Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
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BTW EP 13: A Chilling Reality: How the Harms of Flawed Incentive Plans Extend Beyond the P&L with Martin Chilcott
Between annual targets and cost-focused KPIs, procurement leaders find themselves in an impossible bind when it comes to decarbonization: they know sustainability matters, yet the very incentive structures designed to reward their performance actively undermine their decarbonization efforts. In this episode, co-hosts Rich Ham and Philip Ideson speak with Martin Chilcott, Founder and CEO of 2 Degrees Limited and Founder of Manufacture 2030, to explore how procurement incentives could rapidly accelerate corporate decarbonization. Martin works with global corporations across manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and automotive industries, and he's seen firsthand how carbon strategies succeed or stall based on the commercial relationship between procurement and their suppliers. Martin points out an important truth that many procurement leaders understand but struggle to quantify: "Carbon costs exist right now, even if they don't appear on your budget line." He shared concrete examples like Panama Canal disruptions and cocoa price hikes, with climate disruptions already impacting business financials. The problem, he says, isn't awareness, but short-termism and narrow financial definitions that discourage investment. As Martin says, "If reducing emissions isn’t explicitly worth the effort financially, suppliers won’t make the effort." The way forward requires fundamental changes to how procurement defines value. By reframing total cost of ownership to explicitly include carbon, implementing longer-term contracts with carbon reduction targets, and building targeted supplier incentives, procurement can make decarbonization both profitable and achievable. Links: Martin Chilcott on LinkedIn Rich Ham on LinkedIn Learn more at FineTuneUs.com
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818: Elevating Procurement’s Impact Through Strategic Relationships W/ Michael Bertalli
“My number one rule for being a professional procurement person is to be fair and consistent. You've got to give every supplier the same opportunity, the same amount of time, and the same pieces of information, so you've got a level playing field.” - Michael Bertalli Today's procurement teams must deliver value through strong relationships and a reputation for professionalism that extends far beyond cost savings alone. Exceptional relationship skills – both within organizations and with external suppliers – have a significant strategic impact and can dictate lasting business outcomes. In this episode, experienced procurement leader Michael Bertalli outlines exactly what it takes to build impactful relationships and project authentic professionalism. Michael reveals practical insight on internal and external relationship strategies, explores actionable steps for deeper stakeholder collaboration, and emphasizes the nuanced art of supplier engagement. Michael also discusses: The value of fostering deeper internal collaboration with proactive, informal engagement How to navigate supplier relationships through strategic openness rather than price pressure Why utilizing strategic preparation and research is procurement’s key relationship-building tool How to establish and sustain an ethical, professional image through consistency and fairness Ways to strengthen relationships with suppliers through transparent and valuable feedback Links: Michael Bertalli on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
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817: Procurement 6 | July 4th, 2025
Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday morning at 6am US Eastern Time. Presented by a member of the Art of Procurement team, each episode has 6 short segments that summarize the week in procurement. Segments range from procurement tips to podcast summaries, from details of events to news or overviews of blog posts that capture our attention.
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816: Managing Procurement Risk Amid Tariff Volatility W/ Alan Arcand
“During COVID, we went from just in time to just in case. Unfortunately, now supply chains have to factor in risk mitigation. Finding alternative sources of supply might be a little more pricey, but it reduces the risk.” - Alan Arcand, Chief Economist at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Economic uncertainty and tariff volatility continue to shape procurement strategies and supply chain decisions across North America. As businesses grapple with unpredictable policy shifts, the need to interpret nuanced economic signals accurately has become critical to maintaining stable operations and safeguarding organizational profitability. To decode these trends and recommend timely strategies, Philip Ideson spoke with Alan Arcand, Chief Economist at Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, at the Supply Chain Canada National Conference. In this conversation, Alan highlights key factors procurement leaders should monitor, including the inflation implications of tariff decisions, investment behaviors influenced by economic uncertainty, and the profound impact all of this has on manufacturing sectors, particularly automotive. Alan also discusses: How to navigate conflicting economic indicators in the U.S. to improve procurement foresight Understanding tariff-driven supply chain disruptions in manufacturing sectors, particularly related to steel and aluminum Ways to adapt procurement strategies to shifting North American economic and political fluctuations Utilizing strategic diversification, including nearshoring and friendshoring, to mitigate risk Links: Alan Arcand on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Learn from procurement experts. Host Philip Ideson talks with thought leaders who share the trends, strategies and tactics that you can lever to elevate the role of procurement - and your career.
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