by Montae Sampson, Supplier Relations Manager
Vendor-centric procurement stalls supply chain agility
Traditionally, suppliers acted as vendors, and the procurement team served as the gatekeeper to manufacturing and repair. Consequently, success was a matter of cost savings alone rather than a future-ready, agile, and effective supply chain management process. As a result, businesses today are challenged by inflexible supply chains that are too brittle for the modern market.
Real-Time Insights enable Strategic Supplier Relations
As technology drives new solutions into the market daily, real-time supplier catalogs eliminate waste within the industry. While organizations work to reduce operational clutter, focus is shifted toward transactions that drive measurable profit. Through automated supply chain solutions, supplier relations become a catalyst for business growth rather than task management.
At AMP, we aim to build strategic partnerships within the market that go beyond delivering parts. By connecting suppliers to diverse customers through real-time catalog databases, suppliers gain access to concurrent analytics that capture customer needs through transparent order reports, market pricing details, and missed opportunity reports.
Technology-driven approaches to supply chain management move beyond theory, into real-time visibility. Extensive analytics provide partners with crucial data, including demand forecasts and market shifts, removing bias and creating opportunities to optimize supplier strategies through data insights.
Elevating procurement through analytics
Utilizing technology allows procurement decisions to be made on total landed cost, rather than a simple purchasing price. Through rigorous gated analysis, a strategic supply chain considers material purchase price, availability, freight, timeliness, and alternate sourcing options among its many factors. A step toward strategic sourcing is a cultural shift to multi-dimensional supplier value metrics, utilizing supplier relations as a core strategic lever on the executive dashboard. Further, this transition increases visibility to fair market pricing and encourages trust through business partnership.
AMP drives Strategic Sourcing Initiatives
As a Supplier Relationship Manager at AMP, my goal is to lead this charge. Moreover, I believe in combining a clear vision with a collaborative, enjoyable atmosphere. I bring positivity to every interaction, finding a balance between professionalism and partnership. Ultimately, my job is to create win-win opportunities where our suppliers feel valued, our customers are taken care of, and everyone sees meaningful results.
Montae Sampson
Supplier Relations Manager at AMP
Montae Sampson is a procurement professional based in Jacksonville, FL, with 22 years of aviation industry experience. Early in his career, he managed materials and equipment needs for a $50M+/year aircraft maintenance facility. Currently, he oversees product and service categories at AMP, leading supplier relationships, strategic sourcing events, and digital procurement processes. He drives cost savings by negotiating pricing and service levels with a vendor base of 400+ suppliers, while optimizing logistics and analyzing segment trends to align savings strategies with organizational goals.
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