What the Duck - Another Supply Chain Podcast: Recent Episodes
Sarah Scudder
Welcome to the What the Duck Podcast - this show is an opportunity to hear from real people working on real issues in direct spend supply chain hosted by Sarah Scudder.
On this episode, Sarah Scudder and guest host Lindsay Smith delve into major news affecting small and mid-sized manufacturers. They discuss Apple's significant shift to India, moving $500 million worth of production and the implications for outsourcing strategies and supply chain transitions. The conversation covers Foxconn's new factory in India, the U.S. investment in Indian startups, and the broader impacts on global trade, including China's growing trade surplus and India's rising exports. Additionally, they touch on BK Yellow Freight's major sale of freight terminals and equipment, and DHL's stance on the Teamsters strike at their Cincinnati Hub, considering potential impacts on Christmas season freight rates.
In the episode of What the Duck?! Another Supply Chain Podcast, Sarah introduces Ernie, a long-time friend with a non-traditional career path that began in the army, leading to a specialization in supply chain management. Ernie’s journey includes roles in consulting, biotech, and logistics, offering insights into strategic sourcing and supply chain challenges in various industries. The discussion delves into his experiences in biotech, the intricacies of working in a highly regulated industry, and his time at HD Supply focusing on distribution and logistics.Tune in to hear Ernie’s career advice, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adapting to industry needs.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Ernie’s Unique Career Trajectory
Experiences in Supply Chain Management within the Military
The Significance of Strategic Sourcing
Challenges and Innovation within the BioTech Industry
Impact of Regulatory Frameworks and SMPs
Nuances of Distribution and Logistics
Ongoing Innovations in Energy and Life Sciences
Emerging Industries and Trends
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
ERNIE: On Strategic Sourcing and Industry Challenges
"I think it's the best of all worlds to do that type of work. So, that was about a decade of my life focused on all those things that I was doing for PWC and then IBM. It was an incredible proving ground for me."
ERNIE: On Career Adaptation and Continuous Learning
“I think I've been lucky, and I think the reason I've been lucky is because I'm kind of fearless in some senses of the word. That I don't mind leaping into something that I know very little about, and I think I can figure it out real quickly."
Connect with Ernie and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Ernie Hernandez | Rivian
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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Dive into the dynamic world of supply chain management with What the Duck?! Another Supply Chain Podcast, where host Sarah Scudder is joined by the insightful Dyci Sfregola. Together, they unravel the complexities of direct material procurement and the transformative power of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Dyci, a seasoned growth consultant, shares her wealth of experience and actionable strategies for small to midsize manufacturers to streamline their processes and boost ROI. With a focus on the essential CIPO framework and practical tools for operational clarity, this episode is a treasure trove for those looking to refine their approach to supply chain before the year's endBottom of Form.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Dyci’s Journey Working in Sales/ Marketing to Transitions to Supply Chain
Third-Party Logistics (3PL) and Its Role in Supply Chain
Challenging Experiences in Direct Materials Supply Chain
Importance of SOPs in Supply Chain Management
Strategies for Managing Processes Efficiently
Digital Transformation and Software Implementation
The Necessity for Knowledge Transfer and Contingency Planning
Challenges in Selecting and Implementing Software
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
DYCI: On the Importance of SOPs and Process Management
So, first of all, why it's important is because it allows you to be proactive and set a cadence and a pace of the business that is not always reactionary, and it's not always firefighting. Because when things go the way that we expect them to go, which, you know, rarely happens, everyone's fine like, 'Oh, this is what it's supposed to happen when I come to work today.' But, because in the world of supply chain operations, nothing ever works the way that you expect it to do. Well, if you don't have the SOPs that govern the way you do business, the way workflows happen, the way approvals happen, then it becomes just everyone running around trying to figure out, 'Okay, well, who's going to do this?
DYCI: On Digital Transformation and Software Implementation
And what they actually realized is that they didn't really have a process for new product introduction. So, we were working with items that were being phased out, and, you know, these were finished goods. And then, if you're thinking about, "Okay, well, the finished good is being phased out, you need to now have a forecast for the finished good, the cannibalization, etc., for the new item." But on top of that, all of the components—which are your direct materials—that you need to actually build the new... "Okay, well, how do we now come up with a forecast for that? And determine safety stock, and work with the supplier for lead times, and, you know, all of that?” So, that project recently stands out to me because it's the most recent, and I'm like in it right now, trying to figure it out.
Connect with Dyci and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
Dyci Sfregola | New Gen Architects
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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In this episode of What the Duck?!" Craig Smith from the Procurement Foundry community, explores the unique challenges of managing direct material supply chains solo or in a small team. Known as a 'Lone Wolf,' Craig recounts his transition from marketing to procurement, highlighting the value of seeking assistance and continuous learning. The episode covers effective task prioritization in resource-scarce environments, leveraging technology for process efficiency, and the importance of cultivating robust relationships with internal teams and vendors.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Networking and Community Building
Lone Wolf Concept in Procurement
Craig's Shift from Studying Marketing to Building a Career in Procurement
The Significance of Seeking Help and Learning from Others
The Need for Effective Prioritization of Tasks and Projects in Procurement,
Leveraging technology and tools to Streamline Procurement Processes
Internal and Vendor Relationship Building
Personal and Professional Goals
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
“CRAIG: On the Concept of the ‘Lone Wolf’
So it's really about small procurement and sourcing or vendor management teams that are a bunch of us are a team of one, and then others have smaller two to three people-sized teams of running the procurement organization within their different entities."
CRAIG: On the Significance of Learning on the Job
"Ask for help. The both position, those first two positions, and companies where I started off in the career had really good engineers that loved to whiteboard, either you know technical diagrams or things like that and explain to me about the products or the services or the components that I was helping to procure.
Connect with Craig and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Craig Smith | DHI Group Inc.
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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In this engaging episode of "What the Duck?! Another Supply Chain Podcast," Jose Socorro, a seasoned logistics expert, takes center stage. With a wealth of experience, Jose delves into the vital components of successful logistics management. He underscores the pivotal role of a 'can-do attitude,' urging listeners to embrace this mindset in the ever-evolving industry. Jose emphasizes the critical importance of on-time deliveries and gaining a realistic grasp of transportation timeframes. His insights encourage open-mindedness and the pursuit of reliable trucking partners. Drawing from his time as a logistics manager, Jose offers invaluable advice for buyers in the manufacturing sector, making this episode a must-listen for logistics enthusiasts and professionals alike.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Introduction to the Episode and Podcast:
Jose's Experience in Logistics
The Role of Technology in Improving Logistics Efficiency
Handling Unexpected Challenges and Emergencies in Logistics
Communication and Collaboration Between Different Teams
Impact of Economic Changes on Logistics
Customer Service and Meeting Customer Expectations
On-Time Delivery and Service Metrics
Relationship-Building with Carriers and Vendors
Data-Driven Decision-Making in Logistics
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
JOSE: On Thriving and Navigating High-Pressure Situations
“You live for those moments; we live for the high blood pressure; we live for the game-winning shot or that moment that changes the whole trajectory of it. But the non-logistics folks – I preface this because this is an audience of non-logistics – because I've had these interactions and working through these relationships, is you've got to understand the realistic expectation of what's really going to happen if your product is in Houston and you're in Arkansas. Or let's say, hypothetically, you are in Utah and your product's in Houston. You've got to look at the miles.”
JOSE: The Impact of Economic Changes on Supply Chain Dynamics
“With the economic changes and impacts that are going on currently since 2022, we've seen a decrease in demand, which is really obviously coming from the consumers, what they're telling us. And a lot of companies, instead of having me move their chicken, they had their options at a cheaper rate or their own trucking companies now. And so, you see there's the reason why you ask for on-time delivery. Do I want to save money and do it my own and have my operational team handle it? Or do I want the company that the product's coming from to deliver it to me?”
Connect with Jose and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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In this podcast episode, Sarah Scudder and Lindsay Smith continue their discussion on supplier management, focusing on strategies to find the best-fit suppliers. They caution against relying solely on traditional methods like comprehensive commodity plans, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, or internet searches that are often cluttered with sponsored content. Instead, they advocate for seeking local, flexible, and responsive suppliers, similar to the traits discussed in their previous episode. Tune in to hear their practical approaches for sourcing suppliers, particularly for off-the-shelf commodities.
In this episode of "What the Duck?!", host Sarah Scudder talks with Jane Zhang of Edge Sourcing about her transition from MBA to procurement, the role of procurement in business, and overcoming industry biases. Jane shares her experience in sustainable packaging and her journey into entrepreneurship, detailing the operations and focus areas of her company. She emphasizes the importance of communication in supplier management and the surprising depth of passion she found in the procurement field. The episode encapsulates insights for procurement professionals and offers advice for transitioning skills across borders.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Pursuing an MBA to Gain an International Perspective
Career Evolution: From Business Development to Large Corporations
Strategic Aspect of Procurement
Diverse Skills Needed in Procurement
Overcoming Bias and Changing Perception of Procurement
Transformational Impact Jane Had on Procurement Perspectives
Advice on Transitioning Procurement Skills Globally
Best/Worst Parts of Starting Your Own Business
Open Communication and Relationship Building
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
JANE: Global Impact of Sustainability in Procurement
“The work that we do now today in sustainable procurement, working with large organizations to really transform how they purchase, that has so much impact on the world in terms of positive social impact, positive environmental impact. And I have seen these organizations and these corporations really unlock their purchasing potential and leverage that buying potential to drive good in the world and the environment that they operate in is absolutely fantastic.”
JANE: Dynamic Nature of Procurement and For Versatility
“What surprised me the most about procurement was how varied it is and how… how at the same time you can build your core skill sets to become very, very strong in it. Your challenges are still going to change. New contracts change, your fires change. We've dealt with everything from very tactical contracts to, you know, million-dollar, multi-million dollar audits, to trying to resolve highly confidential and negotiate non-existent tangibles into a massive contract. So these challenges change constantly. The tools and the skills that you're applying are constantly maturing, but the challenges that you're faced with are ever-changing.”
Connect with Jane and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
Jane Zhang| ETCH Sourcing
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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Get ready for a lively episode of "Another Ducking Digest" with your hosts Sarah Scudder and Lindsay Smith! Today, we're diving into supplier management for small and mid-sized manufacturers. First, we're talking about choosing the right suppliers – it's like finding the perfect dance partner! Then, we'll discuss communication, performance metrics, inventory management, quality control, and risk management.
In a nutshell, we'll help you make supplier management as fun and effective as a great party. Remember, clear communication and healthy supplier relationships are key to keeping the good times rolling in your supply chain.
In this episode of What the Duck?! Another Supply Chain Podcast, David Alexander shares insights from his role as a procurement expert. He discusses his experiences with international sourcing, emphasizing the challenges of managing supplier consolidations for smaller orders. David also highlights the importance of accurate demand planning and the consequences of discrepancies between customer forecasts and actual usage. Furthermore, he sheds light on the issues arising from port delays and shares strategies to mitigate the impact of lead time uncertainties. This engaging conversation provides a valuable perspective on the intricacies of supply chain management in an ever-evolving global landscape.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
David’s Initial Career Journey
Challenges in MRO Roles
Strategies for Achieving Cost Savings
Transitioning to International Procurement
Dealing with Port Delays
Importance of Accurate Forecasting and Planning
Challenges of Managing Customer Needs
Supplier Consolidation for Smaller Quantities
Influence of Port Delays on Procurement
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
DAVID: Challenges with Supply Chain Forecasting
“It's never going to be 100% accurate, just like forecasts. Forecasts are never going to be 100% accurate. You can get very close, but it's never going to be. So, essentially, cycle counting for the MRO field, especially, making sure your cycle counts are, you know, by month, you know, especially if you're managing, you know, if you're managing not as big as a warehouse, it's easy for you to do inventory levels. It's easy for you to freeze the system, get the inventory leveled, and then reconcile that back. You can get as close as you can.”
DAVID: Challenges Faced in International Procurement
“They're asking me to Air Freight because they're scared of the ports, you know, that's another one, you know, they know a part shipping because I have to update my notes per, you know, what the bill of leading or the packs are telling me on prior to shipping. So I'll go in, I'll update my, my ship dates. I'll update my quantities that are shipping because we have a plus and minus, you know, 10%. So it could be over or under. So I have to adjust those quantities. They have to be exactly per the invoice or I'm going to have trouble with the Brokers.”
Connect with David and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
David Alexander | Optimas Solutions
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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In this episode of Another Ducking Digest, hosts Sarah Scudder and Lindsay Smith tackle the critical post-tech implementation phase for small and mid-sized manufacturers. They emphasize two key goals: first, to make the changes stick, they recommend celebrating the significance of the transformation, delivering personal and public leadership messages, and setting firm expectations for management and new process users. Second, they delve into the importance of learning from what went well and what didn't, expecting and embracing mistakes, and assessing how the People, Process, System equilibrium has shifted. They stress the need to anticipate push-back, uncover covert naysayers, and highlight that the implementation isn't a panacea, thus pushing for a second round of buy-in. They advise resetting and realigning the project for execution, challenging the team to acknowledge shortcomings, and seeking KPI tracking and concerns from all department managers, while rewarding superior execution. Tune in for a wealth of insights on post-implementation success.
In a riveting episode of What the Duck, host Sarah Scudder engages in a captivating discussion with a panel of seasoned manufacturing experts – John, Stephen, Rachel, and Nathan. Together, they unveil a treasure trove of insights, offering a gripping narrative on conquering formidable supply chain challenges. From deftly managing customer-supplied materials to navigating the tumultuous waters of rapid expansion and surviving the tempestuous COVID-19 disruptions, they reveal invaluable lessons. Throughout this compelling conversation, a resounding theme emerges – the pivotal role of collaboration and adaptability in mastering the ever-shifting landscape of supply chain management.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Challenges Associated with Customer Supplied Materials
Managing Rapid Business Growth and Expansion
How the Panelists Coped with COVID-19 Disruptions
Early Procurement Involvement in Supply Chain
The Role of Collaboration in Supply Chain Management
Necessity of Adaptability in a Constantly Changing Landscape
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
JOHN: On Stabilizing the Supply Chain Journey
“My job is to make that roller coaster ride less, and it's going to have bumps, we're going to have highs, we're going to have lows, but mine's to try to smooth out that process versus trying to go on this thing that shoots up at 100 feet, you know, at 200 miles an hour, then drops back down, because that costs the company money every time you have those highs and lows.”
RACHEL: On the Importance of Early Procurement Involvement
“So, how much resiliency can you build in advance, right? It's much, much easier to qualify a secondary source when you're in the development process than when you have nothing on hand and are struggling to do it, right? So, I think really what I've been trying to focus the teams on is that we're not going to be able to solve every problem, we're not going to be able to forecast every problem, but what we need to be doing is taking control of what we can.”
Connect with Nathan and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Nathan Cunningham | WippData
Connect with Stephen and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Stephen Drummey | Sanmina
Connect with John and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
John Hantzis
Connect with Rachel and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
Rachel Hassall | Harvest Hill Beverage Company
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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In today's episode, hosts Sarah Scudder and Lindsay Smith continue their exploration of technology adoption for small and mid-sized manufacturers. They discuss three critical steps for success:
Identify, Detail, and Celebrate Interim Milestones: Recognize and celebrate progress throughout the implementation process to boost morale and motivation.
Deploy Classic Change-Management PM Discipline: Be prepared for changes to the planned changes, emphasizing the importance of proper change management.
Invest "Extra" Time Sweating the Details: Dive into revised workflows, SME interviews, UX, dashboard screens, report formats, and design details. Ensuring meticulous attention to these aspects is key for a successful tech adoption journey.
Tune in for practical insights into technology adoption and implementation strategies.
