Talking Logistics

OCTOBER 10, 2017

This year’s CSCMP conference reinforced that we’re in the early days of a massive transformation. And at the conference it was clear that the data problem is still huge and everyone needs a better way to solve it. Compain co-founded ClearMetal after working in Hong Kong at one of the world’s largest container-shipping companies.

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Conference Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software Data 113

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 12, 2020

On a cold Boston winter day, I slipped into my seat on a back row in a packed conference room at AMR Research. As I squeezed into the middle seat of a crowded conference room, I got the stare. Putting all companies in a spreadsheet and shaking them up made no sense to me. So, I sucked it up and consented. The result?

Gartner 235

Gartner Supply Chain Software Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 235

Talking Logistics

JULY 2, 2014

I’ve been using the word convergence to describe many of the trends occurring in the supply chain and logistics field today, and convergence was certainly evident at Roadnet’s perform 2014 User Conference a few weeks ago. First, there’s the convergence of companies. The company offers next-day delivery of groceries.

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Conference Optimization Software Supply Chain Design Software Analytics Software 144

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 30, 2022

However, two decades later, there is still no technology solution to enable demand visibility or help companies use channel data to translate demand into an inventory, replenishment, or manufacturing strategy. In each industry sector, companies face unprecedented variability. I pulled up my covers to go to sleep four hours later.

Supply Chain Design Software 195

Supply Chain Design Software Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Data 195

Talking Logistics

DECEMBER 4, 2017

Last month, I attended and spoke at the Command Alkon ELEVATE 2017 conference , where I learned many things about the Heavy Building Materials (HBM) industry. The elevation journey actually began the day before the conference officially started.

Material Savings 0

Material Savings Supply Chain Planning Software Conference Supply Chain Software 0

GlobalTranz

JUNE 4, 2015

In the first post our long tme guest blogger, Chuck Intrieri of The Lean Supply Chai n, gave us 5 core metrics to evaluate supplier performance using supplier quality management and a 4 step process to execute. Review of SQM Metrics and Issues Across 5 Core Industries. #1: Trend Metrics Collected per Site. Medical Devices.

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Procurement Analytics Metrics Quality Material Savings 120

GlobalTranz

MAY 20, 2015

When you choose a company to transport your freight or to supply you with the materials you need to manufacture a product, you are putting your hard work and reputation in their hands. The next posts in the series will break down metrics and issues to consider in SQM by industry and conclude with a case study on the application of SQM.

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Procurement Analytics Metrics Quality Supply Chain Planning Software 120

Talking Logistics

OCTOBER 8, 2015

“The biggest mistake companies make as they’re growing is leaving supply chain management and human resources behind.”. Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, shared that insight during his keynote address at last week’s Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Annual Conference.

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Conference Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Strategy Supply Chain 100

Talking Logistics

AUGUST 20, 2018

The research, produced by Adelante SCM and presented by BluJay Solutions (a Talking Logistics sponsor), was conducted to explore the links between supply chain management innovation, customer experience, technology adoption, and company performance. Customer Experience: A Bigger Focus for High-Performing and Innovator Companies.

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Innovation Company Cost Reduction Strategies Logistics Network Optimization Software 100

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 19, 2018

It is now our fifth year of analyzing balance sheets to understand which companies are outperforming their peer groups on the metrics of growth, operating margin, inventory turns and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) while driving improvement. We group companies by industry sector because the industries are so different in performance.

Gartner 203

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Strategy 203

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

The jobs reduction will save $1 billion this year, Tomé said on an earnings conference call with analysts on Tuesday. She also said the company planned to ask workers to return to the office five days a week in 2024. percent year-on-year decline in cargo ton miles to 1.8bn, although this metric increased by 9.5

Cost Reduction Strategies 234

Cost Reduction Strategies Inventory Reduction Logistics Network Optimization Software Manufacturing Procurement 234

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 13, 2022

I love the stories but question the fit of the metaphor(s) for a supply chain conference. While one might argue that the availability of better data and insights can help companies make better decisions, let me share why I struggle with the analogy. Companies don’t have a revenue problem. The reason? See the pattern?

