Archive

It's true that ever more companies are aware of the importance of travel management.

Yet, there's still great potential going to waste.

E-procurement lowers costs for the procurement process

Chris Löwer talked to Gerd Kerkhoff, Managing Director of Kerkhoff Consulting, about the obligation of risk management in purchasing and new challenges for supply chain management.

After the earthquake in Japan, production bottlenecks are threatening especially the German automotive industry because vital vendor parts are missing – Yet, companies ignore the risk

In selecting their suppliers, enterprises should also take into account such factors as the qualification of personnel, logistics, flexibility and sustainability.

More liquidity through working capital management

Just about every car has Japanese vendor parts; 40 percent of the worldwide required technology components come from Japan. Consultant Gerd Kerkhoff explains how the German economy is affected by the disasters in Japan.

It's considered taboo to talk about business in times of human tragedies. That's why nothing much leaks out to the public concerning the other side of Japan's disasters – while many thousands of Japanese are still fleeing from...

Due to changing framework conditions in many areas, Germany's automotive supplier industry is facing numerous challenges. Since material costs are, at 45%, by far the largest cost item for automotive suppliers, purchasing is of...

What do small enterprises excel in; what are the strengths of corporate groups? A study has shown: The big ones are champions in savings. The small ones are especially innovative – and they also don't complain about a lack of...

The crisis is over; the battle continues. German automotive vendors are again in the OEMs stranglehold. During the economic crisis, the industry's power structure shifted at the expense of vendors once and for all.

After years of transparency, consultancies are now clamming up. Business developments are kept secret and new company strategies are disclosed with delays only. What's more: The new generation of consultancy managers is shunning...

Although the much-invoked credit squeeze has not come about, especially small and medium-sized companies still need assistance in getting outside capital. Alternative ways of financing are more in demand than ever before....

Cooperation with sustainable suppliers and the rigorous optimization of supply chain management under CO2 aspects provides companies with important leverage to save costs.

Until last year, Jürgen Pahl served in the function of managing director of Metro Group Buying as head buyer of the Düsseldorf-based retail giant. Since the beginning of the month, Pahl is Senior Partner of the consultancy...

Compliance is the conformity in fulfilling all statutorily prescribed as well as voluntarily imposed regulations in an enterprise. In a talk with Mathias Renz from VentureCapital magazine, Sabrina Keese, partner at Kerkhoff...

Medium and small sized businesses have one permanent objective: Increasing liquidity and becoming as independent as possible from lenders. A lot of additional funds can be generated through interdepartmental working capital...

Raw materials. Whether copper, cocoa or rubber – prices are exploding. Some basic materials are very hard to be had even. The difficult supply situation is a threat to the existence of more and more companies. And it's also...

Purchasing consultants help companies to significantly lower their purchasing costs. Their procedure: By creating competition among suppliers and through renegotiations, new, lower market prices result which are accepted on both...

Economic upswing. Business is buzzing again – but the economic crisis has not been forgotten by German companies. Unlike in previous economic slumps, this time, all sectors of the industry have experienced changes that will be...

It's frightening: Most contracts are formulated by suppliers. In this respect, buyers are giving up vital conceptual possibilities and advantages, says Sabrina Keese, partner and head of Compliance Projects at Kerkhoff...

The importance of purchasing for a company's overall performance has long been underestimated. Specialized consultants now provide for a professionalization of procurement in business enterprises.

In recent years, international procurement further gained in importance due to cost pressures. Aside from perennially successful China, three regions especially are currently being scrutinized: India, Brazil and Turkey.

Security of supply presents a major challenge for many purchasing managers

In their search for the cheapest logistics service provider, ever more companies discover the awarding platforms. That's how costs are to be reduced and the purchasing process simplified.

There aren't that many management consultancies with their main focus of work on purchasing and procurement. Actually, major strategy consultancies such as Deloitte, KPMG, Arthur D. Little, Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman and many...

Optimizing purchasing costs is the fastest way to increase earnings or yield without jeopardizing sustainability and customer confidence. In a talk with experts from Kerkhoff Consulting, the essential point is made clear:...

Enterprises in the social services sector are especially able to save considerable time and costs with centralized purchasing. Better terms and conditions are obtained particularly in buyers' cooperatives and through product...

The executive floor is responsible for purchasing. That statement from many trading companies not only shows the priority attributed to purchasing. But it also shows that there is a person handling purchases who is frequently...

According to a Kerkhoff study, purchasing managers at suppliers are facing a great many challenges after the 2009 crisis year.

Cost pressures and compliance rules force buyers and marketing decision makers to team up much more in the future.

Caused by increasing raw material prices

Industrial buyers today must be able to handle complex challenges. Limited potentials: 68 percent of German companies have no or not enough purchasing talents. This is a situation also complained about by the Bundesverband...

It's nowhere easier to make savings than in purchasing. Going about it strategically, costs can be lowered by up to 20 percent. But only very few medium-sized businesses use this chance.

According to a Kerkhoff study, purchasing managers of suppliers will be facing difficult times.

Still young solar companies need flexible logistics people with international know-how.

Current study: Lack of strategies, few systematic quality controls and hardly any bargaining range

Bottlenecks are slowing down the solar industry. Equipment suppliers and manufacturers are unable to carry out all orders on time. What comes in will be installed immediately.

A survey among buyers in the German machinery industry provides a sharp analysis of challenges. At the same time, however, purchasing departments seem unable to adequately react to these challenges. Reasons are provided by Gerd...

Two thirds of the industrial buyers of major machine manufacturing companies in Germany expect that there will be an upward trend for this industry sector in coming months. But not all of them are prepared for the challenges...

Business is back in the upswing: Following hectic austerity measures, heads of companies are planning long-term again; the focus is back on growth and innovative projects. To this end, companies seek help from consultants – also...

In times of economic upswing and recovery, the procurement of goods is becoming even more important. But there is often a shortage of qualified junior buyers.

PROCUREMENT UNIVERSITIES - Coming out of the far corners of the organization and getting up onto the big stage of strategic management – that's the development purchasing departments currently go through in many locations. To...

Procurement. All too often, buying is also part of a secretary's job. Yet, farsighted managers and company owners consider purchasing their responsibility and top priority. Because this is where big savings can be realized.

Manufacturers and suppliers must cooperate closely so that the flows of goods are moving in time with manufacturing processes. This requires mutual trust and permanent dialog

The consultant Gerd Kerkhoff from Büderich started up a network of 40 business people for the politician Sigmar Gabriel, chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). In his private life, Gerd Kerkhoff also appreciates networks...

The editors of Managementbuch.de distinguished Gerd Kerkhoff's book Einkaufsagenda 2020 as 'recommended reading'.

Some companies already use external suppliers and allow innovations to "produce". A current challenge for purchasing which changes the purchasing organization and which is increasingly discussed in business management and in...

How companies optimally integrate their most important cost leverage.

China's blue-collar and office workers are getting rebellious and demand more money – successfully. Gerald Boess, the partner responsible for Asia at Kerkhoff Consulting: "Medium-sized companies buying in China should be looking...