Expert insights. Personalized for you.
When I first came across Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) I was sceptical of yet another ”blue sky” approach to pursuing manufacturing excellence. Surely, this would soon be replaced by the next set of buzz-word initials dreamed up by sharp-suited consultants. But no; I saw the light and now I’m a firm believer in this technique that originated in Japan. FMCG Dave Jordan Performance Improvement Manufacturing Footprint Supply Chain S&OP Cost Reduction MORE
Over several years I have been involved in many Integrated Business Planning (IBP) meetings as a facilitator, observer or participant. Every IBP process is rightly different in every company and sector, e.g. FMCG, Pharma, Agri but the basics essentially remain the same. IBP is a collaborative cross functional process that engages all functions to produce an integrated set of plans that all are committed to support. The purpose is to balance demand & supply in the extended supply chain. MORE
I have never been a fan of budget airlines and certainly not since one left me sleeping overnight in the back of beyond that is Luton Airport. That may be an exciting addition to a student’s back-pack holiday itinerary but when you have a glass back it is not so appealing. FMCG Dave Jordan Humour Performance Improvement Pharma KPI Supply Chain Supply Chain Analytics MORE
Whether you call it co-packing or re-packing this involves the further manipulation of a previously finished and complete SKU. Look around the shelves and the evidence of extra expense and work is displayed by special stickers, multi-packs and banded promotions amongst many others. The impact this has on your Supply Chain is potentially huge. I will park the question of the value (or waste) of these activities for another day but where is the best place to carry out such operations? MORE
Chris Rea has finally found the correct turn off, a lot of people in Africa still don’t know its Christmas and the novelty Santa toilet seat cover is back in the box. Oh, and chocolate Easter eggs are in the shops 4 months in advance. Christmas and the New Year holidays are well and truly over, and the clock is already ticking down on the month of January. FMCG S&OP Forecasting & Demand Planning Sales Inventory Management & Stock Control MORE
Only a few months into the year and I am hearing the same old complaints about the economy and business being in general ill health. However, there is a new recurring theme which popped up at various parties and gatherings over Easter; “my company doesn't seem to do anything different and just hopes business will improve”. Not going to happen, no way! FMCG Route to Market Logistics Service Provider Dave Jordan CEO Performance Improvement Pharma KPI Traditional Trade S&OP Cost Reduction MORE
February is here but blink and you will miss it as it is not a leap year. You cannot change January performance and February should be quite firm by now, so you need to be looking further ahead in your S&OP. Much further ahead. FMCG Dave Jordan S&OP Forecasting & Demand Planning Integrated Business Planning MORE
The definition of celebrity is a famous person, VIP, very important person, personality, name, big name, famous name, household name, star, superstar, celebutante, leading light, giant, great, master, guru. In that case why do I only know 3 people from the 2017 series? One boxer, a footballer with an ironic surname and Boris Johnson’s father. I don’t know Mr Johnson either, but he helped produce Boris the buffoon so probably deserves to endure a degree of hardship. MORE
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In the greater scheme of life many questions remain unanswered but my hobby horse question is why people and notably politicians and usually male at that, cannot get on with other nationalities and/or/religions. We are not here for long yet some people spend their lives causing or being affected by conflict. On a much less serious level my top 4 so far unanswerable questions are: Why would anyone want to eat cucumber/castraveti? MORE
In a related post I took a look at the use of Balanced Scorecards in FMCG, Brewing and Pharmaceutical businesses but in fact they are entirely appropriate for any business. Whatever your business size or offering you will benefit from knowing exactly what is going on and where you need to improve. For once I can name a specific company in this blog. Trotters Independent Traders (TIT) is a well known UK operation involved in general trading and “knocking stuff out”. MORE
We already find ourselves at 17 th January so not many days left to ensure your monthly top and bottom lines are on target. Good luck with that if your business (& body!) is only just shaking off the holiday excesses. What is top of mind? The sagging month to date sales rate? The slow return to normal of the S&OP meeting schedule? The upcoming corporate audit? Top of mind is where to go on your summer holidays and to get this booked as soon as possible. MORE
Another sign of getting old I guess. When was the last time you watched a football match when no tattoos were on show and the haircuts did not look like something out of the Time Warp musical? As I write England is still involved yet we are all waiting for the inevitable elimination on penalties. At least it won’t be to Germany this time – what rotten bad luck boys! Dave Jordan CEO KPI Supply Chain Sales MORE
If you do not specifically agree on what is expected between two parties before you start a relationship then anything and everything but success is likely. FMCG Route to Market Logistics Service Provider Dave Jordan Performance Improvement Supply Chain CEE Traditional Trade Logistics Management MORE
Yes I know, the recent blog posts have been a little Blog Gold meets Classic Blog with a touch of All Our Yesterdays and the History Channel but here is a fresh new offering. The last few months have been very busy both on the business and domestic fronts. The heiress has completed her Honours Degree in Fine Art so perhaps the annual student house move is a thing of the past. MORE
