ProLog Award for Procurement and Logistics

Participation in the ProLog Award – for the talented and the professional

With the ProLog Award, we would like to honor the work of young people as well as that of professionals on the subjects that are most important to us: supply chain management, low-cost sourcing, supplier management, global sourcing and day-to-day purchasing as well as other areas and programs in procurement.

The application period for the category ProLog Award 2009 has expired. In 2010, there will be a new opportunity to apply. Therefore please visit our website regularly. We will inform you on time, when the next competition is about to restart.

Procurement

A global player active in more than 220 countries with around 500,000 employees – for the daily world of work, this creates a highly disparate demand for products and services. The procurement organization of Deutsche Post DHL has to provide planes, fleets of vehicles, buildings, IT and communications, production systems, printed material, and various services all over the world.

In order to meet this demand most efficiently, the Group relies on a modern global procurement network that can react to special regional differences involving demand and supply. In terms of an effective total-cost-of-ownership strategy, all costs that can arise during a product's life cycle are included.

As a result of this integrated and global focus in procurement, the working environment of the purchasing agent has changed dramatically. The purchasing agent has to have a deep understanding about the market and to be strongly committed to the company if he or she is to master the procurement of processes and services required today. Professionalism in procurement also means that an employee recognizes the limitations of his or her knowledge and can draw on external expertise and resources that he or she is unable to develop on his or her own or without a major effort. The strategic partnership between service provider and purchasing agent is the key to success. The goal: the highest level of efficiency along the entire logistics value chain that will pay off for all sides.

The work submitted in the competition is judged by Dr. Hugo Eckseler, service department head of Corporate Procurement, procurement managers at Deutsche Post DHL and Professor Christopher Jahns, Dean of the European Business School and Executive Director of the Supply Chain Management Institute at the European Business School.

The winners of the procurement awards in separate categories for college graduates and professionals will be invited to present their work at an event held at Deutsche Post DHL. The event will also be an excellent time to network with representatives from procurement management and human resources.

Please note: In 2009, the ProLog Award was presented only in the professional category as an exception to the rule. The presentation was made as part of the annual conference of the International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association (IPSERA). You can find more detailed information about this year’s conference at www.ipsera2009.com.

Focus on "green purchasing"

Deutsche Post DHL and the Supply Chain Management Institute (SMI) of the European Business School have conferred the ProLog award for procurement and logistics for the third time. The prize honors scientific work which is heavily related to practice.

In contrast to previous years, the jury this year awarded two first places: Helen Walker of the Warwick Business School impressed the jury with a study on "Sustainable procurement – a literature review", while a team of writers consisting of Stephan M. Wagner (ETH Zurich), Linda Silver Coley (Miami University) and Eckhard Lindemann (WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management) scored with their analysis of the effects of inequity in the relationship between buyers and suppliers.

"Both studies are of great interest to the procurement practitioner," explained Hugo Eckseler, Head of Corporate Procurement. "Sustainable procurement and the relationship with suppliers are issues that we deal with on a daily basis. These distinguished scientific studies provide us with interesting ideas."

Economics of sustainable procurement

Is sustainableprocurement economically disadvantageous? In her study, Helen Walkerfinds that the exact opposite is often the case. Companies thatincorporate sustainability in procurement and supply chain managementare generally more efficient in economic terms. "Procuring the cheapestgoods and services available is not always the cheapest alternative.Especially if you look at the whole product life cycle, a solutionwhich also includes environmental and social aspects, can be cheaper inthe long term." Involving suppliers and customers is also of particularimportance in this regard.

According to Walker, a major challengefor both companies and the public sector is achieving the right balanceof social responsibility, environmental protection and profitability inthe procurement process. "The challenge is to find a solution that winsin all of these aspects. Striking a good balance requires a verywell-thought-out formula and intensified research in the area ofsustainable procurement can be very useful," advises the prize winner.

Do you want to make your mark in scholarship? Do you want to prove your analytical abilities, your knowledge and your research drive in the subject of procurement to yourself and the academic world? Then you should compete for the ProLog Award! Make the same impression on the jury that both prize winners of the last ProLog Awards did. Win attractive prize moneys  and enjoy the recognition that you will receive at an exclusive awards ceremony!

The application period for the category ProLog Award 2009 has expired. In 2010, there will be a new opportunity to apply. Therefore please visit our website regularly. We will inform you on time, when the next competition is about to restart.