Innovation in Sourcing and Procurement

As pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies face an increasingly competitive environment marked by greater globalization, more complex supply chains, and changing regulatory and technological requirements, they are tasked with finding ways to meet those demands. Sourcing and procurement activities play a crucial role in pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical companies’ strategies and provide opportunities for value-creation as well as cost-savings. These issues will be addressed by an upcoming educational program, DCAT’s Sharp Sourcing 2013 on July 11, 2013 in New York City. Developed and organized by the Drug, Chemical and Associated Technologies Association (DCAT), the program brings together sourcing, procurement, and supply-chain professionals from the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries to discuss the megatrends affecting the industry, their impact on procurement organizations, and strategies to optimize sourcing and procurement activities.

Speaking at the conference will be William L. Michels, CPM, CPSM, and president of ADR North America, who will examine the key megatrends (economic, industrial, regulatory, and social) affecting business strategy and operations. His interactive discussion will examine issues, such as talent management, sustainability, innovation capture, cost and value improvements, and social network’s impact on procurement and supply chains as a means to provide business teams a framework to facilitate their decision-making on strategy and operations.

Several industry executives will offer their particular experience in procurement, sourcing, and supply-management activities. Hans Melotte, vice-president and chief procurement officer at Johnson & Johnson, will share his knowledge and experience on how procurement organizations can be used to deliver value and implement company strategy. He will discuss how procurement leaders can be engaged in strategy development, influence corporate financial goals, and deliver results aligned with corporate strategy. He will also examine the importance of partner/supplier relationships in facilitating those objectives.

Clive R. Heal, team leader and value-creation agent of the Supplier Relationship Center at Roche/Genentech Pharmaceuticals, will discuss Roche’s new global Supplier Relationship Center (SRC). Roche launched the SRC in June 2012 at its Genentech site in South San Francisco with the target to drive value-creation andinnovation through collaboration with five external suppliers. Heal will provide a progress report on the SRC, including the expectations of the SRC and the experiences and learnings thus far from the program. Dietmar Engels, PhD and vice-president of West Pharmaceutical Services, which is one of the initial partners in the SRC, will offer the supplier perspective on the SRC.

The educational program, which runs from 1:15 to 5:15 PM on July 11, will be proceeded and followed by two important networking events. From 9:00 to 11:15 AM on July 11, DCAT will offer The Exchange, a newly created forum for biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, and chemical industry procurement and supply-management professionals to meet and interact with their peers. Facilitated by DCAT’s Supply Management Committee and experts from the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), participants will be able to interact in several small discussion groups to examine a variety of topics. These topics include the design of sourcing and procurement organizations, talent management, leadership competencies, risk management, decision-making, global trade, business challenges, and transformational challenges. Participants will be able to submit topic ideas to DCAT’s Supply Management Committee in advance to put a topic for discussion on the agenda.

The Exchange is targeted for mid-career procurement and supply-management directors and senior directors, who are responsible for designing, organizing, and leading teams to ensure reliable, quality supply of goods and services at optimized costs. The Exchange is limited to DCAT member companies’ procurement and supply-management professionals. Information on the program and how to register can be found here.

The Sharp Sourcing 2013 program will also include a luncheon beginning at 12:00 PM on July 11 and will feature keynote speaker Bill Rancic, an entrepreneur, businessman and New York Times best-selling author, who will discuss the challenges individuals face in the corporate arena and other issues, such as developing successful working relationships and meeting ethical challenges in business. Rancic came into prominence almost a decade ago as the first winner of the television show, The Apprentice and subsequently worked in a management position in the construction of the Trump Tower in Chicago, He later became a prominent real-estate developer and restaurateur in Chicago.

Following the Sharp Sourcing 2013 program, a networking reception and light dinner will follow from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on July 11. Also, a networking reception will be held on Wednesday July 10 from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM prior to the Sharp Sourcing program on July 11.

Information on how to register for the Sharp Sourcing 2013 program and additional information may be found here.