The Fourth King. Can there be love and compassion in supply chain environments?
Magi? Kings? Wise men? Sorcerers? Astrologers? I call them three curious guys. But there is a story which I love. The legend of the fourth guy who didn't arrive at Bethlehem. According to the tradition, three wise men came from the east following a star to find Christ-child in
Five useful tips for managing risks when sourcing materials from China (or anywhere)
Recently one of our clients asked a question that probably lingers in the minds of business owners attempting to source core materials from China: "We are in the middle of a global pandemic, how can we minimize the risks?" Unlike years past, when the most common doubts seemed to
Innovation Considered, One More Time
The term innovation continues to be so widely used that many of us have probably resorted to ignoring it. Still, it is more than likely that the word is here to stay. We’re going to keep on hearing it! The question remains since the world refuses to
Five Key Elements of an Effective Non-Disclosure Agreement
Non-Disclosure Agreements -NDAs- or Confidentiality Agreements are not uncommon in supply or other commercial relationships. We live in a world where laws vary significantly from country to country and even from one province to another. Yet, millions of business transactions occur across borders every day, relying on
How can you increase client retention and boost your company’s revenue through Supplier Relationship Management.
In The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness (2013), Stephen Covey writes: "In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organizations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or outside the organization; the essence of good business, therefore, is the quality of the
How to create or fine-tune your Supplier Relationship Strategy as the world enters a new phase of the post-covid world!
As workers return to offices in some parts of the world, it is an excellent opportunity for business owners and their teams to sit down and review what is working and what is not in this so-called post-covid business environment. Do you want to create or fine-tune your
That Quote on the Wall
This quote holds a special place in my heart. It was hanging near my little office ages ago when I worked in an old manufacturing plant in Thailand. It wasn't love at first sight. I saw that poster on the wall several times every day but never looking in
“Halloween Special Supply Chain Horror Stories”
To celebrate Halloween spirit this week and to bring light into our lives through humour, I won't be giving you supply chain tips this time. In turn, I am going to enumerate, just for fun, three supply chain nightmares I have lived in my career. Mind, these are
What does a healthy Supply Chain Manager’s end-of-the-workday routine look like?
Working in the Sourcing and Supply Chain world is exciting, dynamic, and ever-so-educational. Finding, transforming, and moving products around the world and getting them efficiently into the hands of clients and consumers can be an enrapturing task. Yet, in the so-called VUCA world we are living (volatile,
The vine tree, the firefly and supplier rejection…
Once upon a time, a vine tree looked old and withered after enduring a powerful storm the night before. But even though she felt tired and in pain, in her heart, the vine tree knew her best years were still ahead. However, she had never seen herself in a