Huhtamaki’s Post

The constant challenge in Procurement is simple to say but hard to execute: reduce without compromising.👌 Blind cuts kill quality. Smart optimization finds value in processes, modularity, and strategic planning. The art lies in making the audience see greatness, while the CFO sees efficiency.🎯 Where is your biggest optimization opportunity in the next trade show?

The constant challenge in Procurement is simple to say but hard to execute: reduce without compromising.👌 Blind cuts kill quality. Smart optimization finds value in processes, modularity, and strategic planning. The art lies in making the audience see greatness, while the CFO sees efficiency.🎯 Where is your biggest optimization opportunity in the next trade show?

Digitalization and skills are not independent priorities; together, they form the twin engines shaping the future of procurement. In our latest Inside the CPO Agenda interview, my colleagues Isabelle Pinto Carradine and Anna Kollenbrandt discuss how CPOs can turn these focus areas into real influence at executive level. Read the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/dgUrA4az

Digitalization and skills are not independent priorities; together, they form the twin engines shaping the future of procurement. In our latest Inside the CPO Agenda interview, my colleagues Isabelle Pinto Carradine and Anna Kollenbrandt discuss how CPOs can turn these focus areas into real influence at executive level. Read the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/dtd6p59i

Digitalization and skills are not independent priorities; together, they form the twin engines shaping the future of procurement. In our latest Inside the CPO Agenda interview, my colleagues Isabelle Pinto Carradine and Anna Kollenbrandt discuss how CPOs can turn these focus areas into real influence at executive level. Read the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/dqTY2NaQ

💼 The Value of Middlemen in the Supply Chain — and Why Cutting Them Out Isn’t Always “Smart” In today’s digital world, many buyers believe they can “save money” by going directly to the source and removing the middleman. On paper, that sounds efficient — but in reality, it’s often more complicated. Here’s the truth 👇 🌐 The Role of a Middleman in the Supply Chain A middleman isn’t just a “reseller.” They often play a strategic role that adds real value across the supply chain: • Market Access & Connections: They bridge gaps between manufacturers and customers who might never find each other otherwise. • Logistics & Distribution: Middlemen handle warehousing, shipping, and inventory management — reducing complexity for both ends. • Risk Management: They absorb risks like product returns, stock fluctuations, and credit terms. • Local Expertise: They understand market demand, cultural nuances, and regulatory requirements that a manufacturer may not. • Customer Support: Providing quick communication, after-sales service, and problem-solving that factories can’t always match. 💰 How Middlemen Create Value • They reduce lead times and improve supply reliability. • They bundle services like financing, packaging, or technical support. • They negotiate better prices through volume aggregation. • They enhance trust between buyers and producers, especially across borders. ⚠️ The “Smart Customer” Misconception Some customers think, “Why not just find the factory myself?” What they often overlook: • Hidden Costs: Shipping, customs, compliance, and quality issues can quickly erase the “savings.” • Communication Gaps: Time zones, language barriers, and lack of accountability can lead to costly mistakes. • No Backup: If something goes wrong, there’s no intermediary to fix it or take responsibility. ✅ Bottom Line: Middlemen who bring transparency, efficiency, and expertise are not obstacles — they’re value creators. In a well-structured supply chain, the goal isn’t to eliminate the middleman; it’s to work with the right one who adds measurable benefit #supplychain #sourcing #purchasing #costreduction #trade

🚨 There are still companies that don’t see buyers as key players. Some organizations still believe that buyers are just there to request quotes, compare prices, and issue purchase orders. But those of us who work in this field know that the buyer’s role goes far beyond that. 👉 They’re the ones who connect all departments: production, maintenance, finance, accounting, international trade, and management. 👉 They’re the ones who balance time, cost, and quality, ensuring that operations don’t stop. 👉 They’re the ones who anticipate risks and keep the supply chain moving even when challenges arise. 💡 A buyer doesn’t just buy — they think strategically, negotiate intelligently, and keep operations alive. At Samot and Modu, we value that role deeply. Because we know a good buyer doesn’t just execute — they sustain operations, protect profitability, and drive growth. 🔍 What do you think? Do companies truly value the buyer’s role, or do they still see it as just an operational position? #Procurement #StrategicPurchasing #SupplyChain #SAMOT #MODU #BusinessManagement

