Building Strategic Procurement Function – National Sporting Goods Retailer

SITUATION OVERVIEW National Sporting Goods Retailer desired to build a highly functioning Strategic Procurement organization. They hired Kas Chupa, a member of the OnDemand Professional Network as the new Chief Procurement Officer to drive this effort. Kas was tasked to build a procurement organization with the capability of sourcing $550M of Indirect Goods & Services, Capital Equipment and some Direct Goods for resale and implement year over year savings programs. DISCOVERY & EVALUATION As the new CPO, Kas interviewed all business unit leaders to introduce himself and to get their perspective on what they expected from Strategic Procurement, to understand their business goals and objectives for the coming year(s) and discover how their respective procurement activities were being executed currently. Part of the evaluation phase was to uncover quick win opportunities, prepare the business for the upcoming organizational changes and the timeline for those changes, as well as the Mission and Vision for Procurement within the company. The interviews and data collection revealed the following: All buying was being executed within the various business units by non-procurement individuals.All contracts we being negotiated and signed by the business units with limited to no legal review.There were multiple payment channels, and close to 100 different payment terms. EXECUTION & BENEFITS The CPO quickly engaged external consulting support while he was building internal procurement capabilities. The key focus of the consultants was to work with the business and build strawman sourcing plans and pipeline of quick wins. While focusing on quick wins to demonstrate the value of strategic sourcing and procurement, the CPO built the procurement team with internal resources, with a...

Recovering Today and Preparing For Tomorrow – Top 4 Things To Do For Your Supply Chain and Operational Readiness

There is no need to explain the impact of the current COVID-19 crisis on the lives of individuals, families, communities and companies around the world.  It is, in many ways, unprecedented, and certainly represents a once-in-a-generation challenge to us all. The outbreak has caught companies and some entire industries by surprise with sudden dramatic drops in demand, changes in customer behavior and general uncertainty.  Normal demand signals have disappeared, and the effect has rippled through the whole supply chain.  While remote work is possible for many, critical manufacturing and service jobs can’t be done “from home”, and even if they could, how would you know what to produce, or order and for how long?  As we all look to follow the public health guidelines to protect our families, friends and colleagues, business leaders can and must look to not only recover from this crisis, but to be ready for the next one.  We cannot predict the future, but we can learn from every experience and put ourselves in a better position next time.  Doing that is the hallmark of a “learning organization”, and the essence of proactive leadership.  So, how can businesses position their supply chains to be more flexible and resilient – more ready, if you will? There are several concrete actions businesses can take right now to prepare even as they recover: 1. Conduct a thorough assessment of all aspects of the supply chain – sunlight is the best disinfectant If recent events have taught us anything, it’s that speed + flexibility = resiliency.  In planning your assessment, consider all aspects of the supply chain.  If there...

OnDemand Resources Hires Veteran Operations Consultant To Lead Client Support Efforts

February 28, 2020 Charlottesville, VA OnDemand Resources, the leading provider of independent project and interim talent in strategic procurement, supply chain and operations is delighted to announce the hire of Wil Henderson, a seasoned operations consultant with significant experience supporting clients in their efforts to achieve exceptional results as they pursue cost reduction and efficiency improvement initiatives. Wil will assume the role of Managing Director and will be responsible for overall business development and client support efforts. Mr. Henderson brings to OnDemand over two decades of experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain and operations.  As a consultant, he has led numerous complex strategic sourcing and operations transformations across many industries throughout North America and globally, serving as a trusted partner and advisor to clients from the mid-market to the Fortune 500.  His background includes roles with Accenture, E&Y, and, most recently as a partner with Gibson Consulting.  He has earned certifications as a Project Management Professional and LSS Black Belt, and holds an undergraduate degree from Auburn University and an MBA from The University of Notre Dame. “I am delighted to join the high performing team at OnDemand.  I had the pleasure to get to know Jan and his team over the years and was always impressed with their ability to serve their clients” said Wil Henderson. “We are pleased to welcome Wil to our team, to help us accelerate our strong growth which is only possible by continuing to deliver superior work for our clients,” said Jan Malasek, OnDemand’s CEO.  “Wil’s great client management and engagement skills will ensure that our existing and new clients will get the...