Supply Clusters

Tony Whyte- Procurement Manager VIC

By November 2007, just six months into our Supply Clusters membership, we physically saved $60,000 at "minimal cost" to Unimin.

Savings have been made on stationery supplies, electrical and safety equipment (prescription safety glasses), conference calls, photocopiers, domestic and international travel, indoor plants and tendering of gas and electricity.

Additional benefits we gain from Supply Clusters include;

• The networking and interaction between members, "sharing the same problems as I've got", sharing new processes or confirmation that what you are doing is right and what could be done better.
• Unimin is not a big player but thanks to SCA membership Unimin has the benefit of extra buying power. We have a relatively small spend on stationery which we would not be able to achieve the estimated 25% savings attained through the SCA collaborative buying.

I enjoy the Annual National Conference both for the people and special networking opportunities of the broader SCA community.

Brendon Green- Financial Controller NSW

Since joining Supply Clusters 5 years ago we've tapped into many of their Preferred Supplier agreements arranged by Supply Clusters. These are as follows:

• Office Products; Saving $20k per annum over what I was previously able to achieve (I call this one a no brainer, as do most members as this one alone typically well and truly covers the annual Supply Cluster Membership Fee).
• We then moved onto Telco spend and the first time round for all three areas (Mobile, Land Line Data) reduced our annual spend by $240k, 2 years later $70k and recently another $200k.
• Waste - Saved over $20k per annum.
• Office Water systems - Saved $12k per annum.
• Travel - Hard to measure but reasonably happy using SC Travel Manager and their online system via which we save about $5k just in booking fees alone.
• Recent used SNAP printing to save approx $20k per annum.
• Photocopiers - I estimate saving approx $80 to $100k over our old supplier approx 18 months ago.

Rizwan Ullah- National Procurement Manager NSW

Supply Clusters is the best Networking Group of like-minded people I've ever seen.

They are keen to get the best all round solutions for members like Crown. We have benefited from significant cost savings from Supply Cluster deals, but my company and myself personally have both also greatly benefited from the Supply Cluster buying group.

I highly recommend membership.

Vicky Davidson- Purchasing Officer NSW

I have no trouble whatsoever in recommending Supply Clusters.

Within the first year, I could calculate $100,000 plus in savings.

The networking is great, meetings held, give a chance to swap ideas, and also keep up with the latest "trends". Also they have Special Interest Groups "SIG" where we can attend work sites as a group to learn more. Even though we are on the Central Coast, I make the effort to attend as many Sydney monthly meetings as possible, on the theory there is always something you can bring back to your company as a benefit.

Their annual conferences are great as well, with plenty of information to take on board, but at the same time we have a great time with all members, suppliers, and Supply Cluster personnel as well.

There are several suppliers, whom I now utilized as my "Preferred Supplier" - transferring business over from small companies, which results in standardization, better pricing and service.

Hope you join, you won't regret it!

Greg Sewell Forgings James R Parsons - Purchasing Manager VIC

I have been a Supply Cluster Member for a period in excess of 10 years. Over that time, the companies I have worked for have received significant financial cost advantages from the supply agreements put in place by Ian Cook and his team of Associates. This, however, is only one of the advantages of our membership. There is no doubt that the networking with other members of the Purchasing profession is an invaluable insight to how much larger multi national organizations manage their purchasing spends. In the past, if I have needed information on a product or service I am looking to source, a simple e-mail to Brian or Jill Kimpton in the Melbourne Office, and my enquiry will be forwarded to all other members Australia wide. This has been an extremely useful service and has assisted me in locating a number of new sourcing opportunities.

There have been a number of members in the Melbourne Cluster who have changed jobs yet continue the Supply Cluster association in their new positions. This is indeed a testament to the benefits they receive from their involvement with this outstanding organization.

I have no hesitation in highly recommending to any potential members, the value of joining the Supply Cluster family.