In this episode of "What the Duck?!" hosted by Sarah Scudder, three manufacturing supply chain experts, Denise, David, and Vineetha, share their experiences and challenges in the supply chain field. They discuss various scenarios, including dealing with unexpected stock shortages, managing inaccurate forecasts, and handling the complexities of mergers and acquisitions. Denise shares a story about recovering from inaccurate forecasting and the importance of communication, while David talks about negotiating transition support agreements during a merger. The episode highlights the need for agility, nimbleness, and strong relationships within the supply chain to overcome various challenges and ensure success.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Addressing Unexpected Stock Shortages
Learning How to Adapt in Emergency Stock Situations
Discussion on Creativity in Supply Chain Demands
Recovering from Inaccurate Forecasts and Adapting
Negotiations During Mergers and Acquisitions
Importance of Transparent and Clear Communication
Nimble Relationships with Suppliers in Supply Chain operations
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
DENISE: On Agile Responses Required to Recover from Forecasting Inaccuracies
“How we had to recover is we had to rely on our supply planning team to put pen to paper. They had to reprioritize, they had to move the lines around, they had to bring in a second shift in our Switzerland manufacturing plant. They explained the situation over and over again to our manufacturing team, and it was a success story again.”
VINEETHA: On the Crucial Role of Transactional Suppliers
“That there is going to be these short-term orders that you're going to be getting a couple of times a year. So those transactional relationships with suppliers are also very important, or transactional suppliers are also very important. So I think that's the key learning from that, and, you know, that's how we met the customer lead time was looking at substitutes or off-the-shelf versions of this critical part.”
DAVID: Challenges Involved in Implementing Just-In-Time Strategies
“Doing the just-in-time approach, in many, many years that one product, first time ever, had an administration hold, which means something happened at the manufacturing site that they had to hold production. So, here I'm reducing the inventory down to just in time, we're implementing a continuous make model, and now we got to shut it down, and there was panic throughout the organization.
Connect with Denise and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
Denise Sena
Connect with Vineetha and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
Vineetha Jayaram | nVent
Connect with David and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
David Berger | CBRE
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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In today's episode, Sarah Scudder and Lindsay Smith discuss small manufacturer workflow process automation implementation. Current social media suggests tech implementation is straightforward solution to every problem, but there is a risk there. The more areas, departments, and individuals a process workflow change reaches, the more complicated the adoption becomes. So many of us small-manufacturer supply chain team are recognized and rewarded for “getting things done." Technology adoption is fundamentally different, instead of “getting things done,” now we are changing the way we do things. So, what is a supply chain hero to do?
Sarah and Lindsay talk through the six best practice guidelines for success.
In this episode of What the Duck?! hosted by Sarah Scudder, Dupre Jonesshares his unique journey through supply chain and procurement. He discusses his experiences in Germany, transitioning from government roles to project coordinator positions, and unexpected ventures into logistics. The conversation covers the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, the importance of data analytics and sustainability, and the role of technology in logistics. Dupre's insights shed light on these complexities, providing valuable perspectives in a concise and engaging manner.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Dupre’s Background and Experience Studying and Living in Germany
Early Career and Work in the German Parliament
The importance of Patience, Resilience, and Humility in Excelling in the Logistics Field
Dupre's Leadership Style and How to Encourage Personal Growth in Teams
Insights into International Logistics
Technological Enhancements in Supply Chain
Challenges and Complexities Faced in Logistics During the Pandemic
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
DUPRE: On the Complexity of Logistics and Involving Technology
“There's definitely a lot more focus on technology in logistics. Data analytics, freight procurement is not... we're not buying office supplies. The cost structure is complicated, so data analytics, you know, machine learning, business rules for scenario building on a route, via from different road, different things. Sustainability is rearing its ugly... not it's ugly head, but it's... it's forefront now, thanks to the EU green deal.”
LINDSAY: Challenges Posed by COVID-19 and How to Adapt With Changes
“It forced us to be very creative and not only in production planning ahead of time, especially for manufacturers, but then making sure the production lines didn't go down because that was costly or it would be costly. But then we could also contain our contain our costs so that we ourselves didn't go under while service supporting our the success of our customers. And so it took a lot of analytics, turned a lot of scenario building, took a lot of really dissecting some of the... the different costs”
Connect with Dupre and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Dupre Jones | Align Technology
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
In today's discussion on small manufacturer technology adoption, Sarah and Lindsay focus on practical steps. While envisioning the destination is straightforward, understanding the starting point and necessary actions is crucial. Small companies typically aim for improved visibility, cost reduction through task automation, and faster decision-making via data accessibility. The initial implementation often begins with a proof-of-concept. Overlooked considerations include legacy network issues and data field cleanliness. Addressing these challenges involves connecting, communicating, and gathering data. Convincing stakeholders to support these efforts is essential, as data extraction can be costly and time-consuming. Benchmarks, not estimates, should guide the process.
In this episode of What the Duck?! Sarah Scudder, sits down with a panel of industry experts as they share their experiences and insights into the complex world of supply chain management. They discuss various challenges, including disruptions, manufacturing changes, and supplier surprises, shedding light on the importance of proactive communication and change management. Lindsay Smith, Roz Lowe, Tim Wise and Mike Romeyn provide a candid look behind the scenes of production meetings, where teams strategize to meet customer commitments, even in the face of unexpected obstacles. The speakers also touch on the significance of maintaining humility, gratitude, and customer advocacy in the niche markets of manufacturing. Learn valuable lessons and real-world stories from the front lines of supply chain management from the experts themselves.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
The Critical Importance of On-Time Delivery as a Top KPI
Impacts that Big Disruptions Have on Organizations
The Vital Role of Customer Service Advocacy
Risks Associated with Suppliers Making Unnotified Manufacturing Changes
The Importance of Having a Supplier Change Notification Process in Place
Challenges Associated When Faced with Missing Customer Commitments
Quoting Complex Assemblies Gone WRONG
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
LINDSAY: On Root Causes of Late or Missed Deliveries
“Each buyer had nuances of different ways of doing their job day-to-day. So, the fix was certainly uncovering the hidden issue was great employee coaching, team or retraining around, especially around purchase order confirmation, treating that as a separate process step, and then having direct conversations offline with supplier management and saying, 'Hey, great that you have this partnership with our buyers. You have a second relationship and obligation to supply chain management, and you have to come to us and be open and tell us when things aren't going the way you want them to.'"
MIKE: Dealing with Obvious Problems During Weekly Production Meetings
“I would sit in these meetings, the buyers would, you know, obviously run through their spreadsheets, they would have their open order reports, if you want to call them, with their suppliers, and they would just show us, okay, and they sorted it by late, and we would just go line by line, what are we doing, what are we doing, what are we going to do to get the part, what are we going to do, are we going to start expediting, throwing dollars at it, are we going to fly that material over here? I mean, that's the kind of strategic… again, reactive mode, but we're throwing money at the problem just to get the material in-house, so we can meet customer expectations.?
ROZ: On the Importance of Customer Advocacy
“So this company got very used to being spoiled, I guess you could say. And they lost sight of their customer-advocating, you know, personality. They lost their humble, and which is what it takes to start a business. You know, when you start a business, you first get into the industry, any industry for that matter, you've got to have humble, or you're not going to go very far, you're not going to get started. So, anyways, this company, they lost their humble, and the customers all pounded their fist on the desks, and they complained and complained, and they went to the primes and said, 'Look at how we're being treated.' And you know, it takes a lot to get a company like, say, for example, Boeing, to change a blueprint or frozen planning, right? That's like a miracle.”
Connect with Lindsay and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Lindsay Smith | Insight
Connect with Tim and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Tim Wise | Tight Lines Consulting
Connect with Mike and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Mike Romeyn | SourceDay
Connect with Roz and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
Roz Lowe | Delta Hi-Tech
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
In today's episode of Another Ducking Digest, Sarah Scudder and Lindsay Smith delve into the intricacies of manufacturing supply chain department budgeting. Each manufacturer's unique supply chain warrants distinct budget models, influenced by factors like industry, expenditure levels, market dynamics, commodity characteristics, sourcing methods, pricing contracts, and tariff implications. The budgeting process can be as intricate or as simplistic as desired, ranging from a comprehensive assessment of historical data and market demand trends to cost considerations, technology integration, risk management, supplier relationships, and workforce development. They emphasize the importance of aligning the budget with both corporate objectives and 2024 supply chain strategies, engaging key stakeholders, and staying informed about industry developments and peer use cases.
In this episode of What the Duck?! Sarah Scudder brings together a panel of seasoned experts – Bo Bradshaw, Sarah Hardecopf, and Mike Ryan – to delve deep into the world of supply chain intricacies. They share their journeys and real-life tales, covering topics like wrangling inventory, the critical importance of precise bills of materials, nurturing supplier relationships, grappling with prolonged lead times, and even the surprising role of sales. Throughout, the theme of cross-functional collaboration shines, underlining the need for strong supplier connections and adaptability in our ever-evolving markets. This episode offers a personal touch to the vital role of supply chain management in today's business landscape, providing invaluable insights for professionals navigating these complex waters.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Inventory Management and Addressing Inventory Discrepancies
The Importance of Accurate Bills of Materials (BOMs)
Supplier Relationships and Creative Problem-Solving
Dealing with Extended Lead Times and Sourcing Alternatives
The Role of Sales in Supply Chain Management
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
MIKE: On Inventory Problems
“It’s interesting because typically, you know, people tend to forget that inventory is an output. It's the result of the balance or imbalance between supply and demand. So, if there is a mountain of inventory or a molehill of inventory, it's a direct result of something upstream. It could be an optimistic sales forecast; it could be a procurement agent that got a bargain and bought a year's supply of a raw material.”
BO: The Importance of Accurate Bill of Materials (BOMs)
“In addition to making sure that the BOMs are accurate like Sarah mentions, you've also got to make sure that the engineers that are putting the BOMs together are taking the technical ownership for what they need the BOM for. So, that they understand what is available, what may be going end of life, what may be going into service, what the new replacement is. Is it like for like? Does it need to be qualified internally? All of those kinds of things, because what we see a lot is a tendency to go to procurement for those things.”
SARAH: How to Deal with Long Lead Times
“In the industries that I've worked in, is that a lot of the challenges that we saw was, you know, these crazy long lead times. There was, you know, when I was in aluminum, just the sheer lead time to get something within two weeks now is taking 30 weeks. And a lot of it was based off of kind of the raw commodity struggles with when it came to aluminum. Just getting the raw billets into the aluminum press manufacturers, they were hugely constrained.”
Connect with Bo and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Bo Bradshaw | Drax Group
Connect with Sarah and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
Sarah Hardecorpf | Tron Solutions Group
Connect with Mike and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Mike Ryan | The M. Ryan Group
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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Today we're diving into the ever-evolving world of supply chain management in 2023. Joining Sarah and Lindsay as they unravel the intricate image of an effective supply chain practitioner.
They start by sifting through the clutter: from sourcing all the parts to navigating cost-saving strategies and coping with constant changes. It's a demanding field where long hours are often the norm.
They then offer a peripheral critique, noting the importance of staying engaged, transitioning from tactical to strategic thinking, and keeping a positive attitude to avoid becoming the office complainer. Observations reveal that branding oneself as tactical may not yield the rewards you deserve. Instead, focus on offering solutions, tackling MRP issues head-on, and avoiding unnecessary conflicts with other departments.
The supply chain landscape is in constant flux, so continuous learning is key. Dive into AI, embrace ERP add-ons, and sharpen your skills in Excel, Power BI, Python, and Panda. Keep an eye on China Dynamics and freight rate changes.
Communication is the linchpin of success—share your wins, challenges, and adapt to changes. Reinforce the broad scope of your role by connecting with peers and fostering collaboration across the organization.
In this episode of "What the Duck?!" with your host Sarah Scudder, we explore the intricacies of inventory management with guest expert Simon Watson. Simon shares his wealth of experience, having navigated inventory challenges in both large corporations and smaller startups. He discusses the importance of safety stock, especially in the context of supply chain disruptions caused by events like COVID-19. Simon emphasizes the significance of effective communication within the supply chain, helping partners align their goals for improved results. Join us for valuable insights into inventory management and the critical role it plays in ensuring the availability of life-saving medical devices.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Simon’s Career Journey in Manufacturing
Navigating and Managing the World of Returns
Effective Inventory Management Practices
Challenges of Forecasting When Dealing with Imperfect Data
How Contract Manufacturing Works
How to Effectively Demand Plan with Inaccurate Data
Challenges Faced by Supply Chains During COVID-19
The Significance of Effective Communication within the Supply Chain
Future Planning and Strategies for Better Collaboration
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
SIMON: On the Importance of Safety Stock
“We never want to run out of inventory. It's a medical device that has a large effect on saving people's lives. So, we'd rather eat the cost of holding more inventory than run the risk of doing just-in-time and ending up without anything for a period of time.' So, we actually have a very aggressive amount of safety stock. We hold three months of inventory, so we have a pretty large buffer.”
SIMON: On Effective Communication in Supply Chain
“And I've always had the belief that if you communicate effectively and make people understand what your end goal is, then you're going to have better results. So, that's going to be one of the big things we're focusing on next year is helping some of our partners be able to understand a little bit more what our end goals are and giving them better visibility to where we are and on track to get there.”
Connect with Simon and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Simon Watson | Baxter International
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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Welcome to "Another Ducking Digest"! In this episode, Lindsay and Sarah tackle the complexities of "Made in America/Onshoring." Lindsay explores three incentives: agility and faster market entry, focusing on core technical competency, and reducing fixed and variable costs. They examine real-world examples, emphasizing the importance of supplier selection and cost modeling. Lindsay and Sarah also share best practices, including clear problem statements, documented processes, and effective communication. Join us for valuable insights into onshoring strategies.
SHOW SUMMARY
Join us in this episode of What the Duck?! as we delve into the world of procurement and supply chain management with the insightful Robert Seifert. From his early days as an inventory analyst to his current role as a seasoned buyer and materials planner, Robert shares his journey filled with unique cost-saving strategies and amusing anecdotes. Discover how he navigated vendor relationships, optimized inventory control, and implemented innovative solutions, all while juggling the complexities of the food industry. Gain valuable insights into negotiation techniques, demand planning, and leveraging technology for cost savings.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Robert’s Early Career Roles
Challenges and Improvements in Managing Inventory
Challenges in Vendor Relationships
Managing Procurement for Multiple Facilities
Challenges of Managing Procurement for Different Locations
Continuous Improvement Methodologies
Cost-Savings Strategies Implements in the Buyer Role
Challenges and Improvements in Materials Planning
Leveraging Technology to Find Cost Savings
Tips and Tricks for Cost-Conscious Manufacturers
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
ROBERT: On Creating a Lean Supply Chain
“So if a team was working on, let's say, an AMD team or an autonomous machine development team was working on improving case fail by like improving the scale, right? So they break the scale apart, mind you, we join these teams then too, but we go down there before we break the whole scale apart, we clean it, we inspect it, we detect it, we correct it, and then we prevent it, right? So it's all about kind of that process and the lean supply chain.”
ROBERT: Buttoning Up Demand Planning and Forecasting
“If I had to follow, look like on the existing item, right? So what's the historical look like? Is it trending up or down? And then what's the shelf life on that product, right? And you know, it's really, and then you also have a space filtering too typically, right? So you gotta mix it to a meshing of the two to formulate basically like that line it was saying right, or like your minimum inventory, your safety stock. So a lot of it's been, you know, minimum, minimum inventory, safety stock trigger, but like on your existing items, you know, heavy-selling items, you want to contract long to or try to contract as much as you can right to try to get that price point down.”
Connect with Robert and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Robert Seifert Jr. | Good Sense Foods
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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Join Lindsay and Sarah as they dive into the intriguing world of Purchase Order mishaps. They'll explore what happens when a PO goes way off track, resulting in colossal orders that could have easily been avoided. Using a humorous example of a $6 connector ballooning into a $200,000 purchase, they'll cover the occurrence, detection, and the chaotic aftermath.
Discover the recovery process, from escalated discussions to creative agreements, and how to salvage supplier relationships. Lessons learned include the importance of user-friendly ERP data, meticulous PO approvals, and utilizing critical ERP reports to prevent future mishaps. Don't miss this insightful session!
