Supplier Management Training

SRM Advanced: Unlocking Strategic Supplier Value

Overview

The SRM Advanced Training Course is based on knowledge, trends and expertise gained on the subject matter through more than a decade’s worth of research performed by State of Flux globally involving a wide array of small, medium and big brand corporates.

This off-the-shelf training solution can be used as-is or tailored based on the key development opportunities identified in a capability assessment, equipping your team with the necessary skills to deliver value from strategic relationships.

Great importance is placed on creating a learning experience that is engaging, relevant, and transferrable to the job – using your organisation's own supplier relationships as case studies and applying everything taught to those supplier relationships.

Find more information about the course here

Course Content

The nine-module curriculum provides a ready-made way to deliver effective, results-based Supplier Management Training.

Modules 1 to 4 apply to all supplier relationships (typically tier 1 and 2) where the focus is on contract, performance and risk management. The content also addresses lifecycle management and governance of a supplier relationship and stakeholder management across the customer-supplier relationship.

Modules 5 to 7 are more relevant to truly strategic (typically tier 1) suppliers, where the focus is on joint strategy development and creating new value. The behavioural aspects of SRM, specifically influence, trust and communication skills, are covered in Module 7 and as an embedded topic throughout the program.

Module 8 examines how to stimulate and manage supplier innovation in detail as a specific form of value creation in an SRM context.

Module 9 (only in APAC): examines sustainability considerations in understanding the major types of sustainability risk in the supply chain and how we can manage them.

Learning Objectives

Ensure your team has the strategic mindset and excellent communication skills necessary to articulate the value proposition, engage stakeholders, and deliver value.

The content and format of our supplier management training have been shaped by the findings of our global research into supplier management best practices. Over thirteen years of performing global research, with findings from hundreds of companies, it is clear that companies that implement well-structured supplier management programmes gain access to a range of ‘customer of choice’ benefits that include greater supplier commitment, collaborative problem-solving, preferential pricing and priority access to people, resources and capacity.

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How is it delivered?

Training is delivered through three key activities to ensure students are engaged and applying their learnings:

Workshop: Instructor-led 90-minute session in an interactive and engaging format (virtually or in-person).

Assignments: Students apply the module’s content to the job by completing a set of assignments, which takes 1–2 hours per module. Ideally, This on-the-job activity should focus on a live supplier relationship to make the training relevant and bring its value to life.

Coaching: Throughout the assignment period, students get access to the course leader for 1:1 coaching support to build on their understanding and ensure effective implementation.

Resources: All course attendees will receive a complete suite of support resources – templates and reference material – to ensure a consistent approach to SRM is embedded into your organisation.

"The course provides valuable insights into the core principles of supplier relationship management throughout the procurement lifecycle, which are regularly overlooked in practice. It offers extensive coverage concisely, and includes practical application of the course material through the completion of assignment templates before and after completion of each module. I found it extremely valuable and was able to use the new learnings in my day-to-day business immediately."

-Richard Sharp, Procurement Manager

"The Procurement team at United States Steel Corporation had the privilege of participating in State of Flux's comprehensive Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) training program. The training modules provided invaluable insights into various aspects of supplier management, from lifecycle approaches and risk management to collaboration and communication.

The SRM trainings emphasized the importance of a structured approach to supplier management, highlighting the need for effective governance, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement. The modules on risk and performance management were enlightening, offering various strategies to mitigate risks and enhance supplier performance through well-defined service level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs).

State of Flux's training has equipped our team with the knowledge and tools to promote stronger, more collaborative relationships with our suppliers, ultimately driving value creation. We would recommend State of Flux's SRM training to any organization looking to optimize their supplier management practices, and we are confident that these insights will continue to benefit our organization and our supplier relationships in the long term."

- Grace Zacharek (Interim Chief Procurement Officer)