Insight

It’s been described as a perfect storm. Conflict in Europe, the drive to net zero, rising ethical expectations and the lingering effects of COVID-19 and Brexit. How should indirect procurement respond to these challenges?

Procurement teams are second only to operations in managing change in their organisations, according to 2022’s Indirect Procurement Report. But change management can be daunting, so how do you get started?

The extreme weather conditions in the UK this summer have focused minds on the need to reduce carbon emissions to tackle climate change. It’s also increased the imperative for companies to address Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.

In a world of rapid change, supplier relationships have never been more important. But do Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) procurement teams always know how to get the best from their suppliers?

The digital transformation of Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) procurement is well underway. The vast majority of organisations in our 2022 Indirect Procurement Report already use some form of eProcurement. So what’s next?

The Make UK/PwC Executive Survey 2022, published in January 2022, says that despite the challenges of COVID-19 and Brexit, “manufacturers are looking to the future with a level of confidence that might not have been foreseen a year ago”.

Simon Fletcher, Sales Director for the UK at RS, welcomes evidence from recent research that a strategic approach to indirect procurement is becoming more commonplace

Here we share the key themes from the 2023 Procurement Futures conference exploring the opportunities and challenges facing procurement today

Digital tools add value by giving back time you can spend on core business functions and more.

The first in a series of articles sharing insights from senior MRO procurement professionals outlines the challenges, and solutions, surrounding demand management

What can businesses do to make it easier for those responsible for indirect procurement to manage organisational transformation too?

Elevated levels of uncertainty and turbulence are changing how we manage risk, say senior indirect procurement professionals

As a new survey shows more manufacturers are connecting their infrastructure to the cloud, carmakers are committing to training tomorrow’s engineers. This is your November news roundup from RS.

The government’s business energy price cap has been widely welcomed, moves to increase UK energy security are getting underway and the Royal Navy commissions its newest submarine in this month’s news round-up.

Soaring energy prices, commercial vehicle production hits its highest level in six years and solar panel supply chains come under scrutiny in this month’s news roundup.

Manufacturing margins are squeezed, offshore oil and gas operators face new windfall tax, and a £7 million solar-powered Royal Navy logistics centre opens in this month’s news roundup.

Smarter public procurement, major new carbon-capture projects and the benefits of HGV driver bootcamps in easing pressure on supply chains all feature in this month’s news roundup.

The growing focus on ESG standards has intensified last month as the war in Ukraine sharpened the urgency of moving to more sustainable sources.

Supply chains were put under more stress in April, compounded by rising raw material costs and other inflationary pressures.

In an uncertain market, with global supply chain volatility, raw materials shortages, and inflationary pressures the combined strengths of a new name in PPE supplies offers many benefits to manufacturers.

When it comes to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), how can food and beverage manufacturers get more than the minimum legal compliance?

Working with specialist Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suppliers can help manufacturers to reduce health and safety risks and more

It’s important to follow best practice when tendering for the indirect category of supplies for Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO). But one size does not fit all businesses and it’s vital to make sure that your tender process reflects your real-life day-to-day needs.

You might expect the pandemic to have pushed business continuity planning for critical parts up the agenda in 2021 Indirect Procurement Report. But it hasn't. Why is this and what lessons can we learn?

In the 2021 Indirect Procurement Report the percentage of people saying managing stakeholders is a daily challenge rose to almost half. So how can you improve relationships?

Sustainable and ethical procurement has risen to the top of the agenda for MRO professionals. With stakeholders expecting the highest standards, procurement holds the company's reputation in its hands.

After the disruption caused by the pandemic, recovery has brought its own problems as organisations try to scale up production. The pressure is on to get things moving again. So what should MRO do next?

MRO procurement teams are increasingly turning to digital tools to improve efficiency. Automation allows team to delegate day-to-day decisions to end users within a controlled environment.

While events from the last couple of years may be once in a lifetime occurrence, they contain valuable lessons for indirect procurement professionals looking ahead to future challenges

First came coronavirus and widespread industrial shutdowns. Then Brexit and new border checks, followed by the Suez Canal blockage and transport holdups.

