Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

For a more detailed analysis, check out the Power point summary.) How Do You Define Excellence? In retrospect, I find that technology is an enabler, but only if we are clear on what defines supply chain excellence. Many believe that an ex-supply chain exec knows the definition of supply chain excellence. I admit it.

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 21, 2024

We explore the concept of holistic inventory strategies focused on the form and function of inventory. In the process, we learn that only 15-20% of inventories are safety stock and that the current APS frameworks do not enable a holistic analysis of the form and function of inventory. Lack of executive buy-in.

Inventory Reduction 434

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Design Software 434

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 16, 2023

Clear operating strategy and definition of supply chain excellence across plan, source, make and deliver. Most companies buy decision support technology, but do not redefine work to improve decisions. I like the use of growth, margin, inventory turns, Return on Invested Capital, customer service and ESG metrics. Drives Value.

S&OP 390

S&OP Supply and Demand Forecasting Supply Chain Design Software 390

SCMDOJO

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Leveling up your inventory life cycle can be crucial, but keeping all the fundamental factors jumping is essential to let the life cycle evolve. However, if the life cycle stock is healthy, inventory management is smooth. Inventory management revolves around the pivotal concept of the product life cycle. Click here!

Inventory Reduction 98

Inventory Reduction Inventory Management Software Optimal Sourcing Inventory Management 98

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 11, 2012

This year supply chain leaders will celebrate thirty years of progress in supply chain management; but we have not made progress on one of the funamentals: inventory management. I think that it is time for us to take the litmus test and ask the hard questions, “Have our practices impacted days of inventory? I want to believe.

Inventory Reduction 247

Inventory Reduction Vendor Strategies Resource Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 247

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 21, 2024

In follow-up qualitative interviews, one of the largest issues with organizational alignment was metric definition and a clear definition of supply chain excellence. To manage continuous improvement, companies need a clear definition of excellence and organizational alignment to that goal. They do not excel in planning or forecasting.

Procurement Analytics 393

Procurement Analytics Metrics Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software 393

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 10, 2025

In May 2025, one in seven home-purchase agreements fell through resulting in the cancellation of 56,000 purchase contracts. But more importantly, few see demand as a process to be managed through lean processes of disciplined analysis of demand shaping/shifting analysis, backcasting, improving models and driving FVA improvements.

Supply Chain Planning Software 195

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Waste Reduction 195

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 30, 2025

Aptean is orchestrating the Blue Yonder/E2open/Infor playbook of buying undervalued assets and milking the maintenance and Software-as-a-Service contracts with existing customers. This is despite the strengths of the recent purchase of Optimity. Is it any wonder that this press release published on Friday afternoon?

Supply Chain Planning Software 221

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Modeling Software 221

Silvon Software

APRIL 16, 2025

Inventory is the lifeblood of any manufacturing business. By leveraging analytics and key performance indicators (KPIs), manufacturers can optimize inventory, reduce waste, and boost profitability. Tracking inventory flow and performance across your supply chain is a must. Thats where data-driven decision-making comes in!

Optimal Sourcing 65

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Optimization Price Mitigation Strategies 65

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 6, 2020

Tom, the colorful warehouse manager, constantly heckled Frank for the increasing inventory levels while Ed, the quiet material/logistics manager, constantly questioned if there was a better way. He felt that inventory was no problem, he would just cut it at the end of each quarter to make the balance sheet goals.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 362

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Strategy 362

SCMDOJO

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Key takeaways Importance of Procurement Procurement vs. Purchasing Key Functions Departmental Structure Role Descriptions The blog emphasizes the significance of a well-structured procurement department with qualified personnel to achieve organizational objectives. Read In Detail About Procurement Department Here 2.

Negotiating Skills 95

Negotiating Skills Purchasing Skills Purchasing Training Buyer Training 95

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

If S&OP efforts were that effective, don’t you think that we would have made more progress against inventory levels, margin, and growth? Only 2% of companies are pushing forward in our Supply Chains to Admire analysis. The issues are largely rooted in politics and the lack of clarity on supply chain excellence.

