Category: Customer Content

I make students do this every semester... I would like you to tell me about yourself that sells me on you.  Instead of a sales organization (see attached template, contact me for a copy), convince me that a potential employer (or professor) would be interested in you. It is the kind of thing you would do if you walked into a room at the career fair.  I will watch it...

Typically, buying organizations will use several rounds of the competitive bidding process to pick a low cost supplier. Buying organizations will send out RFQs to get bids from suppliers. RFQ stands for a Request for Quotation. In other words, please give us a quote for this business. Unfortunately, several iterations of the competitive bidding process can be very resource intensive, especially for smaller companies. Larger companies have been able to...

https://wmich.edu/business/doing-things-better-faster-cheaper-living-american-dream Doing things better, faster and cheaper and living the American dream Dr. Sime Curkovic grew up surrounded by industry in Lansing, Michigan. He is the son of immigrant parents who came to the United States from what is now Croatia. Once in Michigan, his father was told, “If you are looking for the American dream, go to this factory, fill out an application and work hard.” Determined to succeed,...

Let's say you have a supplier and you are starting to get the vibe that you are overpaying.  What can you do?  You could ask them for a cost break down.  However, if a CURRENT supplier does not want to break out costs for you (the buyer), then the contract should allow for competition once a reasonable period of time has elapsed for the supplier to recover their fixed costs. ...

Here are the video lectures to accompany this discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrBN_T9ogao&t=424s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay2orDXjP8o&t=8s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5SD4ugLMks&t=107s Some companies (both large and small) are going beyond just outsourcing commodities to also outsourcing core/strategic parts. It makes sense for smaller firms with scarce resources to outsource commodities. A commodity by definition is something that several suppliers exist for and as a result of competition, someone else can do it better, faster, and cheaper. However, data also...

Since so many people asked, here is a very long list of reputable pubs on Supply Chain Salary data: Global supply chain managers are the unsung heroes of companies who have to get products from A to B, on time, and on budget — and now across continents and time zones as well. The job calls for calm problem-solving ability, high-tech handiness, and diplomatic skill — a triple threat that’s...

First watch and make sure you understand these 3 parts and follow this handout: https://wmich.edu/supplychain/handout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gt71HxWvl4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4gdWY8IUaA&t=18s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RsxriBsEx4 Remember, ROI = profit margin * asset turnover rate (ATR).  ATR = sales/total assets and total assets = current assets + fixed assets, and current assets = inventory + accounts receivable + cash.  I keep telling my students if they can widen margins and/or increase ATR, then ROI will go up.  So,...

MEMORANDUM To:                   MGMT 280-0 STUDENTS From:              Dr. Sime (Sheema) Curkovic Date:               xxxxxx, 2021 Subject:          Next HW Assignment Due:                All email responses back to me and HW are due within one week of being sent out Assignment #2 - Most of you are ISM majors and will eventually pursue careers in supply management related fields (e.g., purchasing, operations, logistics, etc.).  There are different types of certification associated with the supply management...

I am noticing that several students and working professionals are responding to my emails via smart phones.  That is great and fine.  It is the roaring 2020s and your future employer will expect you to do the same.  However, it can be cumbersome to write emails on your phone that are clean and easy to read.  And sometimes, you try to write one word but another word appears that was...