Unreal Snacks’ Post

Reality of the Procurement job market right now. Lots of Procurement candidates with A Category experience from B Industry sector looking for a new exciting opportunity, ideally something different and fresh, where they can develop. Lots of companies are seeking Procurement candidates with X Category experience from Y Industry. With this relentless pursuit causing frustrations all round, the companies hiring for behaviours (think Strong Influencers, Curious Mindsets, Boundary Challengers, Tenacious Mentality) are winning. Yes there are times specific technical skills are important but do question your motivation for hiring like for like. There is often a different way.

From the time I joined AbInbev, I have learnt that procurement in a fast-paced environment requires adaptability, agility, and strategic thinking to navigate the complexities of the industry, meet evolving demands, and drive sustainable growth and profitability. As a Procurement Manager in the FMCG industry, it entails several key responsibilities and challenges such as but limited to: - Rapid Decision Making: In the FMCG industry, market dynamics can change quickly due to factors such as consumer trends, competitor actions, and supply chain disruptions. Procurement managers must be able to make rapid decisions to capitalize on opportunities and mitigate risks. - Agile Sourcing: FMCG companies often deal with a large volume of products and suppliers across various categories. Procurement managers must continuously monitor market conditions, negotiate contracts, and source materials efficiently to ensure uninterrupted supply and meet demand fluctuations. - Supply Chain Management: FMCG products have short shelf lives and high demand, requiring efficient supply chain management. Procurement managers must collaborate closely with logistics and distribution teams to optimize inventory levels, minimize lead times, and ensure on-time delivery to customers. - Cost Management: Cost management is critical in the FMCG industry, where profit margins can be slim. Procurement managers must constantly seek cost-saving opportunities, negotiate favorable terms with suppliers, and optimize procurement processes to reduce expenses while maintaining quality and compliance. - Quality Assurance: Ensuring product quality and compliance with regulatory standards is paramount in the FMCG industry, where consumer satisfaction and brand reputation are at stake. Procurement managers must select reliable suppliers, conduct rigorous quality inspections, and implement robust quality assurance processes to uphold product standards. - Innovation and New Product Development: FMCG companies often introduce new products and innovations to meet evolving consumer preferences and market trends. Procurement managers play a crucial role in sourcing innovative materials, collaborating with suppliers on product development, and bringing new products to market quickly and efficiently. - Risk Management: FMCG companies are exposed to various risks, including supply chain disruptions, market volatility, and regulatory changes. Procurement managers must proactively identify and mitigate these risks through strategic sourcing, supplier diversification, and contingency planning. - Cross-functional Collaboration: Procurement managers in the FMCG industry work closely with various internal stakeholders, including sales, marketing, production, and finance teams. Effective communication and collaboration are essential to align procurement activities with business objectives, ensure seamless coordination across functions, and drive collective success. Jeff Shakumbila #TheProcurementLead!

Offre supply chain

Supply Chain Specialist

Every department Needs a Slice of the Procurement Pie! Procurement isn't just about getting the best price anymore. It's about building strong relationships with vendors, ensuring quality, and managing risk. That's why collaboration is key! Imagine procurement operations as a delicious pie. Each department contributes a crucial ingredient: Marketing: Provides the flavor profile (customer needs & market trends). Engineering: Ensures the crust is strong (technical specifications & risk identification). Finance: Sweetens the deal (budget management & favorable payment terms). Legal: Makes sure the recipe is legal (contract review & risk mitigation). By working together, we can bake the perfect pie for business success! #procurement #collaboration #supplychain Feel free to add a comment below! What's your experience with cross-departmental collaboration in procurement?

I can remember when a hiring manager reached out to me to understand the entire scope of work of a category manager? as he needed to understand if his client needed a category manager or a procurement manager. After I had that session with him, he changed his mind immediately about hiring a procurement manager as against a category manager, and concluded that the function of a category manager aligns with the exact requirement of the firm at that point in time. The job of a category manager is one that encompasses procurement, Inventory Management, Sales, Marketing and all related supply chain activities. For one to succeed in their role as a great category manager, one needs to be an expert in procurement, sales and supply chain management. A great mastery in all the above, set you apart and help you carry out your duties effectively. A category manager is needed in any organisation that wishes to adopt a strategic approach in managing their procurement and supply chain activities within specific products, this can help businesses to improve their competitive position and drive long term success leading to sustainability of the business. Having a category manager is having one who understands an end to end process of the entire product cycle and flow and not leaving out the process flow. Although, alot of persons really don't understand or know much about this field. I will try to disseminate information as much as I can here.

📖 I'll show you mine, you show me yours... 📖 As I am, at last, going to head off for a couple of weeks' holidays, please let me have your recommendations for a great procurement-related book to take with me. Below are 3 of my favourites : 📘 "The Procurement and Supply Manager's Desk Reference" by Fred Sollish and John Semanik, offers a comprehensive overview of the procurement field. I would primarily aim it at relative newcomers to procurement, but it is also a good refresher for experienced professionals. 📗 "Strategic Sourcing and Category Management: Lessons Learned at IKEA" by Magnus Carlsson uses IKEA (but not only, there are also examples from Maersk, Carlsberg, Aldi...) as a real-life case study to offer insights on an effective approach to procurement. 📕 "Procurement with Purpose" by Peter Smith and Mark Perera 🇺🇦. Written in an easily-digestible style, this is a thought-provoking book, exploring the intricacies of the environmental and social impact an organisation's spend has on people and planet, and offering some keys for the future. So... What are your favourite procurement books?