by Janice Marquardt | Mar 24, 2026 | Definitions
I came back early from lunch on a Friday afternoon and there it was, sitting on the desk next to mine. An already-opened pay stub. From the new Design Engineer we had hired two months prior. No one was around, everyone was still at lunch or in the workshop. I knew I...
by Janice Marquardt | Feb 24, 2026 | Definitions, Processes
Sometimes the engineer part of me comes out. While you’d think it would show up when a machine in my house is broken or when touring a manufacturing facility, it really shows up the strongest when talking about part numbers. (Yes, part numbers.) Did I mention I’m also...
by Janice Marquardt | Feb 3, 2026 | Definitions, e-Auctions
There’s SO MUCH excitement around this technology. Every other message on internet networks mentions it. Every conference talk has to include it or no one attends or listens. It’s going to revolutionize procurement and change how we serve customers, interact with...
by Janice Marquardt | Jan 27, 2026 | Definitions, Processes
After filling out first day paperwork and sitting through more cybersecurity training than anyone thought possible, the first thing a procurement professional is asked to do is run a bid. Also known as a “tender” in Europe, a bid is fundamental to procurement –...
by Janice Marquardt | Jan 20, 2026 | Definitions, Supply Chain Career
This topic is sticky. It’s ugly. It feels dangerous to talk about. And it’s an issue that impacts multiple departments, not only the supply chain. Worst of all, it’s an “ism.” Today I’m going to tackle the big ugly topic of nepotism: where it tends to show up, what it...
by Janice Marquardt | Jan 13, 2026 | Definitions, e-Auctions
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Would an e-auction by any other name cause the kind of visceral reaction the word “e-auction” does? Words have power, and they also change over time. We can lose a job through layoffs, reductions in force,...
