Supplier Relationship Management

May 20, 2025

Current issues facing supply chain managers in an era of uncertainty

I was recently asked about a few questions related to how managers should be navigating the waters around the tariff uncertainty, AI, contracting, and a host of other issues. Here…

Nov 12, 2024

Are you really employing Category Management effectively?

Procurement categories are a grouping of materials or services that have similar supply and usage characteristics to meet business objectives. Category management is different from the “strategic sourcing process”. The…

Jan 2, 2024

Supply Chain Leadership Series VIII: Todd Imhoff, CEO, Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions (YUM)

Running a Purchasing Cooperative involves many stakeholders! As President and CEO Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions (RSCS), Todd Imhoff is responsible for all aspects of RSCS’s business strategy, overseeing the quick-service restaurant…

Nov 2, 2023

Supply Chain Leadership V: Howard Richman

Lessons Learned from a Career in Procurement As part of our weekly Supply Chain Leadership, I interviewed Howard Richman, who I am co-authoring a new book with (“Procurement Confidential”). His…

Sep 21, 2023

Supply Chain Leadership Series III: Andrew Olah – Changing the Denim Industry One Brand at a Time

Andrew Olah claims he is in the twilight of his career. But everything he is involved seems to be to the contrary! Olah has recently sold his textile business, Olah Inc, and has…

Apr 18, 2023

“Through Thick and Thin”: Sprucing Up Buyer–Supplier Relationships!

Another great guest post from Rajinder Bhandal! Have you heard of “the language of supply chains”? Back in January (2023), I talked about the possibility of applying the five love…

Feb 13, 2023

How can sales determine what is important to procurement when selling to them?

I am working on a new book focused on the sales and procurement relationship in supply chains with my friend Howard Richman, who has a wealth of experience working for…

Jan 1, 2023

Ten Supply Chain Predictions for 2023

As we go into the first week of 2023, many are wondering what’s ahead for global commerce and supply chains. As I’ve done in prior years, I’ll make a few…

Dec 23, 2022

“With a Little Help from My Friends”: A Path Towards Data Visibility and Sustainable Contracting

A Guest Blog by Rajinder Bhandal Ph.D., University of Leeds Have you heard of the concept of sustainable contracting in the context of supply ecosystems? The World Commerce and Contracting…

Dec 15, 2022

As Inventories and Capacity Expansion Grew Too Quickly in 2022, Customers are Forcing Suppliers to Bear the Brunt of Optimistic Forecasts

In today’s Wall Street Journal, I was interviewed regarding a case that was just filed against Amazon by a large robotics , claiming that the e-commerce giant backed away from…