Situation
The company, which is an industry leader, develops, manufactures and markets building materials in the European market. The company is well-known for its high standards and top-quality products, which it sells via contractors and architects as well as retailers. In connection with a change of ownership and management structure, our client quickly became aware of a lack of leadership and management in the supply chain/logistics area. A manufacturing spread across several factories made the management task more complex.

A new strategy needed to be developed for the supply chain/logistics area including sourcing and procurement, and new concepts needed to be defined and implemented. It was also obvious that the procurement function had huge earnings potential based on strategic trading contracts and partnerships with company suppliers. We had previously performed assignments for the company and once again they had contacted us for our assistance.

Search
Together with the other functions in the company, the new manager would have to ensure ongoing rapid workflows through optimization of internal processes in close collaboration with suppliers in order to ensure the best possible product and the best service at the right price for customers.

The right person would most likely hold a masters degree in engineering together with a commercial supplement and a bachelor degree in supply chain/logistics management. Better leadership and management were a precondition for the required rationalization and optimization of logistics functions such as materials management, production planning and distribution. This meant that the new Supply Chain & Logistics Manager had to have leadership experience and strengths in the field of logistics.

There was no requirement for the new manager to have experience from the same industry, but it was essential that he/she have experience from an industrial company with significant logistical demands. In addition, he/she would possess extremely good analytical competence and an exceptional overview, enabling him to analyze problems and cut through to their core.

The right candidate would have experience in implementing complete logistics solutions and experience in the application of IT to link information and materials flows in order to ensure integrated management and execution of activities throughout the supply chain.

We presented candidates with exceptional strengths in the supply chain/logistics area and who were in the middle of a successful career.

Results
The company chose a person with broad supply chain/logistics experience and whose entire career background came from industrial companies in various industries. He was a qualified engineer and held a bachelor’s degree in supply chain/logistics.

We found someone who had all the human qualifications we always look for – involvement, energy and acceptance of change – that, together with strong analytical abilities, openness and an innovative mindset that provide a commercial lift and drive to a corporate organization.

Both the Supply Chain & Logistics Manager and the company were extremely happy with the result. After some years of success in the job, the person in question was offered an even bigger career opportunity within the company with greater management potential and responsibility.