Sustainability is high on our priority list, but how can we make it an integral part of indirect MRO procurement?

Sustainability efforts at RS Group, translate into improved MRO in your organisation, says Andrea Barrett, Vice President of Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Improving ESG at RS Group, means better Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) for customers and a better world for us all, says Andrea Barrett, Vice President of Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Organisations need to improve sustainability within their supply chain – and RS can help, says Kevin Parke, Senior Director of Procurement

Progress towards greater sustainability at RS Group, can help you to meet ESG targets within your organisation, says Andrea Barrett, Vice President of Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Risks, by their very nature, are unpredictable. Few foresaw the COVID-19 pandemic with its devastating impact on both human life and the economy.

Compliance can seem like a necessary evil - one of those things you have to do but which adds little value. Nothing could be further from the truth.

From minimising downtime through to ensuring contract compliance, every aspect of MRO purchasing has the potential for complexity which can mean added cost. So how can this cost be reduced?

Procurement teams have long needed to cope with change, managed challenges and solve urgent problems. But the impact of the pandemic was especially severe. Has it led to fresh insights?

Procurement professionals are under pressure as never before. Supply chains have been disrupted and suppliers have gone out of business. So how can you make your MRO supply chain resilient against future shocks?

At a time of unprecedented upheaval, and almost existential crisis for global supply chains, procurement professionals are under more pressure than ever to reduce MRO spending.

Sustainability is as important as ever in maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) procurement. Here are some practical tips to make your procurement more socially responsible.

Peter Malpas, President for EMEA at RS, reflects on the findings of the fourth annual survey of the MRO sector conducted jointly by RS and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS).

From the importance of sustainable sourcing to the impact of COVID-19, here are some key takeaways from this year’s report

Covid-19 exposed the risks in many MRO supply chains but there are other hazards that need attention too

In the midst of a pandemic, staying on top of an ever-evolving procurement landscape has presented significant challenges.

When it comes to successful MRO, supply, solutions and services are more important than price along

The coronavirus pandemic had a major impact on indirect procurement but specialists for Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) report opposing trends

In maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) procurement, one of the biggest effects of the pandemic has been a switch to digital solutions to manage the process.

MRO stands for Maintenance, Repair and Operations, but what does that really mean?

The right approach to MRO is an advantage to the whole business, not just those directly affected.

MRO may only be three letters, but it can have an enormous impact on your business.

As we begin to establish a new normal in the wake of COVID-19, what trends are shaping MRO?

The crisis of COVID-19 has forced businesses to adapt - and fast, with the pace of digital transformation accelerating

There are many ways in which businesses can start to delegate some of their responsibilities to their suppliers, simultaneously improving service and reducing overall cost.

Sometimes the only way to make progress towards a goal is to break your objective into bite-sized pieces and get there one step at a time.

IIoT predictive analytics allow manufacturers to detect defects long before they become apparent to human senses

Change is hard, and this can put businesses off doing things differently - but we shouldn't let fear of failure stop us making the improvements that will take us into the future.

Nobody ever said being an MRO professional was easy. Things are getting tougher, with constant pressure on costs, the need to avoid downtime and new demands to be ethical as well.

Procurement's time has come. Standing for something can be a great way of standing out. And when it comes to sustainability and having a purpose, supply chains offer great potential.

Recent research shows professionals responsible for indirect procurement and MRO supplies face a range of pressures both on a day-to-day basis and at a strategic level.

While change is not always predictable, there are still ways that organisations can prepare for it. Here are five ways to future proof MRO procurement in your business.

Three industry experts explore attitudes towards new technologies and how these innovations help to solve common MRO procurement problems.

Organisations are adopting new services and innovations to manage supplies for MRO (maintenance, repair and operations). Here we explore strategies and how your supplier can support you in your search for the right solutions for your business.

