Developing a winning Supply Chain career in 2012
Whilst we were slaving away, optimising our supply chain widget world, a few Wall Street wizards created yet another recipe for fool’s gold. Consequently, our supply chain world is faced with some harsh realities as the world heads deeper into recession with global leaders struggling to estimate where the bottom is.But what does this mean for supply chain people? Max Smeiman, Supply Chain Coach CEO, has some advice for supply chain professionals in this month’s SmartProcurement.
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Database administrator aids PPPFA adoption in Western Cape
Ariba (previously Quadrem) is assisting the Provincial Government of the Western Cape (PGWC) to implement its policy to only contract with businesses duly registered on the Western Cape Supplier Database (WCSD), Catherine Hills, Partner: Global Accounts at Ariba, tells SmartProcurement.
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Online procurement resources for 2012
Managing your career is an ongoing challenge, more so in these difficult economic times where downsizing and outsourcing are more than buzzwords. One way of keeping ahead of the pack and up-to-date with what is happening in the world of purchasing and supply is to read widely and absorb the important news and trends, Elaine Porteous, independent procurement and HR consultant, advises in this month’s SmartProcurement.
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MTN Academy celebrates 1st MCIPS qualification achievement
It is almost two years since MTN Academy in partnership with Group Procurement launched a procurement qualification programme within the MTN Group. In November the Academy celebrated its 1st Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Level 6 graduate, Peruth Ntegeka from MTN Uganda.
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Developing ethics and integrity in procurement
The State-Owned Enterprise Procurement Forum (SOEPF) and the Chartered Institute or Purchasing and Supply Southern Africa (CIPS SA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further professionalise the Procurement and Supply Chain profession, and uphold a policy of ethics with honesty and integrity.
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At what level do executives expect procurement to operate?
What must procurement do for the board and CEO, now and in the future? Molefe Mokgatle, Executive Director at Aveng Grinaker-LTA told delegates at SmartProcurement World that a problem procurement must face is outdated legacies: in the past the only real skill required of procurement was negotiation.
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CIPS exams - doing it right the first time
Doing things right the first time is a philosophy, mentality and performance standard that students writing the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) November 2011 examinations will aim to achieve, Ronald Mlalazi (MCIPS), Commerce Edge Academy Education Manager, tells SmartProcurement.
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No more reading CVs - The Database of Procurement Professionals
Enjoy reading CVs? If you do, you’re pretty unique. The problem with CVs, apart from the fact that everyone’s layout and approach is different, is that a CV tells you what the candidate wants you to hear. Ever seen a CV that said “I don’t have a clue how to determine the TCO of an LHD machine”? And you won’t either, because a CV is prepared with a view to boost the candidate’s chances of being considered suitable for a position on offer. Fact is, if you are looking for procurement staff, you do not have to read a CV ever again, unless you really want to, and then it should only be the two or three that made it to the short list.After a 30-year career in procurement, Andre Basson began a project to change the way procurement people are recruited. The outcome is the Database of Procurement Professionals©. Andre spoke to SmartProcurement about how he hopes the database will change Procurement recruitment.
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Changing procurement skill sets key trend till 2020
In imagining the future of Procurement, one needs to think broad, deep, global industry expertise. Finely tuned business acumen. Sales, marketing, communications, performance management, and networking.
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SAA partners with the African Supply Chain Institute
South African Airways has formally agreed to a corporate responsibility partnership with the recently established West African Institute for Supply Chain Leadership (WAISCL) to facilitate selected postgraduate supply chain management students and lecturers to undertake annual industrial visits between Southern Africa, Ghana and West Africa.
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Standard Bank case study - Procurement professionals moving forward
Standard Bank’s first draft of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) certification candidates achieved a 100% pass mark in the last assessment period, the only company to do so, which is part of the financial services provider’s re-design of its Procurement function – ‘Project Prologue’.Director of Procurement, Meshern Govender, and Head of Strategic Sourcing, Rafique Jassiem, told SmartProcurement about the project that helped the bank realise significant cost savings and efficiencies. In addition to the savings achieved, the bank managed to achieve a full 20 points on Preferential Procurement (up from the previous year’s 17.37).
