ATLANTA, GA - ScottMadden, Inc., a general management consulting firm, recently joined industry leaders as a sponsor and presenter at the S&P Global Platts 16th Annual Utility Supply Chain Conference. This event provided a unique platform to discuss the key trends and ongoing challenges impacting supply chain management today.

Our energy industry is evolving. It is a time of surprising developments and new ideas. What are utilities doing to anticipate, prepare for, and shape changing fundamentals? During the event, Chris Vlahoplus, partner and clean tech & sustainability practice leader at ScottMadden, examined the strategic drivers that are challenging, and propelling, our industry: competitive energy at the crossroads, smarter solar, and the increasing role of new players.

“There is no question that the changes occurring in our industry are challenging utility executive teams to rethink many of the core assumptions and practices that have driven their businesses for decades,” explains Andy Flores, partner and supply chain practice lead at ScottMadden. “Given the role that supply chain organizations play in managing spend, interfacing with suppliers, and assuring a resilient (and secure) pipeline of goods and services, these groups will continue to play an integral role in enabling utilities to adapt to this evolving business environment.”

What are the primary drivers that place supply chain organizations in the position of choosing between strategic and operational priorities? What approaches can keep the day-to-day fires in check to allow for greater bandwidth to pursue strategic opportunities? How do you stay aligned with your business unit customers to ensure you understand their “need-to-have’s” and that they do their part? During the event, John Francis, director at ScottMadden, moderated a session focused on managing the competing priorities of operational and strategic procurement.

“We repeatedly hear from supply chain leaders in the utility industry that the competing priorities of operational procurement excellence and strategic excellence create a set of circumstances where the day-to-day firefighting often becomes the priority of the day, and work that provides higher value and requires a long-term view often gets deferred,” notes Mr. Francis. “Panelists from Tennessee Valley Authority, American Electric Power, and Arizona Public Service Company, explored approaches to resolve this challenge, be simultaneously excellent in both operational procurement and sourcing, and design a model for service delivery within procurement and sourcing.”