Procurement consulting for small and mid-size manufacturers

Strategic sourcing that fits your size

Strategic sourcing is a repeatable way to decide what to buy, from whom and on what terms. For a manufacturer with a lean team, that means grouping purchases into categories, ranking them by spend and risk, and putting effort where it pays back first.

• Category strategy for your top spend areas
• RFQ packages with clear specifications and comparable quotes
• Total cost of ownership comparisons, not just unit price
• A sourcing calendar so renewals never arrive as a surprise

Supplier selection and scorecards

Good supplier management starts with choosing well and measuring consistently. We help you define qualification criteria, check capacity and financial health, and build a simple scorecard you can maintain without new software.

• Qualification checklist: quality, capacity, certifications, lead time, financial stability
• Scorecard metrics: on-time delivery, quality defects, price variance, responsiveness
• Single-source and concentration risk review, with backup options
• Regular supplier reviews with clear actions

Negotiation and cost reduction

Cost reduction is rarely about pushing harder on price. It comes from preparation: knowing your volumes, alternatives and the supplier’s cost drivers. We prepare the facts and the negotiation plan, and can join the table when it helps.

• Negotiation prep: fact base, targets, walk-away options
• Terms beyond price: payment terms, minimums, lead times, price-adjustment clauses
• Specification and packaging changes that lower cost without hurting quality
• Order-size tuning with the EOQ calculator

Spend analysis

You cannot manage spend you cannot see. We clean up purchase and invoice data, classify it by category and supplier, and show where money goes, where prices vary for the same item, and where you have too many suppliers.

• Spend by category, supplier and part
• Price variance across suppliers and over time
• Tail-spend and supplier consolidation opportunities
• A prioritised savings and risk list with owners

Tariff-aware sourcing

Tariffs change the real cost of a part. Compare sources on landed cost, including duty, freight, lead time and inventory carrying cost, then decide whether to stay, shift suppliers, or move sourcing closer to home.

• Landed cost comparison across countries and suppliers
• Country-of-origin and classification checks to review with your customs broker
• Nearshoring and USMCA options assessed with real numbers
• Try the landed cost calculator and the tariff cost calculator

Paid duties in the past? See tariff refund readiness.

AI in procurement

AI can speed up the routine parts of buying: reading quotes, classifying spend, drafting RFQs and flagging price changes. We apply it where your data is ready and keep people in charge of decisions. See our AI support.

• Automated spend classification and quote comparison
• Alerts for price, lead-time and supplier performance changes
• Clear review steps so a person approves every purchasing decision

Procurement FAQ

Do I need a procurement consultant if I only have a small team?

Often, yes. Small teams buy while doing other jobs, so sourcing reviews and supplier follow-up slip. A consultant sets up the process and does the analysis, then hands it back in a form your team can run.

What is the first step?

A short conversation. We talk through your purchases, suppliers and pain points, then agree the scope in writing before any work starts.

What data do you need for a spend analysis?

Usually 12 months of purchase orders or supplier invoices in a spreadsheet export, plus your part or item list. It does not need to be clean; cleaning it is part of the work.

How do tariffs change my sourcing decisions?

Tariffs add duty to the landed cost and can shift which supplier or country is cheapest. We compare options on total landed cost and risk, so you can decide whether to switch, renegotiate or stay.