ToolsGroup

MARCH 14, 2025

Your Aftermarket Supply Chain is More Complex Than You Think Lets be honest: managing spare parts inventory requires specialized strategies unlike any other inventory management process. Suboptimal inventory distribution: excessive stock in low-demand locations and shortages in high-demand areas. The outcome?

Optimal Sourcing 156

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Optimization Software Inventory Reduction 156

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

TTR-TTS Framework TTR (Time-to-Recover) represents the time needed to restore supply after a disruption, while TTS (Time-to-Survive) is the duration a company can continue operations before running out of inventory. Secure alternative suppliers and emergency inventory for high-risk categories.

Supply Chain Planning Software 258

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Software 258

Talking Logistics

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

One tactic major retailers have used to help increase their margins is to offer their own private label branded products as lower-cost alternatives to the consumer goods brands. Consumer goods manufacturers have struggled to combat these private label incursions, with varying degrees of success.

Consumer Goods 100

Consumer Goods Supply Chain Planning Software Company Analytics Software 100

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Walmart is not the only big retailer with OTIF requirements, but as the world’s largest retailer, and a company with stringent requirements , Walmart’s OTIF requirements are top of mind for consumer goods companies. These solutions allow companies to prove that their goods arrived on-time.

Shipping 312

Shipping Real-time Visibility Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software 312

The Network Effect

NOVEMBER 21, 2014

There is growing recognition within pharma that inventory management should be a top priority. Industry insiders are beginning to put increasing focus on improving their inventory management practices, which lag far behind those of other industries. There are usually 4–24 weeks of finished good stocks. Pharmaceutical'

Pharmaceutical 179

Pharmaceutical Inventory Management Software Inventory Management Modeling 179

Logility

OCTOBER 24, 2024

Taking a Closer Look: A Use Case for GenAI in S&OP To visualize how GenAI works in a real-world S&OP setting, consider a global consumer goods company grappling with fluctuating demand and supply chain disruption. The need for repetitive meetings and manual data reconciliation decreases.

S&OP 224

S&OP Supply and Demand Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software 224

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 4, 2021

And how can consumer goods companies learn from their performance in this pandemic to prepare for the future? A study by E2open – the 2021 Forecasting and Inventory Benchmark Study: Supply Chain Performance During the Covid-19 Pandemic – provides the answers. It was a time of need, and demand for essential goods was high.

Supply Chain Performance 290

Supply Chain Performance Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Supply and Demand 290

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 25, 2013

Essentially, the team is removing the partitions between network design, sales and operations planning (S&OP), inventory optimization, fulfillment and transportation planning. As a result, the solution is solving inventory, transportation, and fulfillment in one model across strategic, tactical, operational, and executional horizons.

Supply Chain Planning Software 286

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

BlueYonder

JANUARY 10, 2023

We at Blue Yonder have the privilege of serving hundreds of consumer goods companies globally. Consumer goods companies are: Reviewing working capital investments and their CFO’s are speaking to us about our industry-leading multi-echelon inventory optimization.

Consumer Goods 101

Consumer Goods Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software 101

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

The digital consumer often wants to shop online, pick up at the store, and conveniently manage returns. Each year I go to the Consumer Goods and Technology (CGT) conference where speaker-after-speaker talks about retail/supplier collaboration. Current State of Perpetual Inventory. Get Good at Data Sharing.

Forecasting 353

Forecasting Optimal Sourcing Forecasting Software Supply Chain Network Software 353

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 6, 2025

Strategic moves like bulk buying, closer supplier partnerships, and syncing procurement with supply chain planning can tighten inventory, cut waste, and free up cash. A consumer goods company aligned its procurement and logistics teams, resulting in a 15% reduction in working capital. What Is Agile Procurement?

Price Reduction 216

Price Reduction Material Savings Cost Reduction Strategies Waste Reduction 216

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

We were discussing the results of the planning benchmarking work that we have just finished, and I was sharing some insights on inventory management when one of the panelists emphatically stated, “Inventory is a waste to manage. We feel so strongly about this that we do not have an inventory planning role.”

