Functionally Aligning Procurement And Accounts Payable For Maximum Results

Gerry Hodson Director Enterprise Sourcing Operations H&R Block

Procurement and Accounts Payable functions are separate: separate departments, separate processes and separate opinions of what the other group is doing wrong. The ironic reality is that this separation is the single largest factor standing in the way of world class, cost-saving P2P processes. H&R Block has recently completed a major Source-to- Settle (S2S) initiative, which included implementing true end-to-end alignment of the Procurement and Accounts Payable functions. This session provides:

• Overview of H&R Block's S2S project and solutions
• The P2P Experiment - combining Procurement and Accounts Payable into a single department
• Electronic Supplier Integration - the nuts and bolts of aligning Procurement and Accounts Payable
• Lessons Learned

A.T. Kearney 2008 Assessment of Excellence in Procurement Study: How Leading Procurement Organizations Are Succeeding In A Global, Virtual, and Ever
Demanding World

Randy Watson Partner A.T. Kearney

The world of our 24-hour supply chain is always changing and challenging us with new issues, risks, and opportunities that appear daily. Some of the key questions that supply management professionals are asking include:

• Do we have the right supply strategies in place and the right amount of influence to drive maximum value to the company’s bottom-line?
• How should we address and adapt our strategies and organization to new movements in sustainability, supplier collaboration/partnering, procurement/category outsourcing, and emerging markets sourcing?
• How best should we be organized for today…and, more importantly, for tomorrow?
• What are the best supplier relationship management strategies and practices to extract ongoing value from your supply base after the sourcing has been completed? How are leading companies organizing themselves to better collaborate with suppliers?
• What risk mitigation strategies should we have in order to prevent major supply and service level disruptions?
• What technology and collaboration solutions and strategies should we have to drive greater value and decrease the time it takes to capture that value?
• How do we attract and retain the best available talent?

These questions and many more are addressed in this overview of the results from the A.T. Kearney 2008 Assessment of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) Study. Over 400 companies from across the globe and across a variety of industries participated in the study. The 2008 study is the sixth AEP study since 1992.

Defining KPI's And Adequately Measuring And Providing Supplier Feedback

Strategic Sourcing And The "Nuts And Bolts" Of An Automated Approach

Randy Clark Sr. Strategic Buyer, Volvo Group Non-Automotive Purchasing Volvo

The challenge of procurement professionals today includes the need to evaluate, select and implement the proper eSourcing tools to meet the needs of your specific application. The benefits of automated tools for strategic sourcing include increased process efficiency, establishing best practices and shorter cycle times to allow for more competitive bidding projects. Working with multiple suppliers and multiple areas of spend pose an additional challenge for standardization and transparency for both you and your suppliers. Once you have selected the right eSourcing tool for your application, the next step is to incorporate it into your companies’ culture. Creating the right implementation plan that includes the education for your purchasing organization as well as your suppliers is vital throughout this process. With all the different tools available today, there is still not a “perfect solution” to all your needs. In this session Randall will highlight the practical implementation approach to how you can lead your purchasing organization to embrace the benefits of an automated approach once you have selected your eSourcing tool. Key highlights include:

• Improved handling and analysis of the RFx process - for your purchasing organization and the competing suppliers
• Automated approach to the marketplace and supply base - create transparency to ensure ethical behavior for all parties
• Contract Management through templates and standardization - keeping up with the agreement after it is signed
• Continuity of knowledge available - create a library of resources for your purchasing organization

Panel Session: Understanding And Ensuring The Financial Viability Of Your Suppliers

	Jamie Crump Director Indirect Strategic Sourcing United Rentals
	Gerry Hodson Director Enterprise Sourcing Operations H&R Block
	Lalit Panda VP Supply Chain Management Harman International

Are your struggling to significantly strengthen your procurement process, reduce the risk of delay, poor workmanship and non-delivery from providers facing financial pressure? Expenditure is becoming an area of increasing focus and attention and as Government continues to drive increases in both clarity and fair practice, it is becoming more important that funds are spent wisely. It’s not just about getting the lowest price from a supplier – it is also important to ensure, as far as possible, that the supplier has the financial ability to deliver the goods and services. This session presents an opportunity to address your challenges and obstacles as our panelists share strategies in:

• Exploring best-practices into receiving and obtaining supplier data
• Ensuring data integrity, accuracy and quality of financial information
• Utilizing data systems to assess and evaluate corporate performance, shareholder value and financial risk
• Evaluating corporate scorecards and online credit solution to ensure delivery performance
  

Effectively Integrating E-Procurement Into Your Sourcing Processes

Lisa Nicholas Strategic Sourcing Manager Safeco Insurance

Competitive bidding is one of the best techniques for reducing costs. But it can also be very resource exhaustive to pull all internal resources together who have multiple projects in motion. Highly technical projects can be daunting to the sourcing professional who is faced with the pressure of delivering savings to the bottom-line. This interactive presentation focuses on Safeco’s journey of utilizing an eRFX solution for the very first time to get control over telecom costs that have resulted in saving millions of dollars. In this session Lisa discusses ideas on overcoming obstacles that sourcing professionals may face in user adoption and acceptance within your own organization in light of many organizational challenges. This discussion also explores areas where eSourcing does not always make sense, and different options for not buying an expensive solution that require large IT implementation. Key takeaways include:

• How eRFP process saved valuable resource time in the telecom space
• Analyzing how you’re tying your e-tools into everyday business
• Educating internal stakeholders and clients
• eRFP challenges in the services sector
  

Supplier Sustainability In Manufacturing: Why Is Sustainability Important?

Bryan Vonfeldt Manager For Chemicals And Gas Procurement Texas Instruments

As executives endeavor to reduce their company's environmental footprint, supply chains have increasingly become a key area of focus. Improvements in transportation efficiency, operations, raw material selection and packaging are all topping the list of "green" supply chain initiatives. In this session Bryan discusses the importance of sustainability at Texas Instruments, and how procurement professionals can make an impact in their own organization. Ensure your organization is making the right steps toward a sustainable supply chain, key takeaways include:

• Fundamental Drivers of Sustainability
  
• The Message
  
• Management Commitment
  
• Our Employees
  
• Our Suppliers
  
• How do we make an impact?
  
• Equipment OEMs
  
• Raw Materials Suppliers
  
• End users/manufacturers
  
• Creating the Corporate Climate
  
• Encouraging New Product Development
  
• Criterion for Evaluating New Products
  
• Summary - It’s the “right thing to do” and is good for the bottom line
  

Using KPI’s To Manage the Distributor Relationship

Gene Brieck Director Purchasing Ash Grove Cement Company

In this session Gene outlines the effective measurement of key performance indicators and how Ash Grove utilizes the data used in establishing pricing levels and arriving at vendor controlled inventory levels. Other key takeaways include how the collected transaction data presented in a monthly management report will be utilized in the manufacturer’s programs and customer relationships shared with the distributor partner. Other highlights include:

• Establishing key criteria for selecting a network of supplier partners
• Identifying KPI’s for monitoring and managing their performance on an ongoing basis – ensuring effective interworking between partners
• Facilitating speed of delivery through effective information flow across your network of suppliers
• Achieving breakthroughs in the total supply chain
• Drawing up a robust contract to optimize lead and response times and ensure costeffective delivery