Flevy Management Insights Case Study
Strategic Procurement for Mid-size Construction Company in Urban Projects


Fortune 500 companies typically bring on global consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture, or boutique consulting firms specializing in Lean Supply Chain to thoroughly analyze their unique business challenges and competitive situations. These firms provide strategic recommendations based on consulting frameworks, subject matter expertise, benchmark data, KPIs, best practices, and other tools developed from past client work. We followed this management consulting approach for this case study.

TLDR A mid-size construction company struggled with a 20% increase in procurement costs and inefficiencies in its supply chain, compounded by fluctuating raw material prices. By implementing lean supply chain practices and advanced procurement technologies, the company achieved a 15% reduction in procurement costs and improved efficiency, underscoring the importance of Strategic Planning and Change Management in optimizing procurement processes.

Reading time: 11 minutes

Consider this scenario: A mid-size construction company specializing in urban projects faces challenges in developing a lean supply chain and sourcing strategy.

Internally, the company is experiencing a 20% increase in procurement costs due to inefficiencies and supplier mismanagement. Externally, the market is highly competitive with fluctuating raw material prices impacting margins by 15%. The primary strategic objective is to optimize the sourcing and procurement process to enhance competitiveness and profitability.



This organization is a mid-size construction company specializing in urban projects. It faces significant challenges in implementing a strategic sourcing strategy and a lean supply chain. The organization is grappling with a 20% increase in procurement costs due to inefficient processes and supplier mismanagement. Additionally, fluctuating raw material prices have eroded margins by 15%. The primary objective is to optimize sourcing and procurement to enhance competitiveness and profitability.

Market Analysis

The construction industry is experiencing robust growth driven by urbanization and infrastructure development. However, it faces challenges such as material price volatility and regulatory changes.

We begin our analysis by evaluating the primary forces driving the industry:

  • Internal Rivalry: High due to numerous competitors ranging from large multinational firms to specialized local players.
  • Supplier Power: Elevated as suppliers of key materials hold significant pricing power, especially in periods of high demand.
  • Buyer Power: Moderate; while large clients can negotiate better terms, smaller projects have less bargaining power.
  • Threat of New Entrants: Moderate; entering the market requires substantial capital investment but specialization can offer entry points.
  • Threat of Substitutes: Low, as construction projects typically require specific materials and expertise not easily substituted.

Emerging trends include a shift towards sustainable construction practices and increased usage of digital tools for project management. As a result:

  • Adoption of Green Building Standards: Opportunities for differentiation and brand enhancement; risks include increased initial costs.
  • Integration of Digital Tools: Can streamline operations and improve efficiency; risks involve significant upfront investment and training requirements.
  • Fluctuating Material Costs: Requires agile procurement strategies; risks include margin pressure.

A PESTLE analysis reveals that political stability and regulatory frameworks in urban areas are generally favorable, but economic fluctuations and technological advancements necessitate continuous adaptation.

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Internal Assessment

The company has strong expertise in urban construction and a solid track record but struggles with procurement inefficiencies.

SWOT Analysis

The organization's strengths include its extensive urban project experience and skilled workforce. Opportunities lie in adopting advanced procurement technologies and expanding into new urban areas. Weaknesses are evident in procurement inefficiencies and supply chain management. Threats include competitive pressures and material price volatility.

4 Actions Framework Analysis

To address procurement inefficiencies, the company should eliminate redundant supplier contracts, reduce dependency on single suppliers, raise the adoption of procurement technology, and create partnerships with innovative material suppliers. These actions will streamline procurement and reduce costs.

JTBD Analysis

Clients require timely project completion within budget. The job to be done involves ensuring reliable material supply and cost-effective procurement. Addressing this will enhance client satisfaction and project profitability.

Strategic Initiatives

The leadership team formulated strategic initiatives based on the comprehensive understanding gained from the previous industry analysis and internal capability assessment, outlining specific, actionable steps that align with the strategic plan's objectives over a 3-5 year horizon to drive growth by 20% over the next 12 months .

  • Implement Lean Supply Chain: This initiative aims to streamline the procurement process and eliminate waste, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. The source of value creation is improved operational efficiency, expected to result in a 15% reduction in procurement costs. Requires investment in lean training and procurement technology.
  • Supplier Relationship Management: Develop stronger partnerships with key suppliers to ensure reliable material supply and better negotiation terms. This will create value by ensuring supply continuity and cost savings, expected to improve margins by 10%. Needs dedicated supplier management teams and relationship-building initiatives.
  • Adopt Advanced Procurement Technologies: Utilize digital procurement platforms to enhance sourcing, contract management, and spend analysis. This will optimize procurement processes, leading to a 20% increase in procurement efficiency. Requires investment in technology and training for procurement staff.

