JULY 20198 In the last decade, procurement has built a solid reputation for managing costs, without doubt facilitated by the GFC. However, in my view, procurement must shift its attention towards managing the risks inherent in complex supply chains. Repeatedly, we read of cases where organizations and companies are exposed to the poor practices of suppliers embedded deep in their supply chains. These issues are rapidly exposed by social media communication channels. Furthermore, outsourcing practices have built a complex web of supply channels throughout Asia. Another challenge and opportunity, for procurement is to bring probity and good governance to its way of working. While on one level this may appear to be an additional suite of tasks, I have learnt that senior management and boards can rely with confidence on professional procurement to deliver sustainable outcomes when its practices are supported by management through good governance and validated by independent probity checks. In today's world of rapid communications and disruption procurement has a strategic role to play in ensuring security, transparency, and best practice when supporting an organization to meet its goals. In the past I would have said stakeholder engagement is the hardest part of my job. Yet I have observed our stakeholders also have difficult challenges. By working with them and our suppliers we've helped to solve their main issues and delivered positive outcomes for our business. We have an opportunity in Strategic procurement not to be reactive and to rely on traditional procurement tools and methods. Weather we have a small team or a big team the hardest part of the job is to guide the business to BY SIJU JOHNY, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER, TRANSGRIDTHE CHANGING FACE OF PROCUREMENTIN MY V EW
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