Last week I had another chat with a client about inventory.The essence of the client's problem was - "Why can't we get our stock right? We either have too much …. or run out … and we have just spent a fortune on a new IT system ….". Inventory Management Michael Thompson Integrated Planning supply chain analytics MORE
Your Supply Chain has been revised, optimised, transformed or even blue sky’d – yes, honestly have been present when this was used but managed to stifle a guffaw into a cup of hot chocolate. What a smooth running well oiled machine it has become. Processes and procedures have achieved ISO standards in all areas and KPIs shine like a halo above the Supply Chain Directors swelling head. You source competitively and you have a robust Supplier Certification process in place. MORE
Who coined “Big Data”? How did we get there without normal sized data, slightly larger data, chubby data and bordering on big data? People working in or associated with Supply Chains seem obsessed by data yet data itself actually tells you nothing. Really, not a lot apart from the fact that something is being measured or calculated. Firstly, a couple of information irritations. MORE
Laurel and Hardy, Morecambe and Wise, Abbott and Costello, Little and Large, Hale and Pace, May and Johnson. These are examples of double acts where one party plays the straight/stooge and apparently serious man while the other plays the fool/jester. I admit I am not too sure who is who in the last example. FMCG Dave Jordan Humour Supply Chain CEE S&OP Forecasting & Demand Planning Sales MORE
I started my career as an R&D type who helped bring new FMCG products to the market. Nobody really knew how a product made the transition from bench top and pilot plant testing to the supermarket shelves. Somebody must have been involved somewhere but this was hardly a cohesive team with job descriptions let alone aligned roles and responsibilities. Even then “somebody” was not part of the project team so with hindsight it was inevitable delays and mistakes would occur. MORE
By the end of February over 19% of the year will be behind you. Think about that for a minute. If you follow a financial calendar year you probably put your Annual Plan to bed in October and now nearly 20% of the available selling time has already gone. Shocker! FMCG Dave Jordan CEO Supply Chain INNOVATION MORE
Understanding the Total Cost to Serve our customers is an essential element to any Route to Market (RtM) Strategy. As FMCG professionals, we need to understand how much it costs us to service our customers. It is also not as simple as it sounds. MORE
There are many ways to link all the different planning activities in your FMCG/Pharma company. This could be done with one single tool like the SAP Advanced Planning Optimiser or a host of other tools and packages. Dave Jordan Humour Supply Chain Forecasting & Demand Planning MORE
Where has that first post-holiday month gone? Suddenly it’s the 24 th of January and there are only 7 calendar days and 5 working days until you close the month. Adopt panic stations despite what Corporal Jones of Dad’s Army would say. FMCG Dave Jordan S&OP Forecasting & Demand Planning Sales Inventory Management & Stock Control MORE
Some time ago I wrote about the way spreadsheets were undermining expensively assembled ERP’s in FMCG, Brewing and Pharmaceutical companies. They still are, by the way. Dave Jordan CEO Pharma ERP/SAP Supply Chain Forecasting & Demand Planning ERP MORE
Picture the scene in many a brewing boardroom; a terse note has arrived from the suits at HQ telling the boss to urgently reduce costs as the year-end result is not going to look pretty. Why do all the board directors then look silently at their supply chain colleague? Of course, there are significant costs associated with a modern supply chain but you cannot make significant savings from that infrastructure overnight. MORE
In a past life I ran the Supply Chain for an FMCG company in the 6 Gulf Co-Operation Council (GCC) countries plus Yemen in the Middle East. The Distribution model was one different legal entity per territory even for the largest market of Saudi Arabia. Within the smaller markets there tended to be one or two stock holding points which were enough to meet demand in a reasonably short Supply Chain. KSA on the other hand had stock holding points in a majority of the larger population centres. MORE
Who coined the term “Big Data”? How did we get there without tiny data, ordinary data, slightly larger data, chubby data and bordering on big data? People working in or associated with Supply Chains seem obsessed by data yet data itself tells you absolutely nothing. Really, not a lot apart from the fact that something is being measured or calculated. Supply Chain Inventory Management & Stock Control Supply Chain Analytics IT MORE
There is your dilemma. You need to save cash towards an expensive year-end holiday but you really do not know the best place from where to take the money. Do you take it from your day to day current account which is already set up to pay the routine monthly bills and invoices? Do you take funds out of an investment account that has not yet actually matured? FMCG Dave Jordan CEO Pharma Supply Chain Traditional Trade Cost Reduction MORE
I am often asked which job in the extended Supply Chain is the most important. For FMCG producers this may be the demand planner while for retail partners the key role could be innovation planning. I do have a view on this so park the question for now and read on. FMCG Dave Jordan Supply Chain MORE
Anyone expecting their first child has probably been told by a gloating-doting grandparent-to be that their lives are about to change dramatically. This is of course untrue as in reality dramatically is too simple a word and in any event, that “change” is far, far different than granny suggests. Your pre-natal life as you know it will become obsolete at the snip of a chord. CEO Forecasting & Demand Planning Supply Chain Analytics IT MORE
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
AUGUST 28, 2020
Understanding the Total Cost to Serve our customers is an essential element to any Route to Market (RtM) Strategy. As FMCG professionals, we need to understand how much it costs us to service our customers. It is also not as simple as it sounds.
