The Procurement Podcast Andy Franks & Christophe Barriere-Varju

Procurement, Sourcing and Supply Chain Challenges during Covid-19

Andy and Christophe discuss the challenges procurement faces during Covid-19. From re-thinking strategic contracts to dealing with supply disruption, and whether remote working is still effective at a time when the procurement function needs a more important seat at the executive management table.

This episode is filled with important question for the procurement professional:


How organisations are dealing with suppliers issues, product availability, shortages and delays, transportation and logistics disruptions, price increases?
Is working from home as efficient and effective as working from within an organisations when dealing with a crisis such as Covid-19?
Shall organisations work together to develop local manufacturing and know-how capabilities to overcome overseas supply challenges?
Is the notion of strategically addressing a transparent and extended supply chain finally gain the traction it deserves?
Are we finally realising than price savings is just not enough, but rather ensure that suppliers earn additional profit to support buyers in time of crisis? And instead work together to eliminate costs?
How have suppliers' contracts been adjusted with Covid-19? and who pays for it?
Is dealing with one or two main suppliers to achieve economy of scale still working? or would this approach be too risky in time of crisis?

Those are some of the questions that need to be addressed, and perhaps having a Procurement Strategy and Procurement Plan is no longer enough to plan ahead, a 3rd element might be necessary: Procurement Crisis Management & Strategy need to be planned and simulated.

For further information about the content discussed in this Procurement Podcast episode and how it could be relevant within your organisation, please feel free to reach out to Andy Franks or Christophe Barriere-Varju.

Should you wish to discuss any of these questions in upcoming Procurement Podcasts, please do get in touch.

About the Procurement Podcast

This episode is brought to you by the Procurement Podcast, with Andy Franks (BrightSky ClearMind) and Christophe Barriere-Varju (BvW Global), two passionate Procurement Consultant Professionals.

Think your colleagues might be interested? Please share this Procurement Podcast!

Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Building & Construction Industry with Monica Richter and Hudson Worsley.
In this episode of the Procurement Podcast, Andy Franks and Christophe Barriere-Varju speak with Monica Richter and Hudson Worsley to introduce MECLA and the purpose of the Alliance.
MECLA stands for Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance which is a collaboration of organisations that have come together to drive reductions in embodied carbon in the building and construction industry.
MECLA seeks to align with the Paris Agreement targets and principles of the circular economy and recognise that the building and construction sector is a complex ecosystem.
As you listen to this podcast we will touch on some of the key MECLA initiatives such as:

Demonstrating a clear demand and activating supply of low embodied carbon materials.
Developing common language for design specifications, procurement guidelines and tendering criteria as standard practice for government agencies and companies.
Better understanding and/or developing where appropriate benchmarking tools, measurements, implementation guides and practice notes, such as EPDs, LCAs, BIMs, definitions, principles and simplifying tools.
Knowledge sharing through best practice education, case studies, myth-busting, demonstrations, and supporting innovation in materials and processes as part of a pre-competitive approach.
Helping to manage industry’s climate transition risks, risks associated with adopting innovative materials and the required skills development.
Focussing on priority materials; steel, cement and concrete, and aluminium due to their carbon intensity.

A must-listen podcast on this extremely important topic for our planet. For more information or to participate in the MECLA initiative, please contact Monica Richter at MRichter@wwf.org.au
Disclaimer: BvW Global and its director Christophe Barriere-Varju (Co-host of the Procurement Podcast) is a founding Partner of MECLA.
About Monica Richter
Monica Richter is an economist and social ecologist with extensive experience in environmental sustainability with an interest in the role of business in accelerating the uptake of low and zero carbon solutions.
Recent career highlights include establishing the Business Renewables Centre – Australia, deep engagement in WWF’s PandaLabs Innovation Program, and running the Science Based Targets Initiative in Australia, getting companies to set ambitious long term greenhouse gas emission reduction targets aligned with a 2oc/1.5oC pathway, in partnership with Global Compact Network Australia.
Monica recently collaborated with the NSW government and Lendlease to launch reports on the need to tackle embodied carbon in the building and construction industry and Materials Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA).
Monica is a thought leader and has been invited to participate in many forums and conferences as both a speaker and a chair.  Monica is a graduate of the Future Directors program, a Board Member of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council,

How to Focus Procurement Activities with Jody Rowe.
With years of expertise in the Oil & Gas industry, Jody Rowe is the CEO of both Rowe Advisory (resource advisory firm) and Promitheia Procurement, providing procurement online solutions that support procurement professionals.
Jody shares her views about how Covid-19 forced businesses to better manage risks and into the obvious cost reduction activities and why any Procurement activities should start with a good plan.
With Covid-19 raising the profile of Procurement it has also highlighted the need for strong governance and the essential of having a good “Procurement Plan” in order to focus resources on high value / high risk spend — and the importance of getting the basics right.
Covid-19 has raised the profile of businesses to manage risk, whether it’s supply chain risk, or managing contracts to get that value out of it.
Andy Franks (Procurement Podcast Co-Host) enquires as to where Procurement should sit in an organisation and its implications regarding how the procurement is regarded.
Christophe Barriere-Varju (Procurement Podcast Co-Host) asks whether companies have gained or lost productivity with allowing remote work.
A fascinating interview with plenty of good insights to be gained for all procurement professionals, from entry levels to career long professionals.
About Jody Rowe
Jody is an accomplished specialist in the resources sector over 30 years’ experience gaining a strategic view of the market, its needs and opportunities for growth and continuous cost improvements.
A current Non-Executive Director for Strike Energy Limited and previous work experience includes senior Commercial roles in Australia and the United Kingdom working with organizations such as BG Group-QGC, Santos, Rio Tinto and Barrick Gold with particular focus and activity on mega projects GLNG and QCLNG and large scale mining operations.
A subject matter expert and tactical adviser for business development, contracts, procurement, tenders, negotiations and reviews where risk is significant. A strength is the conceptual and analytical ability to deal with ambiguity and complexity that often accompanies high profile projects and companies.
Jody is a strong advocate for the Contracts and Procurement profession, Local Content, Women’s networking and Emerging Talent, presenting at APPEA September 2013, Major Construction Conference October 2013 and Oil and Gas Procurement Leaders November 2013.
Jody is the Chief Executive Officer of Rowe Advisory and Promitheia Procurement.
Jody Rowe on LinkedIn.
About the Procurement Podcast
This episode is brought to you by the Procurement Podcast, with Andy Franks (BrightSky ClearMind) and Christophe Barriere-Varju (BvW Global), two passionate Procurement Consultant Professionals.
Think your colleagues might be interested? Please share this Procurement Podcast!

