ROYAL PHILIPS
“ What is really inspiring about this whole industry is that we are helping people ”
SCOTT SCHWARTZ CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER & HEAD OF SUSTAINING ENGINEERING , ROYAL PHILIPS
By using an early engagement approach with their suppliers , Scott believes it gives them the best possible chance of delivering solutions and step-up improvements to their products , and , with his role having a larger overview of development , it can bring the best out of those partnerships .
“ Everybody thinks that every procurement leader says , ‘ We are going to leverage the supplier ecosystem and bring the suppliers closer to our activity ’. It ’ s easy to talk about the concept , but it ' s very hard to do in practice . We have done some of the structural things , like consolidating our supply base to strategic suppliers that have strategies and visions lined up with Philips ’ strategy and vision . I think that it is key to have these smaller sets of suppliers that are more strategic as we interact with them .”
It is this culture of trusted collaborations embedded in these partnerships that allows a stronger bond between the two for the benefit of both parties , and , ultimately , for the customers and patients who use the technology . Scott is confident that the company ’ s top strategic partners feel listened to and empowered to play an active role in the process of product development .
“ That ' s the key – that it ’ s a two-way street ,” he says . “ They are partners and so we have confidence in them , but it ' s also our responsibility to treat them like strategic
40 November 2022