What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 18)
What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 18)
As the discussion clearly shows, Supply Chain Managers face a wide range of concerns. In my experience the top issues are:
1) Cost Savings -- Senior managers seem to make so much of driving down the "price" of materials and measuring the same year after year with little regard for finding the means to reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of those same materials. Between the demands for price reductions and material quality requirements, the challenge I see in this is one of removing ourselves from the role of "monkey in the middle" and elevating ourselves to that of a "champion" that brings together seemingly opposed priorities. In short, asserting ourselves as leaders and champions of TCO.
2) Resolving Internal Conflict -- Oddly enough, challenge 1 relates directly to challenge 2....overcoming the internal struggle to be all things to all customers. This become even more difficult when there is little support of the Supply Chain Management function at a company's highest levels of management (and hopefully, leadership)! All too often the concept of team play and teamwork is lost within a peer group resulting in internal power struggles. The intentions of each peer within the group may be good, but the execution of individual departmental plans without regard for the common good of the entire organization leads to this particular challenge leaving a materials group to serve competing needs.
3) Keeping Up With a Dynamic Global Economy -- China, Vietnam, India, Eastern Europe (to name but a few) all have economies that affect our profession and procurement strategies. The challenge I see is one of keeping current with changes in the world with respect to its dynamic economies, politics, and social implications. The devaluation of US currency relative to other economies, mixed with international and domestic politics, and interwoven with the impacts on jobs within our companies, communities, and country put a tremendous amount of pressure on our profession to remain in touch with the rest of the world and agile enough to quickly and efficiently overcome the impacts of changes in the same. Sometimes the marketplace seems more like a minefield!!!
What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chainpurchasing professionals today Survey Result 18 - To learn more about this author, visit Jon Hansen's Website.
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Bjorn, International Supply Chain and Material Management Leader, Kansas City, U.S.
As the discussion clearly shows, Supply Chain Managers face a wide range of concerns. In my experience the top issues are:
1) Cost Savings -- Senior managers seem to make so much of driving down the "price" of materials and measuring the same year after year with little regard for finding the means to reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of those same materials. Between the demands for price reductions and material quality requirements, the challenge I see in this is one of removing ourselves from the role of "monkey in the middle" and elevating ourselves to that of a "champion" that brings together seemingly opposed priorities. In short, asserting ourselves as leaders and champions of TCO.
2) Resolving Internal Conflict -- Oddly enough, challenge 1 relates directly to challenge 2....overcoming the internal struggle to be all things to all customers. This become even more difficult when there is little support of the Supply Chain Management function at a company's highest levels of management (and hopefully, leadership)! All too often the concept of team play and teamwork is lost within a peer group resulting in internal power struggles. The intentions of each peer within the group may be good, but the execution of individual departmental plans without regard for the common good of the entire organization leads to this particular challenge leaving a materials group to serve competing needs.
3) Keeping Up With a Dynamic Global Economy -- China, Vietnam, India, Eastern Europe (to name but a few) all have economies that affect our profession and procurement strategies. The challenge I see is one of keeping current with changes in the world with respect to its dynamic economies, politics, and social implications. The devaluation of US currency relative to other economies, mixed with international and domestic politics, and interwoven with the impacts on jobs within our companies, communities, and country put a tremendous amount of pressure on our profession to remain in touch with the rest of the world and agile enough to quickly and efficiently overcome the impacts of changes in the same. Sometimes the marketplace seems more like a minefield!!!
What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chainpurchasing professionals today Survey Result 18 - To learn more about this author, visit Jon Hansen's Website.
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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Linda RichardsonLinda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website |
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