Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Most of the business networks were hollowed out by venture capitalists or purchased by opportunists. Think about the building of listening posts of rating & review data, continuous listening of call center transcripts, analysis of contracts, or the continuous analysis of supplier certificates for digital passport/Scope 3 emissions.

Supply Chain Planning Software 396

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Software Modeling Supply Chain Network Software 396

Freightos

APRIL 23, 2025

Home Introducing Freightos Enterprise: End-to-End Procurement, Benchmarking, and Management Freightos Enterprise unifies market intelligence, tender management, and shipment operations into one solution, enhancing logistics efficiency for large import-export businesses.

Optimal Sourcing 156

Optimal Sourcing Benchmarking Manufacturing Procurement Modeling 156

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Functional Metrics and the Lack of Alignment to Strategy. Process-based companies continue to focus on manufacturing efficiency (OEE) and discrete on procurement (PPV) without designing the supply chain to balance transportation, manufacturing, and procurement to a balanced scorecard. Clarity on Value. Guess what?

Supply Chain Design Software 221

Supply Chain Design Software Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Planning Software 221

SCMDOJO

JANUARY 9, 2025

Strategic sourcing and innovative solutions are often viewed as two distinct procurement tools, but they should not be seen in isolation. Think of them as apples and gearseach essential and effective on its own, yet when combined; they create a formidable mechanism for achieving procurement excellence.

Optimal Sourcing 98

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Solutions Negotiating Skills 98

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Scaling manufacturing operations is crucial for business growth but presents unique challenges. Balancing increased demand with consistent quality and controlled costs is difficult but essential for manufacturers looking to expand. Successfully scaling manufacturing requires more than just adding resources.

Material Savings 92

Material Savings Sourcing Strategies Resource Reduction Inventory Reduction 92

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 15, 2022

If you answer the survey, I will gladly give you a custom analysis of your organization against the peer group. In the supply chain team analysis, note the 21% gap between procurement and manufacturing teams, the 35% gap between sales and operations and the 21% gap between finance and operations. Functional Metrics.

Manufacturing Procurement 397

Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics 397

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 27, 2022

At each company, there is a relationship between the metrics of growth, margin, inventory, customer service, and asset strategy. For the purpose of this article, I will use Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) as the proxy metric to discuss asset utilization.) Supply chain excellence was largely defined as manufacturing excellence.

Procurement Analytics 369

Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 369

Logistics Viewpoints

JUNE 3, 2025

Optimizing fulfillment requires a series of steps to get a shipment from its source to the end customer. These steps include sourcing and receiving inventory, storing inventory, order processing, picking and packing an order, shipping the order, and returns management. The ability to meet fulfillment goals is impeded by several issues.

Optimal Sourcing 230

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Price Mitigation Strategies Sourcing Strategies 230

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

That’s the power of manufacturing data collection. Manufacturing data collection is your secret weapon for boosting efficiency, cutting waste, and staying ahead of the competition. Manufacturing data collection is your secret weapon for boosting efficiency, cutting waste, and staying ahead of the competition.

Manufacturing Procurement 98

Manufacturing Procurement Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Reduction 98

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 2, 2025

For my long-time readers, you know that fewer than 3% of companies outperform their peer group in our Supply Chains to Admire analysis , and that the Gartner Top 25 is essentially a beauty contest for underperformers. Using channel and trading partner signals build outside-in models and orchestrate decisions across source, make and deliver.

Optimal Sourcing 195

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Design Software 195

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 15, 2022

For companies that want to go beyond the traditional spreadsheet, which cannot handle this ocean of information efficiently, statistical methods such as cluster analysis can help. What is Cluster Analysis? Cluster analysis is a statistical umbrella term for methods that classify data points according to their attributes.

Optimal Sourcing 261

Optimal Sourcing Analysis Procurement Analytics Purchasing Skills 261

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 18, 2023

For organizations layered in functional metrics and driving a cost agenda, this is a tough nut to crack. In the face of variability, this is two-to-six weeks too long to make allocation or procurement decisions. Build in-market sourcing. Rationalize global strategies to focus on building markets based on in-market sourcing.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Software 417

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Need For What-If Analysis. Advanced planning evolved with a focus on modeling manufacturing constraints. Initially, the output was published to procurement to design strategic buying strategies. Procurement became an island–isolated from the demand signal except for MRP. I love the metaphor of watermelon metrics.

