Transforming the Way: The KiwiRail Story
In New Zealand, KiwiRail’s Supplier Relationship Management story is one of innovation and journey-making. It is moving from a more reactive paradigm towards one characterised by innovation, resilience, and a focus on the future.
Who is KiwiRail?
KiwiRail is a state-owned enterprise operating rail freight, ferry, property, and tourism business. Delivering significant economic benefits to New Zealand, KiwiRail takes trucks off the road, reduces carbon emissions and road maintenance costs, easing congestion in cities and making roads safer.
Given the breadth of their mission, KiwiRail has a diverse range of suppliers to support their objectives including infrastructure, engineering, energy, professional services, IT, property and facilities, logistics to ship and maritime organisations.
The diversity in suppliers has allowed the group procurement function within KiwiRail to adopt a continuous improvement mindset with a focus on sustainable outcomes for New Zealand.
By using a supplier segmentation approach they have:
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To minimise opinion, or developed perspectives and biases by focusing on what you can show to be true.
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Highlighted gaps in current knowledge about the category or supplier base.
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Adjusted question weightings to align with KiwiRail’s strategy and priorities. A one size all approach won’t fit all organisations. Supplier relationship management should be tailored to your organisation’s unique characteristics.
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Worked with internal stakeholders and suppliers to create an engagement tool to promote healthy discussion. Putting this into practice makes challenging conversations easier by sharing a framework for conversations.
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This is a journey that is always maturing.