PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Discussions with Debby

September 2008

With the passing of Labor Day, summer is officially over!!!  It is difficult in some ways to see the end of long sunny days, vacations by the sea and barbecues.  In other ways it is an opportunity for a fresh start and to look forward to new opportunities for learning and networking with your colleagues in The Connecticut Association of Purchasing Management.  With that said, I would like to welcome each of you back from what I hope was a relaxing and restful summer and to take this opportunity to provide you with a preview of coming attractions for the 2008/2009 membership year.

The Board of Directors has continued to work through the summer to develop another outstanding lineup of seminars and workshops.  These workshops and seminars support our continuing theme of a “back to basics” thinking and approach to Supply Management.  This back to basics approach includes supporting our membership with training and networking opportunities that focus on improved communication and collaboration with our internal clients and suppliers and focus on personal commitment to do our best every day in both our personal and professional lives.  I welcome your thoughts and ideas on how I can best support these concepts in training and networking opportunities as well as how I can best support you through your CAPM membership.

We kick of the year with our first workshop on September 23 at Il Monticello in Meriden.  Come join us for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and to listen to a lively and upbeat presentation from Ed Hendricks entitled “Herding Cats, Weighing Frogs, and Other Secrets of Successful Leaders.”  This will be followed by our first full day seminar on October 21, 2008 at Vitos on the Lake in Windsor.  The topic of this seminar is on “Managing and Improving Supplier Performance" presented by Rich Weissman. 

I am also very excited to announce that we are collaborating with the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) and the Association of Production and Inventory Control (APICS) on two (2) joint workshop meetings to be held in October and then in January respectively.  The topic of our meeting with IIE is  "Integrated Enterprise Excellence," followed by “End of Life Product Strategies” with APICS. 

As we look toward the year ahead, I invite each of you to send me your thoughts and ideas on how I can better support you in this “back to basics’ approach or in any other aspect of membership by sending an e-mail to deborah.wilcox-loos @usps.gov. or by calling me directly at 1-860-285-7343.

I look forward to another exciting and productive year as CAPM President and am committed to supporting each of you in your membership the months ahead.  Hope to see all of you at the next meeting.

Supply Management Tip:

Honor Top Suppliers………….

It may sound trite, but there is strong evidence that publicly recognizing top-performing suppliers encourages performance improvements across the supply base.  Put some heft into the award by granting top suppliers preferred status and first dibs on new business.  And showcase their company and approached at your next supplier conference.

Source; Procuri ™ Supply Management Excellence on Demand. “The 100 Greatest Supply Management Tips of All Time-Volume. 1

All the Best!  

Debby

Debby Wilcox-Loos