Welcome to Procurement News, part of our ongoing aggregate news series covering recent supply management headlines and trends pertinent to Chief Procurement Officers and other procurement leaders! Contact us with your news story here.
Procurement Executive News
Eric Fouts Promoted to Global CSCO for SureWerx
CHICAGO — SureWerx, a leading global supplier of personal protective equipment, safety solutions, and tools & equipment, announced that Eric Fouts has been promoted to the role of global chief supply chain officer (CSCO). He will continue to lead all aspects of SureWerx’s supply chain, manufacturing, and operations functions, and will continue to report to the global chief operating officer.
According to Christian Wiltrout, GCOO for SureWerx, “Eric has made a lasting impact since he joined SureWerx as vice president of supply chain in July 2023. During his time at the company, he has made significant progress in building a customer-focused supply chain organization by aligning supply and demand, reducing customer lead times, improving customer fill rates, reducing operational inefficiencies and advancing supplier engagement. In addition, Eric has strengthened SureWerx’s internal safety program, which he co-leads with Chief Human Resources Officer, Anna-Maria Parente,” said Christian Wiltrout.
Fouts shared his excitement for the new opportunity. “Over this past year, I have seen firsthand our company’s commitment to delivering value to customers through solutions that keep workers safe and productive. I am eager to lead a great team to further bolster our supply chain and serve our customers even better,” he said.
Read the full announcement here.
DCH Health System Welcomes Rachel Anderson as VP of Supply Chain
TUSCALOOSA, AL — DCH announced that Rachel Anderson has joined DCH Health System as its new vice president of supply chain. She brings with her a wealth of experience in supply chain management, strategic sourcing, and operational excellence. Her leadership and expertise will be invaluable as the company continues to optimize its supply chain operations in support of its commitment to quality patient care.
According to Bob Tracz, senior vice president of finance, “Her approach aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver high-quality healthcare services to our community,” he said. “I am confident that her insights and leadership will contribute significantly to our ongoing success.”
The company stated that Anderson has a proven track record of driving efficiency and improving processes. As corporate director of supply chain at Baptist Health in Montgomery, she aided in the strategic planning and operational implementation of a successful supply chain vision for the health system.
Read the full announcement here
Supply Management News
Why Apparel Companies Embrace Supplier Scorecards
The fashion industry is rife with stories about human rights abuses and unethical sourcing practices. One tool the industry can rely on for tracking operational effectiveness and supply chain compliance is supplier scorecards.
“We prefer them because other options may be more subjective and therefore more difficult to accurately and objectively measure performance and improvement over time,” Elisabeth Mast, senior director of sourcing and production, and Wendy Savage, director of social responsibility, traceability and animal welfare, told Supply Chain Dive.
McDonald’s Sues Tyson, JBS and Other Beef Producers for Allegedly Fixing Prices
In a recent lawsuit, McDonald’s is suing four of the world’s largest meat producers, including Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef Packing, for allegedly conspiring to inflate the price of beef, as stated in Supply Chain Dive.
According to the 100-page complaint from McDonald’s, the companies held frequent meetings at conferences and trade shows, where executives and key employees likely exchanged sensitive information that ensured a stranglehold on beef and cattle pricing to bolster profits.
“By collusively underpaying suppliers for fed cattle, and over time reducing beef output, Defendants have been able to increase their margins and profits, confident that none of them would take volume from each other,” McDonald’s said in the lawsuit.
