by Janice Marquardt | Jun 24, 2025 | Creative Solutions, e-Auctions
When I tell people e-auctions are a negotiation tool in the toolbox, they often go straight to “e-auctions are a hammer.” But a hammer doesn’t have flexibility or grace, it can basically do one thing. I say e-auctions are a chainsaw. If that evokes a slightly visceral...
by Janice Marquardt | Jun 17, 2025 | Creative Solutions, Definitions
AI is the biggest buzzword of the day. To Joël Collin-Demers’ point, if you can substitute the word “computers” or “technology” for AI in a sentence, it’s probably not true AI but instead is a clever use of technology. While technology is still valuable and...
by Janice Marquardt | Jun 10, 2025 | Creative Solutions, Supply Chain Career
To the chorus of a thousand clinking name badges, we sat down last week to the ISMWorld 2025 keynote speaker: Kevin O’Leary. “Mr. Wonderful.” His insights and thoughts over the next hour or so were fascinating, thought-provoking, and edged into thoughtful criticism of...
by Janice Marquardt | Jun 3, 2025 | Org Chart, Supply Chain Career
It’s intern season! I loved being an intern. There was so much to learn about the company, the job, and why (and whether) my major actually mattered. I had a total of four internships in college because I had two while I was finishing up an advanced degree, so I...
by Janice Marquardt | May 27, 2025 | Contracts, Processes
I frequently see companies early in their supply chain maturity journey using blanket purchase orders almost like a “light contract.” At first I found this somewhat odd, but for a company with a small supply chain, it makes sense. Blanket orders don’t require nearly...