Supply and Demand 431

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 431

Precoro

OCTOBER 6, 2022

Nowadays, procurement departments not only focus on the day-to-day buying operations but also search for the most efficient ways to go about them. To navigate complex and fast-paced markets, an agenda of spend analysis is introduced as a part of the procurement function. From whom are we buying? In what quantities are we buying?

Manufacturing Procurement 98

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics Pricing Training 98

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 21, 2023

While I was preparing for surgery, Gartner released the Gartner Top 25 Analysis. The analysis is now in its ninetieth year. The Gartner analysis is biased toward companies within the Gartner network. Semiconductor Industry Analysis Would you feel better about your results if you were Intel or TSMC? The reason?

Gartner 424

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning 424

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2024

similarly, over 95% of manufacturers invested and implemented supply chain planning, but their primary tool today is Excel. A successful plan requires design, collaboration, simulation, what-if analysis, and closed-loop learning. What do we learn through gap analysis? ” Does the Dog Hunt? Future for Probabilistic Planning?

Supply Chain Planning Software 369

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software Forecasting Software 369

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 27, 2022

In the process, there is a fine line between marketing hype and overpromising, making buying difficult. McKinsey promises improved agility (not defined) with up to a 30% reduction in operational cost and a decrease in inventory of 75%. (I For many tech providers, the message often becomes a religious argument. Digital Supply Networks.

Supply Chain Software 418

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Strategy 418

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 11, 2023

In the warehouse context, a digital twin can be created to represent the physical layout, inventory, equipment, and workflows of a warehouse. Inventory management Another area where digital twins can be beneficial is inventory management. Simulation is the most widely used benefit of a digital twin.

Modeling 307

Modeling Analytics Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimization Software 307

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 16, 2014

Despite two decades of advancement in supply chain technologies, companies are struggling to gain balance at the intersection of operating margin, inventory turns and case fulfillment. I have also learned that you need a large data pool to derive the type of analysis that I want to publish. They are slow to adapt.

Supply Chain Design Software 319

Supply Chain Design Software Network Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software 319

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Rolling up a perpetual inventory signal takes eleven hours. Through the use of a NoSQL unified data model, the company is able to now move data within 15-minute increments improving the data flow for inventory availability to improve allocation and ATP processing. days to get a perpetual inventory signal and 2.2

Supply Chain Planning Software 392

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 392

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

We were discussing the results of the planning benchmarking work that we have just finished, and I was sharing some insights on inventory management when one of the panelists emphatically stated, “Inventory is a waste to manage. We feel so strongly about this that we do not have an inventory planning role.”

Waste Reduction 150

Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction Inventory Optimal Sourcing 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 29, 2014

With the purchase of i2 by JDA, and Logictools by IBM, manufacturing companies serious about network design started looking for a company, with a well-established community, that was more serious about network design. It could no longer be just about inventory levels. Value-based Analysis. The gap is tough.

Supply Chain Design Software 268

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design Network Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software 268

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Nick Lynch is the Global Excellence Manager at Shell Lubricants, a division of Shell Global. The Company implemented SAP Advanced Planner and Optimizer (APO) including the standard functionality of Demand Planning (DP), Supply Network Planning (SNP), and Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PPDS), yet many planners also used Excel.

Demand Planning Software 322

Demand Planning Software Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 322

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 3, 2015

When it comes to the management of inventory in value chains, frustration abounds. Executive, after executive, lament, “They have purchased many technologies and sponsored many projects to reduce inventories, but they are not seeing results.” This week, I published an in-depth analysis on the topic.

Inventory Reduction 150

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Management Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 14, 2018

Bonuses and incentives align with functions and are often counter productive to driving supply chain excellence. Today, over 90% of companies have deployed ERP and APS, but as shown in Table 1, inventory levels have grown not decreased in over 80% of industries studied. Days of Inventory by Industry Across Years.

Optimal Sourcing 191

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain 191

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

<Bear with me… > Here I share a nine-step process in an attempt to help companies unravel the process for buying supply chain planning software. They center on how to make a good decision in the purchase of supply chain planning solutions. Most have purchased software, but are dependent on Excel spreadsheets.

