In this episode of What the Duck?! Another Supply Chain Podcast, David Alexander shares insights from his role as a procurement expert. He discusses his experiences with international sourcing, emphasizing the challenges of managing supplier consolidations for smaller orders. David also highlights the importance of accurate demand planning and the consequences of discrepancies between customer forecasts and actual usage. Furthermore, he sheds light on the issues arising from port delays and shares strategies to mitigate the impact of lead time uncertainties. This engaging conversation provides a valuable perspective on the intricacies of supply chain management in an ever-evolving global landscape.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

David’s Initial Career Journey

Challenges in MRO Roles

Strategies for Achieving Cost Savings 

Transitioning to International Procurement

Dealing with Port Delays 

Importance of Accurate Forecasting and Planning

Challenges of Managing Customer Needs 

Supplier Consolidation for Smaller Quantities

Influence of Port Delays on Procurement 

MOMENTS TO DUCK AROUND

DAVID: Challenges with Supply Chain Forecasting

“It's never going to be 100% accurate, just like forecasts. Forecasts are never going to be 100% accurate. You can get very close, but it's never going to be. So, essentially, cycle counting for the MRO field, especially, making sure your cycle counts are, you know, by month, you know, especially if you're managing, you know, if you're managing not as big as a warehouse, it's easy for you to do inventory levels. It's easy for you to freeze the system, get the inventory leveled, and then reconcile that back. You can get as close as you can.”

DAVID: Challenges Faced in International Procurement

“They're asking me to Air Freight because they're scared of the ports, you know, that's another one, you know, they know a part shipping because I have to update my notes per, you know, what the bill of leading or the packs are telling me on prior to shipping. So I'll go in, I'll update my, my ship dates. I'll update my quantities that are shipping because we have a plus and minus, you know, 10%. So it could be over or under. So I have to adjust those quantities. They have to be exactly per the invoice or I'm going to have trouble with the Brokers.”

Connect with David and learn what she’s been duckin’ around with:

David Alexander | Optimas Solutions

Connect with Sarah and find out more about what the duck she’s up to

LinkedIn |Twitter |SourceDay |SourceDay.com

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