SHOW SUMMARY
Get ready to spice up your supply chain know-how on the latest episode of What the Duck?!Your host, Sarah Scudder, is joined by the awesome Lindsey Walker, founder of Oakmont Supply Solutions. Tune in to hear them chat about everything from navigating pandemic problems like shipping snags and retail magic, to Lindsey's tips for boosting profits without breaking a sweat. They're all about the power of teamwork in S&OP processes and the lowdown on keeping that precious data in check. Tech talk? Yep, they've got it covered, and they're even giving a shoutout to the consultants in the game. Stick around for Lindsey's journey from regular supply chain champ to business superstar. Oh, and don't forget to check out Oakmont Supply Solutions' website for extra insights.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Lindsey’s Background and Start in Supply Chain
Inventory Management During Periods of Uncertain Demand
Challenges During the Pandemic and Managing Uptick in Business
Overcoming Transportation Issues
Maintaining High Retail Fill Rates
Increasing Margins and Maximizing Revenue
Best Practices in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP)
Transition to Entrepreneurship and Consulting
When to Engage Consultants and Internal vs. External Solutions
Data Accuracy and Challenges in Cleaning Data
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
LINDSEY: On Starting a Consulting Practice
“So much of it, like any, you know, a lot of us through the pandemic, we realized that work-life balance is a bit elusive... But I think the thing that I probably learned most through the pandemic was when I became a lot more confident in was my ability to project manage and my ability to tackle complex challenges with a remote team."
LINDSEY: On Data Accuracy and Maintenance
"As far as maintaining your data accuracy, first you have to get it clean. You have to clean the data first in order to maintain it... So the first step to me is to figure out scope it out, understand what the data need is truly to clean, and then develop a process for maintaining it."
Connect with Lindsey and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
Lindsey Walker | Oakmont Supply Solutions
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
SHOW SUMMARY
Get ready for a wild ride on today's episode of What the Duck?! Host extraordinaire Sarah Scudder teams up with Dave Crysler, the guru of consultants and the mastermind behind the "Everyday Business Problems" podcast. They're taking a dive into the nitty-gritty world of making businesses tick in the manufacturing sector. They kick things off with Dave's journey through the twists and turns of printing and manufacturing. They're breaking out the big guns and dishing on the game-changing prioritization matrices. Sounds fancy, right? But don't be fooled, it's all about tackling problems like a pro and supercharging how things get done.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Dave’s Expertise in Operational Improvements for Sustainable Business Growth
Working at Ennis and Journey to Entrepreneurship
Strategic Implementation of Technology in Manufacturing
How Prioritization Matrices Help Address Challenges Effectively
Insight into Tackling Supply Chain Issues
Methods to Enhance Operations Efficiency in Manufacturing
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
DAVE: The Importance of a Well-Defined Process
“The big challenges for me are: how do we attract and retain top talent? And you can't do that if you don't have well-defined and documented processes. You also can't do that if you don't have technology on the back end to help you execute those processes. Now, all of that said, right, you can't go at it and say, 'Well, technology is our problem.' It could be. I mean, it certainly could be, and there's always a case to be made for automating or upgrading or looking at other solutions. But to me, where the opportunity lies to attract and retain top talent is in your planning and your processes. The people side comes in the form of engaging the people, engaging the people that are closest to and adjacent to the processes, so you can tap into that collective brain power and actually move the needle in your business. That over the course of time and looking at your business from a systems perspective is going to be what creates sustainable business growth.”
DAVE: Pain Points in Supply Chain Management
“Coming off of COVID, we've obviously had a lot of, you know, kind of overarching supply chain issues, right? So, to me, it depends on where the pain point is. If you're struggling from a supplier standpoint, you know, that's where I that I'm gonna go, where the flames are the hottest and the highest first. And then I'm going to start to peel that onion layer back. You know, generally though, you can have the biggest and quickest impact internally. And generally, those internal kind of levers are going to help you externally. Because what you'll probably find as you start to move internal to external, there are things that are happening that will impact your supply chain. So, it could be communication-related, right? You know, kind of gets back to what you all do. It's that back and forth communication.”
Connect with Dave and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Dave Crysler | The Crysler Club
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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Today, Lindsay and Sarah explore the impact of PO errors in procurement. Successful buyers excel in detail-oriented work, recognizing the inevitability of mistakes. They multitask adeptly, overseeing exceptions and KPIs efficiently. Thoroughness defines them, emphasizing verification over assumption. Purchasing Management must support buyers working in imperfect scenarios, fostering empathy and process improvement. Errors vary in severity, from incorrect orders promptly flagged during MRP regeneration to non-approved suppliers noticed during audits. Receipt quantity errors also disrupt operations. Effective strategies involve audits, MRP adjustments, streamlined correction steps, and precise coordination channels. Timely recovery is crucial to avoid compounded issues.
SHOW SUMMARY
In this captivating episode of What the Duck?! Another Supply Chain Podcast, your host Sarah Scudder engages in a candid conversation with Chris Locati, a seasoned supply chain expert with 13 years of Aerospace experience. Delving into his unique journey, Chris reveals how he transitioned from stainless steel fabrication to his current role at Precision Aircraft Solutions. With a focus on the Aerospace industry, he unravels the intricacies of managing inventory and demand planning for aircraft conversions, especially the surging demand for narrow-body freighters. A key takeaway resonates as Chris underscores the relentless pursuit of solutions in the face of supply chain challenges, leaving listeners inspired by his unwavering determination.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Chris’ Experience in Stainless Steel Fabrication to His Current Role
Unique Challenges of Managing Inventory and Demand
Never Accept a Dead End with Supply Chain Challenges
Crucial Aspects of Supplier Relationship Management
Labor Shortage Impact on Suppliers
Reasons Behind Long Lead Times in Aerospace
The Balancing Act Between Inventory Levels and Obsolescence
A Never-Ending Learning Journey
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
CHRIS: Seek Solutions and Never Give Up
“There are so many times where a vendor will come to you and say, "There's nothing else we can do, you know, this is the best we can do." Sometimes that may be the case, but I've found that rarely it actually is. Like in the situation with those oxygen mask boxes, they had said, "Well, we're reaching out to the vendors, they're not responding, but we're going to just keep trying, that's the best we can do." And what I did was I actually went to the manufacturers. It's called an AOG desk, AOG means Aircraft On Ground, and that's when the aircraft should be running, but it's not and it costs a lot of money for a lot of people. So, they take those very seriously.”
CHRIS: Challenge of Maintaining Optimal Inventory Levels
“So, we do have to keep a decent level of inventory in order to make sure that we're able to supply our kits. And we did, during COVID, when it was so much more volatile, not knowing whether we were going to get parts on time or not knowing whether we're going to actually be able to get them at all, then we kind of had this strategy. We're going out, we're buying out to this many number of kits. You can bring them in whenever you want to. We can keep inventory on hand and we're just going to do that because we're going to make sure that we have the parts when we need them. And that was a strategy that, you know, normally you wouldn't do that because you wouldn't want to keep that much carrying cost on hand. But we did that in order to mitigate.”
Connect with Chris and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Chris Locati |Precision Aircraft Solutions
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
In this episode of Another Ducking Digest, Sarah Scudder and Lindsay delve into the intricacies of Purchase Orders (POs) within small and mid-sized manufacturers. They explore the common pitfalls that can plague these businesses. Inaccurate info led to delays, financial discrepancies, and even audits. Lindsay shares 10 all-too-familiar mishaps from his manufacturing supply chain experience, including expedite errors, unauthorized spending, supplier woes, pricing mismatches, and communication breakdowns. Listen in to learn about solutions like process adjustments, effective secondary procedures, and vigilant compliance.
SHOW SUMMARY
In this episode of What the Duck?! Another Supply Chain Podcast experienced supply chain expert Greg Manhire delves into the challenges and solutions of managing direct materials procurement. From his time at Amazon Devices to his current endeavors, Greg shares his journey from grappling with manual spreadsheets and shortages to building a sophisticated MRP system. He reveals the complexities of scaling reverse logistics and how strategic partnerships turned failure into success. The episode underscores the importance of collaboration, innovation, and technology in modern supply chain management. Tune in to learn from Greg's unique experiences and gain insights into optimizing procurement processes.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Greg’s Background in Supply Chain Management
Initial Challenges Encountered at Amazon Devices
Rapid Growth of Device Production at Amazon
Shortages of Critical Parts and the Impact of These Failures
Building an MRP and Replenishment System
Custom Solutions and Complexity of Minimizing Shortages
The Rarity of Building Something from Scratch
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
GREG: Managing Inventory Without Forecasts
“I walked into the first day on the job and was basically handed about six spreadsheets for six different fulfillment centers or third-party repair vendors and said, "Here's our inventory, go replenish it." You know, no forecasts. I had to go look up BOMs, had to figure out who the suppliers were. It clearly was not going to scale, and we probably had 10 or 20 devices we may have been managing in the beginning, which, as you've seen the amount of devices coming out of Amazon Prime Day, it's multiplied probably 10x since I started there eight years ago. So, it wasn't scaling, and reverse logistics, as I think we've talked before on a previous show, is much more difficult than just manufacturing.”
GREG: Transforming Failure Into Success
“The amount of shortages that we had, I didn't say it went to zero, but it was down to the point of being minuscule and not interrupting production. And we got to the point of actually measuring misses of proactive planning. So, getting out of firefighting, but how many times should you have ordered something and you didn't, because we got to that level that we could trust the system and take it to the bank, essentially. Not many people get the opportunity to build something from scratch in their career, so pretty interesting”
Connect with Greg and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Greg Manhire |Amazon Web Services
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
In this episode of Another Ducking Digest, Host Sarah Scudder and Lindsay Smith discuss effective small manufacturer supplier management. They cover managing about 200 suppliers with a $10-20 million spend, handling 20-30 daily PO lines, and the four categories of suppliers: strategic, tactical, operational, and commodity. They also delve into five supplier types and the baseline for management. They explore a basic management model driving improvements and the importance of communication both internally and externally. Additionally, they touch on HP's Supplier Management model. Don't miss out on leveraging suppliers to improve the organization.
SHOW SUMMARY
We’ve got a What the Duck?! episode full of supply chain excitement today with host Sarah Scudder interviewing Justin Sayre. Together, they dive into the world of supplier scorecard programs. They kick things off by spotlighting the superhero of decision-making: data. They then shift to the star of the show: setting up a scorecard program that's all about teamwork between buyers and suppliers. It's like choreographing a dance where the metrics groove to the company's goals. But that's not all – suppliers get their moment to shine as they tailor the program to their needs, forming a dynamic duo that's all about mutual success. Discover Justin's journey through roles like analyst, planner, and buyer, along with strategies for tackling the inventory management challenge. Brace for a curveball as they tackle industry changes, emphasizing data-driven decisions even in unpredictable scenarios. Stay tuned for more supply chain wisdom and connect with Justin on LinkedIn for even more insights. Tune in and get ready to quack up!
Show Highlights
Introduction to Justin Sayre and Supplier Scorecard Programs
Significance of Accurate Data in Making Informed Decisions
Supplier Scorecard Program Setup
Supplier Involvement in Aligning Scorecard Metrics
Career Progression and Supply Chain Roles
Challenges with Inventory Variances and Demand Fluctuations
Impact of Industry Changes
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
JUSTIN: Advancing a Career in Direct Materials
“It's really important to make sure that you know your raw materials are coming in on time to make sure that your manufacturing is going to continue to go and make sure that you guys have material to make the product. You know, in the production planning role, we didn't really buy the product, but we were working hand in hand with the procurement team to make sure that we had that product here and it was the kind. And if we had to deviate, we had to make sure we had ECRs in place. We did a lot of testing, a lot of vetting. So, you know, if you don't have the raw material, it's pretty hard to make the product. So you just want to make sure that all your cross-functional groups are coordinating together and make sure that they're all on the same page and, you know, keeping the business going.”
JUSTIN: The Supplier Scorecard Process
“You want your supplier scorecard set up in a way that represents your company and what is important to you to grade your suppliers on. So you want to make sure that you know what's important to your product coming in, whether it's on-time delivery or quality or innovation or, you know, whatever matches your vision and mission statement and things like that. You want your metrics to be reflective of that. So we wanted to make sure that we got those metrics and we were able to measure those metrics, and some of them are, you know, pretty subjective to, you know, not hard data but just, you know, how someone feels, which, you know, sometimes isn't that fair, but that's just how it is. You know, it's kind of hard to grade innovation with specific data points, but if it's important to your firm and important to, you know, staying competitive in the market, you've got to figure out some way that you can grade that on.”
Connect with Justin and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Justin Sayre | Crest Pontoons
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Today, Sarah and Lindsay discuss career development in the small manufacturer supply chain (SC) field. Effective career development is vital for operational efficiency and business growth. Building a cohesive SC team enhances productivity, cost-efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Here are the ten SC career development best practices for small manufacturers:
Roles and Skills: Key roles like Procurement, Inventory management, Logistics, and Demand planning can overlap. Define required skills for shared roles, including technical knowledge and soft skills.
Growth Focus: Emphasize growth and cross-training over traditional promotions.
Training: Offer regular training, replacing traditional workshops with weekly team discussions.
Cross-Functional Exposure: Encourage experience across different SC areas for versatility.
Mentoring: Pair experienced professionals with juniors for knowledge transfer and career guidance.
Performance Management: Provide regular feedback and skill enhancement guidance.
Continuous Improvement: Implement process improvements, cost-saving initiatives, and emerging technology.
Recognition: Celebrate SC achievements, even with simple verbal praise.
Work-Life Balance: Offer flexible arrangements and wellness programs for employee satisfaction.
Engagement Monitoring: Assess employee satisfaction through surveys or discussions to enhance the work environment.
Strengthening the SC team benefits both the organization and team members.
This week on What the Duck?! Sarah Scudder welcomes Dennis Garvey, President of Kentbridge Consulting, a seasoned manufacturing and supply chain professional. Dennis discusses creating effective cross-department communication, his achievements in inventory accuracy and customer interactions, and challenges in procurement. He emphasizes data-driven decision-making, KPIs, and aligning goals for optimal company performance. With his diverse experiences and strong leadership, Dennis proves to be a valuable asset in the industry. Tune in to learn more!
Show Highlights
Achieving Inventory Accuracy and Inventory Turns
Driving Continuous Innovation in Customer Interactions
Challenges in Managing Supply Chain and Procurement for Food
Challenges in Managing Supply Chain and Procurement for Metal Sales
ERP Implementation Challenges and Upfront Preparation
Strategies for Effective Cross-Department Communication and Alignment
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
DENNIS: On Dealing with Perishable Inventory
“We would see prices actually change more than once in a day. So, you know, that can be a great thing when your prices are going up because now you own inventory that just got more valuable, but vice versa, you can, you know, wind up having inventory that has lost value. And so, and you're already in the food distribution business, usually operating on pretty thin margins, so commodity pricing, perishable inventory, and thin margins make for a rather challenging procurement business. And I think like, you know, every other business, but perhaps a little bit on steroids with this sort of environment, is you have to be on top of your numbers, you have to be and you have to have some process disciplines in place so that if you wind up in a situation where you're long on inventory in a particular area that it's not moving, you have to have a process in place that says, "Okay, what's our discount policy? What's our action steps that we're going to initiate on day X to start to move this out the door in one way, shape, or form?"
DENNIS: Managing Direct Materials and Procurement for Large Businesses
“The first piece goes to, you know, putting in place data capture and KPIs and sort of designing what are the elements that you want to measure for evaluating your performance. And so, you know, when it comes to inventory or procurement side, you know, breaking your inventory into categories, you know, fast movers versus slow movers, you know, managing, you know, having the information to look at any particular SKU and see, you know, what's moving, what's not moving, and build that into a reporting system that, you know, gets looked at, you know, every week. You know, the purchasing director may be looking at that every day, but, you know, I would, you know, generally have a weekly staff meeting where everybody, you know, had their KPIs to report out on, and, you know, if everything was flowing smoothly and the numbers are going in the right direction, it was a relatively easy conversation. But if the numbers are not going in the right direction, there had to be some answers as to why, and there had to be accountability for actions to, you know, make corrections. But I think a lot of it flows from, you know, having the data available to be able to look at and evaluate how you're performing on the numbers. If you don't, you know, firm believer, if you don't know your numbers, you can't know your business.”
