Brexit - considerations for procurement

Very interestning article Dave Jones, a scary connection is the reactions to Covid19 towards local protectionism, both outside EU but also inside. This could be a threat, where bad forces use both these "happenings" to create new blockings or hinders. But it could also be a tool for procurement to work against free trade, using bad examles to influence politicians and decission procedures in the direction of free trade rather than protectionism. This article is one example, creating awarness. What more can we in the procurment community do now, before its to late? Any ideas?

Back in the good old days of January 2020, I could not have stressed the importance of procurement organisations preparing and planning for Brexit. It was then a delicate balancing act with procurement organisations which had tasked back and front office operations to ensuring supply chain continuity post 1st Jan 2021. Along came COViD, and I can guarantee you the majority of procurement departments in organisations I advise have had to pivot very quickly. I can only relay a recurring theme from my clients, Brexit is now a secondary consideration compared to what is happening at the moment. UK based Procurement and supply chain teams could have, to a certain degree, completed their Brexit contingency planning without COViD happening, but COViD is front and centre of their thinking and has been since March, and will continue being until we are on a slightly less bumpy road. As others have said, we are 5 months away from whatever Brexit brings, and procurement organisations have their eye off the ball with very good reason.

Great article, Dave Jones. Thanks for sharing.

Imagine working for an Italian based company with 65 to 70% of your supply chain also in Italy with their 2d tier across europe and SE asia One of the many things you will be planning for now is supporting project deliveries (about 20 week installs) one in NE England and one in NE Germany with on site dates in Jan and Feb 2021 straight after Brexit for a US based global end customer who operates through a German Logisitics business as our primary customer and we will mostly likely manage both programmes here from the Midlands... Welcome to ever more interconnected world we need to navigate, risk manage and mitigate for...any pointers on local warehousing and transport providers welcome!!!!

Hi Dave Jones Thanks for sharing this, a timely reminder and insight into one of the key issues in the "in tray" of Senior Executives and Procurement Leaders. I think your advice to harness the knowledge of key supplier's is very sound and appropriate on this particular issue. Bringing their knowledge into the Brexit planning activity will undoubtedly help to identify areas of potential supply risk. I would also build on this by suggesting Procurement need to tap into the wider sources of market intelligence that are available e.g. trade associations, market research companies, Gov.uk & industry and Procurement roundtable forums & think tanks. Procurement should be ensuring the risks associated with Brexit are continually updated in both their own and the corporate risk registers. Cross-functional working groups with key suppliers and end customers where appropriate should be established to plan for Brexit and manage any associated supply risks. Category plans should be updated and these should be continually reviewed by Procurement Leaders. #sourcing #procurementleaders #brexitplanning #personalbranding