Lean Supply Chain Implementation KPIs

KPIS are crucial throughout the implementation process. They provide quantifiable checkpoints to validate the alignment of operational activities with our strategic goals, ensuring that execution is not just activity-driven, but results-oriented. Further, these KPIs act as early indicators of progress or deviation, enabling agile decision-making and course correction if needed.


In God we trust. All others must bring data.
     – W. Edwards Deming

  • Procurement Cost Reduction: Tracks the percentage decrease in procurement costs, indicating improved efficiency.
  • Supplier On-Time Delivery Rate: Measures the percentage of materials delivered on time, ensuring project timelines are met.
  • Procurement Cycle Time: Tracks the time taken from order placement to delivery, reflecting process efficiency improvements.

These KPIs provide insights into operational efficiency, supplier performance, and the overall effectiveness of procurement strategies. Monitoring these metrics will enable timely adjustments to ensure strategic objectives are met.

For more KPIs, take a look at the Flevy KPI Library, one of the most comprehensive databases of KPIs available. Having a centralized library of KPIs saves you significant time and effort in researching and developing metrics, allowing you to focus more on analysis, implementation of strategies, and other more value-added activities.

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Stakeholder Management

Success of the strategic initiatives hinges on the involvement and support of both internal and external stakeholders, including procurement teams, suppliers, and IT departments.

  • Procurement Teams: Responsible for implementing lean supply chain practices and managing supplier relationships.
  • Suppliers: Crucial for ensuring reliable material supply and collaboration on cost-saving initiatives.
  • IT Department: Essential for deploying and maintaining procurement technologies.
  • Project Managers: Ensure materials are supplied on time to meet project deadlines.
  • Finance Team: Responsible for budgeting and monitoring cost savings from procurement initiatives.
Stakeholder GroupsRACI
Procurement Teams
Suppliers
IT Department
Project Managers
Finance Team

We've only identified the primary stakeholder groups above. There are also participants and groups involved for various activities in each of the strategic initiatives.

Learn more about Stakeholder Management Change Management Focus Interviewing Workshops Supplier Management

Lean Supply Chain Best Practices

To improve the effectiveness of implementation, we can leverage best practice documents in Lean Supply Chain. These resources below were developed by management consulting firms and Lean Supply Chain subject matter experts.

Lean Supply Chain Deliverables

These are a selection of deliverables across all the strategic initiatives.

  • Sourcing Strategy Framework (PPT)
  • Lean Supply Chain Roadmap (PPT)
  • Supplier Management Plan (PPT)
  • Procurement Efficiency Report (Excel)
  • Technology Adoption Guidelines (PPT)

Explore more Lean Supply Chain deliverables

Implement Lean Supply Chain

The implementation team leveraged several established business frameworks to help with the analysis and implementation of this initiative, including the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) framework. VSM is a lean-management method for analyzing the current state and designing a future state for the series of events that take a product or service from its beginning through to the customer. It was particularly useful for identifying waste and inefficiencies in the procurement process. The team followed this process:

  • Mapped out the entire procurement process from supplier selection to material delivery.
  • Identified value-adding and non-value-adding activities within the procurement flow.
  • Calculated the time and resources spent on each activity to pinpoint areas of waste.
  • Designed a future-state map that eliminated or minimized non-value-adding activities.
  • Developed a detailed action plan to transition from the current state to the future state.

The team also employed the Theory of Constraints (TOC), which focuses on identifying and managing the bottleneck that constrains the entire system's performance. It was particularly useful for pinpointing the specific procurement processes that were causing delays and inefficiencies. The team followed this process:

  • Identified the primary bottleneck in the procurement process, which was the approval time for supplier contracts.
  • Analyzed the root causes of this bottleneck through stakeholder interviews and process audits.
  • Implemented targeted solutions to alleviate the bottleneck, such as streamlining the approval workflow and introducing automated contract management tools.
  • Monitored the impact of these changes and adjusted strategies as needed to ensure continuous improvement.

As a result of implementing VSM and TOC, the organization experienced a 20% reduction in procurement cycle time and a 15% decrease in procurement costs. The lean supply chain initiative successfully streamlined operations and enhanced overall efficiency.

