1 October 2014

Moves to implement strategic sourcing on R136bn public procurement

National Treasury is aware of the shortcomings of government’s existing public procurement processes, admitted National Treasury chief director of strategic procurement in the office of the chief procurement officer Estelle Setan in her address at the Smart Procurement World Conference in September. She noted that her office had placed current public procurement realities under the microscope […]

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Supply chain’s role in Africa’s development, unlike underwear, is not about the bottom line

Leave a Comment / Commentary, Procurement Strategy, Public Sector Procurement, Sourcing Strategy / Editor

A few professional Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) could have saved the Cape Town textile industry. Not just saved it, but turned it into a multi-million dollar industry that exported world-class goods, like underwear, to European and American markets. Instead, Capetonians, and the rest of South Africa, now purchase their underwear from China. Purchasing

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Call to participate in a SA workspace management benchmark service

Leave a Comment / Benchmarking, Facilities Management Services FMS / Editor

Many organisations are seeking ways to fit more staff into less office space, while maintaining a conducive and more productive work environment. Disparate business unit requirements may also complicate central planning of the workspace – some divisions may require hot-desking and allow work-from-home, while others want all staff in the office permanently, working together

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A P-Card is only as effective as the training its user receives

Leave a Comment / Procurement Cards / Editor

A crucial but frequently overlooked aspect of any purchasing card (P-Card) programme is cardholder training: it enables the cardholder to use the card as the company intended, explains Anita Carolus-Opperman, Nedbank Corporate Card National Sales Manager, in this month’s SmartProcurement. Training styles will differ from company to company, but here are some basic considerations

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SA supplier incubator receives mentors from Johnson & Johnson

Leave a Comment / Enterprise Development, Supplier Management / Editor

Shanduka Black Umbrellas (SBU) has officially launched the Johnson & Johnson LOLONGA Mentoring Programme in Cape Town. The programme is a pilot of the LOLONGA initiative started between the two entities in November 2013; Johnson & Johnson encouraged its employees around the world to become mentors and provide online assistance and support to businesses

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Absa SME Index notes decreased number of women-run suppliers in SA

Leave a Comment / Enterprise Development, SRM Supplier Relationship Management / Editor

Women employers have declined by 14.2% since the start of 2008, with the majority of the decline taking place during the last quarter of the recession (Q3 2009). Women employers seem to have been far more at risk than men in a recessionary environment and have closed more businesses, Absa’s SME Index indicates. Although

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8 tips for entrepreneurial suppliers approaching procurement departments

Leave a Comment / Enterprise Development, Procurement Strategy / Editor

Entrepreneurial suppliers need to do their homework when it comes to approaching procurement departments – they are the ‘gatekeepers’ to the prospects smaller companies seek. In this issue of SmartProcurement Shawn Theunissen of enterprise development organisation Property Point has put together a list of tips that procurement organisations can share with their suppliers. It’s

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Case study: an SMME’s schooling in procurement’s importance

Leave a Comment / Enterprise Development, Supplier Partnerships / Editor

“Seven months ago, ‘procurement’ was just a word – now it’s more important to me than ever,” admits Itumeleng Phake – Tumi – the owner of start-up business, the Zenzele Fitness Group, in this month’s SmartProcurement. Explaining his newfound appreciation for tapping into the right supplier networks and the importance of Zenzele’s positioning in

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Supply chain skills that will give you the pick of ‘difficult-to-fill’ positions

Leave a Comment / Education, Procurement Training, Professional Development / Editor

The Supplychainforesight2014 Survey ranked ‘availability of supply chain skills’ as one of the top five key supply chain and logistics constraints over the next 5 – 10 years¹, highlighting concerns over a growing shortage of skilled staff. Supply chain professionals who actively align their skill sets with demand will have the pick of challenging

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