The client leaned across the table and asked, “Is a customer-centric supply chain strategy the same as a demand-driven supply chain strategy?” Drawing from the Whiteboard: Building Customer-Centric Supply Chain Strategies. They are not the same, and the delivery of a demand-driven strategy does not mean the company will enable a customer-centric supply chain, or build/implement outside-in processes. Supply Chain 2030. MORE

I believe that supply chains build economies and save the world. I also believe that supply chains need a revolution. Supply chains respond, but they do not sense. I strongly believe that leaders must build their supply chains with new building blocks. While the traditional supply chain process was from the enterprise out to trading partners. Business Leader Confidence in ERP to Deliver on Supply Chain Visibility Requirements. MORE

Today’s supply chain processes are inside-out with a focus on orders and shipments. We have automated transactional data; but there are no systems available to take independent demand data (channel data_ and move it through a multi-tier supply chain planning system. The industry providers of Supply Chain Operating Networks (to enable many-to-many process flows) are consolidating. Is the market ready for supply chain finance enablement? MORE

Supply Chain Operating Networks: The building of supply chain applications using many-to-many architectures to connect multiple parties to multiple trading partners to improve multi-tier supply chain visibility, planning and execution to improve relationships in extended value chains. . Yet, the supply chain organization cannot see. Each sees supply chain as a function within a functional enterprise. MORE

Our look at the Top 25 (plus 4) Supply Chains of 2018 examines how the best companies in the world excel at managing their global supply chains. One of the most popular articles we’ve ever done is our look at analyst group Gartner’s annual ranking of the Top 25 Supply Chains. So the CSR score too is more of a popularity contest than a consistent metric. billion over the next five years to overhaul its supply chain. MORE

Most of the Integrated Supply Chain Planning Projects Generate Rubbish. At each location, the team wrung their hands as they told me their stories of “ Integrated Supply Chain Planning.” I can count the number of companies that are good at supply chain planning on one hand. Each are good at localized planning within a focused area of demand, supply, network design, transportation planning, material sourcing or finite scheduling. MORE

This and much more, in your Monday supply chain briefing from Arkieva. Supply Chain News. Sustainable Freight Action Plan for California is estimated to Improve Freight Efficiency by 25% in 2030. The Sustainable Freight Action plan released by California governor Jerry Brown outlines a long-term 2050 vision and guiding principles for California’s future freight transportation system. Supply Chain Strategy. Source: Supply Chain Shaman. MORE

Today Thoma Bravo, a private equity investment firm, announced a definitive agreement to purchase Elemica, a provider of Supply Chain Operating Networks for the chemical industry. In 2014 Thoma Bravo acquired GHX, a Supply Chain Operating Network for healthcare. The technology market for B2B supply chain is consolidating. The Supply Chain Operating Network technology market evolved from the trading exchange market in 2000-2005. MORE

We salute the year’s top advancements in supply chain technology and processes. Thanks to omni-channel distribution, 3-D printing, self-service logistics and other avenues of disintermediation, traditional supply chain roles are rapidly being transformed into all-new opportunities. Top 10 Supply Chain Innovations of 2016 : robot pickers, bridge-inspecting drones, autonomous freight shuttles, and more. MORE

In the last six months, in my travels, I have presented to supply chain teams in China, Belgium, France, Germany, Peru, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. I strongly feel that if I am going to cover the global supply chain that I need to experience it. Connectivity enabled the growth of the global supply chain opening up markets driving opportunity. Supply chain process development is slower. MORE

Functional silos define today’s supply chain organization. I did not understand warehousing and transportation until reassignment to a logistics role in 1985. I cut my teeth on early forms of supply chain planning. Like me, the traditio nal supply chain leader, grew-up believing in functional excellence and inside-out processes. The metrics reward functional thinking. This is also true of many of the organizations within supply chain. MORE

Luckily, the current movers and shakers of the logistics and supply chain world are all too happy to dole out sage advice in the form of blog posts, interviews, podcasts — you name it. The tips below cover everything from unified supply chains to automated collaboration integration and beyond. Click on a category below to jump to the section that fits your interests best: Planning tips to unify supply chains. Planning tips to unify supply chains. MORE

I will also pen my 95th report for this week’s Supply Chain Insight’s newsletter. We now reach 23,000 supply chain leaders globally with our newsletter and have over 50,000 views/month on Slideshare. Frustrated that my upcoming Supply Chain Insights Global Summit was in Phoenix, he asked if I ever came to Europe. We reviewed the orbit charts and progress of the recent Supply Chains to Admire Analysis for 2016. Supply Chain 2030. MORE

In 2006, lithium-ion batteries consumed only 20% of the global cobalt supply. As a finite but clearly valuable resource locked mostly in countries with difficult-to-track labor standards, cobalt’s supply chain has fallen under intense scrutiny in recent months, and companies are rushing to get their share. million metric tons (or 60% of the world’s supply). million metric tons. Cobalt demand will exceed supply by 42% in 2025 and 170% in 2030. MORE

In 2006, lithium-ion batteries consumed only 20% of the global cobalt supply. As a finite but clearly valuable resource locked mostly in countries with difficult-to-track labor standards, cobalt’s supply chain has fallen under intense scrutiny in recent months, and companies are rushing to get their share. million metric tons (or 60% of the world’s supply). million metric tons. Cobalt demand will exceed supply by 42% in 2025 and 170% in 2030. MORE