Connect with Dennis Garvey and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Dennis Garvey
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
SHOW SUMMARY
In this episode of What the Duck?! Sarah and today’s guest, Jeff Brown, delve into several crucial topics. We'll explore strategies for turning around weak procurement, analyze the potential massive impact of the China-Taiwan conflict on direct materials procurement, and discuss best practices for benchmarking in the industry. If you're a direct materials professional looking to accelerate your career and stay ahead in times of uncertainty, this episode is a must-listen!
Show Highlights
Background in Supply Chain and Manufacturing
Supply Chain Management at Boston Scientific
The Need for Quality Improvement and Inventory Reduction
Taking on the role of CEO at EndoLogic
Conflict Between China and Taiwan on Supply Chains
Ownership and Management of Supply Chain Risk
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
JEFF: Developing an Understanding of Risk
“This is why I keep talking about China-Taiwan so much, the level of massive impact that this will have, and it really should light a fire under the folks that say, well, if we really want to remain in business, how are we going to offset this? Are we going to just plan on assuming a two-month duration? Well, then you could probably offset that with added Safety stock levels, right? If this is going to be two quarters or a half a year, you know, are you willing to take that much Safety stock? Maybe there's some key critical elements that you want to pull back and start to qualify backup Supply in Mexico, for example. You know, and what I like to look at is I do what I call a reverse Apex calculation.”
JEFF: Coming Up With Mitigation Plans
“Coming up with mitigation plans, this really, to me, falls in the lap of the head of supply chain. So, you know, that's how you earn your money in the supply chain world is really de-risking the overall supply chain and understanding what's coming around the corner. You and I have had this conversation before about, you know, understanding the current level of risk and what's in front of us, like COVID in the case of 2020 or 2021. Understanding the level of the current impact of the current issue, great. That should absolutely be part of the job. But a big part of the job is starting to ask the questions and figuring out what's around the corner. What are we not seeing yet?”
Connect with Jeff and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Jeff Brown
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
SHOW SUMMARY
We welcome Denise Sena on What the Duck?! today to discuss the importance of having a master service agreement (MSA) with key suppliers in the supply chain. Denise shares her experiences working in various companies and highlights the challenges and lessons learned in implementing MSAs. Denise emphasizes the importance of finding a high-performing procurement expert, prioritizing critical areas, and using industry benchmarks in crafting MSAs. The conversation underscores the significance of building strong supplier relationships and the positive impact of effective MSAs on business operations.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
The Significance of Internal and External Collaboration
Supply Chain Professionals Must be Agile and Flexible
Data-Driven Decision-Making
Challenges of Accurate Forecasting
Establishing Master Service Agreements
Building a High-Performing Procurement Team
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
DENISE: On Data-Driven Decision-Making
“It’s extremely important to have effective communication so we can align on goals, we can resolve issues together, and we can come to consensus. I think the second, for me, is that you find in supply chain the ability to be agile and nimble and flexible, right? And so, supply chain folks, they pivot under duress all the time, and there are always unplanned events. And so, you have to be able to feel comfortable mitigating the contingency plan. And the third, which is my favorite, is data-driven decisions, right? And so, supply chain creates a vast amount of data, and so the ability to leverage that data, analytics, and technology is crucial in order to enable data-driven decisions, informed decisions, which actually becomes a competitive advantage for some of the companies.”
DENISE: Benchmarking and Using Industry Standards for Reference
“We always worked with industry benchmarks as the standard to say, "This is what we would like." And so, we always started with that and then either worked backwards or forwards. So, a lead time was very important to us, a quality level was important to us as well. So, I would just say, know what good looks like for your organization. For us, we did some benchmarking outside of what the industry would look like, and then we went with that and started our conversation there with our suppliers.”
Connect with Denise and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
- Denise Sena
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! Seeyou soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Our weekly news show for supply chain peeps working in manufacturing is back. Our expert Lindsay Smith spent the month of June in Europe. He's back and ready to talk supply chain. Today's show topic: Coping with unplanned events in small manufacturer environments. The idea of process immaturity is more common in larger manufacturers. But more common in small and mid sized manufacturers:
-ERP isn't fully implemented - some reports don't run
-ERP breaks
-Bad/dirty data
-IT has limited support
-ERP is not universally trusted across the organization (not the universal single source of truth)
-Limited budget for supply chain process refinement
-Organizationally supply chain empathy, less support
-Supplier base has fewer "best in class" and more single-source dependencies
-Fast order-entry may eclipse thoughtful scheduling
What this translates to in terms of ideal qualifications for supply chain:
-Multitaskers
-Flexible
-Less structured
-Collaborative
-Fewer KPS - need to make do with imperfection
How best to respond to these less uncommon events:
-Understand there’s limited opportunity to be prepared yet invest time planning for the unexpected
-Understand at best you will be watched and judged, at worst criticized and blamed
-Humor is a super-power
-Adopt a process planning for the unexpected
SHOW SUMMARY
What the ACTUAL Duck?!! Stephanie Shrader joins the What the Duck?! hotseat today to discuss with Sarah the ways in which you can improve the data in your ERP. Stephanie, first, highlights her specialization in procurement and sourcing, emphasizes the significance of supplier collaboration, particularly during the chip shortage challenges in the gaming industry and discusses the difficulties of maintaining clean ERP data and the efforts taken to address them. Be sure to tune into this episode if you are wanting to hear expert insights into supplier relationships, ERP data integrity, and overcoming industry challenges.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Stephanie’s Career Journey
Supplier Collaboration and Building Strong Relationships
Maintaining Clean and Accurate Data
Maintaining Data Integrity
Challenges in Ordering Excess Inventory
ERP Data Cleanup
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
STEPHANIE: Data Integrity in Your ERP
“I would tell you that anybody that is in procurement, in sourcing, in the planning side, the demand planning, they're going to tell you the same thing. Everybody is going to... Anybody that uses an ERP system, few exceptions, they're going to tell you that it's extremely difficult to keep the data clean all the time. It just is. There's no foolproof method to do this. So, I... The company I work for is great. It's a lot more robust system that we're using. There's so much intricate detail that goes into it that it really, really becomes challenging. Because not only can you put a supplier name in here, but you can embed it here and here. So, when it comes out on your report and you see it with a capital and a not capital, who did it? Where did it start from? Was it here, here, or here? Instead of just going one place and saying, "Okay, all of these are in one little place, go in and tweak it."
STEPHANIE: Bad ERP Data leading to Unnecessary Inventory Orders
“So, the department that I run, the procurement department, I can tell you when I came back a year ago, we weren't actioning the ERP exceptions as quickly as we needed to. So, if planning had put in a forecast and we've got our hard orders coming in (and I won't get too technical and all that here), but if all your demand is coming in and you see it, and things have changed, your demand has, let's say, dropped, and you're getting actions that say move this out or cancel this, you have to really jump on those things quickly to be able to limit the inventory that is being built on a hard PO. You have to update your suppliers as well.”
Connect with Stephanie and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
- Stephanie Shrader | Light & Wonder
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Special guest, Dr. Muddassir Ahmed joins host, Sarah Scudder, today on What the Duck?! Together, they explore the intricacies of determining the most effective supplier development strategy for manufacturers who are struggling to establish strong relationships with their suppliers. Dr. Ahmed brings a wealth of experience, having spent 17 years in the manufacturing industry, serving as a divisional supply chain leader for prominent companies like Eaton and Bridgestone. Tune in as they unravel the complexities of supplier development strategies, share valuable insights from Dr. Ahmed’s expertise, and provide practical solutions to enhance direct materials supply chain management.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Structured Framework Around Six Sigma
Direct Materials Challenges at Eaton
Tips for Best Managing Suppliers
Reducing Lead Times
Starting SCMDOJO
The Muddassarism Blog
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
MUDDASSIR: Starting a Foundation for Supplier Relationship Management
“Who are your, you know, steady suppliers? Who are your retained suppliers? Who are your replacement suppliers? So clearly, it's not into the benefit of a buyer or, you know, firefighting organization who doesn't have a lot of resources is to find a time for the, you know, even forget the replacement suppliers, even the retained suppliers. You know, it's not a good idea, which is some resources. However, it's a good start to build your relationship with your steady suppliers and really get them on board as your partner. You know, saying, "You know what, we work with you, we like you, we like your product, we want to grow, we need your help. How can you help us?" And if you ask, I don't know, 10-12 suppliers, I can tell you this, two of them will show you some generosity. And I think you should take advantage of those generosity, right? It's all about asking the question somehow, not just always, you know, have a classical approach of, you know, "I'm the buyer, I am right, you listen to me." I don't think it works in this modern day and age. This modern day and age is all about partnership.”
MUDDASSIR: Buyers Vs. Operational Buyers
“An operational buyer is someone who sends a purchase order. Of course, you are a buyer, right? But if you think about the strict roles of the category and commodity managers, they think their role is strategic and commercial. They do not want to get involved in the day-to-day operations of the supplier, such as late deliveries or quality issues, and so on and so forth, which I think is a wrong mindset. Again, I'm just sharing my experience. It may not be true for certain companies, I don't know. Just sharing my experience. And for a classic example of that is, if you ask any category or commodity managers, “join me in the SNOP sales and operations planning review.” They'll say, "Why do you want me to be there? What am I supposed to do there? I've done my bit. I've got my contracts. I've got my SRM strategy. I'm good, right? But that's not true because the reason they have to come is because they should understand what's happening in the business, what is the demand going forward, so they can work with their suppliers correctly to negotiate price better, you know, give us leverage or even tell suppliers the certain product line is about to go obsolete and we should not be spending so much money on it or should not have so much stock, so on and so forth.”
Connect with Muddassir and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Dr. Muddassir Ahmed | SCMDOJO
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Join Jeff and Sarah for your weekly direct materials news for supply chain folks working for a small or mid sized manufacturer. Jeff Brown is the talent. Sarah here to keep the convo going. Topic for today's show: demand planning and budget prep.
Here's what Jeff is going to delve into:
-
EVERYTHING in supply chain starts with a good demand plan. Hard to have a good supply plan without a good demand plan. You'll likely will have to help the demand team (sales?) with this. Use 1) statistical demand as well as 2) historical demand as baselines. Then start layering in forward looking drivers of demand surges or dips: marketing promotions, seasonality, new product launches, competitive challenges, etc. This is always challenging as you often hear your company doesn’t know how many promotions it might have until they know Q1 or even Q2 is complete. Then they start to add a big sales push. Finally, you have to add corrections for forecast accuracy.
-
Confirm that you have either of 2 things: a 5 yr strategy plan or an operations plan for next year. You’ll need to abide by these or your work might drive these to be revisited / amended.
-
Supply Plan: offer the “menu of options” - don’t let next year's supply plan or inventory rest solely on your shoulders. In the spirit of collaboration, offer a “menu of options." Run 3 - 7 scenarios of the build plan numbers by your heads of finance, sales and supply chain.
SHOW SUMMARY
Today on What the Duck?!, Sarah interviews Nico Taormina, an experienced buyer, and he is here to discuss his career in procurement and supply chain management. Nico shares his background, starting at Boeing and later transitioning to companies like Virgin Orbit, Canoe, and Northrop Grumman. He discusses how his experiences at each company shaped his understanding of procurement and supply chain dynamics. They delve into the crucial relationship between production speed and negotiations, particularly for manufacturers facing challenges in balancing production speed with supply availability. Tune in as they explore the far-reaching effects of production speed on negotiation dynamics and uncover strategies to optimize this delicate balance.
Show Highlights
Taking Flight at Boeing
Hands On Experience of Virgin Orbit
Sourcing Components at Canoe
Trust, Communication and Relying on Suppliers’ Expertise
Remote Work Emphasis on Written Communication
Virtual Meetings Are An Unprecedented Challenge
Availability and Lead Time Pain Points
Production Speed Impacts Negotiations
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
NICO: PRODUCTION SPEED IMPACTS ON NEGOTIATIONS
“Price is very important in the automotive industry, and it is a lot due to the production speed of how they operate. So, when you look at rockets or planes or helicopters, those are huge 30-year contracts. You're probably pumping out, you know, 50 a year, maybe that's max volume, somewhere around there, a hundred even. Cars, if you look at, like, the F-150, is doing hundreds of thousands a year. So, when I got to the automotive industry, suddenly the price negotiations became extremely granular and very detailed, and it's something that I've tried to bring with me back into the Aerospace industry.”
NICO: NEGOTIATION TIPS & TRICKS
“I think negotiations, to a point, obviously are difficult. I think I've heard a lot of different suggestions of what to do. A lot of people, there's the old thing of, you know, whoever talks first loses. So that one's a funny one. I have a hard time with that. I typically say a joke or something right off the bat. But, I would just say, you know, have a number, be prepared, understand where your number's coming from. Make sure your number makes sense, make sure you can get to your number based on, you know, whatever you're building in with labor, material, anything like that. Make sure that you can actually get to that number and then it makes sense. And then just be strong with it and go with it. If you've done the work and you've put in the time and that number is correct and you know how to get there, then that's something that you can win that negotiation if that all works out.”
Connect with Nico and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Nico Taormina| Rocket Lab
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Join Jeff and Sarah for your weekly direct materials news for supply chain folks working for a small or mid sized manufacturer. Jeff Brown is the talent. Sarah here to keep the convo going. Topic for today's show: The impact of the conflict between China and Taiwan on direct materials procurement peeps working in manufacturing. What Jeff is gonna discuss:
-
Develop a solid understanding of your level of RISK NOW (not later when it’s too late). Do a deep review of your tier 1, 2, 3 suppliers, ABC analysis, and adjust safety stocks accordingly.
-
Do not think you're safe in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam or Indonesia - conflict means shipping lanes in the entire theater will be disrupted or shut down entirely. No fly zones will impact air shipments. What to do? Consider nearshoring into countries with favorable trade agreements with the US, AND that often have lower labor rates than China currently does... this means Mexico, Costa Rica, etc.
-
Strongly consider vertical integration - make your product yourself. This massively boosts your level of supply chain control and visibility, but also takes the margin you would have paid to a supplier and puts it in your pocket.
Today, on What the Duck?! Sarah Scudder is joined by Ed Koch, who leads the Solutions Division at CCI. They discuss improving operational performance by implementing lean continuous improvement programs across multiple sites. Ed shares his extensive global experience in operations and manufacturing transformations, having worked in various regions around the world. They delve into Ed's career journey, starting at Unilever and then moving to SabMiller, where he played a significant role in implementing operational excellence programs and standardizing performance metrics across the global business. The conversation highlights the importance of leadership, employee engagement, and the impact of lean practices on supply chain performance and sustainability.
Show Highlights
Unilever to SabMiller
The Industry 4.0 Concept
Lean Operational Excellence
The Measure of Success
Practioning to Consulting
Competitive Capabilities International
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
ED: INCORPORATING THE INDUSTRY 4.0 CONCEPT
“Industry 4.0 is really a term for the digitization of the supply chain, and it was really early days for us. We were experimenting and doing research in this area, but essentially what we tried to do is to try and, with digital technology, connect machines across production processes so that we could surface information and data that enabled operators to make real-time decisions on things like quality, the performance of the line so that we were able to give that information into the hands of the operators. And through that, we then were able to develop digital tools for workflows for specific activities, in shortening full control of the equipment in health and safety for problem-solving.”
ED: LEAN OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
“Lean operational excellence is a series of practices and methodologies to help improve performance. Really, what are some of the cons? If I'm listening to this and thinking this is something that I may want to tackle, what should I be aware of? Yeah, I think that's a great question. Probably one of the biggest ones is to recognize that it isn't a project, that it needs to be treated as a transformation program, and it's not a quick fix. So it's not something that can be done in six or 12 months. It should be something that's embarked upon with the mindset that we're in for the long term to improve performance systemically across the business.”
