Leading Supply Transformations!

The supply chain industry plays a vital role in ensuring that products are efficiently moved from raw materials to end customers, encompassing procurement, production planning, logistics, and distribution. This field demands the seamless integration of various processes, all aimed at maintaining operational efficiency and meeting the demands of an increasingly globalized market. The complexity of supply chain management has grown significantly, influenced by global disruptions and changing consumer expectations. Today, effective supply chain strategies are essential for businesses to remain competitive and resilient in the face of ongoing challenges.

Jacques de Villiers, Group Head of Supply Chain at Omnia Holdings, embodies the leadership needed to navigate these complexities. With a career deeply rooted in supply chain management, Jacques has played a transformative role in shaping the strategies that drive operational excellence. His journey from mechanical engineering to overseeing comprehensive supply chain operations highlights his ability to adapt and lead through challenging times. Jacques is known for his collaborative leadership style, which focuses on setting clear goals and aligning his team with a shared vision. His approach to supply chain management goes beyond logistics, aiming to influence and improve overall business performance.

At Omnia Holdings, Jacques’ contributions are integral to the company’s success. Omnia, a leader in its field, leverages his expertise to meet the challenges associated with overseeing a global supply chain. Jacques’ strategic initiatives support the company’s operations in agriculture, mining, and chemical sectors, ensuring efficiency and resilience across all divisions. As Omnia continues to grow and face global challenges, Jacques’ leadership in supply chain management remains an important part of the company’s ongoing success.

Let’s explore Jacques’ innovative leadership journey in the supply chain:

Early Career and Broad Perspective

Jacques’ interest in supply chain management began in his early years at Omnia. The complex and evolving nature of supply chains intrigued him—the challenge of ensuring products moved seamlessly from raw materials to end customers was both fascinating and fulfilling. Early in his career, he took on various roles that gave him a broad perspective of the supply chain, from procurement and logistics to production planning and inventory management. Over the years, he has worked in different roles within Omnia which allowed him to deepen his expertise and gain hands-on experience in different facets of the organisation and supply chains. Jacques has dedicated his entire professional career to Omnia, beginning over two decades ago as a mechanical engineer. His journey at Omnia began in Sasolburg, the company’s main production facility.

Over the years, he has transitioned through various technical and managerial roles, contributing significantly to the company’s growth and development.

Starting on the technical side, Jacques was deeply involved in numerous projects, playing a crucial role in the construction of several key facilities at Omnia, including operations in Sasolburg and Rustenburg. His experience in project management led him to oversee the construction of the nitric acid 2 facility, one of Omnia’s most substantial projects, with a budget of 1.2 billion rand. The conclusion of this project marked the beginning of his transition into supply chain management.

Following the success of the nitric acid facility, Jacques moved into supply chain management within Omnia’s Agriculture division and later the Managing Director role. He managed manufacturing, supply chain operations, and market-facing activities for the division until 2019.

He was an integral member of the team that led the division through challenging times, including a business turnaround that involved significant leadership changes and a transformation in the company’s operational approach.

Currently, Jacques serves as the Group Head of Supply Chain at Omnia, where he oversees the integration and optimization of supply chain processes across the company. This encompasses procurement, production planning, logistics, inventory management, and distribution. He is responsible for developing and implementing supply chain strategies that align with the company’s overall objectives and drive operational efficiency.

His role has been especially demanding over the past few years, as he has navigated the organization through global disruptions such as COVID-19, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and ongoing issues in the Middle East.

Jacques continues to play an important role in guiding Omnia’s supply chain strategy, ensuring the company remains resilient and adaptive in the face of ongoing global challenges.

Recognizing the Critical Role of the Supply Chain

Jacques has spent his career at Omnia, beginning as a mechanical engineer with a focus on building factories. His work on projects gave him a deep understanding of the technical aspects of the business. However, his career trajectory shifted when he decided to move into supply chain management, driven by a desire to gain a broader perspective on how the business operates and contributes to profitability.

He recognized the critical role that the supply chain plays in a company’s success, particularly in Omnia’s operations, where factors like purchasing, product quality, and timely delivery are key to maintaining profitability. His transition into supply chain management was not just about overseeing logistics but about learning how to influence and improve the overall performance of the business.

