Lean Procurement

From Oat Milk to Ethics: A Coffee Shop Realization This morning at my local cafй, I ordered a turmeric oat latte. You know, the kind with the earthy color, the compostable cup, and a side of sustainability. While waiting, I overheard someone say, “It’s great that everything’s so ethical these days — organic, carbon-neutral, all that.” I smiled — but as a procurement person, I couldn’t help thinking… if only they knew. Behind that cup is a world most people never see. That “simple” drink? It probably involved over two dozen suppliers, six different certifications, and weeks of back-and-forth to make sure ingredients met standards, arrived fresh, and didn’t explode the cost model. Trendy terms like regenerative, plastic-free, fair trade sound great on packaging — but they come with layers of complexity. You’re constantly verifying traceability, chasing ethical certs, managing global supply volatility, and sometimes, dealing with suppliers who vanish just before launch. Fresh ingredients don’t wait. TikTok trends move faster than supplier onboarding. And consumers want sustainability without the price tag. But this is what we do. We work behind the scenes to make sure the oat milk doesn’t curdle, the mushrooms aren’t from a shady source, and that your cup won’t end up in landfill. Procurement isn’t just about sourcing — it’s about making the mission real. So next time you sip that $10 latte, raise a toast to the team that made the buzzwords possible — without compromising the budget, ethics, or supply chain.

CIPS - The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply encourage all members to complete the CIPS Ethics Test, covering incredibly important areas in today's procurement including environmental procurement, human rights and fraud, bribery and corruption. But it can also double-up as a good supplementary revision test for some of the modules in the Graduate Diploma. Ethics gets covered a lot as students go through their CIPS journey and for students not yet completed the test and are taking the following exams next month it is worthwhile to complete. Level 2 - L2M1 Introducing Procurement and Supply Level 3 - L3M2 Ethical Procurement and Supply Level 3 - L3M5 Socially Responsible Procurement Level 4 - L4M1 Scope and Influence of Procurement and Supply Level 4 - L4M4 Ethical and Responsible Sourcing Level 4 - L4M8 Procurement and Supply in Practice Level 5 - L5M5 Managing Ethical Procurement and Supply Ethics is dotted around in other modules but these are the main ones that students can benefit from taking the test. Depending on existing knowledge and experience it should take between 45 mins to 90 minutes to complete. Free to take for CIPS members.

🤔What CIPS does 1. Sets & maintains professional standards – the Global Standard underpins qualifications and competence frameworks. 2. Designs and awards qualifications – from Level 2 Certificate to Level 6 Professional Diploma. 3. Champions ethical practice – all members sign the Ethics Code and must refresh annually. 4. Publishes research & insight – e.g., the annual Procurement & Supply Salary Guide and regular policy briefings. 5. Advises governments & industry – CIPS experts sit on advisory panels and contribute to public-policy debates. 🔍 Why it matters today With supply chain risk, ESG compliance and cost pressures now central to boardroom discussions, procurement and supply professionals need more than experience — they need standards. CIPS provides a globally recognised benchmark for value creation, risk management, and responsible sourcing. Its qualifications and ethical framework help raise the bar across the profession — and that’s crucial. 🧭 Because without standards, procurement risks being viewed as a second-tier function — always reactive, forever misunderstood, and often excluded from strategic decision-making. Professionalism must be intentional. When we align to global standards, speak a common language, and demonstrate measurable value, procurement shifts from a back-office cost controller to a strategic driver of innovation, resilience and ESG impact. After all - we all like to have some kind of standard....

There are only 6 seats left in our Lean Procurement cohort. After that, it’s waitlist mode. Procurement leaders don’t just “work hard”—they train smarter. This isn't just another online course. It's a strategic journey into: ✅Procurement leadership ✅Supplier collaboration ✅Value-based sourcing Join professionals across the UK who are investing in their future-proof capabilities by championing Ethics. The team is set. Are you in? Send a DM or click the link in the comments to grab your spot before they’re gone.

One of the things I’ve really valued during my CIPS Level 5 journey with Lean Procurement is the breadth of experience behind the teaching. The tutors come from different parts of the world, each bringing practical procurement knowledge shaped by real industry experience across markets and sectors. That global perspective has helped me look at procurement challenges in a much broader and more confident way. The structure of the programme has also worked extremely well alongside a full-time role. The flexibility of the online classes, combined with ongoing tutor support, makes it possible to keep progressing without feeling overwhelmed. It’s a demanding course, but the way Lean Procurement delivers it makes the learning practical, relevant, and directly applicable to my role.

Are You Ready for Strategic Procurement? Find Out. Free Resource – Procurement Maturity Self-Assessment Sheet Ever wondered if you're truly ready for CIPS Level 4 or 5? This simple but insightful worksheet helps you assess: ✅Your current strengths ✅Operational vs. strategic capabilities ✅Key gaps and how to close them You’ll walk away with: ✅A clear sense of where you stand ✅Confidence to take the next step ✅Suggestions for books, modules, or certifications to focus on Ideal for anyone considering CIPS or ready for a skill reset. DM “ASSESS” and get your worksheet right away.

