WORLD-CLASS PLAYERS
EUROPE
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to watch : ‘ Innogy CPO on the role of Procurement . Ulrich Piepel ’
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then apply the same best-in-class process whether in the UK , Germany , the Netherlands or elsewhere .”
The energy giant deals with a variety of product groups , and Piepel has worked to centralise these in order to make the most of resources , thus increasing the knowledge within each category dramatically . “ In the past , we had maybe 15 buyers for cables for example , but why not concentrate this to a single buyer with the right knowledge of markets , suppliers and cost points ? To create a great organisation , you must centralise procurement as much as you can . We need these experts who focus on a few product groups , rather than covering many categories in a decentralised organisation with little knowledge .”
WORLD-CLASS PLAYERS
Experts are indeed vital in procurement if it is to cease being an add-on or ‘ fifth wheel ’. “ We just had the World Cup , for example : at the highest level , you need great players . If you want to have great players , you need to pay , educate and motivate them . Attract them , even , as a large organisation with a lot of spend and leverage . Nowadays ,
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