Waste Reduction 150

Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction Inventory Optimal Sourcing 150

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 22, 2015

The impact of complexity on inventory is not quick. To help, today I want to share some of the insights from our recent Inventory Optimization study. Inventory management is a hot issue. Companies invest in project after project, yet inventory levels remain the same. What Drives Inventory Effectiveness?

Inventory Reduction 150

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 1, 2024

In this scenario, by adopting an adaptive supply chain, the retailer uses real-time data analytics to identify emerging trends and collaborate closely with suppliers to quickly adjust production and inventory levels to meet customer demand. This collaboration enables faster response times and cost savings.

Modeling 317

Modeling Network Optimization Supply Chain Design Software Material Savings 317

BlueYonder

JANUARY 17, 2023

They may need to further optimize inventory across the supply chain. For example, multi-echelon inventory optimization to enhance responsive and cost and cash-to-serve across supply chain nodes. The consumer good companies are looking at how to carry out digital transformation in a way to minimize risk and learning curve.

Consumer Goods 97

Consumer Goods Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Optimization 97

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 6, 2021

Meanwhile, supply shortages and price inflation are getting the front page in consumer-focused publications and plenty of airtime on televised news. Many consumers, including myself, become irritated by the sight of empty store shelves where our favorite consumer goods are typically stored. And rightfully so.

Supply Chain Disruption 278

Supply Chain Disruption Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply and Demand Supply Chain 278

DELMIA Quintiq

APRIL 6, 2020

The key challenge is to not over-produce and stock up on excessive inventory , but at the same time be ready for summer by securing on-shelf availability and fulfillment. The impact on inventory and demand will depend on the extent and timing of the pandemic ending. Often, consumer goods are produced in wide varieties.

Scenario Planning 296

Scenario Planning Supply Chain Planning Software Food Modeling 296

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 3, 2023

The company claims that for one global consumer goods company the solution was making 12,000 recommendations in a month; 74% of those recommendations were auto accepted. If it is the same consumer goods company that I think it is, I saw their vice president of supply chain speak at a planning conference.

Supply Chain Planning Software 321

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning 321

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 2, 2025

During the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, sectors such as automotive, electronics, and consumer goods experienced severe disruptions due to factory shutdowns and shipping constraints, primarily because of dependence on suppliers concentrated in Asia.

Modeling 169

Modeling Modeling Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 169

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 2, 2021

Kimberly-Clark is public consumer goods company that generated over $19 billion in revenues last year. This consumer goods behemoth has driven ongoing supply chain productivity through their FORCE (Focused On Reducing Costs Everywhere) program. Not surprisingly, many of FourKites’ users work in transportation operations.

Real-time Visibility 264

Real-time Visibility Shipping Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Planning Software 264

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

Instead, in the SanDisk journey , they adjusted the speed of response to their customer segments, and actively designing inventory postponement strategies. This included monthly reviews between business units and central operations teams and adaptive inventory segmentation policies. In fact, the teams ignore the forecast. Does it work?

Inventory Reduction 150

Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Strategy 150

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2013

This requires using new forms of analytics for inventory optimization and network design and doing less on spreadsheets. Nine out of ten companies are stuck in their ability to make progress on operating margin and inventory turns. Track the impact of rising complexity on forecastability and the impact on the inventory plan.

Forecasting 258

Forecasting Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Forecasting Software 258

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 27, 2023

As demand forecasting accuracy increases, and the standard deviation associated with the forecast decreases, the need to hold “just in case” inventory also goes down. This leads to lower inventory carrying costs and thus better case flow. Demand forecasting should be tightly integrated to an inventory optimization application.

Forecasting 276

Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling Optimal Sourcing 276

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Clarkston Consulting is focused on the Consumer Goods and Life Sciences industries. They have developed a proprietary inventory analysis tool that can not only help companies achieve service level goals with less inventory, but the inventory analysis can also flow into helping design an efficient warehouse layout.

Supply Chain Design Software 317

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Design 317

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. Orbit Chart for L’Oréal at the Intersection of Inventory Turns and Operating Margin. Growing Pains.

