 2023
Based on my research – including feedback from practitioners, here are the three main challenges manufacturers face today : Why am I sharing this information with you? There are two reasons: There is also a third reason. Over the past few weeks, I have had an increasing number of service providers, consultants, and practitioners reach […]
Posted in: Commentary
Video Check: This Is What Can Happen If You Chase Solutions Versus Solving Problems
November 13, 2023
COMMENT 1: Excellent points all the way around, Michael Lamoureux, Robert Meza, and Marc Stickdorn! Here is an excerpt from a recent post titled “Are you chasing solutions or solving problems? (Part 1 of 3)” – https://bit.ly/3FBnFRr “When organizations make the mistake of leading with technology, they are bending their people and processes around an […]
Posted in: Commentary, Tik Tok
As A Procurement Professional, Are You Using The “Right Tools” To Get The Job Done?
November 11, 2023
30
Posted in: Commentary, Funny Thing
The Four Practitioner Personas Every Service Provider Should Know
November 10, 2023
Video Summary: Jon Hansen and Bill DeMartino discuss the importance of being a customer-first solution provider and the different approaches to implementing change in organizations. They identify four personas, including those focused on immediate action, gradual improvements, process changes, and mid-market solutions. The conversation emphasizes solving problems rather than just building systems or selling technology. […]
Posted in: Commentary, Podcasts
Procurement Insights 
At which point should end-to-end (S2C) source-customer visibility begin in the manufacturing process?
November 21, 2023
0
EDITOR’S NOTE: In December 2010, I wrote an article about one of Time Magazine’s picks for the Top Innovations in 2008 – Made-in-Transit Packaging. In my December 2019 post, Sorry, Charlie, there is something wrong with the world’s seafood supply chain I talked about consumer demand for tracking the seafood industry from source to plate. […]