Sunday, July 06, 2008
Edition 9 (April 2007)
PREVIOUS EDITIONS
Our profession is about more than cost-cutting - Price is not the only factor in excellent procurement.
There are times when everyone seems to stop and ask what they are doing and whether there might be a better way. Now seems to be that kind of moment. Several influential people seem to be asking a few basic questions about the purpose of procurement which centre around the debate over cost-cutting. Leading the argument in favour of cost-cutting in this issue is the research group Aberdeen. “Tangible cost savings”, says Aberdeen, basing its claim on a survey of procurement leaders, are “by far the most important value metric”.
On the other side of the table is the Germany-based consultancy BrainNet. In their report, also based on a survey and revealed exclusively in this issue, they say procurement leaders should be responsible for a lot more than savings. Making a point often heard in discussions over the vexed question of producing savings and proving “bottom line results”, BrainNet point out that “you can't go on squeezing the same lemon over and over again”.
more from the Editor...
PROCUREMENT FEATURES
- People do matter most really
Thu, 03 May 2007 13:49:23 - Procurement Outsourcing Roundtable: How fast, how far?
Thu, 03 May 2007 08:43:44 - Is carbon offsetting the answer to climate change?
Wed, 02 May 2007 16:39:06 - How I.T. shows the way upward
Wed, 02 May 2007 11:36:47 - How your supplier relations measure up
Wed, 02 May 2007 09:00:31 - Scenario: How do you persuade your team and your board-level managers that there is usually far more to good purchasing than price alone?
Wed, 02 May 2007 08:34:35 - Successful teams focus on innovation over cost
Tue, 01 May 2007 15:38:47 - Our profession is about more than cost-cutting - Price is not the only factor in excellent procurement.
Tue, 01 May 2007 15:01:53 - Dr Hugo Eckseler - The procurement scientist
Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:50:03
PROCUREMENT NEWS
- Make 2007 the year for planning ahead
Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:37:21 - China to attract multinationals with designated outsourcing cities
Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:32:07 - Service providers must focus on innovation
Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:26:39 - India picks up Norwegian IT business
Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:21:31 - A good case for defence
Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:11:48 - Procurement leaders say managing staff is number one task
Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:04:21
OPINIONS
Opinion: Aim for the top to add real value
Procurement is a much more acceptable function these days than 10 or 20 years ago, when the basic understanding of its added value was limited to purchase order management, writes Roland Verdon.
Opinion: In the driving seat
Many CPOs don't know how much they spend on indirect material or services or which suppliers they use, writes Sven Anders Stegare.
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
Enlightened procurement professionals agree that there is usually far more to good purchasing than price alone. But as the new CPO at an organisation where price rules, how do you persuade your team and your board-level managers?
Read what the experts say
PROFILE
Featured Profile: Dr Hugo Eckseler
He has a background in science and an expert understanding of every stage in the supply chain. Mark Whitehead spoke to Dr Hugo Eckseler, CPO at Deutsche Post World Net, about his achievements at the world’s biggest logistics company.
View profile