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Professional body and business school partner to transform best practice
The UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership (UNISA SBL) and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Southern Africa (CIPS SA) have established a strategic partnership to further develop academic career paths with tertiary level qualifications for CIPS SA members.
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IMPERIAL Logistics acquires Commerce Edge - bolsters procurement training capabilities
SmartProcurement’s parent company Commerce Edge, a leading procurement training company, has sold a majority share to Supply chain specialist and member company of IMPERIAL Logistics, Volition.
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Bidders and buyers connect
The South African chapter of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) has entered into an affiliation agreement with SmartProcurement, a division of Commerce Edge, to grow the industry by working together.
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Six skills for future success in procurement
“The role of procurement within global companies has changed dramatically over the past 25 years from that of simply buying goods and services to overseeing an integrated set of management functions. Procurement has grown up,” said a report in Harvard Business Review.Elaine Porteous, procurement consultant and freelance writer, spoke at a recent Dow Jones “Expert Series” event outlining the skills required to excel in procurement. We summarise the key points in this month’s SmartProcurement.
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Procurement transformation: more than squeezing suppliers' margins
Transferring pressure onto your suppliers’ margins is not sustainable in the long-term. In fact, it is the shortest route to supply disruption as you will risk supplier failure, Duncan Jones, Principal Analyst for Forrester Research, told supply chain leaders at SAP and SmartProcurement’s CPO Forum early in March.
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SmartProcurement Editorial board member chairman of CIPS adjudication panel
Dr. Douglas Boateng, SmartProcurement editorial board member and CEO of PanAvest International has been appointed Chairman of the CIPS Pan African Best Practice Procurement and Supply Chain Management Adjudication Panel of experts.
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Procurement achievers - On the road to becoming SCM professionals
Commerce Edge Academy (CEA), a registered study centre for the internationally recognised CIPS qualification, is pleased to congratulate students on their achievements during the November CIPS Examiniations.CEA has been assisting students from various business sectors such as IT, Telecomms, Manufacturing and Financial Services to combine after hours studies with their daily occupations.
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Labour broking offers entry to the world of decent work
Research suggests that the labour broking industry plays a significant role in introducing jobless people into the formal world of decent work, says Loane Sharp, labour economist at Adcorp Holdings.
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Developing Standard Bank's procurement purpose - an investment in people
In a bid to elevate the status of its procurement function from a transaction focused back office into one considered to be a value enabler for its business units, Standard Bank South Africa (SBSA) is creating a talent nursery, using a defined procurement competency framework to underpin the career progression path of its people, Meshern Govender, the bank’s CPO, told delegates at the SmartProcurement World Conference.
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MTN procurement reaping benefits of facilitated study programme
MTN is confident all its personnel registered for the CIPS study programme will complete their first level by the middle of 2011, Mira Ristovich, Senior Consultant: Group Procurement for the mobile network operator, tells SmartProcurement.
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Government's SCM capacity building drive
In a bid to elevate the professionalism of Supply Chain Managers, Cabinet has stipulated that government will only employ qualified SCM practitioners and assist to plot their career paths within a system of excellence.To facilitate this new culture of success, the Department of National Treasury (NT) is on a path of significant capacity building, Kevin Naik, Director for Supply Chain Policy Training at NT, told delegates at the SmartProcurement World Conference.
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Unleashing employee potential through change management
Managers can deliberately initiate organisational change. It can either evolve gradually within the department, be imposed by specific and compelling changes in policy and procedures, or arise from external forces, Ronald Mlalazi (MCIPS), Education Manager at Commerce Edge Academy, tells SmartProcurement.
Posted by StaffWriter at 1:25 AM | Comments (0)
SA's jobless could reach 45,5% by 2020
Estimates suggest that the number of jobless South Africans will increase from 6,2-million in 2010 to 16,8-million in 2020, consistent with an increase in the narrow unemployment rate from 25,3% to 45,5%, Loane Sharp, a director at Adcorp, tells SmartProcurement.
