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...
by Janice Marquardt | Apr 15, 2025 | e-Auctions, Processes
“The 80/20 rule always applies” is a phrase I’ve lived with so long I don’t even know where I heard it first. But I’ve definitely repeated it – to my teams, to clients, to my poor family who are no longer at all interested (if they ever were). But what is it,...
by Janice Marquardt | Apr 8, 2025 | Creative Solutions, Supply Chain Career
So you’ve been invited to a meeting with the consultant your company just hired. Ugh. What do they even know? They’re going to come in with their glossy PowerPoints and get everyone riled up, and then they’re going to leave you holding the ball. It doesn’t have to be...
by Janice Marquardt | Feb 25, 2025 | Processes, Savings
I try to stay off of bandwagons. But (you knew that “but” was coming, didn’t you?) I was at a client’s site this week reviewing category strategies, and of course the subject of trade tariffs came up. Then on a call with a different client this week, someone brought...
by Janice Marquardt | Feb 4, 2025 | Savings
One of the first places company leaders go looking for savings is supplier payment terms. While this seems simple, payment terms are more complicated than they first appear. Payment terms usually appear in the contract or even as part of the purchase order terms, if a...