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
AUGUST 9, 2018
I am often asked which job in the extended Supply Chain is the most important. For FMCG producers this may be the demand planner while for retail partners the key role could be innovation planning. I do have a view on this so park the question for now and read on. FMCG Dave Jordan Supply Chain
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Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JANUARY 10, 2018
Chris Rea has finally found the correct turn off, a lot of people in Africa still don’t know its Christmas and the novelty Santa toilet seat cover is back in the box. Oh, and chocolate Easter eggs are in the shops 4 months in advance. Christmas and the New Year holidays are well and truly over, and the clock is already ticking down on the month of January. FMCG S&OP Forecasting & Demand Planning Sales Inventory Management & Stock Control
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
AUGUST 22, 2018
I started my career as an R&D type who helped bring new FMCG products to the market. Nobody really knew how a product made the transition from bench top and pilot plant testing to the supermarket shelves. Somebody must have been involved somewhere but this was hardly a cohesive team with job descriptions let alone aligned roles and responsibilities. Even then “somebody” was not part of the project team so with hindsight it was inevitable delays and mistakes would occur.
Speaker: Trish Uhl, Founder of Owl's Ledge LLC and the Talent & Learning Analytics Leadership Forum
Digital is disrupting every part of an organization's value chain at a record pace, creating a critical need to transform operations and employees' ways of working. Formal training alone can't keep up; it's often too slow, too generic, inconvenient, inefficient, unduly expensive and lacks or lags methods for measuring business-related effectiveness. Trish Uhl show you how to start leveraging Learning Engineering, a multidisciplinary approach that combines modern technology, data analytics, decision science, learning sciences and change management with human-centered engineering design methodologies to ultimately deliver targeted learning outcomes and business results that keep pace with the business and merge learning into the flow of work and lead Digital Adoption.
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
NOVEMBER 18, 2015
Last week I had another chat with a client about inventory.The essence of the client's problem was - "Why can't we get our stock right? We either have too much …. or run out … and we have just spent a fortune on a new IT system ….". Inventory Management Michael Thompson Integrated Planning supply chain analytics
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Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
AUGUST 13, 2018
There is your dilemma. You need to save cash towards an expensive year-end holiday but you really do not know the best place from where to take the money. Do you take it from your day to day current account which is already set up to pay the routine monthly bills and invoices? Do you take funds out of an investment account that has not yet actually matured? FMCG Dave Jordan CEO Pharma Supply Chain Traditional Trade Cost Reduction
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JANUARY 31, 2018
February is here but blink and you will miss it as it is not a leap year. You cannot change January performance and February should be quite firm by now, so you need to be looking further ahead in your S&OP. Much further ahead. FMCG Dave Jordan S&OP Forecasting & Demand Planning Integrated Business Planning
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
MAY 17, 2019
There are many ways to link all the different planning activities in your FMCG/Pharma company. This could be done with one single tool like the SAP Advanced Planning Optimiser or a host of other tools and packages. Dave Jordan Humour Supply Chain Forecasting & Demand Planning
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JULY 11, 2018
If you do not specifically agree on what is expected between two parties before you start a relationship then anything and everything but success is likely. FMCG Route to Market Logistics Service Provider Dave Jordan Performance Improvement Supply Chain CEE Traditional Trade Logistics Management
Speaker: Bhomik Jain, Paul van Nierop & Aanand Pandey
Companies around the world are struggling to cope with COVID-19 disruption. Are supply chain networks resilient enough to weather the storm? Watch this webinar to learn about our research findings in the realm of network design and optimization, and uncover the capabilities you need to build resilience and agility.
