Author: Kloepfel
Sam Altman signs call for AI regulation Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and developer of ChatGPT, signs a call for compliance with comprehensive regulations regarding artificial intelligence (AI). He is joined by 376 other employees of major companies in the AI industry, as well as numerous scientists and professors, who sign. Among them is the head of Google Deepmind, Demis Hassabis. The American non-governmental organization “Center of AI Safety” publishes this appeal. Its mission is to minimize the risk of AI to humanity. The Center of AI Safety says, “Reducing the risk of annihilation by AI should be a global…
Planned CO2 reduction through power-to-heat technology The BMW Group is using an electrically heated ring-hearth furnace in one of its plants at the Dingolfing site. This is being done for the production of chassis and drive components. Heat generation using electricity is also called power-to-heat technology. “Due to its planned plant life of more than 40 years, the new curing oven marks a forward-looking course setting on our way to Net Zero,” says Marc Sielemann, who is responsible for purchasing, quality and production of powertrain, chassis and brakes at the BMW Group. Reduced CO2 emissions According to BMW, operation of…
Author: Dr. Stephan Hofstetter, Partner at Kloepfel Consulting. Challenges for supply chains Geopolitical tensions are intensifying. Key triggers lie in the relationship between China and Taiwan and, more generally, in China’s power-conscious posturing. The U.S. is responding with increased export restrictions to make it more difficult for China to access leading technology. The question is whether and how companies can strategically prepare for escalation scenarios in purchasing. Beijing is prepared to force Taiwan’s reunification with the mainland by violent means if necessary. In the Western economy, these military threatening gestures are incorporated into risk management in advance. In the last…
Author: Dr. Stephan Hofstetter, Partner at Kloepfel Consulting. As in the many crises before it, the current geopolitical situation underscores the importance of strategic supplier and risk management for many companies. Buyers and supply chain managers have learned from past crises and have recalibrated their assessment of opportunities and risks. The appetite for risk is significantly lower than it was just a few years ago. Accordingly, more and more companies are reassessing supply chain risks and aligning purchasing strategies. Below, we outline selected measures to address current risks in a global context. Trend towards global decoupling Many companies are responding…
Author: Dr. Stephan Hofstetter, Partner at Kloepfel Consulting. In this overview, we summarize the six fundamental steps from risk analysis to countermeasures for mitigating supply risks and a contingency plan in the worst-case scenario. Step 1: Identify and assess potential risks The risk analysis should be conducted based on product categories, suppliers, and countries in order to derive structured measures for risk management. Evaluate relevant risks in terms of their likelihood of occurrence (low, medium, high) and the potential impacts (low, moderate, severe) on your organization. Focus risk management measures on the most probable risks with high damage potential. Step…
Author: Dr. Stephan Hofstetter, partner at Kloepfel Consulting. The lower market price level and purchasing prices In recent months, prices for gas, electricity, and key raw materials have experienced significant declines. However, overall, prices have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Nevertheless, compared to the enormous spikes seen last year, they are considerably more moderate. As a result, there is currently a high expectation for the short-term development of purchasing prices. At first glance, it may seem like an advantageous situation. However, upon closer inspection, a certain degree of disillusionment may set in. The actual leeway heavily depends on the…
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Improving the CO2 balance Porsche AG and aluminum producer Norsk Hydro ASA announce that they have jointly signed a memorandum of understanding. Together, the two companies aim to improve the carbon footprint of Porsche vehicles through CO2-reduced aluminum and aluminum extrusions. The companies also plan to develop a concept for an innovative value chain for battery materials as well as their recycling. According to Porsche, Hydro will supply the company and various Porsche suppliers with Hydro Reduxa 4.0 low-CO2 aluminum. Reducing the carbon footprint of aluminum According to the company, the aluminum starting material has one of the lowest CO2…
GDP grows by 4.5 percent in the first quarter China ended its zero-COVID policy at the end of last year, during which the economic strength of China declined. According to the Beijing Statistics Bureau, GDP grew by 4.5 percent from January to March 2023 compared to the same period last year. This marks the strongest quarterly growth in a year. High consumption as an economic driver Since the relaxation of COVID policies, the Chinese population has been engaging in more travel and shopping activities. According to the statistics bureau, the economic growth is attributed to the increasing consumer spending and…
