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Companies leaning heavily on global sourcing? Theyre feeling the heat most, as sudden trade policy curveballs throw procurement plans into chaos. Traditional procurement, with its long-term contracts and rigid supplier ties, just isnt cutting it anymore. What Is Agile Procurement? Agile procurement is your lifeline.
The adoption of AI in supply chain automation is enabling companies to make more accurate decisions, reduce cycle times, and better manage complexity. AI in supply chain automation is gradually reshaping how core functions operate, particularly in procurement, warehousing, and logistics.
In the competitive industrial landscape, efficient spare parts inventory management is crucial to maintaining seamless operations and driving profitability. In this sector, the ability to provide timely and reliable spare parts can make or break a company’s reputation.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping supply chain operations by enabling predictive planning, allowing companies to anticipate disruptions before they occur and adjust operations accordingly. Companies must react after the fact, often incurring higher costs and reduced service levels.
Learn how Team Procure is helping companies streamline their procurement by implementing a cloud-based procurement platform across their organization. One of the key features of the platform is the custom approval workflows, which are tailored to each department within an organization.
This is the largest area of investment for the company outside of ERP. While SAP has had procurement analytics solutions, last year at Spend Connect Live, SAP announced the Spend Control Tower. Daniel Chapman, the senior director of process transformation for procure to pay at Warner Music, was a keynote speaker.
They noted the fact that companies whose leaders had supply chain experience took a more proactive approach to addressing potential supply-chain challenges, and in leveraging the supply-chain function to generate new business opportunities. This means involving procurement in the highest levels of strategic planning and decision-making.
Procurement and supply chain management are often used interchangeably—but in practice, the lines between them can blur in ways that create real friction. Misaligned priorities, siloed systems, and unclear ownership can directly impact key performance indicators like cost savings percentage and procurement cycle time.
Companies that fail to modernize face supply shortages, revenue loss, and regulatory risks. Just-in-time (JIT) inventory models, lean supplier networks, and offshore manufacturing reduced expenses but left companies exposed to disruptions. Companies that fail to integrate these technologies risk inefficiencies and higher costs.
Here I define value as improving market capitalization/employee for a public company. For example, if I improve the cost structure in transportation, procurement, manufacturing and sales independently, what decision support framework decides the right trade-offs? I believe we need to rethink supply chain processes to focus on value.
Enterprise procurement leaders are under more pressure than ever—juggling cost control, compliance, supplier risk, and internal complexity, all while trying to modernize outdated systems. AI, automation, and generative tools are redefining efficiency, allowing procurement teams to move from reactive to proactive decision-making.
Trade policies are constantly evolving, forcing companies to assess how these changes impact customer demand, supply networks, fulfillment strategies, and cost to serve. Theres no shortage of commentary on how companies should respond move production, shift suppliers, and reconfigure operations are just a few common recommendations.
Resilience is the ability to respond to disruption while maintaining core operations, and more companies are shifting their strategies accordingly. First, overreliance on a narrow group of suppliersespecially those in politically sensitive regionsexposes companies to risk when trade relationships shift.
Procurement People should learn the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Process. Procurement professionals can contribute significantly to the S&OP process by providing valuable insights into supply chain dynamics, identifying potential risks, and optimizing sourcing strategies.
Traditionally, procurement has been a process weighed down by manual tasks, fragmented systems, and endless paperwork. Today, procurement is undergoing a transformation. While procurement teams have long worked to add strategic value, Artificial Intelligence (AI) amplifies their impact.
Planners are uniquely positioned with an end-to-end focus, from procurement of materials, through manufacturing and engineering, to the movement, storage, and delivery of finished products or services. Investing in planning enables companies to quickly identify and address constraints while consistently realigning assets to maximize value.
Excess inventory weighs down supply chains. Companies often overproduce to hedge against demand swings, yet end up with shelves of unused goods. The Hidden Costs of Traditional Inventory Models Traditional inventory models were built for predictability. But in volatile markets, they often backfire.
Despite the evolution of technology, none of the 28 industry segments I follow can drive improvement at the intersection of operating margin and inventory turns. The issue is that most companies are using new forms of technology to make bad decisions faster. In our research, small regional companies outperform large multinationals.
When you talk to companies that have implemented enterprise or supply chain applications, executives will usually admit that they have under-invested in training and preparing users to use the new technology. Molex is a private company headquartered in Lisle, IL in the US. The company uses a process monitoring tool called Celonis.
An increasing lineup of advanced digital solutions have given manufacturers the edge to transform and achieve better inventory control. The manufacturing industry is constantly searching for new and inventive ways to improve inventory management. Types of inventory that can be optimized.
This is amplified across the supply chain into an exponential impact on inventory and planned orders for manufacturing. When we measure the bullwhip impact (in my class on outside-in process thinking), the bullwhip between manufacturing and procurement is 2-3X. Without a synchronized signal, companies make the wrong decisions.
