Problems I see in many industrial companies
Large companies solved this with processes and strategy. I help you apply it without needing a 20-person department.
- Purchasing depends on one or two people and there is no written process.
- Prices are accepted as they come, with no benchmark and no negotiation preparation.
- A single supplier for critical components and no plan B if it fails.
- Every shortage (chips, capacitors, PCBs) takes you by surprise.
- You deal with distributors when you could work directly with manufacturers.
- You do not know what you are overpaying in your bill of materials (BOM).
Services
Consulting sessions
Sessions focused on specific problems: preparing a negotiation, reviewing quotes, assessing a supplier's risk, choosing between distributor and manufacturer, defining processes, analysing databases or KPIs… I send you a work proposal and you receive a written summary with conclusions and next steps.
Request informationMonthly support
For companies that want to build or strengthen their purchasing function on an ongoing basis. We work on your priorities: processes, category strategy, annual negotiation plan, supplier development, training your team. Includes a written summary of every session.
Request informationOn-site day at your plant
On-site diagnosis, a workshop with your purchasing and engineering team, or intensive preparation of a negotiation. Only a few days a year are available; travel and expenses are paid by the client.
Request informationTopics I work on
- Purchasing organisation and processes
- Category strategy (semiconductors, passives, PCBs, EMS)
- Preparing and leading negotiations
- Tenders (RFQ), benchmarking and supplier selection
- Risk management and supply continuity
- Supplier development and evaluation (quality, delivery and cost KPIs)
- Suppliers in Asia: sourcing, audits and moving to a direct relationship
- BOM analysis and savings opportunities
- Training purchasing teams
Clients
Industrial SMEs and EMS manufacturers
Companies that build products and buy electronic components, PCBs or subassemblies, and need to professionalise their purchasing without hiring a full-time purchasing director.
Purchasing departments of large companies
Teams that need an external, independent view: reviewing a category strategy, preparing an important negotiation or reorganising processes.
My focus: direct (production) purchasing. Electronics, semiconductors, passive components, PCBs, EMS and embedded software licences. I do not work on indirect purchasing (general services, facilities, travel, office supplies): I would rather be a specialist than a generalist.
A buyer's experience, not a PowerPoint consultant's
I have sat on the other side of the table.
Many consultants process the data you give them. I spent over ten years generating that data, buying for real production plants.
Processes from the most demanding school.
I was trained in the purchasing department of one of the world's largest automotive and electronics multinationals, where everything has a process. That discipline is what smaller companies usually lack.
Strategy at scale.
As a global semiconductor buyer I defined category strategies for a purchasing volume in the hundreds of millions of euros a year, presented to top management.
An engineer before a buyer.
A background in electronic engineering and experience in product development: I speak the same language as your technical team and the supplier's engineers.
Real cross-cultural negotiation.
I have work and personal experience in China, Japan, Germany and the UK, and I negotiate every day with suppliers from China, Japan and Europe. Advanced training in negotiation techniques.
You work directly with me.
No juniors and no intermediaries: the person who listens to you is the person who does the work.
Results
- No stoppages
Semiconductor crisis
In the middle of a crisis, with a structural shortage of parts, upward price pressure and soaring lead times, I managed the supplier strategy for several semiconductor families for a manufacturer in the automotive sector. Result: price increases below the market and no customer left without supply.
- Several plants
Passive component shortage
During a global capacitor shortage, I coordinated directly with the manufacturers to secure and prioritise deliveries. Result: continuity of supply at several production plants, with no line stoppages.
- ×5
From distributor to manufacturer
I widened the supplier base in Asia for dozens of components and moved the key suppliers from distributor to a direct relationship with the manufacturer. Result: the volume bought direct grew fivefold, with better cost and more secure supply.
- 5–10 %
Annual negotiation of a large category
Annual negotiations, tenders and benchmarks with the main manufacturers of a high-spend category. Result: annual savings sustained year after year, and multi-year contracts.
- From scratch
An electronics purchasing function
I took part in setting up an electronics purchasing function at a large Tier 1 multinational: processes, governance, strategy templates and KPIs, and coordination with teams in other countries.
How I work
- First contact.You write to me about your situation. I reply within 24 hours.
- Free initial call.We understand the problem and see whether I am the right fit.
- Proposal.I propose the right format: a session, monthly support or an on-site day.
- Work and follow-up.Every session ends with a written summary, conclusions and next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a purchasing department?
No. Many of my ideal clients are companies where purchasing is handled by someone in operations or by management itself.
Do you work with companies outside Spain?
Yes. The service is remote and I provide it in Spanish, English and German.
Can you help me with suppliers in China or Japan?
Yes. I have direct experience in sourcing, auditing and negotiating with Asian manufacturers, and in moving from a distributor to a direct relationship.
Do you do indirect purchasing?
No. I focus on direct purchasing, above all electronics. That is where I can add the most.
How do you charge?
Per session, per monthly package or per on-site day. I send you a specific proposal after the first call.
Tell me about your case
Tell me briefly about your company and the purchasing problem you want to solve. I reply within 24 hours. Or write to partner@ombraconsulting.pro