PaperCon Procurement Forum Explores Best Practices, Emerging Trends

Today's procurement professional is challenged to provide more bottom-line business value while globalization, rising raw material and transportation costs, and supply chain dynamics present increasing pressures on current practices. The Procurement Forum at PaperCon 2012, a new addition this year, will focus on providing procurement and sourcing professionals in the pulp and paper industry with information to help support these new and challenging demands. Topics will address best practices and emerging trends in procuring consumables, chemicals, energy, and mechanical parts.

The first session of the Procurement Form, Procurement Organizational Effectiveness, will begin with Greg Anderson from Accenture reporting on Accenture's recent research on high performing procurement organizations. He will review the three key dimensions of procurement mastery: strategy, supplier relationship management, and sourcing and category management. The three key enablers—requisition to pay, technology, and workforce and organization—will also be addressed. Attendees will then hear from two paper manufacturers. Glen Sanders, director-sourcing with Verso Paper Corp., and Jim Thomas, corporate VP of purchasing with Domtar, will each provide a brief overview of their current purchasing philosophies. Jason Caldwell, manager commodity chemicals for RockTenn, will moderate the session.

The second session of the Procurement Forum is Emerging Trends in Procurement. Greg Anderson from Accenture will open this session to review Accenture's research on where procurement leaders need to focus over the next five years. Diane Palmquist, VP manufacturing industry solutions for GT Nexus, will share perspectives on her company's cloud-based collaboration platform for global trade and logistics. As sustainability is a growing factor in procurement, Emilio Tenuta, director of sustainability for Nalco, will share insights on how other industries integrate sustainable procurement practices. This session will be moderated by Manoj Sujanani, Ph.D., director, procurement for Sappi Fine Paper North America.

The Procurement Forum takes place on Monday, April 23, 2012 from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM at the Sheraton New Orleans. Participation in the Procurement Forum is included with all PaperCon registrations. There is still time to register, so don't miss this one-of-a-kind event for procurement professionals.

More details about the PaperCon 2012 program, exhibition, workshops and seminars, including the Procurement Forum, special events, and registration, are available online, along with information about travel and accommodations.

TAPPI
http://www.tappi.org/