Supply Chain Planning Software 217

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply and Demand Supply Chain Software 217

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 7, 2021

I wanted to help companies drive step-changes in performance. My argument centered on the observation that as new technologies evolved, companies did a lift and shift. Companies want a definitive Return on Investment (ROI), limiting the opportunity to test and learn with new technologies. The approach was not as profitable.

Gartner 197

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 197

Talking Logistics

JULY 15, 2015

The theme of this year’s Descartes Evolution 2015 Global User & Partner Conference , held in May in Miami, Florida, was “Logistics Integration — What’s Next?” Important metrics include On Time Delivery from a customer’s perspective; Team Performance in the home; and Point of Sale experience. If not now, when?

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Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software Conference Supply Chain Network Software 100

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 22, 2019

No company in the past decade achieved the promised economy of scale. Companies performing the best have three characteristics: Business Model Innovation. Smaller, more agile companies outperform the larger and well-known brands in the retail, beverages, food, and pharmaceutical industry sectors. Leadership. Celebrating Success.

Supply Chain Design Software 250

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Gartner Supply Chain Software 250

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 7, 2023

Pete Bennett, and his co-presenter, Mary Byrne, the vice president of supply and demand planning, spoke during a presentation at Kinaxis’ user conference Kinexions. The company made a bold decision to implement the Kinaxis Rapid Response advanced supply chain planning (SCP) solution with its AI-based technology platform.

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Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Predictive Analytics Software Modeling Software 175

BlueYonder

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

Blue Yonder’s annual ICON conference inspires our customers to reimagine and transform their digital supply chains. The deadline is March 30, 2023 , and winners will be announced at Blue Yonder’s customer conference ICON 2023 in May in Las Vegas! Paint the picture of your “before” scenario using quantifiable metrics where possible.

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Las Vegas Supply Chain Planning Software Scenario Planning Conference 74

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 6, 2014

Then I go to a conference like Logimed USA, and I get immersed in another industry—like medical devices—which is a decade behind CPG/retail, and I get a reality check. At a rVCF conference that I attended this week, one of the retailers asked me why an on-time and full shipment was not representative of the lowest cost.

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Supply Chain Software Conference Supply Chain Planning Packaging 296

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 29, 2014

This week, I spoke at the Llamasoft Summercon Conference. The conference was low-key. Don was quirky, and the company story was different. We laughed, and felt a bit silly, leaving the conference room holding our new furry tchotchkes. The company has skillfully navigated the market to survive and now thrive.

Supply Chain Design Software 268

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

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 9, 2021

For many companies, this is a gap. When a company attempts to automate processes without clarity, problems ensue. Remember the need for goal clarity, rules, and clear metrics in my opening paragraph? The goal of the conference is to Imagine the supply chain of the future. Let me explain why. So What Now?

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Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Software Innovation 216

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 25, 2021

While supply chain software companies offer solutions that come with analytic solutions, the data used for the analytics is usually archived data. Longbow Advantage had their first user conference in Nashville, Tennessee last week. But this conference was focused on a near real-time analytics solution they developed called Rebus.

Real-time Visibility 173

Real-time Visibility Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software Demand Planning Software 173

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 19, 2021

On Monday, March 8th, a vice president of supply chain for a large retail chain – a chain with over 5,000 stores – spoke at Körber’s supply chain conference Elevate. The company’s experience in hiring people that self-designate as disabled in their distribution centers (DCs) has been positive.

Modeling Software 210

Modeling Software Warehousing Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Network Software 210

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 28, 2016

The average manufacturing company’s supply chain organization is 15 years old. While companies want to improve supply chain performance and drive value, it is easier said than done. The supply chain is a complex system with finite, and non-linear relationships between supply chain metrics that drive balance sheet results.

Pharmaceutical 195

Pharmaceutical Metrics Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software 195

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 8, 2019

Next year’s conference will be on September 8th-11th in Franklin, TN, south of Nashville, TN. The design of the conference includes tours of several modern warehouses and centers of excellence. Companies need to rethink the misguided thinking on one-number forecasting. #2 The Role of the Budget in S&OP. The takeaway?

Supply Chain Design Software 183

Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting 183

The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

The latest edition of the LogiSYM conference catering to the Middle East/North Africa region, LogiSYM MENA, took place online on August 24. In the first conference segment in the afternoon, the theme shifted to Sustainability – a subject that was hardly discussed at LogiSYM just a few years ago. MORE FROM THIS EDITION.