Supply Chain Planning Software 252

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 252

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

How do they buy from you? How do they buy from you?” Instead, in the SanDisk journey , they adjusted the speed of response to their customer segments, and actively designing inventory postponement strategies. While they have actively worked on the implementation of a cost-to-serve analysis. It is systemic.

Inventory Reduction 150

Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Strategy 150

SCMDOJO

APRIL 11, 2025

Today, their functionality has increased, and businesses are leveraging CRM systems for demand forecasting, buyer behavior analysis, and more intelligent inventory management. Enhance Inventory Management A combined CRM-Shopify platform provides past sales data, allowing procurement teams to make informed purchasing decisions.

Supply Chain Planning Software 84

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software Inventory Management Software 84

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 7, 2018

Or agreement on the definition of supply chain excellence. As a result, functional excellence anchors action. The focus is on digitization—automating today’s processes—versus rethinking process excellence based on the art of the possible. In this case, the metrics are operating margin and inventory turns.

Supply Chain Planning Software 287

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimization Software Forecasting Software 287

SCMDOJO

APRIL 11, 2025

Is inventory bloating your costs? A scorecard acts as your dashboard, providing crucial visibility that helps you: Make Data-Driven Decisions: Replace guesswork with facts when evaluating suppliers, processes, and inventory levels. Improve Efficiency: Understand process timelines and inventory holding to streamline operations.

Pricing Training 72

Pricing Training Negotiating Skills Optimal Sourcing Purchasing Skills 72

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 7, 2021

Gartner purchased the firm in 2010.) Driving Improvements in Supply Chain Excellence. He felt strongly that supply chain leaders knew how to drive supply chain excellence and needed a forum– or maybe two or three depending on the business model– to help them network and refine their approaches. I disagreed.

Gartner 221

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 221

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 7, 2012

Q: Is it only inventory disrupting the agility resulting from inaccurate forecasts by S&OP? There are seven primary agility levers: Analysis of Form and Function of Inventory: Form of inventory is the decision of what form to hold the inventory in: raw material, semi-finished good or finished good.

Supply Chain Design Software 231

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction 231

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 20, 2014

The implementations were longer, the purchase costs were higher, and the functionality was less robust and lacking flexibility. While the extended ERP solution architectures make look nice on paper, the reality is that line-of-business users struggle to use the data for “what-if” analysis or business analytics.

Supply Chain Planning Software 366

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Supply and Demand 366

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 14, 2013

It was a story where people believed that functional excellence leads to supply chain superiority. I strongly feel that a blind focus on functional excellence will cause the supply chain to become out of balance. Multi-tier inventory optimization was a fad in the last decade. One that is going to eat you up!

Supply Chain Planning Software 260

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling 260

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 4, 2018

For the past five years, the team at Supply Chain Insights identified Supply Chains to Admire Award Winners by analyzing performance by peer group on the key metrics of growth, operating margin, inventory turns and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). The total cost of ownership analyzes the total costs of the buying decision.

Supply Chain Software 30

Supply Chain Software Case Study Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 30

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

These include problems where centrality, connectivity, and path analysis play a key role in the analysis. Let’s start here: Data Analysis. Or mine supplier shifts to build alternate buying plans. By using techniques like clustering, partitioning, and shortest path, some problems become easier to solve.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Supply and Demand 417

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2020

Inventory, in this time of uncertainty, is the organization’s most important buffer to protect against variability. However, organizations are not good at managing inventory. Cash-to-cash is a compound metric: (Days of Receivables+Days of Inventory)-Days of Payables=Cash Conversion Cycle. Inventory. My takeaway?

Optimal Sourcing 299

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction 299

ToolsGroup

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Excess inventory – it’s taking up your warehouse space, tying up working capital, and limiting your planning team’s range of motion. It’s time to Marie Kondo your supply chain by eliminating excess inventory and learning how to avoid it in the first place. Let’s talk about: What Excess Inventory Is. What Causes Excess Inventory.

Inventory Reduction 156

Inventory Reduction Material Savings Inventory Cost Reduction Strategies 156