Procurement
Procurement Strategy
Tenders or outsourcing programmes run without the benefit of a clear underlying strategy can fail to fulfil a company’s long-term aims.
We work with clients to review their current portfolio of suppliers and the procurement markets they are operating in. Risks and opportunities are analysed with the result being a one-page set of strategic goals and milestones for each service being bought and for each supplier. These are then used to decide when and how to tender services.
Link to Case Study 12 – Priority Setting in Distribution Procurement
Supplier and Market Analysis
An understanding of the market place from which you buy and the suppliers operating in that marketplace is vital to developing a robust supply strategy.
What capabilities and capacities are available from which suppliers and who offers the best value? Do my supplier’s objectives sit comfortably with my supply strategy? The Supply Chain Design Company has a team of people who have successfully reviewed these issues in different logistics procurement areas across the UK and Europe. We have a good understanding of the different market places in the UK and other European countries and apply principles of market and supplier analysis to build a database of knowledge to inform decision-making.
Link to Case Study 7 – To tender or to develop?
Link to Case Study 11 – Supplier Analysis leading to a new engagement strategy
Supplier Relationship Management
There is more to Best in Class procurement than just buying more cheaply. Competitive advantage is gained by organizations that work with their supply base for mutual advantage. However, it is not possible to work with all suppliers in this way and increasingly scarce resources must be targeted where benefits will be greatest.
The Supply Chain Design Company analyse the supply base to identify suppliers of strategic importance and support the client in engaging with these few via a structured supplier relationship management process.
Link to Case Study 16 – Supporting a supplier to achieve his potential
Supplier Performance Measurement
The Supply Chain Design Company believes strongly in performance monitoring to improve knowledge and process management within both the company and the supplier. Performance measurement is one of the key components of an efficient Vendor Assurance system, important to ensure continuity of supply of a fit for use service and/or materials.
With extensive experience in setting, monitoring and reviewing KPI targets we can provide a short and effective target list to evaluate supplier (and buyer) performance.
Vendor Assurance Programs
The Supply Chain Design Company applies the principles of Vendor Assurance, which are normally applied to raw materials, to the provision of logistics services. Business dislocation caused by logistics service failures can be more damaging than material supply failures. We aim to provide continuity of supply by ensuring that existing and proposed suppliers are fit for purpose and that they present a known and manageable risk to your business.
Link to Case Study 15 – Using Vendor Assurance to support the provision of services
3PL Procurement
Whether deciding to contract out a service for the first time or looking to replace or challenge an existing supplier, the choice of service provider is vital for the well being of any business.
At The Supply Chain Design Company we have first hand experience in successfully contracting out a wide variety of logistics services and the potential risks and safeguards that should be employed. We have worked with most of the large third party logistics providers (3 PLs) as well as a large number of smaller providers and can guide clients through the process of selecting and evaluating a supplier. . If a service is being contracted out for the first time we can assist with the specification writing and give advice on issues such as TUPE.
Link to Case Study 13 – Radical change to a finished goods network
Link to Case Study 14 – Combining networks to provide a better and cheaper service.
Tendering and e-procurement
Before running a tender it is vital to have the correct building blocks of clear objectives, a good specification, market understanding and a willingness and capability to change suppliers.
We are able to either work with clients to put these enablers in place or to run or assist on a tender once this has been achieved. We have experience of large internet-based tenders, complex multi-stage warehouse tenders and smaller spreadsheet based tenders and negotiations. Whatever the size of the service you are procuring we can add value.
Link to Case Study 10 – Specifying and Tendering Finished Goods Transport
Pallet control and procurement
A seemingly inconsequential item to many, but critical to the way the UK and European logistics supply chains function. Good pallet control is relatively easy if set up and monitored, but it is often overlooked and therefore becomes a cost drain to many businesses.
The team at The Supply Chain Design Company has many years of experience in pallet procurement (both rented and owned assets), and the set up of data monitoring services to track every single pallet moved within your business loop. The same disciplines can be applied to the management of pallecons, pallet frames and many other items of logistics support packaging. Let us show you how easy it is!