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Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JULY 30, 2018
Whether you call it co-packing or re-packing this involves the further manipulation of a previously finished and complete SKU. Look around the shelves and the evidence of extra expense and work is displayed by special stickers, multi-packs and banded promotions amongst many others. The impact this has on your Supply Chain is potentially huge. I will park the question of the value (or waste) of these activities for another day but where is the best place to carry out such operations?
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JANUARY 24, 2018
Where has that first post-holiday month gone? Suddenly it’s the 24 th of January and there are only 7 calendar days and 5 working days until you close the month. Adopt panic stations despite what Corporal Jones of Dad’s Army would say. FMCG Dave Jordan S&OP Forecasting & Demand Planning Sales Inventory Management & Stock Control
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JULY 16, 2018
Only a few months into the year and I am hearing the same old complaints about the economy and business being in general ill health. However, there is a new recurring theme which popped up at various parties and gatherings over Easter; “my company doesn't seem to do anything different and just hopes business will improve”. Not going to happen, no way! FMCG Route to Market Logistics Service Provider Dave Jordan CEO Performance Improvement Pharma KPI Traditional Trade S&OP Cost Reduction
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JULY 5, 2018
Another sign of getting old I guess. When was the last time you watched a football match when no tattoos were on show and the haircuts did not look like something out of the Time Warp musical? As I write England is still involved yet we are all waiting for the inevitable elimination on penalties. At least it won’t be to Germany this time – what rotten bad luck boys! Dave Jordan CEO KPI Supply Chain Sales
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
Every sales forecasting model has a different strength and predictability method. It’s recommended to test out which one is best for your team. This way, you’ll be able to further enhance – and optimize – your newly-developed pipeline. Your future sales forecast? Sunny skies (and success) are just ahead!
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JULY 4, 2018
Some time ago I wrote about the way spreadsheets were undermining expensively assembled ERP’s in FMCG, Brewing and Pharmaceutical companies. They still are, by the way. Dave Jordan CEO Pharma ERP/SAP Supply Chain Forecasting & Demand Planning ERP
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JULY 2, 2018
Laurel and Hardy, Morecambe and Wise, Abbott and Costello, Little and Large, Hale and Pace, May and Johnson. These are examples of double acts where one party plays the straight/stooge and apparently serious man while the other plays the fool/jester. I admit I am not too sure who is who in the last example. FMCG Dave Jordan Humour Supply Chain CEE S&OP Forecasting & Demand Planning Sales
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JANUARY 17, 2018
We already find ourselves at 17 th January so not many days left to ensure your monthly top and bottom lines are on target. Good luck with that if your business (& body!) is only just shaking off the holiday excesses. What is top of mind? The sagging month to date sales rate? The slow return to normal of the S&OP meeting schedule? The upcoming corporate audit? Top of mind is where to go on your summer holidays and to get this booked as soon as possible.
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JULY 15, 2015
Yes I know, the recent blog posts have been a little Blog Gold meets Classic Blog with a touch of All Our Yesterdays and the History Channel but here is a fresh new offering. The last few months have been very busy both on the business and domestic fronts. The heiress has completed her Honours Degree in Fine Art so perhaps the annual student house move is a thing of the past.
Advertisement
Today's supply chains are networked, global ecosystems. An event upstream in a different country or region can cause considerable disruption downstream. The COVID-19 pandemic is an extreme example of how this unfolds in practice. How prepared are supply chain teams to react and recover, from a planning maturity stance? Download this report to get exclusive insights on planning maturity!
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
AUGUST 5, 2015
In a related post I took a look at the use of Balanced Scorecards in FMCG, Brewing and Pharmaceutical businesses but in fact they are entirely appropriate for any business. Whatever your business size or offering you will benefit from knowing exactly what is going on and where you need to improve. For once I can name a specific company in this blog. Trotters Independent Traders (TIT) is a well known UK operation involved in general trading and “knocking stuff out”.
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
DECEMBER 3, 2017
The definition of celebrity is a famous person, VIP, very important person, personality, name, big name, famous name, household name, star, superstar, celebutante, leading light, giant, great, master, guru. In that case why do I only know 3 people from the 2017 series? One boxer, a footballer with an ironic surname and Boris Johnson’s father. I don’t know Mr Johnson either, but he helped produce Boris the buffoon so probably deserves to endure a degree of hardship.
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
AUGUST 27, 2015
Who coined “Big Data”? How did we get there without normal sized data, slightly larger data, chubby data and bordering on big data? People working in or associated with Supply Chains seem obsessed by data yet data itself actually tells you nothing. Really, not a lot apart from the fact that something is being measured or calculated. Firstly, a couple of information irritations.
