Tuesday, February 18, 2014

BLUE OCEAN CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON THE CHANGING FACE OF THE PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONAL


February 18, 2014

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

BLUE OCEAN CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON THE CHANGING FACE OF THE PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONAL

COMPANIES NEED TECH-SAVVY  & EMPOWERED PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS TO CUT COSTS IN A RESURGENT MIDDLE EAST ECONOMY

 

Blue Ocean, the region’s leading knowledge empowerment enterprise organized its first international procurement conference in Doha Qatar recently where heads of procurement from major corporations in the Middle East got together to benchmark their best practices and brainstorm on the main theme : “Evolution in Procurement : Challenges Ahead.”

Experts agreed that procurement managers were no longer a “post office” and decided on a new name “value stream management” to describe the process of international procurement adeptly. They agreed that trained and tech-savvy procurement professionals are the need of the hour and all major companies are head-hunting empowered procurement professionals who can cut costs and boost bottom lines in a resurgent Middle East economy.

Samer Abdulraheem, Vice President, Procurement, Qatar Airways Group, who is leading the procurement transformation programme for Qatar Airways said: “Ever-increasing customer demand, dramatic changes in technology, heightened economic challenges and enhanced risks to business continuity are bringing in waves of change that are challenging traditional approaches to supply chain management.”

“In this new era, the winners will be those who can create new strategies and adapt to radical changes,” he added. Mr. Samer is working towards setting up a procurement centre for excellence in the region.

Haytham Etemad, Head of Procurement & Contracts, Sidra Medical Research Centre,   highlighted the need for innovative procurement in the healthcare sector. Mr. Haytham talked about effectively managing the tendering and contracting process through strategic overview, process redesign, innovation and e-tender system.

Speaking on the occasion, Benu Chatterjee, General Manager, Purchase (International Operations), Sterling & Wilson said “Procurement as a function has undergone a series of changes, growing from a minor function in finance and operations to become one of the most important components of modern corporate management.”

“The future of purchasing and supply chain depends on strategic sourcing. It is a supply chain management tool that delivers significant cost reduction, it differs from conventional purchasing because it places emphasis on the entire life-cycle of a product,” he added.

Operational Excellence expert and Six Sigma champion, Dr. Farrukh Kidwai talked about “achieving excellence in the value stream.” The CEO of Operational Excellence, FZE, Dr. Kidwai said that procurement was critical to determining the cost of the product, urging all procurement heads to challenge status quo. According to him customer loyalty was not all about meeting customer demands but delighting customers in a way that they come back for more. Dr. Farrukh also highlighted the need for constant benchmarking for improvement and evolution of the procurement industry.

Amr Tawfik, Region Logistics Manager, Weatherford Oiltools ME talked about innovation-driven procurement, vision and challenges. He outlined the most important methodology to control and monitor the complete cycle of the procurement process. “Developing innovative techniques, and deploying new management principles will have a positive impact on the procurement process, supply chain system and consequently on the organizational performance,” he added. Mr. Tawfik is renowned name in the procurement industry and has 30 years of MENA experience.

Rajesh Bhandari, Director Arihant Education Foundation, India talked about Green Procurement and the 5 Rs of a Green Supply Chain. “Purchasing professionals need to rethink strategies which have traditionally neglected the environmental impact. He outlined the need to turn green for business growth, how a green strategy (like identifying suppliers who take care to reduce their carbon footprint) can give your organization a competitive edge.

Dr. Sathya Menon, Academic Director Blue Ocean Academy emphasized on “Risks to Global Sourcing.” There are four generic strategies for managing global sourcing risks : network re-engineering, collaboration, agility and a risk management culture. “All procurement professionals need to understand and guard against these risks by putting together an effective plan in place.”

“Studies show that while most procurement managers are aware of the risks their companies are exposed to they are unable to implement risk management strategies,” he added.

Held at Doha Sheraton in February, the glittering Blue Ocean conference was sponsored by Sterling Wilson and Bayt.com.

“Armed with its innovative consulting and training solutions, custom -designed to provide a makeover to major companies as well as small and medium enterprises, Blue Ocean has set a new benchmark in building capabilities, translating directly into organizational profits,” explained Mr. Abdul Azeez, Director, Marketing, Blue Ocean Academy.

Headquartered in Dubai with a strong presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India, Africa and Sri Lanka, Blue Ocean stands on an enviable reputation built on 16 years of training, 50,000 alumni worldwide and a global network of certified trainers, prestigious international certifications and multinational partners.

The Blue Ocean has always specialized in designing courses that bridge the gap between infrastructure and knowledge, imparting futuristic skills to a new genre of leaders. Its training solutions are known to be accurate, creative and focused. Employee skills are honed through a series of innovative training sessions in a simulated work environment.

Blue Ocean Academy’s brand new solutions are particularly relevant in today’s resurgent Middle East economy, where investing in employee -learning programs showcases a company’s commitment in creating a sustainable business culture.

 

For further queries pls. contact

Debasree Banerjee, Corporate Communications

Blue Ocean Academy.050-1416435


 

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