Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 7, 2018

For the past month, I have been working alongside companies implementing digital strategies. In most companies, I find, that there is an organizational imperative, but no consensus on the goal. Instead of pushing innovation forward, I see companies using the term “digital” as a path for IT spending. ” Incrementalism.

Supply Chain Planning Software 227

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimization Software Forecasting Software 227

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 30, 2017

The flight into San Francisco on American was six hours late arriving at 7:00 AM EST. (I had scheduled the last flight out of Philadelphia on a Sunday night to spend the afternoon with my grandchildren.) Instead of the direct from San Francisco to Philadelphia, I was to fly on United to Newark and take a train from Newark to Philadelphia.

San Francisco 152

San Francisco Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Software San Jose 152

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 5, 2013

It was a sultry day in Philadelphia. Integration of corporate social responsibility metrics in planning. There is a lack of clarity on what drives value and metrics are functional. Inventory is often focused on as a singular metric, not as part of a complex supply chain system. Functional metric orientation.

Supply Chain Planning Software 220

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Supply and Demand Supply Chain Design Software 220

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 27, 2014

” A Demand Planner for a Large Multinational Pharmaceutical Company. I also continued to work on the manuscript for the book Metrics That Matter to publish in the fall of 2014. The implementation of demand sensing puts the fate of the company in the hands of an optimization tool. I will be landing soon in Philadelphia.

Supply and Demand 281

Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction Demand Planning Software Forecasting Software 281

Supply Chain Insights

JULY 23, 2017

At this time of year, we find many companies planning workshops to stimulate thinking on building a digital supply chain and igniting next-generation supply chain thinking. Use our Metrics That Matter methodology to look at improvement and performance. Three courses are scheduled for in Philadelphia. Summer is ending.

Supply Chain Planning Software 0

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Price Mitigation Strategies Inventory Reduction 0

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 7, 2015

These were once strong companies with bright futures, but they were rigid and inflexible. As growth slows, and global-infrastructures mature, more and more companies worry that they too will make this list. Companies need shorter product cycles with easy customization. Each company defines it slightly differently.

Sourcing Strategies 150

Sourcing Strategies Resource Reduction Optimal Sourcing Agile and Lean Supply Chain 150

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 17, 2015

Then it is off to Dallas to speak on Supply Chain Metrics That Matter at the Dallas CSCMP roundtable and complete some more client work. Companies today are feeling the pain of process complexity, globalization, and product lifecycles. Figure 2: Supply Chain Effective Frontier. It requires work.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2013

It was funded by 50 large consumer products manufacturing companies (CPG). The high-flying company had no clarity of purpose or clear governance, but the funds kept coming. In the Gartner article, I cautioned companies to invest only if three conditions were met: A well-defined scope. Transora had a short history.

Supply Chain Design Software 255

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 255

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 18, 2015

However, at a practical level, companies struggle with the implementation of strategy due to a lack of definition. In my work with organizations, I ask companies to be patient and remember that we are on a journey. Today, while companies speak the words of end-to-end supply chain management, there is functional quagmire.

Sourcing Strategies 150

Sourcing Strategies Agile and Lean Supply Chain Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design 150

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 25, 2015

It is a beautiful fall day in Philadelphia. The processes are very different by company. As companies focus on improving the maturity and effectiveness of Sales and Operations Planning, there are three recommendations embedded in the research for consideration: 1. It is always fun to write great research. This is not trivial.

S&OP 150

S&OP Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 19, 2015

Today is a rainy day in Philadelphia. The stock plunged, and the company announced the intent to find a buyer in the Wall Street Journal. Today, the market capitalization value of the company is 197M. Running a public software company in the supply chain management space is a tough job. I am recovering from bronchitis.

Long Beach 150

Long Beach Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Buyer Training 150

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

The city of Philadelphia is eerily quiet this morning. I live in city-center Philadelphia. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Lynchburg, Virgina, this is a story of a small company (90 employees and $25M in sales). In 2008, the company manufactured 2.5% In essence, their companies would mobilize only when mandated.

