Prakash Balakrishnan

RESPONSIBILITIES As an SCM Consultant, I provide expert-based services to my clients in Procurement and Supply Chain domain. I focus mainly on procurement, supply chain, and operations performance improvement. Bespoke services include but not limited to... ➔ Assess existing Procurement/Supply Chain Organization effectiveness, competency assessment, build plans and implement initiatives as well as drive the Change Management program. ➔ Develop and implement a robust governance and performance management framework, including metrics, scorecards and Service level agreements. ➔ Assess and improve process and policies for "source to pay" function and implement "fit for purpose" solutions to reduce cost and improve efficiencies. ➔ Perform Procurement benchmarking, category maturity assessments/plans, opportunity identification, create strategic sourcing roadmap, execute plans and develop "fit for purpose" supplier management programs. ➔ Implement Strategic Cost Management Program, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to drive bottom line results. ➔ Materials Management/Inventory Management initiatives.

I am managing the procurement process efficiently to support the institution's mission and goals. The responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks, including Strategic Procurement Planning, Vendor Selection Management, Developing & enforcing procurement policies and procedures, budget management, sourcing and negotiation, contracts managment, supplier performance monitoring, inventory and risk management, Compliance and Regulatory oversight, team leadership, continuous improvement, emergency procurement planning, stakeholder collaboration etc.

➔ Accountable for developing long term cost effective procurement strategies, planning and managing material requirements, sub contracts, service contracts, rental contracts and develop vendors for all procurement services and materials. ➔ The responsibilities also include signing-off departmental strategy, identify spend categories and actively seek opportunities for saving through spend optimization and long term agreements etc. ➔ To carry out supplier negotiations and selections, international contracts/commercials/imports, supplier relationship management and contract management. ➔ Plan, direct, schedule, guide and coordinate activities of the team involved in processing purchase requisitions & purchase orders to successful vendors for purchasing products & services. ➔ Overall control over the departmental budget and cost improvement processes. ➔ Categories handled – MRO and Capex, Logistics, IT & Telecom, Metals and General & Admn. ➔ Verticals handled – Subcontracts, Asset purchases, Eqpt rentals, Eqpt maintenance, spares, waste management and materials.

Identifying/sourcing required products/services, drafting RFIs/RFPs/RFQs and obtaining quotes to ensure quality goods and services are obtained at the best market price and execute bid comparison exercise/reports as per policies and procedures.  Plan, direct, schedule and coordinate activities of the team involved in processing purchase requisitions & purchase orders to successful vendors for purchasing products & services.  Expediting functions include liaising with clients, vendors, sub-vendors and external agencies as per the Project requirements and also seeking feedback from internal customers to ensure goods procured are as per the company’s policy on quality and standards.  Discussions, negotiations & finalizations of commercial contracts with the client/customer and negotiate prices, deliveries, terms and conditions with vendors.  Resolve disputes/claims with vendors, negotiate/establish best open commercial terms with them and create successful alliance and build strong business relationships. Also to identify/develop new vendors for timely procurement of quality goods.  Providing guidance to the team in all related matters thereby delivering customer satisfaction while ensuring that the company’s goals and objectives are met.  Overall control over the departmental budget and cost improvement processes apart from the routine departmental administrative work.

➔ Validate requisitions for completeness & viability and material sourcing as per client requirements. ➔ Evaluating tenders and selection of vendors based on technical competency & competitive pricing and preparing tender packages for clients, ➔ After PO award from the client, negotiate terms with vendors, approve compliant orders & develop purchase agreements complying with project requirements and place POs with selected vendors after careful review. ➔ Provide on-going PO administration like order amendments, order acknowledgement, expediting, rescheduling etc. as required during the life of the order. ➔ Guide and coordinate all expediting activities, inspection of goods/equipment using third party inspectors, manage monitoring, compliance & resolution of discrepancies, OS&Ds/NCRs and obtaining approval from engineering. ➔ Liaise with the relevant parties for shipment of goods from vendors through freight forwarders to the Project sites and approve project payment applications. ➔ Lead &implemented effective sourcing strategies to achieve excellent support on delivery & order fulfilment and developed vendor base and partnerships to create a reliable & long-term source of supply by pre-qualification process.