The most important questions about short-term support for medium-sized companies
The need for competent and effective purchasing management is essential for companies. In many cases, however, there is a temporary need for experienced managers, whether due to staff shortages or special projects. This is where interim purchasing managers come into play. As interim managers, they offer short-term support and assume responsibility for the purchasing department.
In this interview, Sven Schützek, Head of Interim Recruiting at Kloepfel Consulting, answers the most important questions posed by these specialized managers.
What are the most important challenges for an interim manager?
The typical challenges for an interim manager can be summarized in three points.
Firstly, it is essential that they quickly familiarize themselves with the relevant sector, regardless of whether it is the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, the consumer goods industry or another sector.
Secondly, it is crucial that he is able to work in a team, even with people he has only recently met and who may have more specialist knowledge.
The third challenge is to achieve sustainable results and not leave “scorched earth” behind. The focus is on the long-term well-being of the customer, not on rash, pointless actionism.
How quickly can an interim manager get up to speed and integrate into the team?
An interim purchasing manager in a medium-sized company must be able to take over the management of the purchasing department at short notice. As a rule, interim managers can fully familiarize themselves with a new position and integrate into the team within one to two weeks. This requires a great deal of specialist knowledge, experience and empathy in order to ultimately convince the team and implement effective measures.
By using a personal questionnaire, the interim manager is able to organize the first meetings efficiently and get to know the relevant people. This ability is often highly valued by clients.
What are the advantages of interim management compared to hiring a permanent purchasing manager?
Interim management offers several advantages compared to hiring a permanent purchasing manager. The first major advantage of interim managers is their broad expertise. In contrast to a permanent purchasing manager, who has usually only worked for a few companies, interim managers have a broader cross-industry portfolio of experience from many companies. As a result, they have a comprehensive overview of the market and are able to adapt best practices and successful approaches from different industries. Thanks to their diverse knowledge, interim managers can bring innovative solutions to purchasing processes and thus increase efficiency.
An interim manager from Kloepfel can also draw on the supplier network and databases of the entire Kloepfel Group if required.
They are also quickly ready for deployment. The search for an interim purchasing manager is significantly shorter than recruiting a permanent purchasing manager.
What goals and results can interim purchasing managers achieve?
Although the time limit plays a role, there are still clear goals to be achieved. One important goal is to keep the team together and to address any doubts employees may have due to the lack of a permanent purchasing manager.
The strategic orientation of purchasing must not be neglected either. Here it is the task of the interim manager to prepare the necessary measures to achieve pre-defined goals. Thanks to their experience, interim managers have a special understanding of processes. Interim managers can therefore make an important contribution to process optimization and increased efficiency. As a rule, when an interim purchasing manager is deployed, the focus is clearly on process optimization rather than strategic realignment.
How do employees generally react to an interim project?
Employees generally react positively to working with an interim manager. Open and clear communication is crucial here. The interim manager makes constructive suggestions for improvement rather than simply voicing criticism.
The supportive and accompanying role of the interim manager is appreciated by employees. Respect and trust towards employees play a fundamental role here. An experienced interim manager demonstrates their trust in employees by involving them in decision-making processes and negotiations.
What can you recommend to companies that are thinking about hiring an interim procurement manager?
To get the best out of an interim project, it is crucial to define clear objectives together.
Every company has different needs and priorities. It is therefore also important that the client defines clear responsibilities and authorities.
A regular exchange, ideally on a monthly basis, enables a continuous review and adjustment of the purchasing manager’s approach over time. It has been shown that such an approach is very effective. In principle, he should be able to work cooperatively and have an empathetic and collegial demeanor overall.
Does your company need temporary support in purchasing management?
Kloepfel Consulting offers you the solution: Interim managers as experienced purchasing managers who are flexibly deployable. Our experts have the necessary specialist knowledge to quickly integrate into your team and effectively achieve your goals. You can rely on our many years of experience and benefit from tailor-made solutions.
Contact us if you need temporary support for your purchasing department from qualified interim managers.
Author: Sven Schützek, Head of Interim Recruiting at Kloepfel Consulting
Contact:
Kloepfel Group
Christopher Willson
Tel.: 0211 941 984 33 | Mail: rendite@kloepfel-consulting.com