The Supply Chain Dialogues

The Supply Chain Dialogues - Season Two Trailer

This is a quick introduction to Season 2 of The Supply Chain Dialogues. We made some updates to the show, and hope the changes will be in line with the feedback we got from our listeners.

S01E17 - Profit - Functional Outsourcing or: Your back-end is other companies’ front-end

Picture your organization as a Formula 1 car. Would you want your star driver changing tires or tweaking engine settings when they should be focused on winning the race? Yet in business, we often have our top talent bogged down in the pit stops of daily operations.
Welcome to an episode that challenges the status quo of corporate operations. With artificial intelligence and robotic process automation revolutionizing how we work, we're asking the billion-dollar question: Is this the moment to finally let go of your back-office burden?
Today, we're diving deep into the art of focusing on what truly matters. We'll explore how leading companies are freeing their best minds from the quicksand of routine tasks, allowing them to do what they do best - innovate, create, and drive customer value.
From machine learning reshaping traditional processes to the strategic advantage of specialized outsourcing, we're uncovering how smart companies are turning their operations into a competitive edge.
Join us as we explore why now might be the perfect storm for reimagining your operational backbone. Because in today's fast-paced market, the difference between good and great often lies in where you choose to focus your energy.
Let's rethink what's truly core to your business.
Enjoy!

Ep 16: Cats and typewriters or: Resilience through contractual Lego-like blocks

What have a cat, a typewriter, and Lego blocks in common? They are all part of a story about how to get out of the contractual B2B jungle many companies grow today.
Enjoy!

S01E15 - Profit - Unleashing 21st century KPI Mastery or: Stop looking only into your rearview mirror

Imagine driving your car using only the rearview mirror. Absurd? Yet that's exactly how most businesses navigate their future – steering by staring at last quarter's numbers while today's opportunities and tomorrow's challenges rush at them head-on.
Welcome to an episode that's about to flip your perspective on business metrics. While your competitors are still squinting at delayed financial reports like they're reading yesterday's newspaper, we're exploring how to build a dashboard that actually shows you what's ahead.
Think of it as upgrading from a Model T to a Tesla – replacing those dusty monthly reports with a dynamic heads-up display that gives you real-time insights into where your business is actually heading. Because in today's high-speed business environment, knowing where you were last month isn't just inadequate – it's dangerous.
Join us as we dive into what a truly 21st-century KPI Leadership System looks like. We're talking about metrics that don't just tell you what happened, but what's happening and what's about to happen. Because whether you're steering a car or a company, wouldn't you rather see what's coming through the windshield instead of just what you've already passed?
Let's transform your business metrics from historical records into future-focused navigation tools.

S01E14 - Profit - Start a Quality Revolution 2.0 - or: A good product is no longer good enough today

"Quality is like having an ice cream on a summer’s day: you must lick it constantly. Otherwise, you have a mess on your hands". Quality, most people assume, is a given. But is it? Do not most of us ‘have a mess on our hands’? Do you still remember the feeling when you bought a product at home that was DOA or broken shortly after use? Or the last time you ordered something, and it did not arrive in time? How about being charged wrongly, or the return policy was confusing? These instances are examples of poor quality and negatively impact the customer experience.
It is time to start a quality revolution.
Enjoy!
 

Ep.13: Who does What Where and Why - Aligning the ”Division of Labour” with your organisations purpose, strategy and financial goals

Welcome to the third and final instalment of our mini-series on organisation design. Today, we will delve deeply into the overarching theme of "division of labour," a concept many companies consider strangely as a given. By clearly defining roles and responsibilities, we believe an organisation can mitigate friction between functions, positions, and hierarchical levels, allocating resources to work collaboratively for the firm's customers and products.
Enjoy!

S01E12 - Profit - Stopping constant organizational re-design by fixing the functional set-up

Remember when the biggest debate in procurement was "centralised or decentralised?" It's like asking whether you should drive a car or ride a bike – the answer depends on where you're going and what you're carrying. And just like transportation has evolved beyond this simple dichotomy, so has procurement.
Welcome to Part 2 of our organizational design mini-series, where we challenge outdated assumptions about procurement structures. If you'd asked us about the perfect procurement setup before 2015, we'd have given you a different answer—and probably been confidently wrong.
Today's business landscape demands something more nuanced than the old central vs. decentral playbook. It requires organizational designs that can bend without breaking, adapt without restructuring, and evolve without disrupting.
We're analysing why aligning your procurement organization with your company's cultural DNA and market realities isn't just smart—it's essential for survival. Because, let's face it, nobody wants another reorganization next year, or the year after that, or ever.
Join us as we explore how to build a procurement organization that's robust and flexible enough to thrive in our ever-changing world. Sometimes, the best structure isn't about choosing sides—it's about designing for adaptability from the start.

S01E11 - Profit - Stopping constant organizational re-design by fixing the corporate headquarters set-up

Is your organization playing musical chairs with its structure? Matrix today, regional tomorrow, and who knows what next week? If you're nodding along, you're not alone in this corporate dance of reorganizations.
In boardrooms worldwide, the eternal questions echo: How effective is our headquarters? Are regions aligned with corporate strategy? Is there a perfect organizational structure, or are we just chasing the next big theory?
Welcome to Part 1 of our mini-series on organizational design, where we dive deep into the heart of corporate operations - the headquarters. We're cutting through the complexity to explore what makes a headquarters truly effective and, more importantly, how to get it right the first time (yes, it's possible!).
From the power dynamics between HQ and regions to the delicate balance of centralization and autonomy, we tackle the questions that keep CEOs awake at night. And trust us, after decades of witnessing corporate reorganizations, we've seen what works and doesn't.
Join us as we explain the DNA of successful corporate headquarters. No consulting jargon, just practical insights you can actually use.
Let's make your next reorganization your last one.
Enjoy!

Ep. 10: Significantly optimising cash flow by changing the focus - Part Three - DSO

Stop playing nice and start getting paid!
In our latest instalment of cash-flow optimization, we unveil the secrets of Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) aka Payments from Customers. Say goodbye to overdue payments and hello to better cash flow.
Enjoy

Ep. 09: Significantly optimising cash flow by changing the focus - Part Two - DPO

In part 2 of our podcast mini-series on cash-flow optimization, we hone in on payments to suppliers, covered in Days Payable Outstanding (DPO). External materials & services purchased are the most significant cost block in most product-based companies. Hence, the cash flow improvement leverage is significant. Different from cash trapped in inventory, DPO management needs two to tango. Why is it that many companies can’t dance with their suppliers?