Using Procurement Collaboration to Improve an Organization with Paul McCarthy.
Paul McCarthy talks about buying products and services in a way that is effective, not necessarily cheap, but the best for your company, the best for right now, and the best for the future.
Paul talks about a huge procurement knowledge gap that began with procurement employees that began their career post the 2008-09 financial crisis. With 10 years of expertise to 2019-2020, and a market now in decline, the focus is still buying as cheap as possible, but at the same time this approach expedites the decline of the market in the paper industry due to poor(er) profitability of its participants. And with COVID-19 coming along, the decline of the market has been even more dramatic.
McCarthy regularly challenges his organization to look for everything and anything that is other than magazines and newspapers. He regular asks his staff — quote — “find ways to replace plastic with paper, don’t ask children, ask your parents. Remember when fish was wrapped in paper not plastic?”
Only by adopting a collaborative approach, paradigm shifts can occur, new uses of products can be identified that will keep organizations alive.
Finally, by ensuring all functions work in sync toward the same end goal — and getting employees to buy into this paradigm shift, everyone should be able to sell the organisation.
About Paul McCarthy
Managing Director SCA Graphic Paper UK Limited. Driving sustainability in print and paper from the forest to the office. SCA £10.7bn turnover brands include GraphoCote, GraphoInvent and GraphoNews. McCarthy has spent 12 years in paper sales, most recently as publishing sales manager at Sappi Fine Paper Europe. Prior to joining the paper trade he worked in magazine production and was commercial production manager at Condé Nast.
Paul McCarthy on LinkedIn.
About the Procurement Podcast
This episode is brought to you by the Procurement Podcast, with Andy Franks (BrightSky ClearMind) and Christophe Barriere-Varju (BvW Global), two passionate Procurement Consultant Professionals.
Think your colleagues might be interested? Please share this Procurement Podcast!

The Role of Procurement in the Banking Industry with Tony Crane
In this episode of the Procurement Podcast we talk about the Role of Procurement in the Banking and Financial Industry and the impact the Bank’s Supply Chain has onto the end consumer.


During our conversation with Tony Crane, we uncover some hidden areas that Banks can explore to continuously add value to their vertical supply chain, and how difficult it is to articulate the customers benefits — often emotional — and then being able to deliver a real customer experience.


About Tony Crane
Tony has worked in the Financial Services industry for over 24 years having started his career as a cashier with Nationwide in 1996. Since then he has worked in leadership roles at Barclays, RBS, Santander, Bank of Ireland, Lloyds and a range of smaller FS institutions and start-ups.

Tony speaks frequently in the UK & around Europe on the topic of Customer Experience and the impact societal change will have on the Financial Services Industry.


Tony Crane on LinkedIn.


About the Procurement Podcast
This episode is brought to you by the Procurement Podcast, with Andy Franks (BrightSky ClearMind) and Christophe Barriere-Varju (BvW Global), two passionate Procurement Consultant Professionals.


Think your colleagues might be interested? Please share this Procurement Podcast!
The post Episode 011: The Role of Procurement in the Banking Industry with Tony Crane appeared first on The Procurement Podcast.

Advanced and Strategic Procurement with Mario Adamo
In this episode of the Procurement Podcast we talk about Advanced and Strategic Procurement with Mario Adamo.


Brace yourself for an almost hour-long in depth conversation with Procurement defined as “Optimising price, availability, reliability, innovation, TCO in consultation with stakeholders and where Procurement is embedded into the organisation as a ‘complex and strategic’ fact based function.”


And in Mario’s words, “Procurement is to be able to think at the next level and bring all the pieces together into concise and well articulated plans.”


Mario Adamo’s is the founder and Managing Director of AVA Consulting Partners and has over 20 years of International Procurement and Supply Chain experience in line roles and consulting having worked at companies such as McKinsey & Company, General Motors, Foster;s Group, AT Kearney and corProcurement across a wide range of industries — FMCG, Mining, Oil & Gas, Phamaceutical, Manufacturing, Transport/Logistics, Automotive, and Government.


About AVA Consulting Partners
Mario Adamo on LinkedIn
AVA Consulting Partners — Sustainable Capability Building, Dynamic Coaching Approach, Clever and Practical


About the Procurement Podcast
This episode is brought to you by the Procurement Podcast, with Andy Franks (BrightSky ClearMind) and Christophe Barriere-Varju (BvW Global), two passionate Procurement Consultant Professionals.


Think your colleagues might be interested? Please share this Procurement Podcast!
The post Episode 010: Advanced & Strategic Procurement with Mario Adamo appeared first on The Procurement Podcast.