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Turning the cost of an employee into an asset to the organisation
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Rivalry for staff a significant risk to procurement departments - 2015 outlook
CPOs are encouraged to invest significantly in the development of their people. The question is what exactly do they need? Kay Beyen’s research, concluded in conjunction with the European Institute of Purchasing Management (EIPM), has identified the key skills required by purchasing groups right now and tomorrow.
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Procurement at board level - SAPICS Conference report
Some organisation’s Procurement departments are enjoying tenure at board level, the recession has seen to that, said David Smith, Commercial Director for the Department of Work and Pensions, UK.However, will they remain at board-level once economies begin to recover? Well it depends how well they prove their worth...
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Formal procurement learning to be recognised
Economies in southern Africa will need skilled professionals to continue their growth. Andrew Hillman, Director of Commerce Edge Academy, tells SmartProcurement how purchasers can sustain their career development in the region.
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Africa gearing up for supply chain productivity and operational improvements
The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) in the United Kingdom has added IOM Africa to its growing regional network, under the presidency of SmartProcurement editorial board member Douglas Boateng.
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Professionalising SCM in Government
Government is ushering in a new benchmark for recognising the qualifications of Procurement and Supply Chain practitioners in the public sector in South Africa.
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CIPS awards - rewarding the development of a strategic imperative
Procurement and Supply Chain Management are the strategic imperatives that will empower South Africa’s economy to remain and become more globally competitive going forward.
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SAPICS shows 500% growth since 2004
The number of students participating in the SAPICS professional development programme has grown by some 500% since its inception in 2004.
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MTN embarks on far reaching procurement education drive
Leading cellular network provider MTN, has embarked on a 3-year programme to elevate the status of its procurement organisation across the group by ensuring that all its company procurement practitioners achieve an internationally recognised procurement qualification from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS). The programme will be delivered by leading procurement education and training organisation Commerce Edge Academy (CEA), a registered CIPS international study centre.
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CIPS Southern Africa becomes representative body for Procurement and Supply Management
It is a reality. A successful four-year affiliation between IPSA and CIPS has finally paid-off. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Southern Africa (CIPS SA) is now the official representative body for the Procurement profession in South Africa.
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The Role of Strategic Procurement in Supplier Development
It is imperative that supplier development forms an integral part of a buying organisation’s strategic procurement role to ensure a continuous supply of cost effective products and services, Thapelo Petje, Independent Supply Chain Consultant, tells SmartProcurement.
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Nominations for Supply Chain Edu cation Excellence Awards 2010
SAPICS will once again co-host the Supply Chain Edu cation Excellence Awards, which takes place March 11 at Melrose Arch, and will include a lavish dinner to honour our nominees and winners.
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Procurement professionals update breakfast series 2009 concludes
Commerce Edge, SmartProcurement and Purchasing Index teamed up to present the last leg in this year's “Procurement Professionals Update Breakfast Series” at the Astro-tech Conference Facility in Parktown, Johannesburg. Over 60 delegates registered to hear Bernie van Niekerk, CEO of the Commerce Edge Group, summarise the highly informative and relevant report published by the Centre for Advanced Purchasing Studies (CAPS), the American P & SM Research Centre, in conjunction with AT Kearney, the professional procurement consulting firm.
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Professional development and procurement training road show comes to Gauteng
Tomorrow’s supply management professionals will be charged with developing and executing value creation strategies that find new value in the supply base, deliver value as quickly as possible within the cost parameters defined by the demand market and maximise the return to the company.
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Public Sector SCM Summit played host to 10 HDI students
In a bid to promote experiential learning, and open up our conferences to interns / learners and trainees SmartProcurement’s Public Sector Supply Chain Management Summit and Workshop played host to members of the Logistics Graduates of South Africa, based at the Vaal Technikon (LGSA).
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Possible Government tenders workshops in the rest of SA
The SmartProcurement ‘Tenders in Government’ Technical Workshop met with such a positive response that this niche P & SM online media organisation is planning to take the one-day programme country-wide, for the benefit of SCM practitioners on the procure and supply side.