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
SEPTEMBER 19, 2017
Picture the scene in many a brewing boardroom; a terse note has arrived from the suits at HQ telling the boss to urgently reduce costs as the year-end result is not going to look pretty. Why do all the board directors then look silently at their supply chain colleague? Of course, there are significant costs associated with a modern supply chain but you cannot make significant savings from that infrastructure overnight.
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
Sales enablement is the strategic process of providing sales teams with the content, guidance, and mentorship needed to engage targeted buyers. It’s all about equipping sales professionals with the tools they need to put their best-selling foot forward. And if sales teams want to continuously sell better -- and faster -- their sales enablement process must have a game-winning strategy. It's time for you to start selling smarter - and hitting your sales number - with the best B2B database in the market. Get started today.
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JULY 29, 2015
In the greater scheme of life many questions remain unanswered but my hobby horse question is why people and notably politicians and usually male at that, cannot get on with other nationalities and/or/religions. We are not here for long yet some people spend their lives causing or being affected by conflict. On a much less serious level my top 4 so far unanswerable questions are: Why would anyone want to eat cucumber/castraveti?
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
FEBRUARY 7, 2018
By the end of February over 19% of the year will be behind you. Think about that for a minute. If you follow a financial calendar year you probably put your Annual Plan to bed in October and now nearly 20% of the available selling time has already gone. Shocker! FMCG Dave Jordan CEO Supply Chain INNOVATION
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
AUGUST 19, 2015
In a past life I ran the Supply Chain for an FMCG company in the 6 Gulf Co-Operation Council (GCC) countries plus Yemen in the Middle East. The Distribution model was one different legal entity per territory even for the largest market of Saudi Arabia. Within the smaller markets there tended to be one or two stock holding points which were enough to meet demand in a reasonably short Supply Chain. KSA on the other hand had stock holding points in a majority of the larger population centres.
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
Your Supply Chain has been revised, optimised, transformed or even blue sky’d – yes, honestly have been present when this was used but managed to stifle a guffaw into a cup of hot chocolate. What a smooth running well oiled machine it has become. Processes and procedures have achieved ISO standards in all areas and KPIs shine like a halo above the Supply Chain Directors swelling head. You source competitively and you have a robust Supplier Certification process in place.
Speaker: Aanand Pandey, Supply Chain Analyst & Consultant, AIMMS
This short video explains how scenario modeling can help you improve supply chain resilience and your ability to respond and recover quickly from disruptions. Looking at scenarios side by side provides valuable insights that makes it easier to evaluate impact on your operations, ability to service customers and margin, and the best options to restart supply when supply lanes reopen.
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Anyone expecting their first child has probably been told by a gloating-doting grandparent-to be that their lives are about to change dramatically. This is of course untrue as in reality dramatically is too simple a word and in any event, that “change” is far, far different than granny suggests. Your pre-natal life as you know it will become obsolete at the snip of a chord. CEO Forecasting & Demand Planning Supply Chain Analytics IT
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
OCTOBER 28, 2015
Over several years I have been involved in many Integrated Business Planning (IBP) meetings as a facilitator, observer or participant. Every IBP process is rightly different in every company and sector, e.g. FMCG, Pharma, Agri but the basics essentially remain the same. IBP is a collaborative cross functional process that engages all functions to produce an integrated set of plans that all are committed to support. The purpose is to balance demand & supply in the extended supply chain.
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
JUNE 14, 2017
I have never been a fan of budget airlines and certainly not since one left me sleeping overnight in the back of beyond that is Luton Airport. That may be an exciting addition to a student’s back-pack holiday itinerary but when you have a glass back it is not so appealing. FMCG Dave Jordan Humour Performance Improvement Pharma KPI Supply Chain Supply Chain Analytics
Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy
NOVEMBER 9, 2016
Who coined the term “Big Data”? How did we get there without tiny data, ordinary data, slightly larger data, chubby data and bordering on big data? People working in or associated with Supply Chains seem obsessed by data yet data itself tells you absolutely nothing. Really, not a lot apart from the fact that something is being measured or calculated. Supply Chain Inventory Management & Stock Control Supply Chain Analytics IT
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AIMMS conducted research to assess how supply chain teams perceive the accuracy of their forecast and discover the tools and techniques they are using to upgrade the forecasting process. In this report, you will find helpful benchmarks and insights offered by your peers on the latest demand forecasting techniques, forecast granularity and periodicity, and expectations for the future.
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