Cost Savings Ideas

I hope that you have enjoyed the article “Cost Savings Ideas: EDMC Case Study.”

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It was a real pleasure working with Dr. Lunney. I met her at one of her speaking engagements last year and she really impressed me with her knowledge of, and passion for, procurement.

One caution that I do want to make about the article is this: Dr. Lunney’s 4-step sourcing process is indeed a very appropriate way of envisioning the process from her level (she is a Vice President of Procurement). But, taken out of context, this process can seem incomplete.

At the buyer/purchasing agent/purchasing manager level, I believe that there needs to be a more granular description of the sourcing process. We actually teach a 10-step sourcing process in our class “Savings Strategy Development.” This ensures that more “i’s” are dotted and “t’s” are crossed.

Again, it is not that I am saying that Dr. Lunney’s process is “wrong” and ours is “right.” I believe that they are both right on.

But it is important to know the audience for which each process description is designed. A 10-step sourcing process is way too detailed to share with an executive-level individual and a 4-step sourcing process is not specific enough to be crisply followed by the individuals who will actually execute the process.

In closing, I’d like to recommend that you take advantage of any opportunity you may have to hear Dr. Lunney speak. She is truly a special talent in the supply chain world and I feel very fortunate that she was willing to share her expertise with the readers of PurchTips.

Respectfully,
Charles Dominick, SPSM
President
Next Level Purchasing, Inc.
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