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

Supplier Relationship Management

Dec 4, 2025

Results from the CCM Institute Academic Symposium Hub @ NC State

AI in Procurement and Supply Chains This 4.5-hour symposium brought together 26 leading academic and practitioner experts in procurement, supply chain, data analytics, and engineering. The event focused on discussing…

Nov 20, 2025

AI Applications in Supplier Management

Recent discussions with executives have really got me thinking about what the future state of AI applications in supply management might look like. We are also holding a Symposium on…

Nov 12, 2025

Thinking Creatively About AI in Supply Network Value Creation

Investors are going crazy investing in major markets for major AI stocks, but how is AI really being used in industry? I discussed this challenge with Tim Cummins, CEO of…

Aug 1, 2025

What does successful supplier co-location into manufacturing sites look like?

Situation Profile This organization was faced by the need to improve costs and add value through improved technology.  Benchmarking competitors had brought about the realization that improvement of process technology…

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…