After gaining experience in the supply chain, he took on a leadership role, managing the entire agriculture business in South Africa. During a period of business restructuring, Omnia moved from a decentralized model to a more unified approach, known as “One Omnia,” where the supply chain was integrated across the business. He played a central role in this transition, driving efficiencies and unlocking value across the company’s operations.

In recent years, the importance of supply chain management has become more widely recognized, especially in the context of global events like the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He highlights that the most successful businesses are those with robust supply chains, emphasizing that a well-managed supply chain is essential for overall business success.

Collaborative Leadership in Supply Chain

Jacques has cultivated a collaborative leadership style, which is essential in supply chain management due to the diverse approaches and objectives within the field. Four years ago, he initiated a supply chain optimization journey aimed at improving the group’s overall supply chain. This journey required convincing stakeholders of the benefits and aligning them with the vision of the future.

In leading this effort, he focused on two key aspects: painting a clear vision and charting a course to achieve it. He dedicated significant time to change management, ensuring that everyone understood the changes and their implications. Despite his collaborative approach, he maintained clear boundaries on acceptable practices throughout the process.

To inspire and lead his team effectively, Jacques focuses on setting clear goals and expectations, providing the necessary resources and support, and recognizing and celebrating achievements. He also prioritizes professional development, ensuring that his team has access to training and growth opportunities. By creating a positive and inclusive work culture, he aims to drive high levels of engagement, productivity, and innovation.

In a business with a 70-year history, changing established cultures and ways of working can be challenging. He emphasized the importance of guiding people through this transition, helping them see the benefits, and leading the way to successful implementation.

Ensuring Alignment with Vision and Purpose

Jacques identified several challenges in his role, particularly in unifying well-established businesses with diverse cultures, leadership styles, value chains, and ERP systems. His primary focus was on building trust across divisions and achieving visibility throughout the organization. He addressed these challenges by securing quick wins and effectively communicating them to the team.

With 23 years at Omnia, he is deeply committed to the company’s mission, particularly in the mining and agriculture sectors across Southern Africa. He highlighted the importance of a successful Omnia in ensuring food security. Throughout his tenure, he highlighted key examples of Omnia’s resilience, such as maintaining supply during COVID-19 disruptions, floods, and major industry challenges. He also pointed to Omnia’s critical role during the 2021 Durban riots, where their unique supply chain approach ensured that farmers received fertilizer when other companies could not deliver it.

He stressed the importance of aligning the board, stakeholders, and executives with the company’s vision and purpose. The journey of change, which took about 2.5 to 3 years, required ongoing communication, stakeholder management, and a strong commitment to the long-term goals of the business.

Comprehensive Engagement with Stakeholders

Jacques has taken a comprehensive approach by engaging widely with customers, suppliers, and consultants to enhance supply chain management.

He sought insights not only from within the organization but also externally, looking at international and global practices that could be applied to their operations.

He emphasizes the practicality of executing supply chain strategies, acknowledging that the challenge lies in implementation rather than understanding what needs to be done. He collaborated with both global and local experts, integrating their input into the company’s strategies.

A key aspect of his approach was engaging customers and suppliers across the value stream to understand and address shared challenges. He remained open to being challenged by the strategies being pursued, ensuring a collaborative and inclusive process.

Commitment to Sustainability and Green Practices

Jacques plays a crucial role as the group executive, ensuring that the supply chain is aligned with Omnia Group Holdings’ overall strategy. His focus is on three main pillars: mining and the efficiency and reliability of assets in South Africa, growing the company’s presence in international mining, and expanding agricultural operations globally.

He highlights the importance of supply chain management in driving these strategic goals, particularly in distributing raw materials and final products. His efforts are concentrated on enhancing local operations while supporting Omnia’s international growth.

A key component of the strategy is sustainability. He is committed to reducing the company’s carbon footprint and exploring greener, more environmentally friendly practices. His work aligns with Omnia’s broader objectives, contributing to the group’s long-term vision.

Addressing Inevitable Disruptions

Jacques emphasizes the continuous need for innovation and improvement in supply chain management. He recognizes that disruptions, both internal and external, are inevitable and stresses the importance of challenging oneself and the team to find new ways to enhance the supply chain.