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 Behind every successful operation is a supply chain that’s resilient, responsible, and ready to deliver. At BIC Consolidated we see procurement and inventory not as back-office functions, but as 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 drivers of quality, continuity, and social impact. In our latest blog, DongFang (Sam) Wang, 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 & 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳, explores:   1. Why 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 matters more than ever   2. How a 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 protects both reputation and results   3. The role of 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 and partnerships with organisations like Supply Nation and Two Good Co   4. Why 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 is essential for long-term success Procurement and inventory shape more than just operations - they shape communities, sustainability outcomes, and customer trust. Read the full blog here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/geh96wSs #Procurement #InventoryManagement #SupplyChain #Sustainability #BICConsolidated

Supply Chain professor Frederik Vos and his co-authors examined in a new study how integrating the purchasing function into strategic decision-making impacts public procurement. They found that strategically integrating purchasing enhances value creation through the development of social capital in buyer–supplier relationships. Using data from Finnish public procurement experts, the study highlights how different types of social capital - relational, cognitive, and structural - impact operational, environmental, and innovation outcomes. It challenges the traditional view of procurement as a purely operational function and stresses its strategic potential in enhancing public sector performance. As additional take-away, the study found different types of value creation require different social capital types: - Operational value (such as better delivery speed and cost benefits) benefits from cognitive and structural capital. - Environmental value needs structural capital, and more advanced outcomes require co-creation capabilities. - Innovation value depends on all three types -with relational capital being most critical to gain access to supplier innovations.   In a nutshell, the study found that strategic purchasing integration can be a driver for building social capital and achieving value beyond just cost efficiency. Hence, the procurement function in public organizations should actively shape strategy, not just implement it - ensuring alignment with long-term goals, risks, and opportunities. Study coauthors were Iryna Malacina, Jad El Bizri, Elina Karttunen, and Aki Jääskeläinen. Link to the study is here (please contact the authors to receive a copy): https://lnkd.in/gsfFVUtd. 

Manoj Kumar has been appointed as Chief Supply Chain Officer at Amber Enterprises India Limited. In his new role, Manoj will spearhead Amber Enterprises’ end-to-end supply chain operations, focusing on strategic sourcing, procurement efficiency, supplier optimization, and process digitization across business verticals. With more than two decades of extensive experience in supply chain leadership, category management, and operational excellence, he brings deep expertise in building resilient, sustainable, and agile supply chains. His appointment is a significant move as Amber Enterprises continues to strengthen its supply chain strategy and operational capability in India’s fast-growing consumer durables and electronics manufacturing sector. Prior to joining Amber Enterprises, Manoj served as Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer at Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited, where he led business process improvement and supply chain transformation for the company’s major product categories — fans, lighting, home appliances, and pumps. Before that, he spent over five years with Schneider Electric, serving as Global Category Director and Global Supplier Base Optimization and Productivity Improvement Leader, managing multi-country supply chain operations for energy storage categories, sustainable sourcing, and digital procurement initiatives. He also held key leadership roles at Luminous Power Technologies (P) Ltd as National Procurement Head, LG Electronics as AGM Procurement, and began his career with Machino Basell India Pvt. Ltd. and BD. Manoj’s strategic vision and cross-functional leadership are expected to play a vital role in advancing Amber Enterprises’ supply chain excellence and growth roadmap. #LeadershipAppointment #AmberEnterprises #SupplyChainLeadership #ChiefSupplyChainOfficer #ManufacturingIndustry #ProcurementStrategy #OperationalExcellence #LeadershipUpdate #BusinessTransformation #SupplyChainInnovation #LeadershipNews #ConsumerDurables #CXODrive