Women employers have declined by 14.2% since the start of 2008, with the majority of the decline taking place during the last quarter of the recession (Q3 2009). Women employers seem to have been far more at risk than men in a recessionary environment and have closed more businesses, Absa’s SME Index indicates. Although […]
Absa SME Index notes decreased number of women-run suppliers in SA Read More »
One of the biggest challenges supplier company executives face today is efficiently managing working capital. Growing suppliers consume large amounts of working capital in the form of inventory and trade receivables, which puts strain on ready-money resources. This could have a negative effect on production, order fulfilment and ultimately the relationships between procurement professionals
Financial innovation for supply chains Read More »
The phrase “the customer is king” is well known, you don’t hear words like this when procurement people talk about suppliers. It is no coincidence that companies that really value their customers also treat their suppliers well. Influencing and persuasion skills are competencies that both procurement executives and their stakeholders need to develop to
Treat suppliers as if they are customers – be nice Read More »
In order for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to build capacity and lay a foundation that enables sustainability and, ultimately, profitability, it is critical that they are able to identify and close their organisational and operational gaps. While many enterprise development (ED) initiatives provide theory and training to assist with this process, most are
Closing SMEs’ business gaps gives them a way in to real procurement openings Read More »
Transnet has partnered with the Automotive Industry Development Center (AIDC) to implement a rapid process improvement (RPI) programme for identified Transnet suppliers in the manufacturing services sector. The programme, facilitated in conjunction with the Lean Institute Africa (LIA), is a three-month workshop focused on five black-owned Transnet suppliers, improving the selected suppliers’ productivity, quality, cost
Transnet / AIDC implement manufacturing SME improvement programme Read More »
Managing supplier relationships is one of the key components of a travel procurement programme says Kele Mohatle, CEO of travel procurement consultancy NaKo Consulting, in this month’s SmartProcurement. As a travel buyer you need to be clear on the intended purpose and the desired outcome: while the intended purpose may be to identify strategic suppliers
Managing supplier relationships in travel procurement Read More »
Supplier management, once considered a nonstrategic process, is now in the executive spotlight – and for good reason. To manage a global supply base and deal with mounting regulations, companies are moving beyond mere supplier rationalization toward strategic supplier management, Marlene de Jager, Account Executive LOB: Procurement for SAP Africa tells SmartProcurement. The goal is
Whitepaper: End-to-end supplier lifecycle management is the aim Read More »
Standard Bank has developed a set of supply chain finance solutions aimed at helping businesses of any size improve financing of their working capital, Vonani Mabunda, Product Head: Supply Chain Finance at Standard Bank, tells SmartProcurement. Two supply chain finance solutions – receivables discounting and supplier finance – offer alternative financing tools based on companies’
Supply chain finance solution a source of funding working capital Read More »
Inappropriate expenditure and corruption are widely reported in the media – however, 2500 Sanyati Holdings employees now find it on their door step, playing a role in cutting their jobs. The former CEO gave his account of how Government’s failure to pay on contracts has contributed to the black-empowered civil engineering and construction firm’s liquidation.
Government’s failure to pay sank Sanyati Read More »
Business Incubators the world over are known for the technical assistance they offer new firms, but an incubator’s true strength may lie in helping small businesses to enter corporate supply-chains in order to become market-ready, Mark Frankel, CEO of Shanduka Black Umbrellas, a non-profit enterprise development service, tells SmartProcurement. Big organisations have a role to
Giving small businesses entry to corporate supply chains Read More »
