• Mitigating Cyber Security Risks in the Supply Chain

Mitigating Cyber Security Risks in the Supply ChainMinimizing cyber risks in the supply chain is a modern challenge needing urgent attention across industries.

• Building a Business Case for Strategic Supplier Relationship Management

Building a business case for investing in strategic Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) can be challenging. It is a matter of measuring value through quantification of financial and relationship results.- By Sherry Bloom

• Doing Business with Technology Companies means staying one step ahead of the competition

AI is a broad field with both theoretical and practical applications for corporations. Thanks to COVID-19, new implementations of AI in the workplace are being explored.

• Supply Chains and Environmental Sustainability in Emerging Economies

Global companies are increasing their presence in emerging economies, assuming new supply chain risks and environmental sustainability challenges.

• Aligning Minority Supplier Development with Procurement Trends and Issues

Aligning Minority Supplier Development with Procurement Trends and IssuesImprove the Effectiveness of your Programming by Linking it with Current Challenges

• Bringing Entrepreneurial Veterans into the Supply Chain

Veterans must find a way to transition into civilian life as productive citizens. Many call upon their entrepreneurial spirit and start businesses with the goal of entering government and corporate supply chains..

• The Value of Strategic Supplier Relationship Management: Building the Business Case

Formal supplier relationship management (SRM) systems are becoming more popular in the market place. With the advent of web-based technologies and cloud computing, the stand alone system is no longer the only option. Businesses can now build end to end SRM systems for evaluating and managing their...

• Circular Supply Chain Meets the Circular Economy and Everyone Wins

Take the principles of the circular economy and apply them to the supply chain, and the result is a stronger corporate sustainability effort. Still in its early stages, the circular supply chain takes the next steps beyond the linear supply chain.

• Procurement in the Cloud Reaches New Heights

Sourcing and procurement have been slow to adopt the cloud as a value adding technology. It is a situation that is rapidly changing as the cloud matures and becomes a value adder through lower risk, more efficiency, and lower cost. - By Gerald Donald

• Developing A World-Class Supplier Program Requires Commitment and A Vision to Be The Best

Developing A World-Class Supplier Program Requires Commitment and A Vision to Be The BestBusiness owners work hard to make gains and strive to be the best. But how do they know whether their work is paying off? How can they tell whether they are getting closer to being the industry standard, or whet...

• Making the Transformation Journey to a Culture of Change Mindset

Making the Transformation Journey to a Culture of Change MindsetTransforming the organizational culture that makes the customer the center of everything the company does and produces only happens when champions of change are developed from top to bottom. There are tools to guide the disruption towar...

• Both Sides Now … Financial Services Industry Opportunities for MWBE Customers and Suppliers

The financial services industry is going through a major shake-up initiated by the recession. Its focus is on rebuilding customer brand loyalty and strengthening sustainability, and that equates to MWBE opportunities. - By James Hsu

• MWBE Suppliers Guide to Doing Business in China

MWBE Suppliers Guide to Doing Business in China- by Sherry BloomOver the last decade, China has evolved from a non-technological, third world Communist country to a global economic powerhouse, a force to be reckoned with. If India is the “back office” of the world, then China is undoubtedly the work...

• Women Suppliers Bring Essential Qualities to Corporate Clients

The business environment has transformed into one where networking and collaboration skills are essential, and environmental sustainability and social consciousness must be core corporate values. Women suppliers can bring the right values and focus to strengthen the corporate client's supply ch...

• Taking Advantage of Supply Chain Segmentation in The Technology Industry

Companies, especially those with global supply chains, are moving toward supply chain segmentation for more effective management and higher profitability. Suppliers who understand this trend are in a better position to take advantage of the segmentation for business growth. - By James Hsu

• Digital Opportunities for Suppliers in the Energy Industry

The energy industry is being disrupted by technology across operations and infrastructure. The reality is that the industry is playing some catch-up, and that creates supplier opportunities. - By Donna Benjamin

• Expand Business Through Bonding to Win Government Contracts

Companies doing commercial jobs that require specific performance usually need some type of bonding before a contract will be awarded. Bonding is always required for public works for federal, state and local jobs. Though the bonding process may seem a bit intimidating at first, it is really only a t...

• A New Look for Supply Chains in the Post-Pandemic World

The COVID-19 pandemic is driving many rapid changes in the business world, including within global and domestic supply chains. Companies have had to scramble to keep goods and services flowing, but now it is time to take the lessons learned and future-proof the supply chain for success in the coming...

• New Roles for Procurement Through Digitization

The procurement function is undergoing rapid digitization, and the transformation is an earthquake of change. The entire process is being shaken up, and now is the time to reinvent in order to avoid being left in the rubble. - By Sharon Ross

• For a More Just Supply Chain: Ending Human Trafficking and Forced Labor

For a More Just Supply Chain: Ending Human Trafficking and Forced LaborEnding human trafficking in supply chains is possible through business model changes and collaboration with governments. Holding suppliers accountable by changing price expectations and increasing transparency are just two strate...

• Managing the Contingent Labor Force Supply Chain to Reach Diversity Goals

Managing the Contingent Labor Force Supply Chain to Reach Diversity GoalsContingent labor is frequently sourced from staffing agencies and treated separately from employees. A better approach is to develop a staffing supply chain that can offer quality diverse talent who are included in the diversit...