Connect with Ed and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Ed Koch| CCi
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Join Jeff and Sarah for your weekly direct materials news for supply chain folks working for a small or mid sized manufacturer. Jeff Brown is the talent. Sarah here to keep the convo going. AKA the MC. Topic for today's show: How to Accelerate your Supply Chain Career - Part 2. Jeff is a 20-year COO and GM, who’s led Operations, Supply Chain and entire divisions for companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Boston Scientific, Endologix, Steris and others. He was the keynote speaker for the med device industry’s largest annual event last year (topic supply chain recovery post Covid), and was named the "Top Exec in Medtech" by the Golden Bridge Awards. Jeff is a lean evangelist and is one of the most recommended leaders on all of LinkedIn.
Today on What the Duck?!, we’re ducking around with Brad Feakes, an expert in operations, supply chain management, and information technology. Brad sits down with Host, Sarah Scudder, to discuss the use of best-of-breed solutions to build hybrid Cloud ecosystems that support ERP customer needs. Brad shares his personal and professional journey, including his education, career choices, and his experience working with ERP systems in manufacturing companies. They also touch upon Brad's role as a business analyst and his involvement in implementing Epicor as company-wide ERP system and his current role at EstesGroup.
Show Highlights
To the window and the walls
What is Epicor?
Pros and Cons of using Epicor vs. Other ERP systems
The Estes Group
The Chaos and Craziness Heard from Customers
Benefits of Best-in-Breed vs. Traditional Approaches
Constructing an Ecosystem for IT
What is a Successful Exosystem?
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
BRAD: THE BEST-OF-BREED APPROACH
“Best of breed as an approach to enterprise ecosystem development says that I am going to choose the best functionality available in each domain to try and execute that area's domain responsibility. So, an area of responsibility might be purchasing. If I'm using a best-of-breed approach, I'm going to say, "I'm going to try to find the best solution possible to cut POs quickly and efficiently, accurately reflect the right lead times, and be able to manage those changes as efficiently as possible." That is the best-of-breed approach. You could compare it to what you might call the unified system approach.”
BRAD: HYBRID CLOUD VS. BEST-OF-BREED
“Hybrid cloud is thought of as the technical instantiation of a best-of-breed approach. So, a hybrid cloud is where each solution itself may have its own architecture that is different than, say, the core architecture of the ERP system with which you're working. Now, what that allows for in a hybrid cloud architecture is you build integrations between your core system and all of its peripheral ancillary systems. Some of those might be installed locally at the customer's site. Shipping solutions, quite often, are installed locally because they have a very large sets of data that needs to be processed very quickly. So, you might have an on-premise application that connects to a hybrid cloud where your core ERP system is.”
Connect with Brad and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Brad Feakes| EstesGroup
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Every Monday Sarah Scudder be going live with Lindsay Smith at 10am CT to discuss direct materials sourcing in manufacturing news for the week. The target audience? Procurement and supply chain peeps working for small and mid-sized manufacturers. However, this month, Lindsay is leaving us to go to Europe for a month. How dare he?! We tried to convinve him to let Sarah tag along in his luggage but her 6' tall self is not conducive to folding and bending to speak into a foreign country. So, Jeff Brown is stepping in to serve as our direct materials and manufacturing expert for the month of June and today we dive into Part One of How to Accelerate your Supply Chain Career.
Jeff ain't too shabby. He is a 20-year COO and GM, who’s led Operations, Supply Chain and entire divisions for companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Boston Scientific, Endologix, Steris and others. Jeff was the keynote speaker for the med device industry’s largest annual event last year (topic supply chain recovery post Covid), and was named the "Top Exec in Medtech" by the Golden Bridge Awards. Jeff is a lean evangelist and is one of the most recommended leaders on all of LinkedIn.
SHOW SUMMARY
In today’s episode of What the Duck?!, Sarah interviews Craig Campbell, who has extensive experience in supply chain and purchasing. They discuss various topics, including Craig's early career as a subcontract engineer, his transition to purchasing, his passion for direct materials in the supply chain, moving from the UK to the US, and his experiences with global freight issues. Tune into this episode if you want to hear Craig’s insights on the challenges faced in the nuclear valve manufacturing industry, the importance of adaptability in supply chain management, and the unexpected extent of the global freight problem during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Show Highlights
Craig, the Subcontract Engineer
The Starter Launchpad of Craig’s Career
Direct Materials > Indirect Materials
Nuclear Valve Manufacturing
You Have to be Adaptable
Contract Buyer for Manufacturers
Global Freight Issues
Advice for those Struggling with Global Freight
Career Learnings
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
CRAIG: YOU HAVE TO BE ADAPTABLE
“So, the one thing I learned there is you have to be adaptable, right? Every single supply chain, purchasing, procurement, whatever you want to call it, problem is similar to one that you've experienced in the past, regardless of what the end-user is, regardless of what the industry is, regardless of what certification is. I find that you need to be able to have strong relationships with your vendors. You need to have stronger relationships with your internal customers: engineers, quality, manufacturing people. And so, yeah, I mean, like, I guess what I learned most from that job was just the adaptability requirements of a supply chain professional is one of the biggest assets you could possibly have, being very good at managing stress, very much so. Yes, absolutely.”
CRAIG: HOW TO IMPROVE FROM GLOBAL FREIGHT ISSUES
“Ensure that your planning lead times are current and have knowledge, have a total understanding of what your current freight times are, avoid air freight like the plague if you can. Partner with good logistics companies. There's nothing more important than that, and that's something that we found very valuable when we were going through that, making sure we had good relationships with the companies that we deal with in the logistics side to make sure that we were getting the best opportunities, the best situation in a bad situation, if you like. So, partnerships with excellent logistics companies is invaluable when it comes to handling these sort of issues. But overall, certainly planning is a big part of it.”
Connect with Craig and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Craig Campbell| Parata Systems
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Every Monday Sarah Scudder be going live with Lindsay Smith at 10am CT to discuss direct materials sourcing in manufacturing news for the week. The target audience? Procurement and supply chain peeps working for small and mid-sized manufacturers. Today's topic: supply chain burnout part 2. Heer's what Lindsay will be discussing: How to....
1) Recognize the signs of supply chain burnout
2) Create a personal inventory of your current state and where you stand
3) Assess the current state of your employer, particularly your ERP health
4) Figure out what actions you should take to avoid burnout
Today on What the Duck?!, Sarah is joined by Bo Bradshaw, the procurement director at Edgio. Join them as they dive deep in discussion the importance of client education in mitigating the impacts of supply chain disruption. Bo shares his career journey, starting as a claims adjuster before transitioning to supply chain, and highlights the similarities between claims adjusting and procurement negotiation. He explains how he landed his first supply chain role at Dow Chemical and why he decided to stay in the field, emphasizing his enjoyment of the work and the opportunities for growth and learning.This episode explores everything from the importance of client education in supply chain management, shared insights from Bo’s career journey, and his experiences in procurement negotiation and navigating supply chain disruptions such as the tariff war with China.
Show Highlights
Claims Adjustment to Supply Chain
Moving Up the Ranks
It’s Not About Being the Hero
The Tariff War in China
Building a Best-In-Class Procurement team
Sourcing Items in 2023
Internal Stakeholder/Client Education
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
BO: Moving Up in the Ranks at Dow
“It's not about being the hero. It's about helping my client to succeed, my internal client. You know, businesses and the functions that are spending the money that we are trying to source to get the best deal, right? And so, for me, it's about being client-focused and aligning how I'm working with my client with what their pain points are, as well as what both the immediate tactical and the long-term strategic needs are for the company. And, like I said, if you enjoy what you do, it's really easy to be successful at it without really looking towards the ambition part of the equation, right? And so, enjoying what I do, plus having that focus on allowing my client to be the hero through what we're sourcing and purchasing, that's really how I got the visibility to move up so quickly at Dow.”
BO: On His New Role at Edgio
“Over the last almost year at this point, 10-11 months, I've been on the journey with the company to build a best-in-class procurement department. And so, with that, it's been about a lot of client education, a lot of stakeholder education internally, a lot of discussion with external suppliers and vendors regarding really the way that we want to transform our business interaction with those suppliers and vendors. As well as, you know, staffing up the organization, putting the people, tools, processes, and procedures in place so that we do procurement from a strategic discipline perspective, while again, we're able to handle those tactical items that come up that might have, you know, a short timeline for whatever reason.”
Connect with Bo and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Bo Bradshaw | Edgio
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Today's topic is one we have been hearing a lot of recently: supply chain burnout and talent shortage in manufacturing. Working in supply chain is stressful. It's fast-paced and you are always on and in firefighting mode. Working 10 - 12 hours days including working on the weekends while not feeling appreciated causes burnout. There is a talent shortage in supply chain manufacturing jobs. More open jobs than qualified candidates. Smart supply chain peeps are leaving the industry. Young talent is deciding to work in other industries that are more sexy and allows for a better work-life balance. Join Lindsay and Sarah as they talk supply chain burnout and the talent shortage in manufacturing. Lindsay's going to discuss WHY there's a problem and what employees and employers can do about it.
After many months of hearing his name in the workplace halls, Sarah finally got the chance to meet and interview SourceDay celebrity, Paul Tedford on this episode of What the Duck?! Paul's passion for customer advocacy and solving new and challenging problems allowed him to take on many different roles in the ERP space and most recently become CEO and partner at Synergy Resources. If you work for a manufacturer and want to upgrade your existing ERP or install a new ERP, you won’t want to miss this discussion on how to successfully implement an ERP.
Show Highlights
Swanky Cowboy Boots
First Exposure to ERPs
Creating Seamless ERP Integrations
Experience Behind Consultants
When it is the right time to upgrade?
Maintaining Data Accuracy
It’s All About the Synergy
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
PAUL: Benefits of Hiring an ERP Consultant
“One of our values is customer satisfaction, and that seems like a value that everybody has but one of the behaviors in there is meeting customers where they are. So, we have a lot of customers that have implemented… this is the first time they’ve implemented an ERP. They're coming off QuickBooks, maybe they’re just coming off spreadsheets, and they've never implemented an ERP. And, if you’ve never implemented an ERP, it touches everything in your company. It touches everything from sales to operations, material planning, shop floor, finance, quality, engineering, you name it.”
PAUL: Embracing Change Management
“Change management starts with strong executive sponsorship. Without the support of the executive team, especially the CEO or president, it's challenging to have a successful project with the necessary change management focus. It's also important to have an internal project manager, separate from the vendor's project manager, who can drive the change and ensure its progress. Additionally, implementing other change management strategies with key stakeholders is crucial. For example, conducting DISC assessments can help assess personality traits, work styles, and communication preferences of team members and stakeholders.”
Connect with Paul and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Paul Tedford | Synergy Resources
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Every Monday Sarah Scudder be going live with Lindsay Smith at 10am CT to discuss direct materials sourcing in manufacturing news for the week. The target audience? Procurement and supply chain peeps working for small and mid-sized manufacturers. This week, we're talking Just In Time (JIT) Supply/Inventory Planning. Here's a sneak preview of what's to be discussed:
- JIT is a lean manufacturing approach that emphasizes minimizing inventory levels by receiving and producing goods only when they are needed in the production process.
- This approach helps to reduce waste and increase efficiency by reducing the amount of inventory that a company has to store, handle, and manage.
- JIT is successfully used to improve productivity and reduce costs in manufacturing.
- Use with caution. JIT can hurt your business by causing out of stock issues which results in cash flow issues and upset customers.
- For most small manufacturers, whenever you set Min to Zero and have hot lead times then you are defector stepping into the JIT space.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer is the theme of this week’s epsiode of What the Duck?! Sarah Scudder, is joined by Emily French, otherwise known as “The Bulldog,” where they chat all about working with competitors to secure supply. You heard that right. Emily is an estimator Shermco Industries in Irving, Texas. She started out as a temp to help with inventory cleanup and was not promised a position. Through hard work and dedication, she showed she wanted to work at Shermco.
Show Highlights
Starting off as a buyer
Graduating preschool to procurement
Shermco: not a cookie-cutter shop
Differences between estimators and buyers
Lack of lubricants
Getting products from competitors
Finding alternative suppliers
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
EMILY: Working with Competitors
“We’re all here to make money. We're all here to have a productive business, and the relationship with this particular vendor was actually already in place through the previous estimator that was here, and they had worked together for years, and I built a relationship with him as well. And there will be times that he reaches out to me because he needs a drive-in slinger that goes into the bearing compartment, and I'll have them manufactured, I'll ship it to him, and he'll pay it. I'll reach out to him and say, "Hey, I need this encoder like yesterday. Do you have it?" Because apparently, we're six months out. And because they're a bigger outfit than we are, so they have a larger inventory facility. He'll sell it to me. I mean, like I said, we're all out here to have a business that's thriving.”
EMILY: Why the shortage in supply chain?
“The short answer, and my favorite, is supply chain issues. So, I hate that phrase at this point. They're saying they just don't have the materials, and I guess these people that we found, nobody really knew about them. But now, we've, you know, our entire company uses them now, and they're perfect. I even have had to tell one of my bearing vendors once to say, "Hey, you know, these people are your competition when it comes to that." Some of the materials that go into the lubricant, the manufacturers are having trouble getting, so they don't even have a product to be able to produce enough to meet the demand. That's how it is coming across.”
Connect with Emily and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
LinkedIn |Shermco Industries
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Every Monday Sarah Scudder be going live with Lindsay Smith at 10am CT to discuss direct materials sourcing in manufacturing news for the week. The target audience? Procurement and supply chain peeps working for small and mid-sized manufacturers. Who the duck is Lindsay?! Lindsay was most recently the SVP of global supply chain at PARPRO, a design and manufacturing company focused on Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) solutions. Prior to his time at PARPRO, he was the Director, Global Supply Chain Management at Confluent Medical Technologies for 9 years. Prior to this, he was the Director, Global Supply Chain at Cardinal Health. Lindsay knows his sh!t. He’s also a really cool and fun person. Lindsay will be sharing important direct materials news each week.
Sneak preview:
- Inaccurate inventory management: shortages and stockouts.
- Compromise ability to meet customer demand on time leading to lost sales.
- Inefficient production planning: inaccurate current Work In Progress (WIP) status.
Today on What the Duck?! Host, Sarah Scudder, is joined by Nisha Reddy. They dive into all they ways to reduce the cost of your commodities. If you’re struggling to deal with price increases from your suppliers, which is almost everybody given the craziness where we're at with inflation, then you won’t want to miss this discussion. Nisha graduated with a degree in Neuroscience, so the purchasing and procurement space was very new to her. After discovering her passion for purchasing through her work experience, she became a strong presence within her company as a buyer in the automotive industry that is dedicated to reducing costs across eight commodities.
Show Highlights
Putting Out Fires
Professional Juggler
Building Positive Relationships with Stakeholders
8 Categories of Commodities
Most Difficult Commodities of 2023
Business Impacts of Price Increases
Concerning Commodities from a Cost Perspective
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
NISHA: Building Positive Relationships with Stakeholders
“In the beginning of my career and when I started this job, I did expect a lot of imposter syndrome, and I really had to prove myself with my work and my knowledge. So, I had to do a lot of extensive research in the markets for my commodities that I manage. I had to make sure I prepared before every single meeting that I went to. But this not only helped me substantiate my skills and my presence in my company but helped me to build trust with my suppliers too, and so that they knew that I knew what I was talking about, that I was interested in what I was talking about.”
NISHA: 8 Categories of Commodities
“I manage expendable packaging, returnable packaging, raw resin, injection molded parts, molded rubber parts, labels, stickers, extruded rubber, extruded plastic, and I've dabbled in aluminum and steel as well. And so each commodity has to definitely be treated differently because they act differently in the market. And I've had time periods where organ pricing has plummeted and then say polypropylene and nylon pricing has skyrocketed. So, it's easy to get bogged down by the little details of each of your commodities, but it's important that you take some time each quarter to evaluate market forecasts and define your cost-saving goals appropriately.”
