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What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 21)

Written by: Jon Hansen

Article Overview: There are many factors both internally as well as externally that are affecting supply chain/ procurement practices today. From the growing talent vacuum to the continuing lack of collaboration between Finance, IT and Purchasing relative to corporate initiatives. What in your own experiences and opionions are the top 3 issues that procurement professionals face?

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by supply chain/purchasing professionals today? (Survey Result 21)

Jerry, Small Business Owner, Kansas City, U.S.

Hi Jon
Interesting question, here are my thoughts:

1) Perceived lack of recognition of the function from those within it
2) Lack of skill in presenting purchasing related issues in a way the board wants to hear them
3) Lack of strategic, business thinking

I found that the aspirations of many in the profession are: "To be a Purchasing Director". My question is then: What next?

After purchasing presents: "We will save money and do that via partnership with suppliers" they have nothing more to say in terms a CFO would really relate to.

The challenge is therefore for the people WITHIN the profession to recognize where their skills are lacking and develop them. I think it is starting. It should be said that I worked as a recruiter/trainer in this field 3 years ago so things may be better!

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Article Tags: 3 years, aspirations, cfo, field 3, kansas city, money, partnership, profession, recruiter, small business owner



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Re: What is your biggest challenge? Today? - [quote:3ce2ievo](Oh, the state of the human condition! What challenges we create for ourselves. Do the birds of the air toil as we do? Or do they simply revel in the joy of each moment?)[/quote:3ce2ievo] GT - Be like the birds... That's my biggest challenge today.
Re: What Businesses to Bail Out? - That's the tough thing. People are really hanging onto their money right now, in fear that they may lose their job. No one is secure and it's going to be one of our biggest challenges ever to get through this crisis. All the money Obama sank into the system to get things moving and 10 months later we are still losing jobs. There's got to be a better way.
Re: What is your biggest challenge? Today? - My today biggest challenge was to avoid distractions... and i managed.
Finding Good People - From my own experiences and from interviewing some of Canada's fastest growing companies, one of the biggest challenges always seems to be finding good people to hire. What have you guys done to find good people and keep them in your organization?
Survey the Landlord - Terry, my suggestion is simple but powerful - Survey. Survey Landlords and find out what is important to them. By doing this it does two things: 1. You will find out trends/under-operated services that Landlords are currently unsatisfied with = your client will be able to fulfill 2. You are infact Marketing your clients services by doign this because when you are approaching your landlords it not a sales pitch and they have someone to clear their frustrations with. Then when you approach them after a month (when you've put your numbers together and identified services that are most important) you can remind them of the survey and share with them the results. At this point you can end with an offer to use your clients services to manage their property. I use this method with my clients who are looking for new services to develop in thier markets. It's simple but powerful.


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