• Leading—Edge Suppliers Drive Transformation in the Insurance Industry

The insurance industry is ripe with supplier opportunities as companies transform their claims processing to achieve operational excellence, and products and services to enhance their competitive advantage. Technology is at the heart of the transformation. - By Donna Benjamin

• Opportunities and Challenges of Integrating Alternative Resources

The days of abundance within the earth are behind us and so it’s now necessary to explore our options when it comes to alternative energy. We’re all looking for green and cheap sources that fulfill all our needs; wind, hydro, geothermal, and coal are examples, but how viable are they in today’s glob...

• Integrating SRM and Strategic Sourcing to Improve Global Procurement

SRM is a natural element of strategic sourcing because the objective of both is to develop suppliers who bring high value to the organization. - By Debra Jenkins

• Collaboration the Key to Successful Manufacturer Supply Chain Transformation

When a manufacturing firm decides to develop a digital supply chain, the business can enjoy a host of advantages that include performance improvements. The advantages also come with a number of risks unless the transformation approach includes cross-functional collaboration and integration of data f...

• Turning Data Analytics into Value in the Supply Chain

Producing data analytics is not the same as converting analytics into value-producing decisions that maximize the supply chain ROI. Turning data analytics into action is an imperative for the digital global supply chain, but it requires a new way of thinking.

• Negotiating a Supplier Contract Through the SRM Lens

Contract negotiations with a supplier is the point at which a business should begin building a positive relationship for the long term. The negotiation process is about much more than price. It is about developing a collaborative association to create value for the supplier and buyer. - By Lena Hara...

• As More Corporations Move To Improve Their Supply Chain, The Challenge Is For Minority Companies To Keep Up With Changes

For most minority- and women-owned businesses, being a supplier for a large corporation presents a conundrum of sorts-maintaining their identity as a relatively small, diverse organization, while functioning at the speed and efficiency required by their customers. This is especially true today, as t...

• Capitalizing on Synergies between Supplier Diversity and SRM

By definition, strategic suppliers are key to an organization’s ability to succeed. In a multicultural, global business environment, organizations should emphasize the ‘R’ in SRM and nurture strategic relationships with diverse suppliers. - By Sharon Ross

• More to Procurement than Procuring: Creating Supplier Social Groups

The use of social media as a business technology for innovation and problem solving is growing. It is natural they are turning to supplier social media groups to take advantage of the synergy of supplier relationships. - By Joshua Ferdinand

• Strategies for Closing the Gap Between Sourcing and Procurement

If the right hand of sourcing and the left hand of procurement don’t know what each is doing, a costly gap with lost opportunities develops. The key to closing the gap is Supplier Relationship Management. - By Sherry Bloom

• Best Practices in Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management

Minimizing cyber risks up and down the supply chain is an important step in strengthening cybersecurity. Suppliers and their customers need to work together to develop and implement best practices. - By Wilfred Smith

• Water Scarcity: The New #1 Concern For Supply Chains

As a potential supply chain disrupter, water scarcity is rapidly outpacing other concerns for companies around the globe.

• Minority Supplier Opportunities in the Cloud

The cloud is much more than a workspace for minority suppliers - it can also be an opportunity space. Cloud computing is a major IT systems trend that top corporations are very interested in exploring. As more nimble adaptors than many would-be competitors, minority firms have the ability to look ...

• Leveraging the Procurement Process Through Category Management

At the heart of procurement category management is teamwork. Category management relies on cross-functional teamwork to leverage full organizational capabilities, and heading the effort is procurement. - By Gerald Donald

• Sustainability in the Financial Industry Supply Chain

Sustainability in the financial industry has a much broader definition than in other industries. This equates to greater supplier opportunities to contribute to social and environmental impacts. - By Wilfred Smith

• Forming New Relationships Between Procurement and Internal Customers

Forming New Relationships Between Procurement and Internal CustomersIn the past, most procurement functions focused on developing good supplier relationships. Today, the modern procurement function also develops good relationships with internal customers, to become an agile collaborative partner in ...

• Diversity & Ethics are Hallmarks of KPMG’s Culture

It takes some courage in this age of financial crisis, regulation, and sophisticated technology to operate an audit, tax and advisory services firm. Yet that is exactly what global giant KPMG International successfully accomplishes in 156 countries by relying on over 152,000 professionals, while mai...

• Credit Crisis Leading Manufacturing Suppliers to Reevaluate Lean Manufacturing

Credit Crisis Leading Manufacturing Suppliers to Reevaluate Lean ManufacturingDispelling the Myth that Lean Companies are “Risky”

• CEO Turns Passion for Keeping People Safe into Successful Business

Arbill’s mission is helping family members return home safely each day. Thousands of workers have done just that thanks to Arbill’s product innovations.

• Building a Culture of Continuous Process Improvement

What do Toyota, the United States Marine Corps and Minority and Women’s Businesses (MWBEs) have in common? The answer is they have benefitted from continuous process improvement (CPI). The goal of this business approach is to create an organization in which every function and process performed is al...

• Finding The Foothold With Financial Companies

A Challenging Economic Landscape Hasn’t Reduced the Need for Diverse Suppliers

• Balancing Strategic Sourcing With Supplier Diversity

Procurement professionals are faced with the challenge of securing business savings using a variety of strategies. These strategies include: establishing quality competitive bidding standards, analyzing product specifications, global sourcing and working with business departments to blend procuremen...

• Maintaining Best-in-Class Internal Supply Chain Management

Maintaining Best-in-Class Internal Supply Chain ManagementSupply chain management can no longer put strategies in place and call it a done deal. It is important to improve the operation by taking periodic stock of what is working and what is not working for the good of internal stakeholders and the ...