What happens if your biggest supplier stops tomorrow? A 30 minute test
Small Steps, Stronger Supply Chain, part 2 of 8 It is an uncomfortable question, which is exactly why it is worth asking on a calm day. You can start answering it with half an hour and three headings: day one, week one and month one. A scenario A packaging converter with 60 staff buys its […]
Who really supplies you? A 30 minute supplier map
Small Steps, Stronger Supply Chain, part 1 of 8 Most businesses can name their main suppliers. Far fewer can say, quickly, which of them they could not replace this month. The gap between those two answers is where supply chain problems tend to start, and closing it takes less time than you might expect. A […]
Supply Chain – From Capability to Credibility
From capability to credibility: what buyersnow assess in local suppliers For Small to Medium Size enterpries (SMEs), supply chains have never been more demanding, or more full of opportunity. Larger organisations are being asked to manage risk, respond faster, meet higher standards and evidence progress against sustainability commitments. One consequence is that they are looking […]
Why Pharma Supply Chains Need Experienced SMEs Now More Than Ever
Pharma supply chains don’t tend to fail loudly. They fail quietly, in small delays, missing data, unclear ownership, validation friction, supplier gaps, or a process that “sort of works” until the pressure hits. And when something does go wrong, it’s rarely because a team wasn’t trying. It’s because they didn’t have the right expertise at […]
Entering Larger Supply Chains: Why Buyer-readiness Matters for SMEs
For many SMEs, entering larger supply chains can be a valuable growth opportunity. It can lead to new customer relationships, stronger commercial partnerships and a more resilient pipeline of work. However, capability alone is not always enough to secure those opportunities. Larger buyers are often looking for suppliers that can demonstrate resilience, reliability and readiness, […]
Supply Chain Resilience: Why It Matters More Than Ever
Over the past few years, supply chains have faced significant disruption. From global events and economic uncertainty to changing customer expectations and increasing regulatory requirements, businesses are operating in a more complex environment than ever before. As a result, supply chain resilience has become a growing priority for organisations across manufacturing, engineering and wider supply […]
MOAT Appointed by InterTradeIreland to Support Delivery of New SupplyChain+ Programme
MOAT has been appointed by InterTradeIreland to support delivery of SupplyChain+, a new three-year programme focused on helping SMEs strengthen capability and improve access to larger supply chain opportunities across Ireland and Northern Ireland. The programme will support SMEs operating across various sectors including, Pharmaceutical Med Tech, Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Aerospace/Space and Tradeable Services through […]
The SME Guide to Winning Work with Large Pharma and Manufacturing Companies
SMEs often underestimate how close they are to winning work with global pharma and manufacturing companies.The capability is there.The effort is there.But the positioning, readiness and narrative sometimes fall short of what procurement teams need to see. Here’s what makes SMEs stand out: 1. A clear, evidence-based capability statement Not just “what you do”, but […]
The New Procurement Landscape: ESG, Risk and Supplier Readiness
Procurement used to focus on price, quality and delivery. Now it’s also climate reporting, ethical sourcing, energy use, digital traceability, dual-market compliance and a growing list of regulatory obligations. The job hasn’t just evolved. It’s multiplied. What we see across pharma, manufacturing and life sciences is a widening gap between what procurement teams need from […]
Strengthening Supply Chain Resilience in Ireland: What SMEs Need to Know in 2026
Supply chain risk for Irish SMEs has fundamentally changed. Regulatory pressure is increasing, cross-border complexity is growing, and expectations around visibility, compliance and sustainability are rising fast. We’ve produced a practical guide for Irish manufacturing and pharmaceutical SMEs outlining what is changing across the supply chain landscape in 2026 — and what businesses can realistically […]