Joanna Chamera, Purchasing Director at Quad/Graphics Europe, talks about the new challenges in the position of Purchasing Director that have emerged during the pandemic and war.
What was your career path like?
I have always been a very ambitious person who georgia mobile phone numbers database set the bar high for myself. Already during my studies (I have a master’s degree and an engineer in papermaking and printing) I received the award for the Best Student of the Faculty of Mechanics at the Lodz University of Technology. It turned out that I was the only woman in the history of the faculty to receive this award. The dean’s face when he gave it to me was priceless.
During my studies, I decided that I wanted to work in an English-speaking country to improve my language skills and get to know a different work culture. I found a company that funded a scholarship and I took part in a national competition for printing students. And because I had previously participated in international printing fairs, I had knowledge of the latest technologies used in this industry and I used this to win the competition and go to the USA for an internship and studies.
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My career began at Quad’s manufacturing plants in the US. I had the opportunity to work in all of the company’s production and administrative departments. I started my internship as a manual worker on a 12-hour shift with the crew operating the machinery park, and thanks to that I was able to learn and understand the entire production process. This gave me and still gives me a huge professional advantage. I also worked with machine operators who taught me how to operate printing machines. This knowledge and experience allowed me to build a lot of self-confidence and meet people who supported me throughout the years of my professional development.
The internship in the United States of America turned out to be an incredible experience also in terms of personal development. Spending so much time in another country allows you to deeply understand the culture and the way people function. I used this time to build relationships with people who worked at Quad. Despite the fact that many years have passed since my return, I am still in touch with many of them. Many projects that I later implemented were also created with the support of these people. The experience of working abroad teaches you independence, responsibility and, above all, opens your mind and allows you to think outside the box.
After returning to Poland, you were immediately offered a job in the European division of the company. How did your career develop further?
I started working as a quality control specialist responsible for implementing a color management system and as a teacher of printing subjects preparing a staff of specialists for the company.
The next big task was the project of implementing the ISO standard for color management. This task involved working directly with the client. Thanks to numerous trips to Scandinavian countries, I was able to gain knowledge from specialists who at that time had the greatest achievements in this field.
When the standardization project was fully implemented, I was asked to move to the purchasing area, which required profound changes. I took the position of vice director of the purchasing department and was responsible for establishing processes clearing a website’s cache in google chrome in 3 simple steps procedures, and for creating and modifying existing IT tools. My task was to bring this department into the 21st century from a technological perspective. After two years, I was promoted to the position of purchasing director.
In turn, 6 years ago I was asked to simultaneously take on the role of Managing Director in the CRT company, which produces paint. This is a very interesting experience, complementing the role of Purchasing Director. It allows me to look at the purchasing area from the point of view of a business owner. You have to be able to look from a global perspective at what is happening in purchasing – what are the expectations directed towards this area and how purchasing can support the organization.
What does your current job involve?
I make sure that my company has all the products and services that are needed for its operation. Since it is a manufacturing plant guinea lists it is crucial to ensure continuity and security of supply. Of course, the cost effectiveness of the production process is extremely important. Thanks to this, the company is able to gain a competitive advantage on the market.
What are the main responsibilities of a purchasing director?
My job is not just about managing and setting goals. In this position, I am responsible for the correct flow of information and for providing the data needed by the management to make the right decisions.
In an organization of the size I work for, the key tasks in my position include:
- establishing and implementing a purchasing strategy that is consistent with the company’s strategy and current needs, taking into account what is currently happening on the market;
- managing the entire purchasing team and setting goals and monitoring the achievement of these goals;
- analyzing what is happening on the market and informing managers what this means in practice for our business (i.e. what opportunities and risks we are dealing with);
- participating in strategic purchasing projects (the director not only delegates tasks, but also actively participates in strategic projects, e.g. as a negotiator);
- taking care of the team and continuous development of competencies that are necessary for the effective operation of the purchasing department.
Who do you work with?
Working in the purchasing department means working with all departments of the organization. Each department has smaller or larger needs. Of course, the key area is production and maintaining the machinery park, but it is equally important to ensure access to equipment and IT solutions for practically every employee of the company. In the production area, it is very close work with specialists, leaders, managers and directors on the selection of materials that work best in the production process. We also work very closely with the mechanical maintenance department to ensure continuous operation of the entire machinery park.
When we start a new project, we look for the person in our organization who has the most substantive knowledge in a given field in order to discuss and thoroughly understand what are the key aspects, criteria and parameters in a given project and what the potential barriers to its implementation may be. Our work can be compared to the work of a detective based on the knowledge of specialists and suppliers. At the start of the project, we also contact the suppliers of a given solution or product and ask the same specialized questions, thanks to which we are able to get a broader view of the subject.
Additionally, as a member of top management, I report directly to the CEO and participate in strategic meetings aimed at developing the company’s strategy. And for the last 1.5 years, due to the turmoil on both the European and global markets, I have been working very closely with the sales support department in developing strategies for cooperation with specific clients. In my opinion, this is one of the most interesting benefits of working in the purchasing department – working with people from all departments in the organization.
What are the most desirable competencies in a purchasing director?
- The key is interpersonal communication skills to sit down with experts in a given field, draw on their knowledge, and lead the conversation in a way that establishes all the key factors for the successful implementation of the project.
- The ability to build relationships with a business partner within the organization and with suppliers , who, given the appropriate size of the organization, become huge resources (they support monitoring of what is happening on the market and inform about the latest technologies and what is happening in our industry). This can give the company a very big competitive advantage.
- The ability to take a strategic and long-term view of the entire organization and the processes taking place within it , in order to know how to support the company in its further development.