Direct and indirect procurement experts from different sectors explain why a smaller number of quality suppliers is always preferable to achieve MRO efficiency

A gathering of procurement professionals to discuss changes within MRO revealed the importance of relationships and trust in managing change successfully

MRO is changing – and quickly. According to a recent survey amongst Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply members, 44% anticipate “complete change” in company strategy over the next five years.

Counterfeit or unethically sourced products entering the supply chain pose a huge risk for organisations who need to treat the threat seriously

Off-contract indirect spend by stakeholders is the bane of the procurement team. How can you boost compliance and clip the wings of MRO procurement mavericks?

Indirect procurement, and the processes connected to MRO purchases, are changing – what will these changes mean, and how will they impact long-term costs?

RS’s Mike England explains how MRO suppliers can play a key role in evolving your MRO procurement strategy to keep up with changing trends and technology

With rapidly evolving technology set to dramatically impact the indirect procurement supply chain, procurement teams need to stay ahead of the curve to avoid drifting into obscurity

Achieving stakeholder compliance for indirect purchases is difficult in one location. So how can organisations effectively manage multiple sites?

Why a good MRO strategy will only succeed if you ensure stakeholder buy-in across your organisation

Given the volume of MRO purchases an organisation makes, managing stock and keeping track of spend can be difficult, but businesses will benefit from reviewing their strategy

Kate Jones, chair of the Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC) explains why employee engagement is vital to business success

Any organisation with an international footprint needs to be aware of the complexities involved in sending goods across borders. In the case of MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) supplies, there are a number of legislative and logistical hurdles to be negotiated before they can be shipped.

There is increasing pressure on everyone involved in purchasing industrial supplies for Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO). So how can those charged with indirect procurement ensure they are setup to succeed?

With its complex purchase-to-pay process and multiple stakeholders, MRO procurement requires outstanding people skills

Procurement, and business in general, never stands still. Because technology, culture and values continually evolve at a rapid pace.

A recent survey reveals that digital technology is already transforming procurement and looks set to do so further in the next five years. But how exactly is it making a difference?

As the Internet of Things continues to grow and influence a greater number of businesses, we take an in-depth look at the practical uses for IoT, explain the potential benefits for organisations and suggest how technology may dramatically change business in this country (and others) in the future

Overview of MRO or ‘indirect procurement’, why most companies underestimate it’s importance and how a good MRO strategy can improve your bottom line

As we move into the fourth industrial age and companies adopt IoT technology, RS’s Mike Brojak believes that investing in data security should be a business’s top priority

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a concept known by a number of different names – Industry 4.0, ‘factory of the future’, the fourth industrial revolution – but they all centre around the same principles.

The five biggest disruptors revolutionising the indirect procurement process

We reveal the biggest challenges facing indirect procurement professionals and how to tackle them

Our panel of procurement experts share their secrets for achieving stakeholder alignment on your indirect purchasing approach

The key to achieving total cost savings in indirect procurement is making your purchasing process more efficient – here’s how to do that…

Procurement and MRO professionals have historically not been great at embracing social media. But the potential benefits of using new communication tools to improve processes, collaboration and best practice, and to cut costs, could be significant

Why the ‘make do and mend’ approach for managing assets needs to be replaced with a strategic maintenance policy

Cranfield School of Management’s Mike Bourne on what he believes are the fundamentals of good management

Connected Thinking gathers industry experts to identify the biggest disruptors to the MRO process

To say sustainability has become one of the most discussed topics of recent times would be an understatement. Google it, and over one billion results will come back – it is an issue of interest and concern to an incredibly broad and diverse audience.

Successfully implementing an improved MRO strategy requires the right mix of procurement talent to fit an organisation’s stakeholders

Whether you see it as a threat or an opportunity, MRO procurement is changing, and success for your organisation will depend on how it adapts

Behavioural procurement expert David Loseby explains why understanding emotions and biases could be the key to stakeholder management in procurement for MRO supplies

We outline the key steps your organisation can take to stay strong during times of economic and political uncertainty

CIPS’ Emma Scott explains the importance of an ethical procurement policy and how to ensure your organisation stays on the right side of the law