He advocates for engaging with other supply chain operators and consultants to gain fresh perspectives and ideas.

He has established a continuous improvement capability within his team, encouraging them to innovate and adapt.

This approach has been integral to the supply chain optimization journey that he has led over the past several years.

He underscores the necessity of flexibility and innovation, noting that supply chains that fail to adapt and improve will not survive. He fosters a culture where change is embraced and team members are supported in their efforts to find the right solutions, even if it means trying different approaches.

Committing to Continuous Improvement in Work-Life Balance

Jacques prioritizes a clear understanding of his non-negotiables, including family, personal health, fitness, and continuous learning.

Recognizing the demands of the supply chain environment, which operates 24/7, he emphasizes the importance of balancing these priorities with his professional responsibilities.

He acknowledges the challenges of maintaining work-life balance, especially given the intensity of his role. He stresses the need to allocate time to replenish energy and maintain personal well-being. Understanding the cyclical nature of work, he plans for periods of rest and time with family after more demanding phases.

While he admits that achieving this balance is an ongoing challenge, he remains committed to continuously improving how he manages both his professional and personal life. His approach helps him stay grounded and maintain a healthy perspective amid the demands of his role.

Advice for Young Professionals

Jacques finds the supply chain field exciting and full of opportunities. Over the past decade, it has gained prominence, and he anticipates even more innovation and opportunities in the future. He appreciates the comprehensive nature of supply chain work, which involves everything from planning and data management to logistics, manufacturing, and finance.

He advises young professionals entering the field to challenge themselves, continuously learn, and seek a broad understanding of supply chain management, such as procurement, logistics, production planning, and inventory management.

He stresses the importance of gaining a wide view to make informed decisions. His own experience at Omnia, where he frequently took on new roles, has provided him with a deep and broad understanding of the business, which he finds invaluable in managing complex supply chains.

Jacques believes “practical experience is invaluable, so seek out internships, entry-level positions, or project opportunities that allow you to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios.”

He highlights, “Networking is also crucial. Connect with professionals in the industry, join relevant associations, and attend conferences to build relationships and learn from others’ experiences. Mentorship can provide valuable guidance, so seek out mentors who can offer insights and advice based on their own career journeys.”

Making a Meaningful Difference

Jacques is deeply committed to the mission of Omnia Holdings. He believes that running a successful business is one of the best contributions one can make to a community, particularly in regions like South Africa and SADC, where economic stability and growth are crucial.

His legacy at Omnia revolves around leaving the company in a better state than when he joined. He focuses on investing in people, enhancing their working environment, and making supply chains more sustainable and reliable. He is dedicated to simplifying processes, reducing confusion, and addressing the anxieties prevalent in today’s world.

While he does not have specific aspirations for a new role, he values the opportunities Omnia has provided him to make a positive impact on the company, its people, and the broader community. He hopes to be remembered as someone who made a meaningful and positive difference at Omnia and beyond.

Guiding Principle for Lasting Impact

Jacques has adopted a guiding principle to leave a lasting impact on those around him, both within and outside of Omnia. Recognizing the company’s influence in employing 3756 people globally and its critical role in food security and GDP, he takes pride in contributing to this impact, benefiting farmers, miners, employees, and stakeholders.

Reflecting on Omnia’s supply chain success, he attributes it to the company’s strategic investments in infrastructure and agility. Since 2012, Omnia has invested significantly in rail infrastructure and nitric acid capacity, which has proven vital in overcoming recent challenges. He acknowledges the importance of building on the solid foundations laid by his predecessors and emphasizes the value of investing ahead of the curve in both supply chain and business operations.

Founded 71 years ago, Omnia’s purpose is ‘innovating to enhance life, together creating a greener future.’ Omnia began as an agriculture business and later expanded into mining, explosives, and chemicals.

This diversification has provided the company with multiple avenues for growth and flexibility. By supplying both the cyclical farming sector and the stable mining sector, Omnia can adapt to varying demands across different regions, adding value to farmers and ensuring product availability. The company’s flexibility and ability to utilize its diverse offerings have been key to its sustained success.