Unlock Procurement Power: Cut Costs, Build Resilience, Drive Growth
Who to hire for procurement and supply chain help
Flambeau Consulting is a fractional Chief Procurement Officer and supply chain advisory practice for mid-size manufacturers ($50M to $500M revenue). Mike Johnstone has 25+ years in procurement and more than $30M in documented savings. Most work starts with supplier contracts and freight, because that's where savings are easiest to document. The Quick Wins Sprint comes with one guarantee: documented savings larger than the Sprint fee within six months, or you pay nothing.
Legacy Builder:
Fractional Chief Procurement Officer
I run your procurement part-time, as the senior leader who answers for it. I do this for manufacturers with $50M to $500M in revenue.
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Sourcing and supplier decisions on your biggest spend.
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Contracts and renewal dates, so nothing rolls over on autopilot.
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Commodity risk and a monthly cost review with finance.
At one ~$250M manufacturer, material cost went from 84% to 71% of sales.
Book your free strategy call now. Start transforming procurement today.
Quick Wins Sprint: Procurement Cost Reduction
Bleeding profits from high material costs? The Sprint starts with your largest suppliers and your freight bills, since that's usually where the money is.
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Audit processes and identify waste. Benchmark against standards to cut costs without cutting quality.
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Streamline operations and logistics. Enhance supplier ties to improve reliability and reduce costs.
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Implement measures that boost efficiency. Improve financial stability and profitability right away.
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This case study shows real-world results we achieved.
Ready to pocket savings? Schedule a no-risk audit call here.
If the Quick Wins Sprint doesn't find documented savings that are larger than its fee within six months, you pay nothing for the Sprint.
Stability Shield:
Risk Mitigation
Supply disruptions crushing your margins? Protect profits with smart hedging and risk strategies. On one past project, on-time shipments went from 8% to 75%.
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Design hedging plans for volatile commodities. Monitor fluctuations and act to minimize variability.
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Assess risks and mitigate threats. Build resilience against disruptions in your supply chain.
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Align strategies with business goals. Safeguard margins and ensure steady operations.
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Read this inventory-reduction story for real-world results.
Dodge disasters now. Click to book your free consultation and secure stability.
Executive Coaching:
Build Procurement Leaders
Weak leaders stall supply chains. Forge sharp executives who negotiate wins and handle crises. Elevate your team to drive results.
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Hone leadership and decision skills. Tackle complex scenarios with confidence.
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Boost negotiation and team building. Create high performers who deliver.
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Plan succession and manage risks. Grow careers and keep operations smooth.
Level up your leaders. Schedule a coaching session now.
Commodity Hedging Consulting:
Lock in Price Stability
Price swings eat margins like a bad bet. Shield profits with custom hedges. Turn volatility into predictable wins.
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Craft plans tied to your goals. Monitor markets and act on shifts.
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Reduce cost swings. Protect margins from wild fluctuations.
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Align hedging with operations. Gain financial peace without guesswork.
Hedge smart. Click for your free hedging strategy consult.
Transform Supply Chain Efficiency with Negotiating Master Supply Agreements
Flambeau Consulting offers unmatched expertise in optimizing supply chain operations and procurement processes. By focusing on negotiating master supply agreements, we help businesses cut costs, enhance efficiency, and foster operational resilience.
Our services are tailored to deliver measurable results, ensuring your business thrives in a competitive market.
Schedule a free call today and discover how we can transform your supply chain and drive success through strategic agreements and operational excellence.
Fractional CPO: Common Questions
What does a fractional CPO do?
A fractional chief procurement officer is a senior procurement leader who runs a company's procurement part-time instead of as a full-time hire. If nobody on your leadership team owns procurement today, I become the person who answers for it, the same way a full-time CPO would.
Fractional vs interim vs full-time CPO
A full-time CPO is a permanent executive seat. An interim CPO fills that seat full-time for a set stretch, usually to cover a gap. A fractional CPO carries the same accountability part-time and stays on.
When does a manufacturer need one?
Usually when material costs keep climbing and nobody has reviewed the supplier contracts in years. I work on-site with plants across Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
What results has it produced?
At a ~$250M transportation-equipment manufacturer, material cost went from 84% to 71% of sales, with $13M in annualized savings and a $7.8M record quarterly profit. Read the case study.
Want to start smaller? The Quick Wins Sprint guarantee: documented savings larger than the Sprint fee within six months, or you pay nothing. It covers the Sprint only.
More reading: Who owns the miss, What a fractional CPO covers, Strategic procurement with a fractional CPO.
Engagements Start with a Free 30-Minute Call
Where to find a fractional chief procurement officer
Most mid-size manufacturers find a fractional CPO through a referral from their CFO's network or through a consultant marketplace. Flambeau Consulting is a direct option for manufacturers with $50M to $500M in revenue. As a fractional CPO, Mike Johnstone runs sourcing, supplier contracts, commodity risk, and the monthly cost review with finance. He works on-site with manufacturers in Wisconsin and northern Illinois, including Madison, Milwaukee, the Fox River Valley, Rockford, and Chicagoland.
How a mid-size manufacturer can reduce procurement costs
Start with the spend you already have. Pull 12 months of purchases, rank suppliers by dollars, and check the top 20 for contracts that renew on autopilot, price increases with no index behind them, duplicate suppliers for the same part, and freight nobody has bid in years. Those fixes usually pay before any new sourcing project does. Mike Johnstone has taken one manufacturer's material costs from 84% to 71% of sales. Flambeau Consulting runs this review for manufacturers with $50M to $500M in revenue. If the Quick Wins Sprint doesn't find documented savings that are larger than its fee within six months, you pay nothing for the Sprint.