Supplier Relationship Management

The implementation team leveraged several established business frameworks to help with the analysis and implementation of this initiative, including the Kraljic Matrix. The Kraljic Matrix is a strategic tool used to segment the supplier base and develop differentiated supplier strategies. It was particularly useful for categorizing suppliers based on their impact on the business and the complexity of the supply market. The team followed this process:

  • Classified suppliers into four categories: strategic, leverage, bottleneck, and non-critical.
  • Developed tailored strategies for each supplier category, such as forming strategic alliances with key suppliers and negotiating better terms with leverage suppliers.
  • Conducted regular performance reviews and risk assessments for strategic and bottleneck suppliers to ensure supply continuity.
  • Implemented supplier development programs to enhance the capabilities of critical suppliers.

The team also employed the Supplier Scorecard framework, which provides a systematic approach to evaluating supplier performance based on key metrics. It was particularly useful for ensuring that suppliers met the organization's quality, cost, and delivery expectations. The team followed this process:

  • Developed a comprehensive supplier scorecard with metrics such as on-time delivery, quality, cost competitiveness, and responsiveness.
  • Regularly collected and analyzed performance data from suppliers.
  • Conducted quarterly performance reviews with key suppliers to discuss scorecard results and identify areas for improvement.
  • Collaborated with suppliers to implement corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.

As a result of implementing the Kraljic Matrix and Supplier Scorecard, the organization strengthened its supplier relationships, improved supplier performance by 10%, and achieved better negotiation terms, leading to a 5% reduction in material costs.

Adopt Advanced Procurement Technologies

The implementation team leveraged several established business frameworks to help with the analysis and implementation of this initiative, including the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) framework. TCO is a financial estimate intended to help buyers and owners determine the direct and indirect costs of a product or system. It was particularly useful for evaluating the long-term costs and benefits of adopting advanced procurement technologies. The team followed this process:

  • Identified all direct and indirect costs associated with the current procurement process, including software, hardware, training, and maintenance costs.
  • Estimated the potential cost savings and efficiency gains from implementing advanced procurement technologies.
  • Compared the TCO of different technology solutions to identify the most cost-effective option.
  • Developed a detailed implementation plan, including timelines, resource allocation, and risk mitigation strategies.

The team also employed the Change Management framework, which focuses on preparing, supporting, and helping individuals and teams in making organizational change. It was particularly useful for ensuring a smooth transition to new procurement technologies and gaining buy-in from stakeholders. The team followed this process:

  • Conducted a stakeholder analysis to identify key individuals and groups affected by the technology adoption.
  • Developed a comprehensive communication plan to keep stakeholders informed and engaged throughout the implementation process.
  • Provided training and support to procurement staff to ensure they were proficient in using the new technologies.
  • Monitored the adoption and usage of the new technologies and addressed any issues or resistance promptly.

As a result of implementing TCO and Change Management frameworks, the organization successfully adopted advanced procurement technologies, leading to a 20% increase in procurement efficiency and a 10% reduction in total procurement costs. The initiative enhanced the organization's ability to make data-driven procurement decisions and improved overall procurement performance.

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Key Findings and Results

Here is a summary of the key results of this case study:

  • Reduced procurement costs by 15% through the implementation of lean supply chain practices.
  • Decreased procurement cycle time by 20% by identifying and eliminating bottlenecks in the approval process.
  • Improved supplier performance by 10% through the use of the Kraljic Matrix and Supplier Scorecard frameworks.
  • Achieved a 5% reduction in material costs by negotiating better terms with key suppliers.
  • Increased procurement efficiency by 20% through the adoption of advanced procurement technologies.
  • Reduced total procurement costs by 10% by leveraging Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis and Change Management frameworks.

The overall results of the initiative indicate a significant improvement in procurement efficiency and cost reduction, aligning well with the strategic objectives. The 15% reduction in procurement costs and 20% decrease in procurement cycle time demonstrate the effectiveness of lean supply chain practices. Additionally, the 10% improvement in supplier performance and 5% reduction in material costs highlight the success of enhanced supplier relationship management. However, the initiative faced challenges, such as initial resistance to adopting new technologies, which required extensive change management efforts. While the results are promising, the full potential of advanced procurement technologies may not have been fully realized due to the learning curve and initial implementation hurdles. Alternative strategies, such as phased technology adoption and more intensive supplier collaboration, could have further enhanced the outcomes.

For next steps, it is recommended to focus on continuous improvement and further optimization of the procurement process. This includes conducting regular reviews of procurement practices to identify additional areas for cost savings and efficiency gains. Strengthening supplier relationships through ongoing performance assessments and development programs will ensure sustained improvements in supplier performance. Additionally, investing in advanced analytics and procurement technologies will enable more data-driven decision-making and further enhance procurement efficiency. Finally, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the procurement team will help sustain the gains achieved and drive future success.

Source: Strategic Procurement for Mid-size Construction Company in Urban Projects, Flevy Management Insights, 2024

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