CONFERENCE DAY ONE
Download the Full Event Guide to see the expert speakers, a full in-depth 3-day agenda, the hours of networking opportunities, and how you can get involved in the discussion - all in one document!
7.00 Check in & Coffee
8.00 Chair’s Opening Remarks
Improving Reliability Across Your Supply Chain
8.10 Analyzing the Reliability of Suppliers to Consistently Meet Delivery Times
Synopsis
- Understanding the underlying causes of lead time issues and sourcing challenges to proactively mitigate delays
- Assessing and monitoring supplier lead times to ensure timely delivery of crucial components and reduce the knock-on effects of late deliveries
- Building in an accountability scheme on delivery timelines to increase adherence to committed delivery dates
8.50 Case Study: Improving Communication With Manufacturers to Enhance Visibility of Delivery Times
Synopsis
- Optimizing communication channels and processes between contractors and suppliers to ensure an accurate and timely information flow
- Establishing collaborative problem-solving with vendors to address production and delivery challenges
- Improving visibility with vendors through increased communication and collaboration to better predict and manage potential disruption
9.30 The Strategic Shift: Maximizing Value Through Portfolio-Based Procurement in Contractor-Manufacturer Relationships
Synopsis
- Driving profitability and schedule reliability: explore how a portfolio approach to procurement can significantly reduce costs, minimize delays and improve overall project efficiency
- Implementing strategic partnerships: learn how to transition from transactional to strategic relationships with manufacturers, leveraging volume and consistency to secure preferential pricing and priority service
- Future-proofing your supply chain: discover strategies to enhance resilience, mitigate risks and adapt to evolving market conditions through innovative procurement practices
10.00 Speed Networking & Morning Refreshments
Minimizing Lead Time & Costs
10.40 Buying Directly From Suppliers to Reduce Costs While Improving Delivery Speed & Efficiency
Synopsis
- Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of sourcing directly from manufacturers to reduce costs and schedules while maintaining supply chain control
- Mapping the steps to bypass distributors and establish direct agreements with manufacturers, securing lower prices whilst reducing the risk of price escalations
- Evaluating how to maintain relationships with distributors to fall back on when demand is high
11.20 Panel Discussion: Building GC-Manufacturer Relationships to Advance Your Portfolio Approach to Procurement
Synopsis
- Establishing relationships to achieve broader national agreements with suppliers for consistency and reliability across projects
- Emphasizing the importance of building and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships with suppliers
- Examining opportunities for collaboration and team challenges that may arise when moving away from project-by-project tasks
12.00 Lunch Break
1.00 Case Study: Building a Centralized Procurement System to Improve Efficiency
Synopsis
- Reviewing how a centralized procurement system can be utilized to track and simplify the entire procurement process
- Spotlighting the desired features of a centralized system that monitors the entire procurement lifecycle
- Realizing how the integration with other construction technologies can result in a robust and streamlined centralized procurement system
- Learning how operational procurement teams can improve supplier performance, field success and hold costs in check
1.40 Developing Robust Supply Chain Strategies to Mitigate Risk of International Sourcing and Avoid Uncontrollable Delays
Synopsis
- Understanding how the current difficulties of sourcing internationally occur to avoid or build in contingency
- Evaluating when to diversify your supply chain and select local vendors to reduce the probability of delays and cancellations
- Working with local partners to secure referrals for alternative manufacturers, simplifying the process of finding and selecting
2.20 Afternoon Refreshments
Maximizing Your Team’s Potential
3.00 Empowering Growth: Engaging Underutilized Businesses for Maximum Impact
Synopsis
- Unlock Growth Potential: Discover effective strategies for engaging small, underutilized, and disadvantaged businesses, ensuring they become integral contributors to successful project outcomes
- Strategic Inclusion for Lasting Impact: Gain insights into how fostering partnerships with underrepresented businesses can drive sustainable growth and deliver meaningful success for your projects
- Customized Solutions for Success: Learn how tailored services and comprehensive reporting can empower your organization to achieve its goals and strategically expand through diverse business partnerships
3.40 Panel Discussion: Attracting, Hiring & Retaining Your Workforce: Overcoming Labor Shortages to Maintain Current Production Levels
Synopsis
- Analyzing potential recruitment methods to minimize future disruption to procurement teams and overcome misconceptions around construction roles outside of the field
- Assessing possible approaches to reducing employee turnover and increasing employee retention
- Exploring the best practices to alleviate burnout whilst maintaining production levels
4.20 Building a Strategic Procurement Team to Increase Company Connectivity
Synopsis
- Understanding the benefits of establishing a strategic procurement team to support internal projects
- Deciding on the necessary positions needed to ensure a strategic procurement team is efficient and successful
- Evaluating how to connect regional and national teams to ensure standardized processes whilst maintaining regional project focus