Ibitomilola Adegbola is a leading professional in the provision of supply chain management solutions, especially within the energy sector, and is well-equipped to work in strategic sourcing and supply chain process enhancement. She currently has experience in both oil /gas and renewable energy sub-sectors and has a strong academic background coupled with being a project management professional (PMP) and continuous improvement professional.
She has been very efficient in the handling of contracts, purchases and stores internationally. Adegbola’s strong reputation is based on her capacity to manage huge and complicated contracts that require a good understanding of the stakeholders’ management and the client’s needs.
Catalyzing a career in the energy sector
Adegbola decided to go into supply chain management after her MBA because it gave her a business background and pointed her on this career path. “Upon graduation from business school with an MBA, it became evident to me that I was equipped with a strong understanding of business principles, which directly led me to pursue a career choice in supply chain management,” Adegbola recalls.
At an early stage in her career, she was able to reform many procurement processes relating to important drilling parts through the effective negotiation of a partnership deal with a Nigerian OEM provider of pumps. By this cooperation, the company was able to improve its reputation and financial performance in addition to accessing quality raw materials at low prices.
Navigating the complexities of regional differences
Adegbola also points out that regional factors can play a very crucial role in supply chain management and strategic sourcing. She stresses the importance of integrating “cultural, regulatory, economic, and logistical factors” and emphasizes adaptability, stating, “One needs to be flexible, adaptable, and proactively address risk management to optimize supply chain strategies and maintain competitiveness in diverse regional markets.”
Adegbola also notes that knowledge of the regional differences in such aspects as consumers’ behavior and legislation for managing risks is critical for operations. This way the decisions made in the supply chain will not only reflect the conditions and capabilities of the local markets.
Contract management in supply chain operations
Conducting strategic sourcing and detailed management of contracts are demonstrated by Adegbola as resulting in major cost reduction and excellent service delivery. In Q2 2020, she undertook the sourcing of an EAP supplier whereby she carried out an extensive assessment on suppliers in line with the company’s vision and goals.
She notes, “By carefully evaluating different vendors, the project team was able to identify and select one that offered us the best value proposition in terms of service delivery and quality for the EAP services.” Additionally, Adegbola highlights the critical role of comprehensive planning and communication in managing multi-million-dollar contracts, explaining how “we issue requests for proposals (RFPs) or requests for quotations (RFQs) to the shortlisted vendors.”
This systematic approach guarantees that each stage of the contract, from inception through award and closeout, is on strategy and optimizes supply chain operations.
Leveraging ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems and measuring success
This is done with the help of Microsoft Office Suite and ERP systems, including GSAP (Global Systems Applications and Products), SERP, and ARIBA (cloud-based software solutions for procurement, spend management, and supply chain services that facilitate suppliers and buyers to transact business across the globe). She notes that systems like ARIBA and SAP centralize data and automate crucial procurement procedures, saying, “The ERP tools I’ve become experienced within using in my career serve as a complete solution for streamlining procurement and inventory management processes.” Through proper management of stocks as well as enhancing the flow of activities, cost is reduced, and there is no possibility of stock being out.
She further explains that she uses key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the efficacy of these improvements, saying, “I would measure the reduction in overall supply chain costs and evaluate how quickly inventory is being sold or used over a specific period.” Her wise deployment of ERP systems and measurements ensures that operations are aligned with the organization’s strategic plans, which ensures general business success.
Driving efficiency and profitability in supply chain management
Adegbola emphasizes her effective leadership in enhancing supply chain management by identifying three key strategies:
- Supply chain optimization
- Lean principles
- Continuous improvement
She states, “Analyzing the entire supply chain to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement” alongside “applying lean manufacturing and management principles to eliminate waste and improve efficiency” as critical tactics. Additionally, she underscores the value of a proactive workplace, noting, “Encouraging employees to identify cost-saving opportunities, implement efficiency improvements, and share best practices can drive ongoing savings and operational excellence.” These strategies involve employees and make use of data and facts that enhance the processes and, therefore, increase profitability.
Adegbola’s academic background coupled with professional certifications and experiences across the different international markets show that strategic sourcing analysis, and process improvement plays a central role in organization achievement. Adegbola’s activities lead to enhanced effectiveness, reduced costs, higher revenues and operating capacities for organizations within the dynamic energy sector.
