by Janice Marquardt | Feb 11, 2025 | Definitions, Processes
Does your business have a supplier manual? If not, do you feel like you struggle to communicate with your suppliers and hold them accountable? A Supplier Manual is one of those things every company should have, but many don’t. One of my first ever tasks for a client...
by Janice Marquardt | Jan 29, 2025 | Processes, Savings
In a deep dive training into Sourcing with a client recently, I mentioned the phrase “tail spend” and was met with a few blank looks. Tail spend is one of those procurement terms that we don’t realize is jargon, and this was a group of people new to the profession. So...
by Janice Marquardt | Jan 21, 2025 | Definitions, Processes
Since it’s still January, we’re right in the thick of Metrics Season. Traditionally this is the season where we measure everything, take a look at our upcoming year, and then decide to measure everything we measured last year and also add a few more. While today we’re...
by Janice Marquardt | Jan 7, 2025 | Creative Solutions, Processes
There is an episode of the TV show “Archer” that always crosses my mind when I think of bureaucracy. In this scene (season 12 episode 7), the character Cyril Figgis is trying to infiltrate an enemy spy agency. He tells his partner he will get them past the guard, and...
by Janice Marquardt | Dec 31, 2024 | Processes, Supply Chain Career
Allow me a moment of self-indulgence, as I review this past year. This post may also be a bit more personal than most and is a chance for reflection. 2024 was a good year for Passwall Solutions, and I’m proud of the work I have done. I am still a solopreneur, not yet...
by Janice Marquardt | Dec 24, 2024 | Processes
Because this week is Christmas and this post will publish on Christmas Eve, let’s talk about sourcing a live Christmas tree as a supply chain professional. Now, true to form, this post is coming too late to do anything about it this year, which is appropriate for the...