Jowat Magazine 2015-01 EN

also that a partner supports our focus on innovations and teamwork, and goes along with our cooperative business style as well as with our corporate values. This also refers to our standards concerning the production conditions at our suppliers: We do not look the other way. We want to know everything, also with regard to the quality of the workplaces and environments, and this also is reflected in our evaluations. Menzel: What makes the Purchasing Department an attractive partner for suppliers and throughout the company? Reineke: The Raw Materials Purchasing Department is a global team of experts with coordinated activities, high cooperative competence and a clear focus on the internal customer. The professional competence in Purchasing consists on the one hand of a constantly updated overview of the raw materials markets in all regions of the Jowat world, and on the other of the product know-how, to be able to recognize raw material innovations and to be able to discuss these with the suppliers and the Jowat R&D team. This is crucial, to justify the work involved in obtaining samples for testing and evaluation by the R&D. Handling the relationships with our external and internal customers and suppliers is also important: staying in contact, remaining open for new topics, and an approach that is service-oriented and appreciative. The raw materials suppliers perceive Jowat as attractive development partner, and we always strive to comply with this image. Menzel: What are the trends you expect to be confronted with in the coming years? Reineke: In focus are clearly the raw materials that are produced on a sustained basis. For our department, this requirement is accompanied by the problems of availability and cost. In consequence, we shall have to go through many negotiating cycles in the coming years. Menzel: Which raw materials resulted in the latest real innovation for your company? Reineke: For instance the raw materials offering clearly higher value for products, that are available at an affordable price, like the metallocene-catalysed polymers. These are really new, well suited for our formulations, and additionally their basic properties reduced our problems for some tight availability situations we faced for some special resins. These kinds of products are much sought-after in purchasing. Red.: Raw materials are the source for economic efficiency and innovation. In which manner is Jowat investing into this major area? Reineke: Jowat invests in multiple ways in the raw materials management. On the one hand by expanding raw materials warehousing facilities around the globe, by using modern warehousing logistics and the expansion of stock. On the other hand, we also ensure that adequate staff in the R&D labs is available for testing the samples. And last but not least by organising events for the exchange of information between the teams involved in raw materials purchasing worldwide. Whatever we do, we never lose sight of the goal of raw materials purchasing: With our supply capacity of innovative adhesive products, we intend to provide the best support for our customers‘ efficiency and productivity. Interview partner Thomas Reineke, Director Purchasing

Jowat Magazine 2015-01 EN

Pages Overview