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
No comments:
Post a Comment