Supply chain leadership that speaks engineering.
Fractional and project-based supply chain leadership for manufacturers whose sourcing decisions depend on material performance, qualification, and quality.
When a sourcing decision is really an engineering decision.
In complex manufacturing, a new supplier is never just a purchase order. It's a material that has to perform, a qualification that has to pass, and a production line that can't stop.
Most supply chain advisors stop at the commercial side. Technical SCM Advisors brings senior supply chain leadership and the engineering background to understand what's at stake, then works alongside Engineering, Quality, R&D, Operations and Finance to get it implemented.
Two ways to work together.
Ongoing leadership for a function that needs to grow, or focused support for one problem that needs solving.
A senior supply chain executive, without the full-time hire.
Build, strengthen or scale the function with experienced leadership embedded in your team.
- Supply chain strategy and S&OP
- Procurement and supplier management
- Team development and organizational design
- ERP and P2P implementation, processes and controls
- Executive, board and investor support
One defined problem. A plan your team can run.
Scoped around a specific business issue, with recommendations built for practical implementation.
- Supply chain and raw material risk assessments
- Dual sourcing and supplier qualification
- Strategic sourcing and cost reduction
- Warehouse and inventory optimization
- Operations redesign and implementation
- Assessments for growth, audits or leadership transitions
From first call to working solution.
Intro call
30 minutes on the current issue, scope, and whether a fractional or project engagement fits.
Diagnose
Review data, suppliers and processes with your technical and commercial teams to define the real problem.
Plan & execute
Agree a scoped plan, then lead or support implementation hands-on, not from a slide deck.
Hand off
Leave behind the processes, controls and team capability to sustain the results.
Results from the plant floor, not a slide deck.
Supply chain decisions are often technical decisions.
Technical rigor
A chemical engineering foundation means supplier decisions are judged on material performance and qualification risk, not price alone.
Operator experience
20+ years running manufacturing, procurement and global supply chain teams, inside the companies, not advising from outside.
Practical execution
Recommendations come with implementation: working directly with Engineering, Quality, R&D, Operations and Finance until it's done.
Chemical engineer turned global supply chain executive.
Kevin Ripston began his career as a chemical engineer in manufacturing before moving into strategic procurement. He spent 13 years at Rogers Corporation and most recently served as Senior Director of Global Supply Chain at Aspen Aerogels.
He founded Technical SCM Advisors to give manufacturers direct access to that experience, for ongoing leadership or a single critical project.
Have a supply chain problem with technical teeth?
Introductory calls run 30 minutes. We'll cover the current issue, scope, and whether a fractional or project engagement is the right fit. No obligation.