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics 355

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 24, 2025

The research methodology for the Supply Chains to Admire compares the performance of a company against its industry peer group for the metrics of Year-over-Year Revenue Growth, Inventory Turns, Operating Margin, and Return on Capital Employed (ROCE). For 80% of industries, the supply chain metrics represent more than 40% impact on value.

Gartner 195

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning 195

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Data-driven forecasting improves purchasing and cuts storage expenses. IoT sensors monitor various parameters like temperature, humidity, and equipment status, providing valuable data for analysis and predictive maintenance. Consider solar panels and other renewable energy sources.

Optimal Sourcing 97

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction 97

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

Procuring transportation for freight is much different than any other procurement category. Transportation procurement needs to support both customer service and a company’s internal supply chain goals. One master of freight procurement is Kyle Masters. Simmons Foods Simmons Foods is a farm to fork poultry manufacturer.

Procurement Solutions 283

Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing 283

Kinaxis

DECEMBER 3, 2014

Over the years, working for and with numerous manufacturing companies, I’ve seen many supply chain practices that cost companies money. Reason #9 Relentless pursuit of one supply chain metric at the expense of other metrics. Why do companies focus on reducing a specific metric? by John Westerveld.

Expense Reduction 247

Expense Reduction Procurement Analytics Cost Reduction Strategies Metrics 247

SCMDOJO

MARCH 24, 2025

Introduction Gardner, (1954) and Huntzinger, (2007) define Purchase price variance (PPV) as a metric used to measure the effectiveness of cost-saving efforts by calculating the difference between the planned cost (standard pricing) allocated for purchasing activities and the actual cost incurred.

Purchasing Skills 69

Purchasing Skills Negotiating Skills Negotiate Pricing Procurement Analytics 69

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

We consistently see that companies focused on functional excellence–a focus within a functional silo like manufacturing, transportation or distribution– or singular metrics– like inventory or costs– underperform against their peer groups. Reward teams for cross-functional metrics. Cost-to-Serve Analysis.

Supply Chain Planning Software 377

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software 377

RFgen

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Supply chain efficiency is the cornerstone of success and involves the effective management of processes, resources, and technologies from procurement to production, transportation to warehousing. In the automotive sector, manufacturers are simultaneously reducing inventory costs and delivery times.

Sourcing Strategies 96

Sourcing Strategies Inventory Reduction Waste Reduction Expense Reduction 96

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 28, 2020

My goal is to convince you to ground supply chain processes and technology implementations in data analysis while tying the results to the improvement in corporate performance. The first story is about a large regional food manufacturer. The second story is about a regional beverage manufacturer. What do I mean by science?

Supply Chain Planning Software 418

Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling 418

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

There are three reasons why: Vertical excellence—having the best manufacturing, procurement or transportation function—has not worked. Aligned Metrics. What percentage of retail out-of-stocks could be prevented by the manufacturer in these industries? How do you balance the trade-offs between source, make and deliver?

Optimal Sourcing 365

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Manufacturing Procurement 365

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 6, 2020

Frank, the line manager for manufacturing, dominated the meetings. Despite goals to improve agility and resiliency, functional metrics for manufacturing efficiency continually throw the supply chain out of balance. Strong manufacturing organizations do not make the most effective manufacturers.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 362

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

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Optimization engines to improve functional metric performance resulted in an exploding number of planners. Contract Manufacturing Signal Latency. In my last blog post, I shared insights on data synchronization between brand owners and contract manufacturing. days to receive a purchase order confirmation.

Supply Chain Planning Software 392

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 392

RFgen

JANUARY 16, 2025

Keeping track of all your moving parts in manufacturing is a tall order. That’s where manufacturing inventory management software comes in. We’re talking real-time tracking, automated purchasing, and a whole lot less stress. Its your single source of truth for inventory, constantly updated and readily available.