Case Study 329

Case Study Inventory Reduction Study Agile and Lean Supply Chain 329

Alloy

JULY 28, 2023

Consumer Goods Index – May 2023 Edition Deltas in sales over time and inventory totals are critical leading indicators for the health of the consumer goods industry. Retailers and consumers alike are impacted by deviations and volatility in the consumer goods supply chain. since April 2021.

Consumer Goods 52

Consumer Goods Inventory Reduction Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 52

Logistics Viewpoints

JANUARY 11, 2023

Inventory Management in a High Inflation Environment ; Clint Reiser. Instead, they are likely to carry higher levels of inventory as a lower cost alternative to minimizing disruptions. Beware the Swinging Pendulum on Supply Chain Inventory Practices ; Polly-Mitchell Guthrie ( Kinaxis ). Will it take decades? Clint Reiser.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 310

Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Forecasting Software 310

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 25, 2021

The pandemic drove up prices on many consumer goods as people shifted spending to e-commerce and bought at holiday levels in early spring. The system wasn’t prepared for the surge, driving up pricing for transportation and sapping inventory levels. Price fluctuations and sourcing issues.

Supply Chain Planning Software 331

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software 331

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 31, 2023

Unilever (NYSE: UL) is one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies. It was believed a SCP transformation would reduce inventory, improve service and free up cash flow. Almost one day of inventory has been cut from days of inventory outstanding.

Inventory Reduction 242

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software North America Material Savings 242

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 13, 2024

This week, I attended the Consumer Goods Forum in Chicago. On the top of mind for many retail and consumer goods executives is the looming forced upgrade by SAP named RISE. The Consumer Goods Forum follows on the heels of Sapphire. The networking was great. Here I share observations and take aways.

Supply Chain Planning Software 222

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software SAP Supply Chain Software 222

BlueYonder

AUGUST 15, 2024

From fulfillment analysts and omni-channel commerce managers to customer success managers, diverse functions are tasked with ensuring that inventory is properly rebalanced following a disruption. Let’s explore this challenge through the lens of a consumer goods manufacturer. The result?

Optimal Sourcing 98

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Optimization Software 98

ToolsGroup

JANUARY 3, 2017

Prior to a recent ToolsGroup user conference, we carried out an initial survey of our clients, completing it with the known data of our installed base and analyzing the results in three industries: consumer goods (27% of customers surveyed), retail (29%) and industrial (44%). Same as Consumer Goods, plus difficult to predict demand.

Benchmarking 168

Benchmarking Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Forecasting 168

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 12, 2022

Growth agendas with the spiraling demand require cash, supplier shortages necessitate the shortening of payables, and the longer/more variable transport lead times decrease inventory turns increasing the need for cash. Comparison of Industry Players Within Consumer Goods for the Period of 2012-2021. The answer?

Supply and Demand 222

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing 222

ToolsGroup

JULY 6, 2023

IL’s educational mission is to guide businesses to efficiently manage logistics, reduce and speed inventory, and neutralize transportation cost increases by aligning supply to demand and adjusting enterprise functions to support that paradigm shift. Read the press release here.

ToolsGroup 295

ToolsGroup Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Optimal Sourcing 295

The Logistics of Logistics

JULY 22, 2022

He is working with Microsoft, Accenture, and other partners to deliver a multi-tenant supply chain model that leverages data, the cloud, and shared pay-for-use robotics facilities, to allow consumer goods to reach customers next or same-day at the cost of standard delivery. The system is extremely dense and is completely scalable.

Warehousing 246

Warehousing Material Savings Supply Chain Network Software Modeling Software 246

The Logistics of Logistics

MAY 8, 2023

Square1 primarily serves clients in the Beauty, Packaged Food, Apparel, and Consumer Goods industries, and currently works with 40 domestic and international clients. Square1 Logistics serves clients across various industries, including food and beverage, consumer goods, and automotive.

3PL 246

3PL Missouri Logistics Network Optimization Software Warehousing 246

Unleashed

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Vendor managed inventory (VMI) – when executed well – can be an efficient and cost-effective system for managing the supply of goods. Learn more: What is Inventory Management? Techniques for 2021 What is vendor managed inventory? How does vendor managed inventory work?

Vendor Strategies 98

Vendor Strategies Inventory Reduction Inventory Inventory Management Software 98