Supply Chain Transparency in the Land Down Under: “Track my MACCA”

Authored by Mickey North Rizza

In a revolutionary move, McDonald’s in Australia has introduced an iPhone app that allows consumers to track to the source of their purchased burgers, chicken, fish or buns. The “Track My Macca’s” app (“Macca” being Australia’s moniker for McDonald’s) gives the consumer the ability to learn more about ingredient sources and their suppliers by simply scanning a QR code located on the product packaging.

Procurement Looks to Service Professionals for Help with Negotiations

Authored by Mike Roberts

Recently, at the Procurecon Marketing Conference in London, Steve Lightfoot - communications procurement manager for the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), spoke about the importance of procurement teams learning about the marketing and advertising business.

Contract Management: Who’s really in charge? (Part 2)

By Pete Hodgkinson

Firstly, many thanks for all the comments directly on the first part of this two part blog and within the many discussion groups/forums.

Following on from my last post I would like to expand on the reasons why I believe Procurement should oversee contract management. Many procurement professionals I meet firmly believe that procurement should play a larger role in contract management but I am often asked, “But how can we convince our leadership teams and budget holders that this is important?”

Procurement Contributes Largest Share of Savings to UK Government

Authored by Mike Roberts

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude recently spoke at the Treasury, praising government buyers for their work to save taxpayers money.

Hoping for a Crystal Ball

by Steve Balding

In my career I’ve been lucky enough to meet many really good procurement practitioners. Just like any profession, their experiences informs their opinions.

Ask them the question, “What’s the one thing you’d change in your job” and you’ll hear a common response: “Gain earlier engagement from the Business, they leave it too late to ask for our support, then we can’t deliver it to their timescale”.

Contract Management: Who’s really in charge? (Part 1)

By Pete Hodgkinson

I have been asked a number of times who should lead with contract management, should it be procurement, category managers, or end users? Some people are sceptical that the procurement function can properly oversee contract management from start to finish. I read with interest Peter Smith’s paper as he believes that, “as the fundamental procurement task is to obtain value and competitive advantage from suppliers, then how contracts and suppliers are managed post contract award was simply too important a topic to ignore.”