A disciplined path from procurement problems to lasting capability.
Four stages, each one earning the next.
TRU North does not begin by prescribing a large transformation program. Engagements are structured in stages so leadership can understand the exposure, evaluate the opportunity, and make an informed decision before committing to broader work.
Procurement Risk Scan
7–10 business daysA focused review designed to determine whether procurement issues represent a meaningful financial or operational risk.
Scope
- One site or business unit
- Leadership stakeholder interviews
- Procurement-team survey
- Thirty-six months of available purchasing data
- High-level supplier and spend segmentation
- One executive readout
Leadership Receives
- Initial risk profile
- Procurement maturity snapshot
- Priority concerns
- Recommended next step
Procurement Visibility and Supplier Risk Assessment
Typically 3–4 weeksA deeper review of procurement performance, supplier exposure, working capital, commercial risk, and team capability.
Scope
- Up to two sites
- Stakeholder interviews
- Thirty-six months of purchasing and supplier data
- Direct, indirect, logistics, capital, tooling, and service-spend segmentation
- Critical-supplier analysis regardless of spend
- Executive readout with one revision cycle
Leadership Receives
- Executive procurement scorecard
- Supplier-risk heat map
- Procurement maturity rating
- Savings and working-capital opportunity pipeline
- Prioritized 90-day action plan
Procurement Transformation
Approximately six monthsTRU North works with leadership and the procurement team to implement the priorities identified during the assessment.
Possible Workstreams
- Procurement governance
- KPI and executive reporting
- Supplier-performance systems
- Strategic sourcing
- Inventory and working-capital improvement
- Category strategies
- Buyer and manager development
The assessment identifies the most important path. TRU North does not force every client into the same implementation model.
See How Transformation Works →Ongoing Governance and Fractional Leadership
For clients that need continued leadership support, TRU North can provide fractional procurement leadership, periodic executive reviews, KPI governance, coaching, and capability development.
Possible Support
- Weekly or monthly operating reviews
- Executive procurement health checks
- KPI and savings governance
- Manager coaching
- Interim leadership support
Pricing is scoped per engagement based on site count, data availability, and complexity — discussed directly once the right stage is identified.
Turn reactive purchasing into a controlled procurement operation.
TRU North uses the CORE framework to help manufacturers establish the visibility, accountability, operating rhythm, and internal capability required to sustain improvement.
Clarity
See what is actually happening: identify where cost, supplier, inventory, process, and capability exposure exists.
- Spend and supplier segmentation
- Supplier-risk visibility
- Procurement maturity assessment
Ownership
Define who is responsible for supplier performance, sourcing decisions, purchasing data, contracts, and escalation.
- Defined roles and decision rights
- Supplier ownership
- Leadership sponsorship
Rhythm
Install the reviews, scorecards, and follow-up routines required to prevent procurement from returning to reactive behavior.
- Supplier-performance reviews
- KPI scorecards
- Savings and risk reviews
Evolution
Develop the people, tools, and management practices required for the function to keep improving after the engagement ends.
- Buyer and manager development
- Client-owned tools and playbooks
- Leadership coaching
Standardize the process. Tailor the answer.
Everything is built to stay after the engagement ends.
TRU North does not keep the keys. The scorecards, workflows, and capability built during an engagement belong to your team.
Explore the Procurement Risk Scan
A focused, 7-10 business day review designed to determine whether procurement issues represent a meaningful financial or operational risk.