Consider a health food company. A review was conducted for their procurement for packaging — specifically for their rapidly growing range of health drinks. On the surface, things looked fine. Suppliers were in place, costs were stable, and production wasn’t disrupted. But the deeper we looked, the clearer it became: there was no real category strategy guiding these decisions. Each SKU had evolved in isolation. Some used glass, others used PET, a few had compostable packaging sourced from a niche supplier in Europe. None of it was harmonized, and most importantly, no one could say whether these choices were truly serving the company’s long-term goals. That’s when we stepped back and asked the right questions. Was there an active packaging strategy in place — with defined goals, supplier plans, sustainability metrics, and cost levers? Not really. Most decisions were reactive, driven by new product launches or last-minute marketing needs. What was the time horizon for packaging decisions? Typically just one procurement cycle ahead — no roadmap, no strategic bets on materials innovation or volume consolidation. Did they have the right systems or tools to enable that strategy? Not at all. There was no unified dashboard tracking packaging costs by material type or performance across suppliers. Every insight required manual work. And was the strategy aligned with key stakeholders — especially brand, sustainability, and operations? Again, not quite. Marketing wanted eco-friendly materials, but operations prioritized ease of sourcing, and procurement was stuck in the middle, with little leverage or clarity on what mattered most. So, we started building a category strategy from the ground up. One that didn’t just reduce cost, but aligned with sustainability goals, unlocked innovation through supplier collaboration, and simplified SKUs to improve agility. Over 18 months, the company transitioned to a core set of packaging materials, formed strategic partnerships with two global suppliers, and even co-developed a recyclable bottle with their top vendor. The results weren’t just savings — they gained faster speed-to-market, stronger supplier relationships, and a story they could proudly share with conscious consumers. A well-crafted category strategy, especially in a high-impact area like packaging, doesn’t just optimize spend — it transforms how the business delivers value.

In procurement training, success isn't just about your own achievements.. It's more about about helping others do well in their roles and seeing others develop. Supporting Others: True success means being happy when your colleagues or trainees do well. Their success is your success too. Working Together: By celebrating each other's wins, everyone in procurement learns and grows together. It really is a team effort. Teaching and Leading: Good leaders in procurement don't just do well themselves; they help others get better at their jobs too. Not just that, showing how others can do the same later on in their own career Learning from Others: When you're happy for others' successes, you learn and become better in your own role. We've learned so much from feedback and students stories. Positive Environment: Cheering for your colleagues creates a good atmosphere. Everyone feels motivated to do their best. Celebrating your own wins and achievements is great, but there's a real buzz when you contribute so others can succeed as well ??

These three things have come up again and again as the most valued most in a team — more than technical knowledge, experience or qualifications: ✅ Initiative – Bringing suggested solutions, not just problems ✅ Reliability – Being trusted to take ownership without constant follow-up ✅ Growth mentality – Showing a desire to learn and improve Interestingly, procurement knowledge and skills weren’t at the top of the list..... “With the right attitude and work ethic...” ⬆️ Knowledge and skills will develop over time ⬆️ Accountability grows naturally ⬆️ Kindness and consideration for others becomes part of the culture It's a mindset that builds strong, dependable procurement teams — with technical expertise following as a result, not a prerequisite. What would be on your list? 🤔 #ProcurementLeadership #TeamCulture #ProfessionalGrowth #ProcurementMindset #PeopleFirst #LeanProcurement #LeadershipInsights #ProcurementExcellence

♿ What is a CIPS Reasonable Adjustment? CIPS offers reasonable adjustments to ensure that all learners have fair and equal access to its qualifications — especially those who may have a disability, health condition, or specific learning need. A reasonable adjustment does not change the standard of assessment, but it does help reduce or remove barriers that might otherwise disadvantage the learner. 📝 Examples of reasonable adjustments may include: • Extra time during exams • Use of a reader or scribe • Enlarged or modified exam materials • Assistive technology • Separate or quiet room arrangements 🎯 Who can apply? Any learner with a long-term condition or learning difference that affects how they access the exam or assessment process. This includes (but is not limited to): • Dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties • Visual, hearing, or motor impairments • Long-term mental health conditions • Neurodiverse needs (e.g. ADHD, autism) 📌 Key things to know: • Requests must be supported by medical or educational evidence • They must be submitted in advance of the exam entry deadline • Adjustments are approved and applied on a case-by-case basis • The goal is always to ensure access without compromising standards At Lean Procurement, we encourage any learners who think they might be eligible to speak up early and we capture this right at the start of our onboarding process — not just to meet deadlines and comply to regulations, but to make sure they’re set up to succeed. Everyone deserves a fair opportunity to show what they’ve learned. #CIPSExams #ReasonableAdjustments #InclusiveAssessment #AccessibleLearning #ProcurementProfession #LeanProcurement #BeBetterDoBetter