Back to School
BACK TO SCHOOL is a blog focusing on academic and professional development in the supply chain and procurement fields. Blogger Richard Weissman is a 25-year veteran of both the professional and academic worlds of supply chain. For full bio, see Profile.
How much should you squeeze suppliers in a relationship-based environment?
At a presentation to the Purchasing Management Association of Boston this past Monday night, I spent about 45 minutes speaking passionately about the importance of supplier relationships and how good relationships go a long way in improving supplier and supply chain performance. The attendees seemed especially interested in the concepts of trust, communication and courtesy as they relate to suppli ...... Read More
Comments (5)Elections: The Ultimate Cold Call
About a week ago, and just prior to Election Day, I was waiting at a traffic light at busy intersection in a moderate sized Massachusetts city. In this city is customary for candidates and their supporters to hold signs and wave to the passing motorists. I find the practice generally unpleasant and a hazard to traffic, and especially unpleasant since I don’t even live in the city. It was e ...... Read More
Comments (0)Will the Suppliers in the Room Please Raise Their Hand?
I had the pleasure of making the closing keynote address at the National Association of Educational Buyers New England Annual Conference on Cape Cod late last week. I spoke about the importance of supplier relationships and right after I began my talk I realized that there were suppliers in the room. Goodness….buyers enjoying breakfast, and a great talk (!) with suppliers. While they seemed ...... Read More
Comments (0)Education Takes on New Meaning the Second Time Around
I was in pain this morning at the donut shop. I heard the clerk tell a customer that his 14-year-old son should not go to college because “aww..they just forget what they learn anyway.” This was seconded by another customer whose son was in an ROTC program and would be enlisting upon graduation from high school. She was proud of her son’s decision….not so much the enli ...... Read More
Comments (4)In supply chain education, don't overlook the elementary
When it comes to education, I am a fan of what I like to call “have-to-knows.” These are the fundamental terms and concepts relevant to any subject. For example, when my kids were in elementary school, we used flash cards and other drills to make the words and definitions second nature. (Sorry if I invoked some PTSD with my use of the word flashcard!) When I teach subjects like opera ...... Read More
Comments (0)REIs show signs of economic recovery
Yes, Things are Getting Better Out TherePlease don’t confuse these seemingly unrelated pieces of information with ‘real’ economic data but they are positive signs none the less. I call them REIs….or Rich’s Economic Indicators. Look for some in your own network….they are out there. My local newspaper is getting thicker. I was in a meeting with the editor th ...... Read More
Comments (0)"Me Time" Won't Fly in the SCM Organization
There was an interesting article in a recent edition of the Wall Street Journal that advocates less time at the office. The premise of the article is that people work far too much, impacting health and creativity. The answer? Work less and be more effective.Nice try. First, the average supply chain organization is generally short staffed and dealing in a 24/7 world. We have suppliers in distant la ...... Read More
Comments (1)Purchasing renews its focus on the indirect spend
Managing indirect spend is fashionable again! Services are the new black! And, supply management execs are finally getting to dig into spend areas such as marketing, legal, utilities and health benefits. For too long buyers of indirect spend were relegated to cutting purchase orders for office supplies, the tool crib, snow plowing, and processing facilities management invoices. Oh, the progressiv ...... Read More
Comments (3)No excuses when it comes to your career
A NO EXCUSES sign hangs prominently in my gym. Under the sign is a large whiteboard where members can write in their own excuses, things such as it’s too hot, it’s too cold, I ate a big breakfast, or I feel old, fat, tired, hung over…….or whatever. Some are very creative and funny, and in their own way motivating.I was fortunate to chair two meetings of senior executive ...... Read More
Comments (2)Who's next?
They got Gary, my friend from the gym. Gary is a dedicated operations manager; one who worked obscene hours to make sure his company met their manufacturing commitments. But, they needed to cut some of the larger salaries and eventually came for Gary. He was laid off last week. We run into each other at the gym every couple of weeks and we chat about business. Sure he was worried about his job but ...... Read More
Comments (1)Procurement's Call to Service
I’ve been fascinated with all of the pomp and pageantry surrounding the death of my senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy. I’ve lived in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for more than 30 years and I can say it’s home without betraying my New Jersey roots too badly. While I’ve not necessarily agreed with all of his political decisions over the years, his importance to ...... Read More
Comments (3)Sometimes, it's the person, not the product we buy
While I no longer have a purchasing job since I’ve become an academic, I still do the media and radio buys for some of our college programs; including the creative and contractual side. I’m a radio fan so it is an interesting project for me. I approach it as I did any other buy: analyze the spend, properly source, develop long term contracts, and build the relationship with the suppl ...... Read More
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