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Description

Procurement and Supply Planning in SMEs: Define, Source and Replenish

Run procurement and supply planning in an SME without a dedicated department or specialised tools

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

In an SME, purchasing and supply planning are often handled by the same person, squeezed between two other responsibilities. Orders go out without any prior consultation, stock builds up by guesswork, and shortages are resolved in a rush with the first available supplier. The real cost of this improvisation never appears in the accounts.

Two days to put in place a process proportionate to the size of the business: define the requirement, consult a short list of relevant suppliers, place orders on clear terms and manage replenishment. The methods are designed to work with the resources an SME actually has.

Learning objectives

  • Define a purchasing requirement that a supplier can act upon
  • Run a straightforward consultation with several suppliers
  • Compare offers beyond the headline price
  • Place orders on clear and enforceable terms
  • Manage replenishment and reduce stock-outs

What makes this programme different

Tools calibrated for a company with no established procurement function
Each participant works on their own purchasing categories and current suppliers
A consultation comparison sheet and a reorder point are built during the session

Programme

1Defining the requirement before buying

What is decided before the consultation

  • Distinguish recurring purchases from one-off purchases
  • Translate an internal request into a usable specification
  • Identify total cost of ownership beyond the purchase price
  • Identify the purchases that genuinely warrant preparation work

2Consulting suppliers and making a selection

Putting offers into meaningful competition

  • Build a short list of credible suppliers
  • Write a consultation document that allows genuine comparison
  • Analyse offers against weighted criteria
  • Decide and justify the choice to the internal requester

3Ordering and securing the relationship

Written terms rather than verbal understandings

  • Agree price and lead-time terms before placing the order
  • Use a purchase order that commits both parties
  • Spot unfavourable clauses in the supplier's standard terms
  • Handle a delivery or invoicing dispute without damaging the relationship

4Replenishing without stock-outs or excess stock

The right level at the right time

  • Classify items according to criticality and turnover
  • Set a reorder point and a replenishment quantity
  • Track the lead times suppliers actually meet
  • Respond to disruptions without rebuilding dormant stock

Who is it for

SME owners and managing directors · administration managers · anyone responsible for purchasing and supply planning without formal training in the discipline.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.