Insights

Mike McCaig, Chief Procurement Officer at ATI, shares his insights on recent procurement trends. He highlights the current challenges including supplier noncompliance due to inflation and operational issues. He notes overlooked opportunities in leveraging spend, recommends improved category management software capabilities, discusses internal debates on organizational models, and stresses the importance of proactive risk management due to ongoing global supply chain issues.

The writer compares the innovations in baseball analysis made famous by Moneyball, particularly the shift from batting average to on base and slugging percentages, to necessary changes in procurement and supply chain management post-pandemic. Rather than focusing solely on savings, companies should consider the broader value of supplier relationships and interactions, much like baseball teams now value other metrics, beyond hitting.