Catering division goes to Aurelius The Deutsche Lufthansa AG is selling the remaining part of LSG Group to the private equity firm Aurelius. The airline already handed over the European activities of LSG Sky Chefs to the Swiss company Gategroup in 2019. Regarding the signing of the contract with Aurelius, Remco Steenbergen, CFO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said, “We are pleased to have found the right investor for LSG Group, who also has the full support of the LSG Group management.” Lufthansa: Focus on the Airline Business According to Lufthansa, the sale of the catering division is part of the…
Reveal hidden profits in the indirect commodity groups Reveal hidden profits in the indirect commodity groups Duet of expertise and buyer’s gene Regular sourcing and tendering: Customer requirements and suppliers change Standardization of products Learning by Doing: Colleagues & Coaches on a temporary basis Read in this article how to make visible and leverage high hidden savings in indirect commodity groups. Experience shows that companies usually focus their purchasing activities on direct commodity groups. These classically include raw materials that are used to manufacture the company’s own product portfolio. Within the retail industry, these would be the classic trade goods.…
Why is contract management important? Why is contract management so often underestimated? What role does purchasing play in contract management? How to implement contract management with Kloepfel Consulting? What happens after the site analysis? How is the contract data entered? Is it possible to generate contracts with such a tool? Marc Röver, Senior Manager Kloepfel Consulting Henning Esser, Consultant Kloepfel Consulting Authors: Marc Röver, Senior Manager Kloepfel Consulting and Henning Esser, Consultant Kloepfel Consulting Why is contract management important? Well-functioning contract management creates transparency about the rights, obligations, conditions and prices that companies agree with their suppliers. However, many companies…
How do you find energy prices that are in line with the market? The turbulence on the energy market has probably not escaped anyone’s attention in recent months. The following guidebook article shows which challenges have to be considered when purchasing energy. Benedikt Benz, responsible Lead Consultant Energy at the Kloepfel Group, and other energy experts from the Kloepfel network explain in an interview which special features and challenges are currently encountered in the procurement of energy. General features of energy procurement Energy is an exchange-traded product. Due to the constant trading on the stock exchange, natural price fluctuations take…
Indirect procurement By Heiko Steinmetz, Manager Kloepfel Consulting Contents: Print requirements: The paper market is gradually stabilizing again: prices and availability are leveling off, declining slightly, tendering is worthwhile (in some cases 5-15% savings) Agencies: Due to inflation, many agencies are currently raising prices/hourly rates: Time to think about a pitch or take a closer look at processes and needs to identify potentials Media (print): Publishers are increasing advertising prices due to rising (production) costs. Media agencies also receive higher commissions as a result of higher ad prices. Potential through negotiation or pitch Maverick buying (power of departments, lack of…
Geopolitical concerns take first place Concern about geopolitical risks displaces concern about rising costs from first place Decline in demand hardly an issue 38 percent dependent on inputs from China The concerns of German specialists and managers of medium-sized companies with annual sales of up to 500 million euros have shifted over the past seven months. This was determined by Kloepfel Consulting, a management consultancy specializing in supply chains, in a recent online survey of 186 specialists and managers. The random survey was conducted across all industries. The previous survey took place in September 2022. Participants were asked on which…
HWWI Commodity Price Index continues to decline in March Index for Energy Raw Materials declines by 9.4% (US Dollar basis) Index for Food and Beverages declines by 3.4% Index for Industrial Raw Materials declines by 3.6% (Hamburg, April 12, 2023) In March, the HWWI Commodity Price Index continued to fallsignificantly, as in the previous two months. It fell by 8.3% and was thus 44.9% below thevalue of the same month of the preceding year. Once again, falling prices for energy rawmaterials were the cause of the decline in the overall Index. The Index for Energy RawMaterials fell by 9.4%. The…
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Recession announced for industrialized countries – including Germany The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently published new forecasts regarding the growth rate of the global economy. According to their information, Germany is expected to fall into a recession this year. The global economic growth is expected to decline from 3.4 percent in 2022 to 2.8 percent in 2023, and then rise to 3.0 percent in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recent forecasts. The IMF reports that this growth will be weaker and slower due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing division of the world,…