Connect with Nisha and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
- Nisha Reddy
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
Every Monday Sarah Scudder be going live with Lindsay Smith at 10am CT to discuss direct materials sourcing in manufacturing news for the week. The target audience? Procurement and supply chain peeps working for small and mid-sized manufacturers. Who the duck is Lindsay?! Lindsay was most recently the SVP of global supply chain at PARPRO, a design and manufacturing company focused on Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) solutions. Prior to his time at PARPRO, he was the Director, Global Supply Chain Management at Confluent Medical Technologies for 9 years. Prior to this, he was the Director, Global Supply Chain at Cardinal Health. Lindsay knows his sh!t. He’s also a really cool and fun person. Lindsay will be sharing important direct materials news each week.
Today on What The Duck?!, Sarah is joined by Stephen Drummey where they delve into how to successfully onboard customers' new products. If you work for a manufacturer and are struggling to onboard customer projects, especially in Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), then this episode is for you. Stephen is a buyer at Samina Corporation with seven years of experience onboarding customers with NPI projects. NPI stands for onboarding new customer products, specializing in EMS. Stephen uses that experience to Quick-turn prototypes while also positioning projects for long-term material success and production.
Show Highlights
Falling into Manufacturing
EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services)
Challenges as a Commodities Manager
Design and Supply Chain Teaming Up
Buying at Sanmina
NPIs and Why They’re Important
Spending Money Without Making Money
Start with the BOM
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
STEPHEN: BOM – What are Bill of Materials?
“You want to go through and figure out, 'Okay, how quickly can I get all this material? Where are my long poles? You know, how many weeks or months could I be waiting before I get material?' And if you do that right off the bat, then there should be no surprises further down the road. You've set expectations right up front. So that's usually where I start, with the longest lead time items, and then kind of work my way down. Or at the same time, also kind of clearing like easy or low-hanging fruits. So you go for the long lead time items, clear the low-hanging fruit, and then you're left with stuff in the middle. And you know, getting your long lead time items sorted out or into a cycle that supports what sort of production schedule you want to have for the finished product.”
Stephen: The importance of NPIs
“NPI stands for new product introduction. There are usually two categories that NPIs will follow under. You'll either get like a brand-new product that's never been built or they've done Alphas or Betas. And then you also will get kind of the pre-existing designs where maybe you've either designed this product and you've been manufacturing it, and now you're like, "All right, we don't want to do this anymore. Let's outsource the manufacturing aspect of it." You already have an established supply chain and a flow of materials. It's more about making sure that you don't get hung up on internal processes, things get up to speed, and you can move towards production smoothly.”
Connect with Stephen and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Stephen Drummey |Sanmina
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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SHOW SUMMARY
It’s double trouble in this episode of What The Duck?! Today, we chat with Anna McGovern, the Founder and Managing Director of Pondview Consulting and Rachel Hassall, a CPG procurement executive with over 15 year’s experience ranging from personal care to home care cosmetics. These ladies discuss developing direct materials procurement talent and teams. They dive into bosses, the good (Rachel is a previous employee of Anna’s from their time at Unilever) and the bad ones, finding talent and self-awareness of your own strengths. If you work for a manufacturer and want to train up and retain your procurement team, then this episode is for you.
Show Highlights
Introduction to the Show
Having Amazing Bosses
Training on a Budget
Horrible Bosses
Never Stop Learning
Define Your Values
Nurturing Relationships Ongoing
Finding Talent with the Right Skills
Onboarding is the BIGGEST Miss
Development Planning
Supporting Teams During Turbulence
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
ANNA: Learning is Continuous Work
“You need to have respect up, down, and sideway. Everybody has something to teach you, whether it's, the janitor that's walking around cleaning out the wastepaper baskets or it's the person who's serving you in the cafeteria line or it's, you know, the chief procurement officer or it's one of your peers on the team, they all have a story, and they can all teach you something. Value every single relationship because what goes around comes around. Your peer that you're in competition with may someday be your boss, you may be somebody else's boss.”
RACHEL: Having Advocates, Not Just Mentors
The key difference, a mentor will talk to you, an advocate will talk about you when you're not there, yes, right? So they're there to be that voice for you. So, you know, having a mentor to talk through how do I do expires, that is great, having someone who will talk about you when you're not there in those key forums, that is what you need in an advocate, and I highly recommend you get at least one internally and you get one externally as well.”
ANNA: Spotting Talent
“If I don't know, I know where to get the answer. That is hugely critical. I always said that, that's my secret sauce, that is my superpower. I know I am smart enough to know I'm not the smartest person in the room, but I'm smart enough to know who to go to for the answers.”
Connect with Anna and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
- Anna McGovern |Pondview Consulting
Connect with Rachel and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
- Rachel Hassall
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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Today on What the Duck?!, we have 5S expert, Nathan Wilding joining the show. Nathan has a passion for project management and process improvement which can be attested to his many years in supply chain. Prior to moving into the supply chain industry, he started his work in retail, specifically at Bay Area born smoothie chain, Jamba Juice. Tune into this episode where Sarah and Nathan discuss 5S and why it’s important in manufacturing, especially as it pertains to inventory management.
Show Highlights
Jamba Juicin’ A Way into Management
Passion for Process Improvement
Lean Six Sigma Explained
5S as Part of the Lean Process
Implementing 5S
Where To Start with 5S
Setting 5S Benchmarks & KPIs
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
NATHAN: 5s AND WHERE TO START
“Here's where the plan comes in place – you take little steps here and there and just, yeah, I mean, start with sort. You sort out the things you need, and you don't need, and those things that you don't need, just eliminate them or put them where, if it's something you do have to use every, let's say, month or two weeks or whatever it might be, put them in a place where they are not cluttering up the workspace. And then you just kind of follow that order, sort, set, shine, standardize, sustain, and little by little.”
NATHAN: IMPLEMENTING 5S IN MANUFACTURING
“Well, to save time, the biggest thing I would say is to save time and to save money. It's a very good method to decrease waste and optimize productivity, and to maintain order in your workplace. You go into many businesses and they're just a disaster there, and in fact, I've been in a few where I've applied this 5S, and getting everybody on board was the one challenge I've had in my past. People get into a rhythm of how they work, and if you come in with a new idea, change is very difficult for most people. That was a challenge in a couple of places I applied this in, but the difference it made was just substantial. Times went down.”
Connect with Nathan and learn what he’s been duckin’
Nathan Wilding | Juniper Systems
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
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Patrick Reymann is in the What the Duck?! Hot seat today. Sarah and Patrick delve into why the direct material sourcing space merits more attention from the analyst community. Patrick is an Enterprise and Procurement Applications Analyst for IDC is highly interested in the attributes that are most meaningful to buyers. After spending over 20 years as a sourcing and procurement consultant he moved over to the analyst world. Learn all about the ins and outs analyst community, what they do and the impact they have on direct materials sourcing.
Show Highlights
Cycling, Sports, and Woodworking Fanatic
Career Beginnings in the U.S. Air Force
Moving into Consulting
Direct Materials Procurement Learnings
Analysts Ignore Direct Materials Sourcing
From Consultant to Analyst – What do they do?
Technology Trends
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
PATRICK: Learnings over the years in Direct Materials Procurement
"All of the global upheaval that we've had over the past couple of years has really shown a light on the direct side. You know, when we talk about all the supply chain challenges that we're all very familiar with, we're not talking about challenges on the indirect side. We're not talking about people couldn't get laptops and people couldn't get complimentary workforce labor or office supplies. No, we're talking about direct. So, you know, in that vein, it's been as difficult as the past couple of years have been. It's really elevated the position of the supply chain practitioner and, in particular, direct practitioners. And so, we collectively have a much larger seat available. Our voice carries more weight today than it did three years ago, and it's time to take advantage of that."
PATRICK: Technology Trends in the Direct Space
“Automation and the infusion of what I call intelligent decision support tools, everybody is looking at that for so many reasons, just the workforce challenges is one reason. We have a number of surveys that talk about how entities are utilizing these intelligent systems because they're challenged from a staffing perspective. Automation is absolutely a desired attribute for so many buyers.”
On today’s episode of What The Duck?, we welcome Buyer at Chromalox, Rochelle Newman. Rochelle started her career in the medical industry, where she focused on supplier relationships due to the small community of vendors that supplied their specific materials for their devices. Now, in her role at Chromalox, she’s more focused on sourcing materials. Listen Rochelle’s conversation with Sarah to learn how to find alternative suppliers for hard-to-source parts and materials. They discuss everything from the why’s to the how’s of working with alternative suppliers.
Show Highlights
Learning How to be a Buyer
The Nuances of Working in the Medical Industry
Leveraging Overseas Suppliers for Parts & Materials
Maintaining Relationships with Suppliers
Joining a Group of Broadly Experienced Individuals
Sourcing Sensors, Controls and Thermostats
Struggles of Forecasting a Year Out
Time Management and Task Orientation
The Why and How of Getting Alternative Suppliers
Ins and Outs of Supplier Approval
Supplier Onboarding and Managing
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
ROCHELLE: The Importance of Having Alternative Sources
“It’s really important that we get new suppliers, for the exact reason that this one company, in particular, that we use just cannot get their material in. And so, now I’m left trying to pick up the pieces after the problem has already come down. Whereas if I’m being proactive and finding alternative sources beforehand, that probably won’t ever happen.”
ROCHELLE: Prioritizing & Building Supplier Relationships
“Nowadays, a lot of communication is just over email. It’s not a ton over the phone like it used to be. And also, keeping in mind that, most of the people I’m talking to are not the problem, if that makes any sense. They’re just the messenger. If I just try to be polite and kind with them, they’re more likely to work with me. Keep the line of communication up as much as possible.”
Connect with Rochelle and learn what she’s been duckin’
Rochelle Newman | Chromalox
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
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Today we welcome Frank Barrett, CTO at ArcLight Solutions. Frank’s been in IT for 23 years in various industries, including: government, health care, private equity, and manufacturing. He’s a veteran and an antique tractor collector (which we dive into), and a retired podcaster. He also happens to have first-hand experience working with with SourceDay. Tune in as Sarah and Frank do a deep dive of the Epicor ERP, from the perspective of a manufacturing Chief Technology in the latest episode of What The Duck?
Show Highlights
Antique Tractor Collector
Retiring the Podcast Mic
Manufacturing is the Heartbeat of America
I Dare You to Work in IT
Navigating Multiple ERPs
It’s EPIC(or)
Where Epicor Falls Short
Using the Experts at Your Disposal
Epicor ECC
Implementing SourceDay
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
Frank: Solving the Largest IT Supply Chain Problems
“Really just ensuring system stability. Without that it makes it hard to stay in touch with your supplier and your supplier network if you got no ability to see current inventory versus projected, it makes it difficult to buy, logically and then you’re just purchasing willy nilly. The head or purchasing there, great guy, on point for what he did but we still had to provide a stable environment for his team to be able to operate. ”
Frank: Working with Multiple ERPs
“I had an amazing team at Spartan that the head of my ERP team, Brian said, I met these guys at an Epicor conference and I think those guys might be able to help. And those guys are SourceDay. It was April of ’18. So started talking with the team at SourceDay pretty aggressive on getting something going as far as what ERP systems, because it wasn’t just Epicor. We had an Infor system and Great Plains and Aptiom system. You know, what can we make the most impact with? And that was with Epicor and the Infor system. So, integrating those two into your product to help that purchasing team was a priority.”
Connect with Frank and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Frank Barrett | ArcLight Solutions
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
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Show Highlights
The Secret Agent of Quality
Holding the line and maintaining a profit
Sales is transferrable to procurement
Moving on to purchasing from sales and accounting
Finding Control(Tek)
Becoming a Six Sigma Black Belt
Process improvement focused on efficiency
Electronic chip shortage
Improving supplier relationships
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
TIFFANY: Mutually Beneficial Suppler Relationships
“I really take a team approach to my strategy as a buyer and I'm trying to work in alignment with my suppliers I don't want to squeeze out one of my suppliers to the point that they're unprofitable have to reestablish the job with a new supplier that takes time it's not efficient So my goal is always to be mutually beneficial where if the supplier can give us better pricing to help us and help the customer then I want to go ahead and try and give them the most information that they can such as longer forecasting, locked-in, bonded, scheduled POs”
TIFFANY: Explaining the “Iceberg of Inventory”
“I'm trying to strengthen the relationship with my program managers because I the more communication I can get down to our customers something I was working on today was doing a long lead time for them So if our customers have the correct lead times in their systems their ERP should be forecasting letting them know how far in advance to place orders with us and then on our side we're able to go off a few things. I would say it's about 25% historic you know have we ran this job for several years? What's the standard run rate? 50% is based on the booked sales orders and about 25% of it I would just call magic.”
Connect with Tiffany and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
Tiffany Thayer | ControlTek
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
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Show Highlights:
- Introducing Curtis Strzinek
- Supply chain career learnings
- Supply chain chose Curtis
- You get what you pay for
- No red tape
- The company historian
- Calm, cool and collected
- Reducing supply surprises
- Building good relationships with suppliers
Quotes:
Curtis – Reducing the Number of Supply Surprises
“You always have a plan B, C and D. Two belts, two pairs of suspenders and my lord you make sure that if it's something critical you have one on the shelf and if you have to get one you weigh what it's going to cost to not have it and because when the plant shuts down it's not like turning off the light that's in your office, it's an act of congress to get back up again”
Curtis – Building Good Relationships with Suppliers
“Relationships are pretty much always there and when you when you're in the situation to spend money they come looking for you to build a relationship and then you wait and you see if there's a need for that relationship to be built but I've always learned since I've been on both sides of the desk you don't burn bridges”
Connect with Curtis and learn more about his work:
- About Curtis
- About LyondellBasell
- LyondellBasell.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Show Highlights:
- For the love of procurement
- Requirements for great buyers
- Challenges as a young buyer
- Working high level leadership positions
- Fast-moving consumer goods
- Transportation costs
- Sea freight
- Adapting your supply chain to follow suit
Quotes:
Andy – Thinking Laterally in Direct Spend Supply Chain
“It's about the structure it's not about being a procurement dinosaur it's about doing the basics right but understanding of where the value needs to be added and also where the efficiencies need to be focused and the waste to be removed.”
Andy – Working in a High Level Leadership Position
“I've always been very passionate about being able to demonstrate that I can do what I say because I think that's really important not that it's not just for the accolade of being qualified but I do think it holds a great deal of credibility when you're dealing with suppliers.”
Andy – The Most Informative Role
“I haven't got a clue what I'm supposed to be doing but the team around me helped and it was good there was there were some good years and that's why it was that's why it's really important for me I encourage people that I talk to and mentor and give career advice that it's really important to take a role like that”
Connect with Andy and learn more about his work:
- About Andy
- About Twisted Orange
- Twisted–Orange.co.uk
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Show Highlights
The crazy industry of supply chain
Stumbling upon manufacturing and direct materials procurement
Formative years as a commodity analyst
Creating sustainable relationship
Difficult relationship problems at Telsa
Ensuring the possession of important products
Collaborating with data after POs are issued
Percentage of revenue tied to location-based suppliers
People is how business is done
Establishing and maintaining supplier relationships
We need better tools to do supply chain
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
Nathan: Hesitancy with adding new suppliers
"If you’re talking to everybody, it’s like that’s unsustainable and so you have to have somebody in the middle. There’s really only so many people that you could have solid relationships with. And so, if you need to add a new supplier, there’s nobody else on the planet that can do it, fine. But, if you can avoid adding a new supplier, then your relationships do become more impactful.”
Nathan: People is how business is done
“Relationships matter because we are humans. Data is computers and robots and systems. Those are very important, but ultimately, it’s a people to people relationship.”