Pharmaceutical 150

Pharmaceutical Supply and Demand Food Manufacturing Procurement 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 19, 2015

Each company has a different format and working definition for each of these data elements. While every company will agree that this data is VERY important, the lack of standard definition precludes comparison. For the companies in the study, there is no difference between planning productivity and planning results.

Benchmarking 150

Benchmarking Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning 150

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 10, 2017

The company makes highly complex machines at a low-volume. As shown in Table A, the Company ranked 3 out of 12 companies in their peer group on driving supply chain improvement as measured by the Supply Chain Index. The company stuck to a no-tether policy – no battery pack or phone attached to the device. Time to Value.

Supply Chain Design Software 152

Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Material Savings Supply Chain Software 152

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 11, 2015

In addition, to spur growth, companies are quick to add products to the item master, but slow to rationalize the portfolio. In 2014, 70% of companies experienced three business discontinuity events with at least one resulting in a material impact to the balance sheet resulting in financial reporting. This is significant.

Supply Chain Design Software 150

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 13, 2015

Over time, companies acquired assets. This is difficult for the average company since only one in two supply chains have source, make and deliver reporting through the same organization (reference Figure 1). Companies talk about the need to be proactive, and agile. Supply chain design looks very different by company.

Supply Chain Design Software 150

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Planning Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain 150

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 16, 2016

I love photography, and mused as I walked into the shop on that rainy day in Philadelphia. ” I hate buzzwords and try to sidestep hype, but as I held my mug tight in my hand on a cold Philadelphia day, I thought more about the photo shop experience. Few companies speak of digital marketing now: it is just assumed.

Supply Chain Design Software 150

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Supply and Demand Supply Chain Design 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 21, 2015

The planners in this study work for companies that have deployed (what I consider to be) the most mature demand and supply planning instances in the world. However, when we correlate the planners response to the actual inventory, we see companies more mature in inventory analysis to have a lower level of slow and obsolete stock.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Demand Planning Software Supply Chain Software Analytics Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 6, 2015

It is finally spring in Philadelphia. Last week I spoke to 26 attendees that had a center of excellence; and this week I will speak to 15 companies that do not have a center of excellence, but are considering the implementation of the concept. For most companies, there is confusion on the charter. I love spring. 2) Charter.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Supply Chain Planning 150

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 5, 2015

Over the last decade, each company took a different path to power global growth. Overall Results on the Supply Chain Metrics That Matter. Consumer products companies experienced slow growth while the food and beverage leaders faced declining–often sharp–market trends. Kimberly-Clark. It is seldom a step change.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 150

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Strategy Global Supply Chain 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 12, 2015

Most processes are over 15 years old; yet, only 46% of companies feel that their processes are effective. I see more and more companies making these seven common mistakes. As shown in Figure 2, most companies are out of balance. Consumer Packaged Goods companies are more balanced than food and beverage. Manage Input.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning S&OP Forecasting 150

Material Handling & Logistics

OCTOBER 8, 2017

Given that the study was funded by an Atlanta-based group, the results are hardly authoritative (for instance, a number of major cities, such as Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, are not included in the study), but they do offer an interesting view on the supply chain capabilities of seven major regions.

San Francisco 82

San Francisco Los Angeles Supply Chain Software New York City 82

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 22, 2015

However, only 12% of companies can get to total cost data, and the average company has 5-7 ERP instances, so if companies want to spend large amounts of money on a new architecture, who am I to judge? The most fundamental thing that companies need to do now is to change their mindset. What Does Need to Change. .

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Analytics Software Modeling Software Supply Chain Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 2, 2015

Feeling very green, I stumbled through the airport and found my way to my seat on the plane from Brussels to Philadelphia. <The To me a consultant works with a company on a project basis to implement processes or technology. It is a new company with a new business model. A program that could help companies be less reactive?

