Jim Nelles is a supply chain and procurement executive with leadership experience across major companies and private equity. He shares how he found his way into procurement and why the function can create real value for a business.

Jim explains why private equity firms look to procurement to improve EBITDA, how teams uncover savings, and why procurement should be treated as a profit center rather than a cost center. He also makes the case for better ways to measure real savings, for finance to validate results, and for stronger incentives when procurement delivers.

The conversation closes on technology, AI, and the future of manufacturing, including how better tools can take repetitive work off procurement teams and give them more time to think strategically.