"We jumped off a cliff and built the plane on the way down." ✈️
That is how Arnaud, Head of Indirect Procurement at BIC, describes the massive challenge of building a non-GMO supply chain from scratch in just 18 months.
In this Jam Session, Arnaud joins Conrad to explore how an industrial engineering mindset can transform procurement from a transactional function into a strategic engine for growth. They discuss how to look beyond the price tag to see the total cost of ownership—whether you are buying machinery for a factory or software for HR.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The Danone Case Study: The incredible story of how Arnaud helped build a non-GMO milk supply chain—changing everything from the cow feed to the factory production lines—in under two years to drive competitive advantage.
- Engineering the Indirects: How to apply "factory floor" logic (like continuous improvement and maintenance planning) to complex indirect categories like Marketing and IT.
- Escaping the "Busy Work": Why automating tail spend and tactical admin is the only way to free up your team for true Supplier Relationship Management (SRM).
- The 2-to-1 Rule: Arnaud’s golden rule for career growth: "We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak.
- Taking Risks: Why you should always volunteer for the projects that scare you—because "if your goals don't scare you, they aren't big enough".
If you want to learn how to break down silos and engineer value, this jam session is for you.
