60 seconds with…Tjarda Becker, FrieslandCampina

We had the pleasure of chatting to Tjarda Becker, Global Director of Direct Materials Procurement at FrieslandCampina about the impact of Covid-19, the new opportunities created and the importance of agility in the Supply Chain.

What is your top priority currently?

Mitigating price impact following inflationary markets while building a future proof procurement organization.

What do you see as the main opportunities for procurement in the post-Covid world?

Strong view on cost price transparency throughout the chain, driving opportunities on contingency and value engineering. Covid has put us back on the map by safeguarding supply and mitigating price impact as well as driving initiatives around contingency, value engineering and innovation.

Where are you able to add the most value to your organisation right now?

Mitigating price impact, buying better than market, safeguarding supply ensuring production can run and we can sell.

What pre-Covid procurement practices do you not want to see return?

I would phrase this differently, we have to deal with a VUCA (volatile) world and COVID showed us how important agility and flexibility in the Supply Chain is which meant that alternative material/supplier validations can happen within hours/days rather than weeks/months/years.

What do you want to see from your procurement team in 2022 and beyond?

Much more forward look on what is coming, preparing for that what is coming, driving strategy roadmaps and strong supplier relationships (innovation).

Hear from Tjarda Becker at ProcureCon Interactive on 8 June, 2021, as she joins the all star panel: Building on your procurement teams elevated reputation following Covid-19: How can you capitalize on your seat at the table and become a true partner to your internal teams?