The procurement function is critically positioned as a key upstream component in the ultimate customer-facing delivery process. This means a need to always be fully aligned to the dynamic needs of the business (both strategically and operationally). For procurement to truly be seen as a strategic partner in the business helping to consistently deliver on the business mission, a more strategic approach needs to be adopted to ensure a holistic and fully integrated procurement function that delivers maximum value.

Our vision of the ‘victory picture’ for procurement is defined as “an effective customer-centric and reliable procurement system, comprising people, process, governance and technology components, that delivers all goods and materials on time, first time, at the right quality and quantity, in the right location every time”. Whilst seemingly a simple objective, the dynamic complexities of the supply chain environment can sometimes obviate achievement of this objective.

The SAS approach to building critical capability in procurement is founded on three key pillars, namely:

• Deployment of our unique Leading Procurement Practices Profiler;
• Skills development in procurement through a suite of Learning and Development Programmes;
• Tailored Advisory Solutions.