About the Course

The world of commerce and contracting is increasingly complex; therefore, mastering the ability to apply best practices to place and manage contracts is more important than ever. As it becomes more challenging, the supply environment, entering uncertain periods, requires a new strategic and tactical approach to ensure long-term profitability, inventory optimisation, and value.

It is now vital that the procurement and supply chain functions collaborate their efforts and expertise to cope with the complexity of the current operating environment. Procurement and supply chain management are being relied upon to make a difference and are under constant pressure to create dynamic and meaningful contributions to the bottom line operating costs and capital expenditure. This training course will assist delegates in reassessing their organisation's procurement and supply chain strategies beyond short-term cost-cutting.

The delegates will leave with an in-depth appreciation of the current best practice tools and techniques used in the procurement process and supply chain management. It’s highly practical content aims to develop the commercial thinking of delegates about managing the process for strategic goals and day-to-day tactical needs. This Procurement & Supply Chain Management training course is designed to empower the delegates with the skills and knowledge to understand procurement and supply chain management principles and techniques in an operational and managerial role to ensure optimal outcomes and to work in an agile and collaborative way with key stakeholders.

Core Objectives

The delegates will achieve the following objectives:

• Understand the difference between Procurement, Supply Management, Supply Chain Management and Supplier Relationship Management
• Comprehend the basic concepts of good procurement practices
• Know the role of procurement in promoting diversity and equality across the supply chain
• Apply a range of tools and techniques for developing scopes of work and specifications
• Build trust between all parties concerned in managing the relationship
• Undertake the effective management of key stakeholders
• Evaluate and derive value for both sides from the relationship
• Analyse the relationship spectrum from master-servant to symbiotic
• Determine the type of relationship in the context of risk and value
• Developing KPI and SLAs working in collaboration with providers
• Managing and mitigation of risks in the context of SRM
• Understand the critical role of supplier relationship management in developing and maintaining the relationship
• Leverage the relationship to facilitate innovation, flexibility and responsiveness from the supplier

Training Approach

This training course is driven by a blended learning approach and draws on various adult learning techniques such as action learning, experiential exercises, group discussions, video case studies, role play and self-reflection activities. The resulting variety helps delegates stay engaged throughout the course, feel challenged and draw quick wins for their development. It also ensures delegates are exposed to ample opportunities to apply what they learn to the real-world challenges they face back in the workplace.

The Attendees

The training course is ideal for experienced (and semi-experienced) commercial procurement managers in public and private sectors who want to demonstrate significant achievements in the field and/or gain knowledge and best practice insights. It is expected that the delegates will have some varied experiences. Likewise, it is of value to those who have recently embarked upon a career in procurement.

Likewise, it will be valuable to the professionals but not limited to the following:

• Lead Buyers and Buyers
• Procurement Specialists
• Contracting Officers and Managers
• Procurement Analysts
• Purchasing Managers
• Procurement Officers
• Directs and Indirect Buyers
• Sourcing Managers
• Category Managers
• Procurement Assistants and Managers

Daily Discussion

DAY ONE: PROCUREMENT PRACTICES AND PRINCIPLES

• The Basics of Procurement
• The Procurement Cycle Explained: From the need to the satisfaction of the need 
• The role of Procurement in the Cycle
• Key Procurement Documents
• Importance of Cross-functional Working
• Procurement in the Negotiation of Commercial Contracts
• Operational Risks that Procurement manage

DAY TWO: SUPPLY & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

• Overview of Supply Management vs Supply Chain Management
• The Supply Chain Concept: The dynamics and needs of Supply Chains
• Principles of Category Management
• Designing Supply Chains, Supply Chain Mapping, Tiering in Supply Chains
• Seeing Supply Chains as Competing Networks
• Effective Supply Chain Management Techniques
• Development of procurement skills to create improved value

DAY THREE: PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY CHAIN IMPLEMENTATION

• Specifications: Conformance or performance specifications? Specifying capital assets, Specifying services
• The Use of International Standards
• Deciding on Contract Strategy: Single or dual or multiple sources? Long-term or short-term?
• Supplier Research: Researching for Suppliers Available – Internet, Databases, Advertising
• Financial Performance: The use of market research for gaining in-depth information
• Supplier Appraisal Tools
• Addressing commitment and company culture when dealing with critical supply items

DAY FOUR: SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

• The importance of Building Relationships across the Supply Chain
• Key Stages in forming Business Relationships
• The Procurement Needs: The role & importance of suppliers as strategic assets
• How to create partnerships to cultivate supplier innovation?
• Demonstrate the Key Principles of SRM
• How can procurement become a 'Customer of Choice?
• Value Engineering, Value Analysis: Mitigating risk in the supply chain through structured relationship management working together to avoid waste

DAY FIVE: THE FUTURE OF PROCUREMENT

• Strategic Procurement Management: The changing role of procurement in the 21^st Century
• Globalisation: The role of procurement in a globalising world economy
• The impact of off-shoring and sourcing from Low-Cost Countries: What is happening to different economic sectors?
• Creating Value and Making Savings: What is value, and how do you measure it?
• Capital Equipment Procurement: Life cycle cost issues, payback calculations, compatibility issues, maintenance and training issues, after-sales support
• Ethical and Environmental Procurement
• Close Out and Action Planning