Connect with Nathan and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- NathanCunningham | WippData
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com
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- The importance of buying correctly
- Pursuing direct materials procurement
- Order entry, a rippling effect
- It's not just about upselling
- Meat processing and manufacturing
- Price and delivery date changes
- Following up with purchase orders
- Reducing past due deliveries
- On time to promised performance
- Waited average lead time
- Designing and implementing production procedures
Quotes:
AFIF: Listening to customers and asking secondary questions
“It's not just about upselling. It's more providing them a service and a product in a way that understanding what they're asking for, making sure the team is understanding what they want and relaying clear information down the pipe.”
AFIF: Career beginnings in meat processing manufacturing
“Working in different industries has given me the perspective on how different industries handle procurement. So, it’s given me an added edge on looking for different solutions and providing different answers.”
AFIF: Following up on purchase orders
“If a buyer is sending a purchase order and not following up on it, you assume that the vendor has received it and they’re acting on it. The fact is it may have been misread, not actioned, they forgot to deal with it.”
Connect with Afif and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Afif Mango
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
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Show Highlights:
- Family matters and pickle ball
- Starting in direct materials procurement
- Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
- The lesser the variation, the lesser the defects
- Lean advocacy
- Making process improvements
- Getting the right tools to make process improvements
- Tracking metrics to measure impact
- Process improvement journey red flags
Quotes:
Sneha – Getting into direct materials procurement
“I moved my team to more of an R&D space where we were doing new product introductions day in and day out working on new products. That’s when my interactions started with suppliers firsthand.”
Sneha – What it means to be a lean advocate
“Lean is a mindset. Traditionally, lean talks about anything that’s value added in your organization – any process that is value added that your customers are willing to pay for… we should be using lean for reducing the waste in that process.”
Sneha– Making process improvements
“I was talking about manually looking at your work orders, manually trying to assign people around, but why don’t you go out and look for a scheduling tool that could help you, enable you do this and give you the live data at your fingertips?”
Connect with Sneha and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
- About Sneha
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
LOGISTICS HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON YOUR MARGINS
In this episode of What The Duck?!, we sit down with John Hantzis, the Director of Logistics at AAMP Global. Today, John discusses operational efficiency and how to reduce overall logistics spending as a percentage of sales. He shares how to get products from A to Z by letting the various teams involved interact and looking for areas to reduce cost.
John also covers risk mitigation and the need for companies to be adaptable through dual-sourced options and the many benefits of choosing a 3PL to get your products to more places without adding manpower and leasing burdens. Finally, John talks about the best metrics in choosing a supplier and the tech you can use to improve your logistics.
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
John: Improve operational efficiency between teams to move products
"Most of what we call it is operational efficiency between air freight, ocean freight, parcel if it needs to move and it needs to get from A to Z, what is the best way for it to happen? But it's also in working with the purchasing team."
John: Landed cost is a major factor to consider
"One of the biggest things that you need to target is your total landed cost because a lot of times you may purchase something that's a great price, but if you're importing from somewhere like China, it has a 25% tariff on that goods, that goods is now significantly higher when you're looking at your total landed cost."
Connect with John and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- John Hantzis | Website
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
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YOUR BUSINESS DEPENDS ON THE CONTINUITY OF SUPPLY
In this episode of What The Duck?!, we chat with Anna McGovern, the Founder and Managing Director of Pondview Consulting. Unforeseen events can completely derail a supply chain, so Anna discusses the concept of value stream mapping and the need to have tiers of suppliers that can provide alternative sources of raw materials.
Anna suggests that small and mid-sized manufacturers focus on their top 10 and develop their relationships with these suppliers. Start a conversation that covers your baseline needs and work together to identify the parts of the process where waste can be reduced. Anna also shares the Should Cost Analysis and how to perform it.
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
Anna: Understand where you source your most vital components
"If I break it down to all of the components, what you'll find sometimes if you don't have a proper understanding of the value chain, a single ingredient that's meaningless could shut you down. So what you need to do is you need to break this, so you take your finished product, you break down the individual components, and then you have to map them all the way through at least tier two supply base."
Anna: Create a deeper relationship with your most critical suppliers
"It can't be, I've got a transactional relationship, I've got a demand on the floor. I'm going to have a PO clerk cut a purchase order and hand it over to the supplier. So you need to look again. You're valuing your most important materials from a direct standpoint, a direct spend standpoint, whether it's spend or this is the most critical item in my product, whatever it is. So where am I going to source these from?"
Connect with Anna and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
- Anna McGovern |Website
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
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THE KEY METRIC IS A SUPPLIER'S RESILIENCY
In this episode of What The Duck?!, we chat with Rachel Hassall, a CPG supply chain executive who until recently was VP for Global Direct Procurement at Revlon. She digs into how brands can empower suppliers as they are critical partners of the business. She also shares how to map out supply bases to assess the criticality of suppliers and how this then informs your relationship with them moving forward.
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
Rachel: Accountability empowers both suppliers and brands
"The most critical of any of these is holding all parties accountable. You'll hold your vendors accountable by providing that regular feedback, but holding your internal teams accountable is absolutely the most critical. If your teams can't be clear about what they need, if your teams are not specifying correctly, if your teams are not giving the right signals to your vendors, it's impossible for your vendors to provide for you."
Rachel: Map out the criticality of your supply base
"When you talk about mapping out your supply base is saying, is this a vendor who I'm going to invest a lot in a relationship with? Is this a strategic vendor that I'm going to put more and more business into? Is this a tactical vendor who maybe you're not going to invest a lot in that relationship, but it's someone that you go to periodically? Or is this vendor on an exit strategy? Are you actively looking to leave a vendor?"
Connect with Rachel and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
- Rachel Hassall |Chief
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
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HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE GAP?
Today we will be having Katie Smith, an experienced Global Expert in Strategic Sourcing and Procurement. Katie and Sarah discuss how to overcome data and system gaps when buying parts and materials. Katie describes her experience in procurement and supply chain, and the two discuss ways to improve the visibility of the product and part lead times and orders. Check out more about Katie in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
KATIE: SOLUTIONS ARE JUST AT YOUR REACH
“There are a lot of solutions, especially in the manufacturing space that are built for small and mid-sized manufacturers that are priced accordingly. So it doesn't mean you have to spend hundreds of 1000s of dollars to get technology that's going to be impactful and meaningful for you.”
Connect with Katie and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Katie Smith | Twitter
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
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TOO LARGE TO HANDLE? NO PROGRAM!
Cole Perry is the Strategic Sourcing Director at Tilson Technology Management, and he will be joining Sarah to discuss how to increase and manage a larger supplier base. If you are struggling to source and manage a larger group of suppliers while ensuring minimal spending increase, tune in and learn how you can get the solution with Cole and Sarah, in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
COLE: LOOK AT THE FUTURE, NOT THE PAST
“You really had to go with your gut or talk to people who are day-to-day in the business who had a pulse on what's coming ahead in the future, versus looking at the past.”
COLE: MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR SUPPLIERS
“I do try to maintain relationships with my suppliers in the same way that a business development person tries to maintain relationships with people like me.”
Connect with Cole and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Cole Perry | Tilson | TilsonTech.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Miguel Cossio is a Procurement Research Director at Gartner who focuses on helping procurement leaders deliver greater value by adapting to the latest trends in supplier collaboration and innovation, performance management, and sustainable procurement. In this conversation, he discusses why supplier collaboration strategies fail and what you can do about it, so tune in and find out more in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
MARK: IMPROVING ONE PART IS NOT ENOUGH
“the three things I typically recommend companies tracking Are One. And it could be one of them, or the three of them at once, but one is doing a voice of the supplier survey where you're actually asking suppliers, what are the things that we're doing right? What are the things we're doing wrong?”
MARK: UNDERSTAND YOUR WORK HOLISTICALLY
“Technology is not a key success factor, right? If you don't have the technology, you're doomed, No, but it can definitely help, and it can definitely help from a scaling perspective, and I usually say this, because a lot of people are like, well, we don't have money to invest in this, you don't have to invest in you just have to invest time, put together a strategy you like, bring some stakeholders and then just start doing with you don't have to spend millions, right on.”
Connect with Miguel and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Miguel Cossio | Gartner | Gartner.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
ONE PART IS VITAL, BUT THE WHOLE THING IS CRUCIAL
Sarah welcomes Mark Alarik today, who will be talking about how to empower workers to make improvements on the production floor, which is good for a manufacturer struggling with the thought of giving your team the authority to make process improvement decisions. Join Sarah as she listens to Mark’s experiences and insights, in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
MARK: IMPROVING ONE PART IS NOT ENOUGH
“The more I studied, the more I realized that you cannot improve one part and expect an improvement of the whole, and this is true of a business because most businesses really run in silos, not as a system.”
MARK: UNDERSTAND YOUR WORK HOLISTICALLY
“You have to understand your job holistically, and optimized operating procedures just don't tell you what to do, they tell you why. They help you understand the interactions that are going on, on the line. It's quite a training. It's quite a training, and it's improving their skillset and knowledge.”
Connect with Mark and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- Mark Alarik on LinkedIn
Connect with Sarah and find out more about What The Duck she’s up to
- LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
DUCKIN’ AROUND WITH SUPPLIERS
In today’s episode, Sarah welcomes Andre Langhorst to discuss the importance of building long-term relationships with suppliers, and how doing so can help manufacturers establish strategic, nontransactional relationships. They also talk about how supply chain complexity can be a challenge, but also an opportunity for those who are interested in solving complex problems. Learn more about this in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
ANDRE: The importance of Supplier Collaboration
“Why supplier collaboration is critical for once because we're now dealing with untested relationships. In many cases, when we need to be flexible. You know, we have certain shortages and in certain areas, we need to be flexible, re-engineer things, and well, then we kind of the only fix is collaboration.”
Connect with Andre and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Andre Langhorst | SAP Ariba | Ariba.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
IF THERE’S A RISK TAKER, WE ALSO HAVE A RISK FIXER
Today we welcome Michael “Mike” Ryan, from the M. Ryan Group, also known as the Inventory Iceberg Crusher. Tune in as Sarah unpacks Mike’s story on how he got into supply chain, and how he helps businesses mitigate the risks of having too much inventory. Learn more in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND
MIKE: Defining Massive Supply Chain Transformation
“The massive transformation was understanding, starting with sales, starting with the customer, what the customer needs and when, and then translating those requirements back into manufacturing.”
MIKE: Explaining the “Iceberg of Inventory”
“That's how we end up with the iceberg of inventory, and the idea is that the product is on the shelf effectively is cash frozen in inventory. It's not like I can take a tire and go to Walmart and buy a gallon of milk, it doesn't work like that. I have to convert that finished good back into cash, so I can utilize that cash, when we've got too much of the wrong stuff, we end up with an iceberg of inventory.”
Connect with Mike and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Michael Ryan | The M. Ryan Group | MRyanGroup.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
THE CUSTOMER IS AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL
Ryan Burns, Owner/Principal of RBB Management Consulting, a Supply Chain Innovator, and Process Improvement Leader, is in the duck’s pond! Ryan will be sharing his own passion for hiking and his passion for serving customers better by providing improved supply chain strategies. Dive in the pond and learn more with Ryan in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
Show Highlights:
- Ryan Burns and understanding customers to develop strategies
- Sarah and Ryan’s shared passion for hiking
- Ryan’s first supply chain job
- Making the choice to stay in manufacturing
- What “direct materials” actually mean
- How to’s of developing a direct-materials strategy
- Success is delivering more value than expected
Quotes:
RYAN: Focus your strategy on serving the customer better
“At the end of the day, I feel like so many, especially on the corporate side, when we think about supply chain and procurement, we focus on the parts, we focus on the suppliers. We talk about pricing, we talk about availability, and all of that's important, but supply chains are meant to support the organization's ability to serve your customer, and I would say better serve your customer, and if you don't understand the customer and their needs, you're likely going to be focused on the wrong things.
RYAN: Success is the delivery of extra value to customers
“To me, success is delivering more value than expected. That might be in a product with a longer lifespan, or a component that you purchased that is more effective, it might be a shorter lead time from your supplier, it might be margin growth, that you're driving through cost savings, or in my current world, it might be a client that got more than they expected out of engagement, but really, it's all about value.
Connect with Ryan and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Ryan Burns | RBBMC | RBBManagement.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
HOW THE DUCK DO YOU BUILD SUPPLY CHAINS FROM SCRATCH?
In this episode of What The Duck?!, we are joined by Lucid Motors’ VP of Global Supply Chain & Operations Peter Hasenkamp. Coming in hot from Tesla where he also built a supply chain organization, Peter talks about his experience building procurement and the supply chain organizations for the two electric car companies. Peter also talks about the biggest challenges he encountered in the car manufacturing business, and why the supply chain departments can and should definitely drive business decisions.
Show Highlights:
- Keep it simple, Stupid!
- From engineering at Ford to procurement at Tesla
- Your suppliers need to believe in your product too
- What working on an electric car looks like
- Tackling recruitment challenges in the supply chain space
- Supply Chain can and should influence business decisions
- Joining Lucid Motors and starting from scratch... AGAIN
- Startup environments create swiss army knives for people
- Advice for people building their own supply chain teams
Quotes:
PETER: Applying the KISS principle to everything
"I think that applies to engineering as well as supply chain, really. Especially any kind of manufacturing or operations kind of environment or problem. People tend to sometimes get caught up in detail or in making things more complicated. If you can boil things down and keep it simple, that's usually the fastest and easiest way to get a good solution."
PETER: What makes working with international partners challenging
"A huge part of the supply chain is being able to collaborate with suppliers … bringing the teams together to a common goal and not getting into combative relationships or managing differences of opinions. And there's a lot of that working internationally on those commercial vehicle programs. A lot of complexity, a lot of cost-driven, and a lot of collaboration that had to be done."
PETER: The most difficult part of working in procurement and the supply chain
"The biggest challenge is trying to find the right partners. And I think this is where I really learned that at the end of the day, sourcing works best if there is a mutual strategic interest in the business, trying to find why the supplier wants this business."
Connect with Tom and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Peter Hakenkamp | Lucid Motors
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
HOW THE DUCK DO YOU KEEP YOUR SUPPLY INTACT?
This is one question and many more that Tom Oris the Director of Procurement from 1-800-Flowers.com, will be answering today, in the latest episode of What The Duck?! Tom will be sharing his personal story in the supply-chain space, the ins and outs of ensuring an intact supply in these challenging times, and how you ensure that your suppliers have your back.
Show Highlights:
- The Mid-West pizza madness
- Tom’s background in food manufacturing
- Joining the 1-800-Flowers team
- The hardest part of Tom’s job
- Facing the big supply-chain challenges of the year
- Using analytics to shift from relationship-based purchasing
- Treating people with respect helps in the long run
- The Tom Oris 2023 strategy in securing supply
Quotes:
TOM: The significance of building relationships
“I think that relationship is important, and people I don't wanna say they lost focus, I think partly just the times with COVID and, and teams, but I do think it's a very important element is to have those business relationships. Suppliers are such a great source of information when it comes to markets when it comes to three and five years down the road, new technologies. So I think that relationships bring a lot of value.”
TOM: How you can ensure your suppliers help you in challenges
“Treat people the way you want to be treated. You know, every supplier, I don't care how good they are. They're going to make a mistake. They're going to sell products that are out of spec, they're going to be late. They're going to have carrier issues you're going to see damage and transit. It happens. You know, I try to treat everyone with respect.”
Connect with Tom and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
Thomas Oris | 1800Flowers.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Alex Mesanza is that one guy who loves to challenge himself. He is the Division Head of Global Business Supply Management - Optical Fiber & Cable at Corning Incorporated. He shares his interest in relay races and working in the supply chain because he gets the challenge that he searches for. Learn more about Alex in this latest episode of What The Duck?! Another Supply Chain Podcast.
