Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 26, 2025

I walked away thinking, “What a great company!” And, this company was celebrated as #17 on the Gartner Top 25? Companies have traditional processes, but they have never questioned their knowledge of how to utilize market data to improve outcomes market-to-market. Over time, as I watched, this changed. I hung my head.

Material Savings 221

Material Savings Waste Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Price Reduction 221

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 15, 2022

” Followed by “How are you organized, and what defines functional excellence? And, how do you tie functional excellence to corporate value?” ” In this work, my observation is that large companies have a more difficult journey to drive organizational alignment, than smaller companies.

Manufacturing Procurement 397

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 2, 2025

CLM changed its name twenty years ago to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) to be more inclusive of the source, plan, and make aspects of supply chain management. As a result, most companies struggle with the feasibility of their plans. No system enables network transparency across source, make, and deliver.

Optimal Sourcing 221

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Data 221

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

APRIL 27, 2022

Supply chain excellence is easier to say than to explain. Executive teams strive to drive improvement in supply chain results; yet, sadly, only four percent of public companies succeed. In this area of research, I find that companies are like dogs chasing cars. The grass is always greener at another company. The reason?

Procurement Analytics 369

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

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 19, 2024

In this research, 81% of brand owners and contract manufacturers primarily depend on communication through email and spreadsheets. Approximately 32% of manufacturing, across industries, is outsourced. Purchase order data, while not as important, has the smallest gap. PE Firm Buy-out and Consolidation. Lack of a Buyer.

Supply Chain Network Software 374

Supply Chain Network Software Resource Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Manufacturing Procurement 374

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

Today, supply chain excellence matters more than ever. Globally ten percent of jobs are in manufacturing, while 37% are associated with supply chain management. The discipline, first defined in 1982, includes source, make, deliver, and planning functions. During the pandemic, the supply chain discussions take new importance.

Supply Chain Design Software 362

Supply Chain Design Software Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software 362

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 30, 2025

My head is wobbling with announcements, late-night Friday press releases, company name changes, and executive turnover in the supply chain planning market. Renames the Company Daybreak. No doubt that the company, Noodle.ai, needed a fresh start after burning through $107M in capital of five rounds of financing. Kinaxis and o9.

Supply Chain Planning Software 221

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

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 9, 2023

Commerce is global and regional at the same time, the world is getting smaller and more interconnected, and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturers operate in this build-anywhere and sell-anywhere market. Here we have compiled a list of the top six challenges that CPG companies face in the post-pandemic market.

Supply Chain Planning Software 283

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Forecasting Software Optimization Software 283

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 25, 2024

My definition of a network is the bi-directional information exchange of manufacturing, procurement, quality, and transportation signals across multiple tiers of trading partners in a many-to-many trading partner information exchange with minimal latency. Less than 1% of companies in this value chain outperform their peer group.

Supply Chain Network Software 359

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Inventory Reduction Purchasing Skills 359

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Building a software company is hard work. Most of the business networks were hollowed out by venture capitalists or purchased by opportunists. The homework is to bring a list of the data that you think could drive better decisions to the conference and ask the technology company for insights on how to best use different forms of data.

Supply Chain Planning Software 396

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

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 5, 2018

and L’Oréal’s approach to business that has allowed the company to continuously rank as a Supply Chains to Admire winner for four consecutive years. Based in Paris, L’Oréal is a global personal care manufacturing company. It is the world’s largest cosmetics company with annual sales estimated at over €26B.

Case Study 329

Case Study Inventory Reduction Agile and Lean Supply Chain Study 329

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 7, 2023

Today, I speak at the North American Manufacturing Association, Manufacturing Leadership Conference, in Nashville on the use of data to improve supply chain resilience. In short, resilience is what keeps things running during a disruption — and what helps companies get back on track afterward. The result was restatement.

Supply Chain Design Software 395

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Software 395

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Data-driven forecasting improves purchasing and cuts storage expenses. Consider solar panels and other renewable energy sources. Adopting renewable energy sources reduces reliance on fossil fuels and contributes to a smaller carbon footprint. This includes real-time visibility and tracking via mobile devices.

Optimal Sourcing 97

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction 97

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

The word of the day is visibility, yet this is the nut–that companies implementing many projects, — cannot seem to crack. In our recent survey on analytics, today 74% of companies are attempting to improve supply chain visibility (as shown in Figure 1). The reason? The solution remains elusive. What Is Visibility?

Supply Chain Planning Software 390

Supply Chain Planning Software Sourcing Strategies Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software 390

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 30, 2023

Each executive has a different perspective on the definition of supply chain excellence, but they are never discussed and aligned. His organization purchased an advanced planning technology from well-known best of breed provider, and the implementation should have been successful, but it was not. What Is The Ring of Fire?

Supply Chain Planning Software 387

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 387

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

No company interviewed was able to successfully use their current what-if solutions to model pandemic impacts. Companies need an easy-to-use sandbox deployment to visualize supply chain constraints and the impact of variability. Advanced planning evolved with a focus on modeling manufacturing constraints. Next Steps.

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2013

It was funded by 50 large consumer products manufacturing companies (CPG). In the dawn of e-commerce, conservative manufacturers, anteed up $240 million in four months. The high-flying company had no clarity of purpose or clear governance, but the funds kept coming. The stories border on the ridiculous. Clear governance.