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Design 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 15, 2015

I am writing this blog post in the air, sitting in seat 4c, somewhere over the Midwest en route to Philadelphia. Most companies fail before they succeed. While companies have deployed large planning systems, Excel ghettos have popped up in most organizations. In many companies, SAP has a lock on the decision processes.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software SAP Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 24, 2015

Driving supply chain excellence is easier when companies are clear on the definition. In my time with the company, we grew from being the fifth largest provider of personal computing hardware companies to being one of the top three technology companies in the world. Getting clear is a journey. We hope to see you there! _.

Supply Chain Design Software 150

Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 8, 2014

It is such a very different landscape than the green mountains of my farm in West Virginia or my city streets in Philadelphia. I now have a working manuscript for the entire book of Metrics That Matter. How are companies embracing data lakes, streams, and clouds to use a growing variety and increasing velocity of data?

Supply Chain Planning 292

Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Strategy Supply Chain Software San Diego 292

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 15, 2015

I am writing this blog post in the air, sitting in seat 4c, somewhere over the Midwest en route to Philadelphia. Most companies fail before they succeed. When companies reward fire fighting, they never get good at planning. While companies have deployed large planning systems, Excel ghettos have popped up in most organizations.

Supply Chain Planning Software 135

Supply Chain Planning Software SAP Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning 135

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 24, 2017

In manufacturing-based companies, 70-80% of costs are in the processes of source, make and deliver. Labor is an important input with 50-60% of employees of the company reporting through supply chain organizations. Most companies say that employees are an asset, but treat it as a cost. Is talent a cost or an asset? The results?

Cost Reduction Strategies 198

Cost Reduction Strategies Inventory Reduction Resource Reduction Manufacturing Procurement 198

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 learned that supply chain systems are more complex than I originally thought, and that the relationships between supply chain metrics are nonlinear.

Supply Chain Design Software 286

Supply Chain Design Software Network Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software 286

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 11, 2015

Companies struggle to do it well. Too few companies understand that the supply chain as a complex system with finite and non-linear relationships between the metrics. Companies also struggle to get to data. Today, companies do not have one S&OP solution. It happens over many years. What do you think?

S&OP 150

S&OP Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 6, 2015

The premise of the Christensen’s book is that when companies focus on current customer needs, they fail to adopt new technologies or business models that will meet the customer’s unstated or future needs. I was recruited to join Manugistics (now a JDA company) in 1990. This is especially true in large companies.”

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Forecasting Software Demand Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 29, 2015

My goal is to help companies perform better in future quarters by improving alignment. Most companies are stuck. In our research for the book Supply Chain Metrics That Matter , we find that this is the case for 90% of companies. While companies want to improve costs and inventory, most are going backwards.

Supply Chain Design Software 150

Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software S&OP 150

6 River Systems

JULY 29, 2020

Third-party logistics companies ( 3PLs ) specialize in distribution, warehousing and fulfillment services. The core competency of these companies is logistics , and they do it well. Even Amazon used third-party logistics companies when the company first started, until reaching sufficient scale to have a logistics arm of its own.

Warehousing 111

Warehousing 3PL Company Third Party Logistics 111

GlobalTranz

JANUARY 31, 2017

This has always been too myopic a view of how technological innovation is distributed across the country, because of many other metropolitan areas and regions—from Phoenix to Salt Lake City to Philadelphia—are innovative hot spots, too, and many more areas are developing tech capabilities. Louis, where he earned an M.A.

Innovation 120

Innovation Demand Planning Software District of Columbia St. Louis 120

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 3, 2016

The combination of weather and the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia delayed all my flights for at least two hours on multiple days. Most companies ask the wrong questions. I can count the number of companies that are good at supply chain planning on one hand. …for 8:00 AM strategy meeting(s) with clients.)

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Supply Chain Design Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

For the prior ten years, as a city dweller in Philadelphia and Baltimore, I walked everywhere. If I do an excellent job at safety stock management, my company will have the right levels of inventory. Fifty-six percent of manufacturing companies managed the first half of the pandemic well, while 44% struggled.

Supply Chain Planning Software 195

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Purchasing Skills 195