Show Highlights:
- Alex and the overnight relay races
- Alex’s definition of success
- Why Alex focuses on manufacturing
- A day in the life of Alex, the head of supply management
- Direct materials focus areas
- Build good relationships with suppliers
- Negotiating long-term contracts with suppliers
- Understanding what multi-sourcing is
Quotes:
Alex - His own personal definition of success
“I broadly define it as the ability to achieve your goals despite uncontrollable and unforeseen challenges that life throws at you. And in the end, you know, it's all about the journey towards a goal rather than the goal itself.”
Alex - Why he focuses on the supply chain management
“If you have aspirations to work in supply chain, manufacturing is really the place to be in my personal.. from my personal experience. I mean, it's chaotic, unpredictable, complex.”
Alex - What is multi-sourcing?
“Multi-sourcing, basically, it's making sure that you've got multiple suppliers that can provide that specific part or material, you know, according to the specs.
Connect with Alex and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- About Alex
- About Corning Inc.
- Corning.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
IF YOU ARE NOT INNOVATING YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN SYSTEMS, YOU ARE LIVING UNDER A ROCK
Today we have Corey Bobak, one of the new leaders of Inspire 11, to talk about the importance of innovation in the supply chain, and its impact on your direct spend management. Tune in to learn about Corey’s love for dogs, cars, wine, and his passion to innovate the supply chain with technology.
Show Highlights:
- Dog daddy, car lover, and wine enthusiast: Corey Bobak
- The love for cars and wine
- Getting involved in the supply chain technology
- Choosing technology over the buyer route
- Choosing direct vs. indirect spend
- The next focus area of the supply chain transformation
- Getting started with an ESG program
Quotes:
Corey: Focusing on technology for the supply chain
“The advancements that we're seeing within the market, and especially over the last 10 years, the way that it's transformed our abilities, from a business perspective, to be able to deliver products faster, be able to innovate faster, and being able to create and get things into people's hands a lot faster is really, I think one of the more pivotal and most interesting pieces within kind of this whole supply chain technology space.”
Corey: The social component of ESG
“The one that I don't think gets enough focus on, it's the social aspect, which really, that's all of the people and relationships that you have within your organization. So regardless of what the economic climate is, you're going to have that social impact within your organization.”
Corey: First step in getting started with an ESG program
“I think the key there would be that having a very human-centric approach to the way that you're thinking about your organization, whether that be from ‘ ‘how are my employees going to be kind of excited from an engagement perspective to continue to deliver on the mission of our organization? Or how are we going to continue to retain our customers as there's continually disruption within a whole bunch of different industries today.”
Connect with Corey and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
LinkedIn | Inspire 11 | Inspire11.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
LinkedIn | Twitter | SourceDay | SourceDay.com
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE OTHER BROWN? NOT DAN, IT’S JOHN!
Who would’ve thought that we will be learning so much about supply chain from someone who writes books about fiction? Today we have John Brown, Senior Education Manager from The Lake Companies, and will be talking about purchasing plans on changing lead times. Tune in to learn more about John in this episode of What The Duck?! Another Supply Chain Podcast.
Show Highlights:
- Winding up working in the ERP space
- Writing fiction stories on the side
- Defining a Purchasing Plan
- Understanding Discrete Manufacturing
- The biggest mistakes you can make in implementing software
- How does data fit into the record part of the plan
Quotes:
John - Defining what a purchasing plan is
“If I'm going to have this production plan, build this on this day, and build this on the next day, and build this on the next day, and I might have all sorts of items that I need to build each day, then the purchasing plan is based on that production schedule, what do I need to purchase? and when, and that's all going to be it's all going to be synced up.”
John - Things to avoid in implementing software
“One thing that you need to avoid is thinking that just having all of the software dials and switches and parameters, thinking that, that that's what you're trying to do. That's one of the fastest paths to a failed implementation.”
Connect with John and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- About John
- About The Lake Companies
- LakeCo.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
It is very seldom you find someone who winds up in the supply chain because they planned it all along. Hannah Fallon Suka, the Senior Buyer at Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes, is one of those seldom people, who deliberately chose to major in supply chain management and got a career with it. Join Sarah and Hannah as they discuss achieving optimal inventory levels, in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
Show Highlights:
- Introducing Hannah Fallon Suka
- You’re not bossy, you’re a leader
- Getting interested in supply chain management
- A day in the life of Hannah the buyer
- Advice do you have for buyers on optimal inventory levels
- The important data needed in Hannah’s work
- The challenging search for second sources
- Managing day-to-day communication with suppliers
- Embracing technology
- Knowing where to focus your energy
Quotes:
Hannah - Not bossy, a leader
“Mostly because my brothers and sisters, you know, they come to her and they'd be like, Hannah is so bossy and her response is ‘ ‘No, she's the leader’ ’. But I'm really thankful for that encouragement from my mom. And it's really given me the confidence to act on my leadership skills.”
Hannah - Why she enjoys being in supply chain
“You just kind of get to experience the magic of it when you get to see that your hard work and your skills helped contribute to a product, and it's making people's lives better.”
Hannah - Why she loves manufacturing
“The products that we make, go into somebody's body, and sometimes that body belongs to a child, and it really helps instill like a sense of purpose and direction in the work that we do.”
Connect with Hannah and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:
- About Hannah
- About Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes
- Deerland.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
Many people are not aware of the full potential of an ERP. Some only use it for purchasing, some for accounting, and some for project management. But what is the full extent of an ERP’s capabilities? Sarah brings in Bruce Larson, Principal Consultant of Larson Solutions, to answer this and share his knowledge on ERP and much more - only here in What The Duck?!
Show Highlights:
- Introducing Bruce Larson
- Getting started in quality management
- Defining Epicor and its use
- Utilizing an ERP’s full potential
- The importance of a part setup strategy
Quotes:
Bruce - Why he decided to start his own consulting business
“I have some approaches that are different from some of the other software companies, and it's worked really well for me, customers liked the experience that I'm bringing to the table, and at the end of the day, I can choose when I'm going to be working and where I'm working, and it's just worked really well for my lifestyle now.”
Bruce - Why an ERP is important
“You want to make sure that the right information is going to the supplier and their community back to you on what their commitments are for delivering it, and I think that it all falls into place even as far as having the right pricing and in there.”
Bruce - Why it’s important to follow a part setup strategy
“If they skip the planning parameters and don't do anything, they're creating more work for themselves, because now they're not consolidating, they're not leveraging the system.”
Connect with Bruce and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- About Bruce
- About Larson Solutions
- Larson Solutions Website
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
BUYERS ARE SELLERS TOO.
Daniel Lueck believes that buyers also have to sell to suppliers to be a partner with their company, especially when adopting a new software solution. Dan is a Strategic Sourcing Manager at Provisur Technologies with 35 years of supply chain experience on his belt. He will be joining Sarah and will be sharing his experience on how to get suppliers to adopt new supply chain software and many more! So tune in and get to know more of Dan here in What The Duck!?
Show Highlights:
- Introducing Daniel Lueck
- How Dan winded up in the supply chain
- Supplier Relationship Management = Everything
- Supplier experience and supplier adoption of new software
- The important data and metrics to look for
- Dan's best supplier adoption success story
Quotes:
Dan - What he loves about the supply chain:
“Distribution has its limitations, you don't have as much interaction with the people on the floor, what you're bringing to the table. I enjoy watching things being built, I enjoy seeing the end product, and where that goes out in the market.”
Dan - Why supplier relationship management is everything:
“It's a two-way street. I learned about their business, what it takes to run it, what the cost drivers are capacity restraints, and things that they're struggling with, and I in turn, relay my expectations and what we need on our side to make our company successful.”
Dan - The company’s buyers are the salespersons:
“I always told my buyers, you're actually more of a salesperson. The more that you can entice them and they want to be a supplier to your company, what do they have to look forward to new products, new opportunities on there and that's what you're you're selling.”
Connect with Dan and learn more about his work:
- About Dan
- About Provisur Technologies Inc
- Provisur.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
TO AUTOMATE OR NOT? THAT IS THE QUESTION.
Many people are not too open to the idea of automating their processes, and the same goes for people in supply chain, particularly in purchase orders. This is why we have Lindsay Smith. He is the Solutions Principal for Manufacturing Industry at Insight, and he will be talking with us about the benefits of having an automated purchase order process, only here in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
Show Highlights:
- Introducing Lindsay Smith
- How Lindsay wound up in the supply chain
- Understanding Purchase Order Process Automation
- When is the best time to start a PO - process automation
- Defining the long lead part and short lead part
- It's not always the buyer's fault
Quotes:
Lindsay - Why he is drawn to manufacturing
“I suppose it's in my DNA. My dad spent his career in manufacturing was NCR, but over and above that, it's exciting. It's the fulfillment of building stuff, and then you're never done we've ever sold was the latent opportunity to build smarter to build faster.”
Lindsay - Defining PO Process Automation
“To me, purchase order automation means relieving purchasing of the administrative tedium, and reverting back to focusing on on the value on the core value add that the things that purchasing was originally hired to provide.”
Lindsay - Final piece of advice
“Don't try and build on yourself. Certainly be a catalyst, certainly be an instigator, but recruit support from abroad from a broad organization.”
Connect with Lindsay and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- About Lindsay
- Mail: Lindsay.Smith@insight.com
- Insight.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
OPEN UP YOURSELF TO THE WORLD, AND THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.
Sarah welcomes Jason Busch, the Founder, and CEO of Spend Matters, to talk about Political Supply Chain.
Jason ain’t duckin’ around as he knows his stuff, bringing a whole new world in understanding supply chain even more. So tune in and learn more in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
Show Highlights:
- How Jason Busch wound up in the supply chain
- How his hobbies relate to his work
- Understanding the political supply chain
- Supplier relationship in the political supply chain
- Sharing thoughts on single sourcing
- Where technology fits in the political supply chain
- How to deal with the struggle with supplier adoption
- Advice to direct spend audience
Quotes:
Jason - Relating longevity science and supply chain:
“I think being data-driven around health. Well, longevity science is a great way to get into how we look at procurement and supply chain today, data sets the foundation.”
Jason - Procurement and supply chain brings transformation:
“This will sound biased, but I think direct procurement and supply chain and its intersections are what truly transform businesses versus indirect and services.”
Jason - Options are increasingly important:
“I think from a resiliency standpoint, we're moving into an era where having optionality in terms of how we design our supply chain becomes really important.”
Jason - Advice to direct spend peeps:
“I would say, when you think you have the answer, challenge yourself that you don't think of the three reasons you don't, and think about how you would defeat your argument for investing in tech or doing what you're doing.”
Connect with Jason and learn what he’s been duckin’ around with:
- About Jason
- About Spend Matters
- SpendMatters.com
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
NOTHING IS PERMANENT BUT CHANGE.
The same goes for companies, especially manufacturing ones. Change must be adapted in order to have operational process improvements, and Michelle Rydman, Senior Director of Product Management of Infor, is the perfect guest for that.
Michelle will be sharing her story and the ins and outs of operational process improvements. Join Michelle and Sarah in this latest episode of What The Duck?! another supply chain podcast brought to you by SourceDay.
Show Highlights:
- Introducing Michelle Rydman
- Journey to manufacturing and ERP
- What is Infor
- Affinity to product management
- What is an SMB
- What is Operational Process Improvement
- Steps to adapt to a software solution
Quotes:
Michelle - Getting hooked to operations:
“I think for me, it was the blending of all aspects of the enterprise of the operation. So I wouldn't be able to direct the solution because, for me, it's just like the Magic Quadrant. It's people processes systems and tools.”
Michelle - Defining operational process improvement:
“Operational process improvement at its heart is looking at where you are today, and how you are managing you are let's just say, zero in on your key business processes, and how are you going to be better?”
Connect with Michelle and learn more about her work:
- About Michelle
- About Infor
- Infor Website
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
ONE IS NEVER ENOUGH!
Having a single supplier for your business is only convenient because you only need to talk to one party, but when the going gets tough, it can cause delays and problems. You gotta have some backup suppliers, and there’s no one better to share this experience than Darlyne Freedman, VP of Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, and Co-Manufacturing for Ruiz Foods.
Darlyne will be sharing her experience with Sarah and how she was able to turn things around by creating a process for getting alternative suppliers. Tune in to learn more in this latest episode of What The Duck?!
Show Highlights:
- Darlyne Freedman: Winding up in the supply chain
- Being drawn to direct spend
- What is single-sourcing
- The process of switching to multiple sources
- The process of testing new sources
- Alternate supplier saves the day
Quotes:
Darlyne - Being drawn to direct spend sourcing:
“That's where a lot of the action is, and you're literally either making the product or building the building. So you get to see the results, right, you get to see all of the results of what you buy”
Darlyne - Definition of single source:
“You have decided as a company to go ahead and just buy it from that one person or company or broker.
Darlyne - Alternate source is a must-have:
“You need to have an alternate source. So I've taken an 80-20 approach 80% goes with, obviously, whoever we've decided is the best supplier for it. But we need to put 20% with an alternate supplier.”
Darlyne - Get tight with R&D:
“You need to be very tight with R&D, they know ways to improve, and things that are in those formulas or how to make that product. They know how to make the product, they know what's in the product, and they know ways that can help you.”
Connect with Darlyne and learn more about her work:
- About Darlyne
- About Ruiz Foods
Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
- Twitter: @sscudder
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY as Colby Young, VP for NetSuite Business Unit of SourceDay jingles the bells in the pod with Sarah Scudder. Sarah welcomes Colby as they talk about the role of technology in the supply chain, the dangers of single-sourcing, and managing seasonal supplies.
Tune in and learn how to make your seasonal supply stress lesser, and your holidays merrier with this latest episode of What The Duck?!
Show Highlights:
- Introducing Colby Young
- Colby's mission in the supply chain
- The companies Colby works with
- Why first-mile efficiency is critical
- The difficulties of holiday preparations
- How to avoid shortages in the holidays
- Think about supplier diversification
Quotes:
Colby - Technology’s role in supply chain and scaling:
“Embracing technology to fill some of those voids to one, make sure that you can continue to scale your organization without needing to add difficult-to-find headcount and costly headcount.”
Colby - Financial setbacks of too much inventory:
“Too much inventory for any CFOs or head of finance that's a critical carrying cost component when you're holding too much inventory.”
Colby - First mile should be strategic:
“It's going back to thinking about the first mile of your supply chain. It's not tactical anymore, it's highly strategic.”
Colby - The dangers of single-sourced supply:
“The reality is, if you're completely single-sourced, you're going to have delays that you cannot overcome, and again, with the supply chain world we live in right now, it's a risky way to run any business, specifically a seasonal business.”
Connect with our guest, Colby, and learn more about his work:
- About Colby
Connect with Sarah and find out more of what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!
WHAT IN THE ACTUAL DUCK IS THIS SHOW ALL ABOUT?!?!
Sarah Scudder kicks off her show by letting people know who she is, what she does, and what in the world is on her mind on launching this podcast. Sarah is the CMO of SourceDay, but she is so much more than that. Get to know more about her with guest host Sheyna Webster, in this first-ever episode of the What The Duck?! podcast!
Show Highlights:
- What makes Sarah, Sarah
- Young passion for fashion
- Why launch a supply chain podcast?
- What to expect in the podcast?
- Direct vs. Indirect spend
- The guests to expect
- What keeps Sarah busy
- Sarah's best accomplishment
Quotes:
Sarah - Career at SourceDay:
“One of the things that I'm most excited about in joining the team is our focus on direct spent the first part of my career I spent on the indirect side.”
Sarah - Provide what is useful:
“I think the more that you can provide useful, valuable insights to buyers and people in the supply chain, the more they see your content, the more they see your data.”
Sarah - The opportunity to educate buyers:
“I think there's a huge opportunity to educate and help buyers in the direct spend space, be more efficient, and leverage technology.”
Connect with our guest host and learn more about her work:
- About Sheyna
Connect with Sarah and find out more of what the duck she’s up to:
- About Sarah
- Sarah’s Tweets
- About SourceDay
- SourceDay Website
Had fun with the podcast? Leave us a like, share our content, and subscribe! See you soon on the next episode of What The Duck?!