Leadership and People Archives - Page 72 of 80

KZN: Continuous Professional Development remains high on Agenda

Leave a Comment / Procurement Training, Professional Development / Editor

Despite the economic downturn, the bumper attendance at Commerce Edge and SmartProcurement’s KwaZulu Natal Roadshow has affirmed that continuous professional development remains high on South African supply chain professionals’ priorities. CONFERENCE SUCCESS Presenters, Alan Low of Purchasing Index and Bernie van Niekerk of Commerce Edge (3rd and 2nd from right), with delegates at the Road […]

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CIPS & IPSA to develop a full service procurement institute in Southern Africa

Leave a Comment / Professional Development / Editor

The Institute of Purchasing and Supply South Africa (IPSA) and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) intend to meld the two organisations’ interests and activities in Southern Africa. “The two purchasing and supply organisations have been engaged in talks”, said Karen van Vuuren, IPSA President, during an announcement at the IPSA/CIPS Annual

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Sourcing and procurement operating models offer sustainable cost reductions

Leave a Comment / Procurement Strategy / Editor

As the economy slides into the downturn cycle, organisations are switching focus from growth strategies to cost management and risk management to protect their bottom line. Many companies have exhausted short-term tactical cost reductions and are now looking for more radical and sustainable sourcing and procurement (S&P) operating models, Ged Mackell of Deloitte Consulting

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‘Supplier enablement’ is a key component for successful procurement processes in South Africa

Leave a Comment / Procurement Strategy, Supplier Management, Supplier Partnerships, Technology / Editor

This article appeared in the May newsletter with certain technical inaccuracies. SmartProcurement apologises for the error and would like to thank Quadrem for bringing the mistake to our attention and permitting us to re-print the article with the necessary corrections. The outsourced management of suppliers is of special significance in South Africa as a component

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Procurement professionals in demand during recession

Leave a Comment / Professional Development, Talent Watch / StaffWriter

In recessionary times, the procurement professional becomes a more valuable commodity as it is those specialist purchasing and supply management skills that can make a positive difference to the bottom line, Elaine Porteous of Tech-Pro Personnel told SmartProcurement in an interview. This is owing to the fact that in such an economic environment, organisations

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Leadership Profile: Alan Cornwell of Drake and Scull FMS

Leave a Comment / Procurement Leaders / StaffWriter

This month SmartProcurement profiles Alan Cornwell from Drake and Scull Facilities Management. Full name: Alan Cornwell Position: Group Procurement Manager for Drake and Scull (New Clicks Holdings contract) Your organisations’ procurement spend: R400-million. Who does P & SM report to: Operations Executive of Drake and Scull who reports to New Clicks SA Chief Financial Officer.

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Beat the Recession – Continue Your Education

Leave a Comment / Education, Procurement Training, Professional Development, Talent Watch / StaffWriter

During a recession, the cost of adult education may seem impossible to afford, nevertheless, the cost may not be as high as perceived. “Continuing education increases an employee’s value to a company and for those seeking new jobs provides increased skills to make finding a new job easier”, Andrew Hillman, Director of the Commerce Edge

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Fraud prevention is better than cure

Leave a Comment / Procurement Cards, Procurement Strategy, Technology / StaffWriter

In many of our recent dealings with South African companies, there has been a common issue with abuse and fraud committed by employees on their company-issued credit cards. These cards are generally provided to employees on the understanding that they are to be used for business expenses only, and in most cases this is reinforced

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Procurement visibility needed at compulsive buyer: UK National Health Service (NHS)

Leave a Comment / Commentary, Procurement Strategy, Public Sector Procurement, Technology / StaffWriter

In the United Kingdom (UK) Government’s search for budget balancing savings of tens of £ billions annually, as led by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, attention is increasingly directed to the more than £160 billion that the public sector reportedly spent on the procurement of goods and services from third party suppliers (half of which is

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A case study for centralised purchasing – World Class Operational Procurement

Leave a Comment / Procurement Strategy, SRM Supplier Relationship Management / StaffWriter

Part 10 of a ten-part series that examines key operational aspects of the so-called “Purchase to Pay” value chain by Independent Contributor, Peter Alkema – Head: Purchase to Pay at Absa During 2008 at a large South African bank, a purchasing hub was set up to centrally process and support all ordering from the bank’s

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