A better forecast leads to carrying less inventory while maintaining or even improving service levels. The improvement in forecasting contributed to an increase in service levels by 10% while reducing inventory investment by 20%. A company can go bankrupt, and a machine could be programmed to understand that.
Richard Lebovitz and Joe Lynch discuss leading inventory attack teams. Richard is the CEO of LeanDNA , a purpose-built analytics platform for factory inventory optimization. About Richard Lebovitz Richard Lebovitz is the CEO of LeanDNA , a purpose-built analytics platform for factory inventory optimization.
Digital Twin Screen Shot and Architecture The most comprehensive form of planning that companies engage in is integrated business planning. Executives came to understand that IBP should not constrain a companys ability to react to what was happening in the market. IBP balances what can be produced against projected demand.
Advanced supply chain planning is being transformed by probabilistic forecasting , which revolutionizes demand forecasting, supply planning, and inventory optimization. Enhancing Inventory with Probabilistic Forecasting A supply chain is a complex ecosystem influenced by dynamic variables. The result?
For companies managing large product portfolios, the scale of these changes will be resource-intensive and time-sensitive, particularly given the proposed 2026 target for full transition. Shorter shelf life or more limited inventory of natural colorants may lead to shorter production runs and increased batch frequency.
What food and beverage companies need to know about tariffs: Lessons from Canada sharkins Fri, 05/16/2025 - 09:53 Tariffs have been a constant threat since the beginning of 2025, but one sector has felt the impact more immediately than most: consumer packaged goods. goods were “ rapidly dropping.”
Probabilistic forecasting is revolutionizing demand forecasting, supply planning, and inventory optimization by significantly improving forecast accuracy and decision-making across distribution networks. Enhancing Inventory with Probabilistic Forecasting A supply chain is a complex ecosystem influenced by dynamic variables.
When I use the research, I keep the information on the respondent–name, company, title, and individual comments–confidential. Functional excellence throws the supply chain out of balance decreasing results on a balanced scorecard of growth, margin, inventory turns, customer service and ROIC (Return on Invested Capital).
The resulting strategic question for companies is: How do we build resilient supply chains when even the rule-makers are unstable? Automakers must model dual-path sourcing strategies and reintroduce buffer inventory—not just for parts, but for regulatory flexibility. Every major industry now faces a unique supply chain challenge.
Companies today making a fundamental mistake: they are attempting to automate current processes with AI versus challenging and redefining work. Most companies forecast a single stream with a focus on error. Ask a procurement or transportation professional if they have a good demand signal and expect a laugh.
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.
While consumers may see some short-term benefit in the form of discounted goods, many retailers have had to reset investor expectations , reflecting the expected hit on margins from carrying so much inventory. Inventory management is challenging enough in normal times. So, what is it going to take to enable better inventory management?
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. The companies that people believe are top performers typically are laggards. The third step is to do a data inventory.
According to a survey of 250 global companies by the consulting firm McKinsey, 91% of shippers and 75% of logistics service providers have implemented a warehouse management system. When new industrial technology emerges, it is large companies that implement them first. Fleet Feet is a smaller company.
Surviving the ride: How leading industries are turning tariff challenges into opportunities fbaker Thu, 05/29/2025 - 08:01 Navigating today’s unpredictable trade landscape can feel a bit like a white-knuckle ride, with companies constantly bracing for the next twist.
Do Embrace Technology and Data : Use real-time data for demand forecasting, inventory management, and route optimization. Do Set Clear KPIs and Governance Structures : Establish transparent metrics for sales, coverage, and service levels. Regular reviews and joint business planning foster accountability and trust.
I see a few companies making progress, but most are going through the endless cycles of trying to implement a technology project. How does a company define supply chain excellence. In my qualitative interviews, few global companies larger than 5B$ rate their projects successful. What defines a feasible plan? Focus on Value.
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. As companies across industries have discovered, a well-optimized supply chain can drive significant improvements throughout their operations.
If you’re evaluating procurement technology or exploring ways to drive more value from existing systems, chances are you’re looking beyond tactical fixes – you want a smarter, scalable strategy. Misaligned priorities across finance, legal, and procurement create friction that delays decision-making and reduces impact.
Decoding the Procurement Department: A Comprehensive Guide to Roles and Responsibilities This supply chain article provides a comprehensive overview of the procurement department within an organization. Read In Detail About Procurement Department Here 2.
In Orlando, thought leaders, procurement professionals, and supply chain executives came together under the theme of building resilient, responsive supply networks. private companies are facing increased days in inventory and receivables, adding to liquidity strain. Rising concerns over cash conversion : U.S.
”[4] He offers three principles that he believes apply to companies whose business and success largely rely on the health of their supply chains. Principle Three-Preparedness : Feather insists companies should “invest in preparedness, not prediction.” So, what does investing in supply chain preparedness look like?
Just as technology has the potential to transform other major industries, its also having a major impact on procurement. One thing that is often overlooked in procurement, however, is the need to develop staff that are capable of using these technologies. Digital contract management Procurement contracts can be complex.
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