Inventory Management Software 52

Inventory Management Software Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Optimization Software 52

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 16, 2014

I have learned that supply chain systems are more complex than I originally thought, and that the relationships between supply chain metrics are nonlinear. I have also learned that you need a large data pool to derive the type of analysis that I want to publish. These tools allow us to look at sell, source, make, and deliver together.

Supply Chain Design Software 319

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 6, 2013

Closing the gaps happens when there are aligned metrics, clarity of vision and aligned planning processes. It combines decisions across sell, deliver, make and source processes to drive value based outcomes. Most companies operate well within functions, but struggle to build strong horizontal processes. They lack cohesion.

Supply Chain Planning Software 330

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Optimal Sourcing Scenario Planning 330

IQMS

AUGUST 5, 2022

Sustainable manufacturing has become essential for manufacturers to maintain customer loyalty, win new business, and remain competitive in today’s supply chain based marketplace. In the past, manufacturers were slow to set goals in this area. Sustainable manufacturing also enhances employee, community, and product safety.”

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Sustainability Waste Reduction Manufacturing 52

QAD

JULY 1, 2021

What are Total Manufacturing Costs? Your total manufacturing costs are essentially an expense analysis that calculates how each of your company’s departments contributed to producing a finalized product. This looks at all stages of the manufacturing process from raw materials to work-in-progress to final result.

Manufacturing Procurement 98

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Cost Reduction Strategies Purchasing Skills 98

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 5, 2019

While there are many types of visibility (see Figure 1), the most common use case is either sourcing or transportation visibility. Contract manufacturing or 3PL data often will have a 24-hour latency due to batch integration. The focus is on functional metrics, but are unable to get to overall supply chain metrics.

Supply Chain Design Software 339

Supply Chain Design Software Prescriptive Analytics Software Real-time Visibility Supply Chain Planning Software 339

RFgen

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

It’s the key to transforming your supply chain from a source of frustration into a well-oiled, profit-generating machine. Implementing Data Analytics for Supply Chain Success Data analytics transforms supply chains with precise insights and real-time monitoring by bringing together multiple data sources. The result?

Optimal Sourcing 98

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Optimization Modeling Inventory Reduction 98

Precoro

JUNE 3, 2025

Businesses often use it in retail and purchasing. Category management isn’t just another procurement trend. It’s a way for companies to group similar goods or services (like IT infrastructure, facilities, or raw materials) and manage them holistically instead of handling every purchase in isolation.

Manufacturing Procurement 45

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions Material Savings 45

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 5, 2018

The award, based on beating the industry peer group on rate of improvement on the key metrics of growth, operating margin, inventory turns, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) while outperforming their peer group, is tough to achieve. We complete the analysis each year. In this analysis, patterns matter.

Case Study 329

Case Study Inventory Reduction Agile and Lean Supply Chain Study 329

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

For a more detailed analysis, check out the Power point summary.) Nvidia, Northrup Grumman, PACCAR Inc, PCA (Packaging Corporation of America), ResMed, Rockwell Automation, Ross Stores, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) Company, Tempur-Pedic, TJX, Toro, Toyota, West Pharma, United Tractors, and Urban Outfitters. be careful.

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

Silvon Software

APRIL 19, 2022

Procurement is one core process area being focused to better manage today’s fluctuating change, with key performance metrics leading the way to assessing and managing procurement performance. The Basics of Procurement KPIs. Every KPI needs a clearly defined goal.

Optimal Sourcing 124

Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Negotiate Pricing 124

Supply Chain Brain

JUNE 17, 2025

That includes everything from raw materials and manufacturing to packaging and logistics. Tesco and Walmart have announced procurement policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability throughout their extended supply chains. Known as Scope 3 emissions, these are also the most difficult to measure and manage.

Rail Software 91

Rail Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software 91

Supply Chain Brain

JUNE 17, 2025

Supply chain and procurement executives should urgently pay heed to the need to make sure it is distributed to them, said Jay Koganti, vice president supply chain at the Center of Excellence of Estée Lauder , during a presentation titled “ AI Trends Transforming Supply Chain – and How Leaders Should Respond,” at the DPW New York conference June 11.

Supply Chain Planning Software 100

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software 100