December 15, 2023
As an experienced manager and Supply Chain professional, Peter Bol undertook a volunteer project at an installation company in Uganda. In this blog, he shares the advice he gave and what he learned about cultural differences. "Such a trip is a true enrichment for your career; it makes you realize what Supply Chain is really all about."
Let me start this blog by promoting PUM, the Program for Sending Managers (Programma Uitzending Managers), which was founded by VNO-NCW and has been in existence for nearly fifty years. It's a volunteer organization that professionally connects Western experts with SMEs in developing countries. Assignments are thoroughly screened, and great care is taken to match expertise with a company's specific business needs. As an expert, you can register with PUM and will be paired with an entrepreneur in a distant country 1 to 2 times a year to undertake a short-term advisory project.
As a PUM expert in the sector of Sales & Value Chain , I was recently sent to Africa to advise a medium-sized solar panel installation company. This company, called All in Trade, needed some help to realize its growth plans. The company supplies solar panel systems to customers, enabling them to sustainably heat water or, for example, install street lighting. In a country like Uganda, this is naturally a golden opportunity, so the company is in a position to grow significantly. But the question was: are their logistical processes ready for this?
My official assignment was to audit the company's back office and see if I could identify improvements in five areas: warehousing, purchasing, inventory management, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. I believe I succeeded quite well. Based on observations and interviews, I was able to make several recommendations to All-in Trade's management. These weren't highly advanced solutions but rather fundamental matters, such as conducting a Pareto analysis of purchased parts and implementing a practical inventory ordering system. I also suggested to the company owner that they start working on business forecasting so that the company can plan its future inventory and capacity.
What always strikes me in these types of development projects is how strongly a country's culture can influence processes. One example I encountered at this company in Uganda was the extremely rigid division of tasks among employees. If you perform role A, you don't interfere with role B. When All-in Trade's installers go to a job, they never drive their own van because that's what the driver is for. During the installation, which often takes a full day, the driver then sits around doing nothing. My suggestion to have one of the installers drive from now on was met with incomprehension...
Another example I found was in All-in Trade's warehouse, which, in my opinion, was quite chaotic. There was a woman responsible for inventory management and inventory accuracy. The latter was a significant challenge for her, as she constantly had to count and check if the stock was correct. I asked, "Couldn't the installation staff occasionally help organize the warehouse between their jobs?" This, too, was a revolutionary idea for management.
Compared to the projects we typically undertake at UC Group, my advice to All-in Trade was far from groundbreaking. It mostly consisted of common-sense tips. For all five areas, I was able to provide practical guidance that they could immediately implement. The mere fact that the managing director could brainstorm with someone who looked at his processes with a critical eye and knowledge of Western best practices made the project worthwhile for him.
This last point was mutual. I also learned a great deal from this assignment and see it as an enrichment of my knowledge and experience. A Supply Chain project in a developing country makes you realize what truly matters in our field: teamwork, safety, and well-organized administration. I feel that we sometimes forget this in the Netherlands, and Supply Chain Professionals get lost in technological gadgets that serve no real purpose. Through such a project in Africa, you truly learn to separate the essentials from the non-essentials.
So, if you're an expert in Supply Chain or another field and, like me, enjoy applying your expertise in a developing country, then take a look at the PUM website. Businesses worldwide are eager for your advice, and it's absolutely an enrichment for your career. I can certainly recommend it!
The above article was written by Peter Bol. Peter Bol is a senior expert within the PUM organization in the Sales & Value Change sector.
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