2 October 2013

Fraud after contract award 6 times as frequent as fraud pre-contract award

Leave a Comment / Contract Management, Legal / Contract, Risk Management, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Management SCM / Editor

A strong, expert contracting and contracts management group is essential to combat fraud, CIPS Fellow and UK procurement consultant Colin Cram told delegates at Smart Procurement World in September. Download an event summary here Failing to use a strong contract management team that understands your various contracts and has the time and resources to […]

Fraud after contract award 6 times as frequent as fraud pre-contract award Read More »

Non-compliance with fraud and corruption prevention legislation a major risk

Leave a Comment / Benchmarking, Compliance / Legal, Risk Management / Editor

Whilst the word “risk” is fast becoming a cliché, it has increasingly important connotations for organisations owing to the plethora of legislation both here and internationally aimed at preventing fraud and corruption, says Alan Low of Purchasing Index (PI) in this month’s SmartProcurement. Local legislation includes: • Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) –

Non-compliance with fraud and corruption prevention legislation a major risk Read More »

Reducing Costs through Collaboration in Supply Chains – Martin Christopher

Leave a Comment / Global Sourcing, Procurement Strategy, Smart Sourcing, Sourcing Strategy, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Management SCM / Editor

The need to contain costs in all aspects of business is now more crucial than ever for most companies. Many challenges lie ahead in these uncertain economic times; input costs, particularly raw materials, are on the rise again, and the search for greater cost reduction in business is intensifying. But after years of significant

Reducing Costs through Collaboration in Supply Chains – Martin Christopher Read More »

Comedy of errors with supplier visibility

Leave a Comment / Contract Management, Procurement Strategy, Risk Management, Spend Analysis, Supply Chain Management SCM / Editor

There is something between Shakespeare and the Indian silver screen. For decades, Shakespeare’s works have inspired directors to churn out some of the most memorable hits on the big screen. The perennial favourite theme is based on one of his earliest plays, The Comedy of Errors. The play depicts the story of two sets

Comedy of errors with supplier visibility Read More »

SA’s supply chain skills constraint mirrors global concerns

Leave a Comment / Change, Commentary, Professional Development, Sourcing Strategy, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Management SCM / Editor

Research indicates that high performance supply chains underpin the global economy. However, a key constraint to successful supply chain management is the shortage of suitably qualified SCM staff, which poses a threat to both competitiveness and economic growth prospects, TechPro Personnel tells SmartProcurement. In 2012, highlighting the importance of supply chain management, the

SA’s supply chain skills constraint mirrors global concerns Read More »

PMI declines as manufacturing recovery suffers major setback

Petty-cash a great proving ground for P-cards

Leave a Comment / Procurement Cards, Sourcing Strategy, Technology / Editor

When beginning a procurement card (p-card) programme initially use the card only for petty-cash purchases as it is easy to set up and is a quick way for clients to see how it works and how they can benefit from the programme, advises Anita Carolus, Nedbank Corporate Card National Sales Manager, in this month’s

Petty-cash a great proving ground for P-cards Read More »

Teach SMEs to spot the gap for growth opportunities

Leave a Comment / Enterprise Development, Service Outsourcing, Supplier Partnerships / Editor

Gaps – or business opportunities – challenge what businesses offer the market and how they offer their goods or services. With more and more “me too” SMEs trying to find points of differentiation in various industries, incubators need to assist the entrepreneurs with which they partner to identify “real gaps” in the supply chains

Teach SMEs to spot the gap for growth opportunities Read More »

Award recognises one SMME’s progress under mentorship

Leave a Comment / Enterprise Development, Professional Development, Supplier Partnerships / Editor

Full Menu Catering, a small enterprise mentored by The Hope Factory, was awarded the best SMME stand at the Absa Enterprise Development Expo hosted at Smart Procurement World. “The Expo award is recognition of how far Full Menu Catering has progressed since joining The Hope Factory’s Entrepreneur Support Programme,” says Busi Raphekwane, a Business

Award recognises one SMME’s progress under mentorship Read More »

SMEs must be at the centre of future economic growth

Leave a Comment / Enterprise Development, Supplier Partnerships / Editor

In order to revive and strengthen economies around the globe it is imperative to stabilise the fragile world economy and relaunch it on a new growth path that places small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the centre of the quest for future growth. Consequently, facilitating SME access is central to Absa’s activities, says Happy

SMEs must be at the centre of future economic growth Read More »