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Procurement Competency Development initiative acknowledged by IPSA
eThekwini Municipality’s initiative to uplift procurement competency has been recognized at the Institute of Purchasing and Supply South Africa’s (IPSA’s) 2009 awards, Sandile Ngcobo, Deputy Head: Supply Chain Operations at eThekwini Municipality, told SmartProcurement.
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Supply Chain training: CEA launches TEBLOS
Commerce Edge Academy (CEA) has launched its online student support technology, TEBLOS, which has enabled the registered international study centre for the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) to begin tutoring students studying CIPS Level 4: Foundation Diploma in Purchasing & Supply, Andrew C. Hillman, Director of Commerce Edge Academy, tells SmartProcurement.
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Feedback: Consulting service influential at SAPICS Conference
Supply chain process specialists, Volition Consulting Services, received marked interest at the Association for Operations Management of Southern Africa’s (SAPICS’) 2009 conference, Greg Buckley, Executive Volition Consulting Services, told SmartProcurement.
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Results: 3rd Annual Supply Chain Educator Excellence Awards
“Get them toi-toing for continuous learning...”
South Africa’s trade unions and civil servants should be striking for greater involvement in continuous learning. This will help South Africa overcome its skill chasm far better than demands for State-crippling wage increases, said Ken Titmuss, SAPICS past president and vice chairperson.
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The year of the CPO! Report back on the IPSA / CIPS annual conference
Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) have missed an opportunity to steer the global economy’s rescue boat, alluded Institute of Purchasing and Supply South Africa’s (IPSA’s) President, Karen van Vuuren, at the institute’s Annual Pan African Conference held at Emperor’s Palace in partnership with the Chartered institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).
CIPS Director of International Development Chris Gallagher, CIPS President Dr Bola Afolabi, IPSA President Karen van Vuuren
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KZN: Continuous Professional Development remains high on Agenda
Despite the economic downturn, the bumper attendance at Commerce Edge and SmartProcurement’s KwaZulu Natal Roadshow has affirmed that continuous professional development remains high on South African supply chain professionals’ priorities.CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Presenters, Alan Low of Purchasing Index and Bernie van Niekerk of Commerce Edge (3rd and 2nd from right), with delegates at the Road Show venue in Durban. Photograph courtesy of Hanck van Laar.
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CIPS & IPSA to develop a full service procurement institute in Southern Africa
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The Institute of Purchasing and Supply South Africa (IPSA) and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) intend to meld the two organisations’ interests and activities in Southern Africa.
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Public Sector Supply Chains helping to keeping economy afloat
The IPSA/ CIPS Pan African Conference, held at Emperors Palace on 26th and 27th May, attests to the significant role that public sector supply chains are playing in ensuring the resilience of the South African economy against the worst effects of the present global downturn. In particular, the State supply chain management machine is managing many massive contracts that are keeping several sectors of the economy afloat and their balance sheets in the black.
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Procurement professionals in demand during recession
In recessionary times, the procurement professional becomes a more valuable commodity as it is those specialist purchasing and supply management skills that can make a positive difference to the bottom line, Elaine Porteous of Tech-Pro Personnel told SmartProcurement in an interview.
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Beat the Recession - Continue Your Education
During a recession, the cost of adult education may seem impossible to afford, nevertheless, the cost may not be as high as perceived.“Continuing education increases an employee’s value to a company and for those seeking new jobs provides increased skills to make finding a new job easier”, Andrew Hillman, Director of the Commerce Edge Academy, told SmartProcurement.
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Speaker Profiles: IPSA / CIPS Annual Pan African Conference 2009
The Institute of Purchasing and Supply SA (IPSA) and CIPS are proud to announce key speakers for the 2009 Annual Pan African Conference. The esteemed lineup includes:
Andrea Gregory- Andrea Gregory is a highly motivated and results-orientated leader with a varied career in a broad range of industries such as research, construction, information technology, television, etc.
