Digital transformation of procurement at Rolls-Royce has ushered in a new era for the function to extract value that benefits people , profit and the planet
ROLLS-ROYCE
Digital transformation of procurement at Rolls-Royce has ushered in a new era for the function to extract value that benefits people , profit and the planet
Benn Godfrey ’ s day begins with the morning school run . It is one of only two non-negotiable parts of every weekday , the other being the return journey when he picks his children up later that afternoon . For everything else , the rest of his day revolves around negotiation . As Vice President Procurement – Raw Material and Forming , he leads billions of dollars worth of annual contract and sourcing projects – quite often , these days , in the comfort of his living room .
He estimates around 95 % of the past two years have been spent working from home , a far cry from the pre-pandemic days of factory visits , in-person supplier meetings , and face-to-face contracting and dispute resolution around the globe . It ’ s a very different work-life balance that has taken some getting used to , he says and one he knows he is fortunate to have . Rolls- Royce has swiftly adapted to the demands of the current global situation , embracing digital and the emerging supply chain business imperatives of resilience and sustainability .
“ There ’ s a physical mundanity that comes from working from the sofa each day , but actually the work is hugely varied ,” he says . “ We ' ve just had to be bold , to pivot and think about how to do that in an environment that was thrust upon everybody .”
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak , supply chain planning cycles at Rolls-Royce would culminate in a week-long sourcing event , where suppliers and the firm ’ s sourcing teams would meet and negotiate the next turn of contracts for quality , cost and delivery . Today that is all managed
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