In this episode of Inside the Chain, we sit down with Davie Thomson, a seasoned supply chain expert and former Nissan practitioner, to explore how world-class companies manage procurement, supplier relationships, and cash flow.

From his early days in procurement to working with supply chain systems inspired by Toyota and Nissan, Davie shares powerful insights on how businesses can move beyond cost-cutting and focus on long-term value creation.

We dive into topics like supplier trust, target costing, lean supply chain thinking, and how companies can stabilize or grow by understanding their cash cycle from end to end. Davey also explains his “timeline” approach, showing how inefficiencies in operations quietly drain cash, margin, and revenue.

Whether you’re a CEO, procurement professional, or supply chain leader, this episode will change how you think about cost, partnerships, and performance improvement.

🚀 What You’ll Learn:
Why choosing the cheapest supplier can hurt your business
How Nissan built strong, long-term supplier partnerships
The concept of target costing and how it drives profitability
How to identify hidden cash trapped in your operations
Practical ways to improve supply chain performance and resilience

📌 Who This Is For:
Supply chain and procurement professionals
Business leaders and CEOs
Operations and manufacturing teams
Anyone interested in lean thinking and business improvement

🔔 Don’t Forget:

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– Matt and the Inside the Chain podcast team

Connect with Matthew McSharry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-mcsharry-i4b Visit the insight4business website here: www.insight4business.co.uk

#InsideTheChain #MatthewMcSharry #SupplyChain #OperationsManagement #Manufacturing #Procurement #LeanSixSigma #SupplyChainManagement #BusinessTransformation #ContinuousImprovement #ManufacturingLeadership #OperationalExcellence
Inside the Chain is the podcast for operations and supply chain leaders who want real conversations, not textbook theory. Hosted by Matthew McSharry — founder of insight4business and a Lean Six Sigma practitioner with over 20 years of hands-on experience across manufacturing, FMCG, and engineering — each episode brings you honest, practical insight from the people actually doing the work.
From turnarounds and transformations to the everyday challenges of planning, procurement, and performance, Inside the Chain cuts through the complexity and gets back to what really drives results: people, process, and the right systems. Every guest has been in the thick of it — leading operations, fixing what's broken, and building businesses that perform. Whether you're a CEO, MD, head of supply chain, or someone who simply wants to make operations work better, this is the show for you.