- For the past 13 years, Gregory has specialised in Strategic Sourcing and Procurement with major New Zealand organisations such as Heinz Wattie, EDS, and Television New Zealand.
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Interim Contracts are Ideal for Both the Employer and the Procurement Specialist
In a recent issue of Supply Management , Pat Law writes that "contractors tend to do well in a downturn, as organisations switch to more flexible forms of employment". While this is written in the context of the UK and EU, it applies just as much to our own environment and the special circumstances in South Africa.
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How important is price when selecting recruitment agencies?
Lindiwe Nakedi, the co-owner of and a Career Consultant at The People Shop, recently told SmartProcurement that many people often believe that recruitment is a commodity which hinges predominantly on price: “Recruitment organisations, or at least the good ones, differentiate themselves on quality and value added services which they provide and thus argue that there are more important issues to take into account than price only”, Nakedi said.
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Welcome to the Future: Unlocking Organisational Effectiveness and Productivity - Functional Intelligence™
“One of my all-time favourite quotes comes from what has to be one of our finest sources of brilliance and inspiration - Albert Einstein: ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.’ No wonder that so many strategies fail to be realised!”, Frank Susini, an Independent Consultant, told SmartProcurement.
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How Good are Your Interviewing Skills: Do You Listen or Just Talk?
“Procurement professionals spend quality time preparing for their sourcing activities and negotiations with suppliers, but they are generally poorly prepared for interviewing job candidates”, Elaine Porteous, Managing Director of CA Procurement, told SmartProcurement. With job-hunting season fast approaching, you may find yourself recruiting to fill key vacancies, so here are a few tips...
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The Institutes of Southern Africa Procurement Academy: A Joint Venture Partnership between IPSA & CIPS
In today’s highly competitive business world it is increasingly important to both organisations and Public Enterprises that all their internal departments continually raise their game. This is becoming especially true for those in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, where a real difference can be made between delivering a winning strategy and losing customers and profit.
Posted by Editor at 8:15 AM | Comments (0)
IPSA Western Cape Breakfast: "Procurement is the Profit Machine!"
SmartProcurement recently attended the Institute of Purchasing and Supply South Africa's (IPSA) breakfast meeting on the 13th of August 2008 as held at the Hotel School in Granger Bay, Cape Town. Kraai van Kraayenburg, IPSA's Business and Training Development Manager, started the proceedings by welcoming guests to the event.
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In USA CPO Women Earn More Than Men
With Women's Day (9 August) around the corner, SmartProcurement is highlighting the success of women who are international industry leaders in the field of Procurement. Elaine Porteous, Managing Director of specialised procurement recruiter CA Procurement, told SmartProcurement that: "In a recent study done by the Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies (CAPS), it was found that women are increasingly gaining greater responsibility in procurement companies of all sizes. An example of this is that women hold 12% of the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) titles internationally, and that in the USA they earn significantly more than male CPOs ($418,000 vs. $366,000)".
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How Well Networked Are You?
Is e-networking a new opportunity in procurement? The fastest growing social networking site, Facebook (www.facebook.com), has more than 64 million active users and about 250,000 new registrations each day. It even has a user group called 'Supply Chain Management Professionals' with more than 700 members! Posted by Editor at 11:07 AM | Comments (0)
IPSA ANNUAL PAN AFRICAN CONFERENCE, 20 - 21 MAY 2008
African Conference on 20-21 May 2008 at Emperors Palace in Gauteng South Africa... The theme of the conference (held In association with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)) will be Procurement in the Global Marketplace - Opportunities & Challenges...Posted by StaffWriter at 9:40 AM | Comments (0)
IPSA partnerships increases Member Benefits: New Pricing
"Since 2004 IPSA (The Institute of Purchasing and Supply SA) has been actively engaged in seeking out partnerships with related associations to increase benefits for our members, both in terms of deepening our core competencies of Purchasing and Supply Management, as well broadening our reach into the related areas of overall Supply Chain Management", IPSA's Kraai van Kraayenburg told SmartProcurement.
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