Supply Chain Design Software 321

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 321

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

So, I smile, catch my dinner partner’s eye and ask, “In our prior conversations, you mentioned the lack of clarity on the definition of supply chain excellence in your current deployments and how this is a barrier to implementing supply chain planning properly. “ Reflection. Self-driving supply chains are an example.

Supply Chain Planning Software 376

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling 376

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

He feels he has the answer for companies. ” However, his company remains small with a couple of clients. If it was an answer, why is the company not growing? As I analyze business results , I see that most companies are really stuck. How did the company perform against the plan?” On average, it takes 2.8

Supply Chain Planning Software 392

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 392

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 21, 2024

During the 1980s, I was on a management team for a large manufacturer. The Company was attempting to gain economies of scale by grouping manufacturing technologies within a common infrastructure to reap the benefits of a co-generation facility, a centralized warehouse, and a talented administrative team. Let me explain.

Inventory Reduction 434

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

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 18, 2022

The company sources goods from 34,000 suppliers out of 30 nations. The company is piloting secure lockers for stock at their major sites. Adding to the complexity of the supply chain is that Ferguson is an acquisitive company. The company recorded 1.9 The company has shown sustained improvement on this metric.

Supply Chain Design Software 300

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Network Design Software 300

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 26, 2023

Primed for transactional efficiency, these legacy architectures based on relational databases drive order-to-cash and procure-to-pay efficiencies. Like Linus clinging to his blanket, supply chain teams make most of their decisions on Excel spreadsheets. Or a unified data model across source, make, and deliver for planning?

Optimal Sourcing 369

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply and Demand Manufacturing Procurement 369

Precoro

OCTOBER 6, 2022

With the global market expansion and deepening supply chain complexity, the roles of procurement leaders have evolved from tactical to strategic. 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. From whom are we buying?

Manufacturing Procurement 98

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics Pricing Training 98

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 12, 2022

Companies implementing supply chain planning (SCP) have traditionally been very big companies or companies with complex supply chains. This manufacturer produces plastic reusable material handling containers and plastic fuel tanks. Mr. Baker spent over 34 years leading procurement teams at The Dow Chemical Company.

Supply Chain Planning Software 261

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement 261

The Logistics of Logistics

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Over his 30+ year career in the supply chain, Richard has worked with manufacturers around the world in operations, supply chain, and lean strategy roles to develop systems that can manage complex supply chains on a global scale. Richard previously founded and led Factory Logic, Inc. acquired by SAP). The Greenscreens.ai

Optimal Sourcing 278

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement 278

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Solving from a supply side seems to work for many companies I work with. I know that your primary focus is procurement. 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. Should companies care?

Supply and Demand 431

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 431

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

The lack of interoperability between decision support platforms is a problem for companies attempting to improve decisions from the channel to supplier bi-directionally through technology. FactSet reports that 66% of companies in Q3 2023 beat revenue guidance. The question is, how can a company not meet guidance?

Supply Chain Planning Software 418

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply Chain Software 418

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2024

Tech companies rally. I do not see companies push the envelope to define digital passports for provenance, implementing learning ontological frameworks, or schema on read data fabrics combining the graph and vector DB. . Tech companies push self-serving agendas like a hammer hunting for a nail. Thought leaders push concepts.

Supply Chain Planning Software 369

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 28, 2021

As an analyst for nearly two decades, I am constantly amazed watching companies throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Consumers constantly change the mix preferences in purchases. Somedays, the focus is on steaks or ribs and the next on the purchase of ground or cubed meat. What do I mean? There are 192 ways to cut up a cow.)

Supply Chain Planning Software 322

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 322

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 14, 2022

Experts from North Carolina State University and GEP conducted a survey on supply chain, procurement and IT leaders to determine their challenges and priorities, focusing on examining gaps in the supply chain. The study found that these leaders considered the largest gap to be between supply chain and procurement, citing it as a major issue.

Supply Chain Planning Software 284

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software Procurement Solutions 284

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

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. How Do You Define Excellence? Most companies are not clear.

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

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. It takes more than one or two respondents from a company. 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

DELMIA Quintiq

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Medical Device manufacturers face an increasingly dynamic and intricate landscape. Innovative personalized manufacturing approaches have emerged, yet many organizations struggle to fully realize their potential in this rapidly evolving race.

Optimal Sourcing 156

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Material Savings Optimization Software 156

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 14, 2014

“We live in a world where supply chains, not companies, compete for market dominance. But companies often have diverging incentives and interests from their supply chain partners, so when they independently strive to optimize their individual objectives, the expected result can be compromised. ”. This is a group of leaders.

Manufacturing Procurement 345

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Modeling 345

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 21, 2023

While companies talk digital, the projects follow traditional supply-centric paths. The Gartner analysis is biased toward companies within the Gartner network. While companies that supply chain leaders believe are top performers– J&J, P&G, and Unilever– do not outperform their peer group. Is this success?

Gartner 424

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

o9 Solutions

JUNE 9, 2025

Instead of high-level frameworks, attendees heard directly from global manufacturers including RHI Magnesita, Teleflex, and Marelli. The company reported early gains, including a 24 percent reduction in inventory levels and verified cost savings exceeding €81 million. The agenda prioritized outcomes over abstraction.

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Europe Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 52