Supply Chain Software 231

Supply Chain Software Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Network Software Demand Planning Software 231

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 5, 2022

I’d say that the conference did not disappoint on any of those three points. This is all about the alignment of metrics and objectives. With so much data available, companies need to delight the customer and take advantage of all the predictable information that they have. AUTOMATE and OPTIMIZE: go from actual to optimal.

Real-time Visibility 217

Real-time Visibility Predictive Analytics Software Supply Chain Network Software Optimization Software 217

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 3, 2015

The discussion in the conference room was to have a methodology to clearly define supply chain excellence and to use this definition to drive our research and to help clients. Companies compete. The definition of the methodology and the final results sit behind the paywall of Gartner (Gartner requires that companies pay for research).

Gartner 150

Gartner Supply Chain Software Demand Planning Software Modeling Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 3, 2017

It is hard work to maintain the status quo in metrics performance. A balanced portfolio of metrics delivers the greatest value. We are making a mistake of having companies tasked with a force march to implement the “tightly integrated supply chain” that is inflexible and cannot sense market trends. Many fail.

Inventory Reduction 156

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Cost Reduction Strategies 156

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2020

If the word collaboration was listed on a card as a drinking game at supply chain conferences, we would be drunk at many. I define collaboration as the ability to establish long-term win/win value propositions between and among companies. Cash-to-Cash Metrics. The company in an effort to reduce costs outsourced payments.

Optimal Sourcing 229

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction 229

Precoro

JULY 16, 2023

Thought-out practices and well-managed workflows within the purchasing department are crucial for making sure that the company has the necessary resources available at the right time and at a reasonable cost. The purchasing department plays a critical role in the success of an organization.

Pricing Training 98

Pricing Training Purchasing Skills Procurement Analytics Purchasing Training 98

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 26, 2017

The comment was, “While I appreciate comparing companies to their peers, I am lost on how Amazon and Walmart can be excluded (nevermind P&G). Walmart excluded who has also revolutionized Supply Chain and is now the largest company in the world (double the revenue of #2), and the 11th most profitable company in the world.

Sourcing Strategies 152

Sourcing Strategies Agile and Lean Supply Chain Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Strategy 152

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 22, 2013

This week, Gartner is hosting their annual supply chain conference. The research tries to establish “ who did supply chain best ” by looking at a weighted formula of Year-over-Year Growth, Return on Assets (ROA), and Inventory Turns for the Fortune 500 companies. The methodology is biased to reward companies with few assets.

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Gartner Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Chemicals 250

Supply Chain View from the Field

NOVEMBER 10, 2014

I was attending the Zycus Horizons 2014 conference at Amelia Island today, listening to speakers. Chris Sawchuck from the Hackett Group interviewed three heads of procurement from three large companies, and asked an important question. If you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, it is a great story in leadership.

Manufacturing Procurement 124

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Conference North America 124

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

I smiled on the week following the conference as the accolades piled up in my inbox. This report, Supply Chains to Admire , compares the progress of 200 companies within their respective peer groups on both performance and improvement. We find that this is true of too few companies. Aligned Metrics. Bernstein & Co.,

Optimal Sourcing 301

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Manufacturing Procurement 301

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

Over the course of the last quarter, with the help from Cloudera, we built a data lake of with data from 1449 public companies. We loaded 493 financial metrics from balance sheets and income statements for each company into the data lake for the period of 2004-2016 using YCharts data. The analysis was industry-specific.

Supply Chain Planning Software 169

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 169

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 10, 2018

“someone must have their mojo working over at the record company” In the 1990s supply chain had MOJO. 90% of public manufacturing companies are treading wate r. Improvement on the key metrics of growth, inventory turns, operating margin and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is elusive. Then it was sexy.

Supply Chain Software 156

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Modeling Modeling Software 156

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 30, 2018

Public markets reward growth; and as year-over-year revenues slow, companies attempt to grow using tactics like new product launch, price incentives and trade promotion management. Companies with the lower score on the Index are driving faster rates of metrics improvement. What Is Risk?

Supply Chain Design Software 161

Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Price Reduction 161