Procurement Talk With David Byrne

In this episode David discusses how risk mitigation in procurement is about identifying, assessing, and reducing threats that could impact value for money, compliance, delivery, reputation, or operational continuity as you progress through the procurement lifecycle.

Strengthening Your Supply Chain is critical because " A resilient supply chain isn't built in a crisis—it's revealed by one".   Disruptions are inevitable but your recovery speed is what matters and in this episode we discuss strategies you can put in place to mitigate these challenges.

In this episode David discusses why supplier tiering is a strategic framework that helps procurement professional prioritise their supplier relationships based on value, spend, risk and performance.  He also explains how supplier tiering evolves with market conditions, business strategy and supplier performance, so building in periodic reviews is critical.

"Trust, but verify."  Carrying out careful due diligence in procurement is essential because it helps to make an informed decision, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance by properly assessing suppliers, business partners and clients.

In this episode Sonia and Josh join David in discussing the importance of taking the time to research the total cost of a purchase before you sign a contract.  We know that sounds logical but it doesn't always happen, so ensure you have a plan in place to manage the unexpected changes.

Having a bulletproof tender evaluation plan makes sense - legally, ethically, for project success and also to ensure the best decision.  So commit to it and make it happen, a solid evaluation plan is transparent, able to withstand scrutiny, and is imperative for good decision-making.

In this episode our special guest Glenn Tomai discusses what drew him to the field of Internal Auditing, he talks through the impact internal adutiting can make across the organisation and how AI is changing his role.

There is a saying "Fraud thrives in silence" meaning fraud is never obvious and it's often hidden in plain sight.  Fraud is a threat that touches every department, and prevention is everyone's responsibility – Not Just managements.

Procurement Talk welcomes special guests David Morgan and Joshua Byrne to discuss why "Whistleblowing" is so important and the linkages between procurement,  contract management and fraud.  We also discuss the market leading "Whistleblowing" service available through Veremark.

In this episode David discusses why procurement thresholds and delegation of authority are foundational to good governance and smart spending. Procurement thresholds are like the " speed limits " for spending – designed to balance efficiency and control, while Delegation of Authority is like the " driver's licence " – defining who is allowed behind the wheel at what speed.

In this episode David talks about why aggregated procurement is more than just a cost-cutting tool, it's a strategic approach to buying that fosters collaboration, efficiency, and innovation.  It is about buying smarter, ensuring alignment, transparency and a shared vision.

The beginning of a new year is a perfect time to take stock, to reflect on what worked in the previous year, and what didn't.  So as we step into the new year, let's carry forward three key ideas - Reflect on lessons, Refocus on priorities  and Reset your goals.   

The Christmas Edition — where we check our lists twice, decide if our suppliers are naughty or nice, wrap up another busy year in procurement. From all of us at BWD Consulting, we wish you a merry, well-compliant Christmas, and a happy, value-for-money New Year!

Ethical procurement is becoming increasingly important in our ever more complex, interconnected, and global economy.  Implementing an ethical procurement strategy embeds values like fairness, transparency and sustainability in to the DNA of your organisations thinking regarding purchasing decision and that is a good thing.

Audits aren't just about catching mistakes—they're about building better systems, identifying inefficiencies, ensuring compliance, and uncovering risks.  A good auditor will help you improve and grow your business so the next time an auditor comes knocking embrace the experience and improve your business.

We all have heard phrases like "right size your procurement function" and a "fit for purpose procurement solution".  In this episode David explains that Procurement can be a balancing act and he does this by breaking down 11 challenges whilst also providing key metrics to measure your success.

Probity is the foundation of ethical business conduct. It means acting with integrity, transparency, maintaining confidentiality and fairness, and without bias in all decisions and that's why Probity is so important.

Many more companies are now focused on environmental responsibility and ethical sourcing and are integrating ISO 20400 into their procurement strategies to align with global sustainability goals.  Listen in hear the benefits of this approach and how you can bring it to your organisation.

The "Best 6 Approach" is great model to assist you in getting the best from supplier management.  It covers the critical aspects you need to know to leverage the true value from effective supplier management for your organisation.

In this episode David talks about when you find a good supplier, do not take them for granted. It is important to establish and maintain a good relationship which is beneficial to you both. The success of both businesses is reliant on each other.

In this episode David explains the process of achieving a successful negotiation.  He will take you through the necessary preparation and all the important tips you need to achieve the win win outcome.  Knowing that success is sometimes shaped differently from your initial thoughts.

We all have a responsibility to put in place environmentally sustainable business practices.  It's our planet.  It is amazing what can be achieved by putting in place plans to make the necessary incremental changes and the choice is yours.  What are you going to do?

Don't fall into the false economy, quality v price.  The real question is what makes good value, as good value = happy customers.  Your organisation needs to be clear on making wise decisions so you balance the quality v price question.

Stress in the workplace is real, it exists and as a leader in your organisation you need to be prepared to effectively manage stress and it's implication.  In this episode David gives you strategies to do exactly that so that you can make the necessary changes to support your workplace.

Business Continuity Planning is critical for all organisations in being prepared to manage a disruption or emergency.  You need to have your organisations ready as it shows a focused effort, a commitment to excellence and also intelligent planning.