Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

How Do You Define Excellence? In retrospect, I find that technology is an enabler, but only if we are clear on what defines supply chain excellence. Many believe that an ex-supply chain exec knows the definition of supply chain excellence. An average margin of 21% with inventory turns of 1.58 I admit it. Lora was as well.

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

Kinaxis

OCTOBER 20, 2014

Reason #4 Making key decisions by modelling the supply chain in Excel. Reason #6 Not effectively managing inventory. I lost track of how many carrots we had and ended up buying more when we really didn’t need any. Unfortunately, all the same kinds of things can happen to your supply chain inventory. and it didn’t leak.

Supply Chain Planning Software 257

Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Reduction Modeling Cost Reduction Strategies 257

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 13, 2024

Observations on What It Takes In the Mea Culpa post, I wrote that I used to believe that excellence in S&OP was a ratio of 60/30/10. (60% P&G did not appreciate the work Gilette accomplished on form and function of inventory and using market signals. Profits were good, and the organization struggled to manage inventory.

S&OP 393

S&OP Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction Expense Reduction 393

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 11, 2012

This year supply chain leaders will celebrate thirty years of progress in supply chain management; but we have not made progress on one of the funamentals: inventory management. I think that it is time for us to take the litmus test and ask the hard questions, “Have our practices impacted days of inventory? I want to believe.

Inventory Reduction 247

Inventory Reduction Vendor Strategies Resource Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 247

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 7, 2023

The ability of an organization to deliver reliable and consistent results for revenue, margin, customer service, and quality in the face of demand and supply variability. I am currently doing research on inventory management. In the research, I ask inventory planners to define resilience. We are not clear on definition.

Supply Chain Design Software 395

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

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 16, 2023

Clear operating strategy and definition of supply chain excellence across plan, source, make and deliver. Most companies buy decision support technology, but do not redefine work to improve decisions. I like the use of growth, margin, inventory turns, Return on Invested Capital, customer service and ESG metrics.

S&OP 390

S&OP Supply and Demand Forecasting Supply Chain Design Software 390

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 9, 2023

The classical approach involves functional silos, sequential decisions, and Excel and people to render a plan executable. CPG companies that utilize an autonomous supply chain technology see a reduction in their inventory and cost and an increase in revenue. each with discrete plans generated typically in sequential batch runs.

Supply Chain Planning Software 282

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Forecasting Software Optimization Software 282

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 21, 2024

In follow-up qualitative interviews, one of the largest issues with organizational alignment was metric definition and a clear definition of supply chain excellence. To manage continuous improvement, companies need a clear definition of excellence and organizational alignment to that goal. They do not excel in planning or forecasting.

Procurement Analytics 393

Procurement Analytics Metrics Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software 393

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

If S&OP efforts were that effective, don’t you think that we would have made more progress against inventory levels, margin, and growth? The issues are largely rooted in politics and the lack of clarity on supply chain excellence. Or a similar comparison of customer orders or planned orders? And how do we measure it?

Supply and Demand 431

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 431

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 6, 2020

Tom, the colorful warehouse manager, constantly heckled Frank for the increasing inventory levels while Ed, the quiet material/logistics manager, constantly questioned if there was a better way. He felt that inventory was no problem, he would just cut it at the end of each quarter to make the balance sheet goals.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 362

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Strategy 362

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 25, 2024

With slim margins and ever-increasing inventories, companies invested less in capital assets. Today, this network operates with less capacity and ballooning inventories. Many of these outsourced products have demand latency of weeks and months (shelf purchase through the replenishment cycle for a manufacturer to receive an order).

Supply Chain Network Software 359

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Inventory Reduction Purchasing Skills 359

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Each is customized and runs on separate servers. Rolling up a perpetual inventory signal takes eleven hours. Through the use of a NoSQL unified data model, the company is able to now move data within 15-minute increments improving the data flow for inventory availability to improve allocation and ATP processing.

Supply Chain Planning Software 392

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 392

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 8, 2014

. “When I ask my team about customer service, I get high-five reviews. When I meet with my customers, I get thumbs-down feedback. I find the measurement of customer service to be one of the most difficult.” Which metrics do you think matter to supply chain excellence? What have you learned?

Procurement Analytics 279

Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Metrics Procurement Solutions 279

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 10, 2025

In May 2025, one in seven home-purchase agreements fell through resulting in the cancellation of 56,000 purchase contracts. A negative FVA increases cost, inventory, and risk. Bi-directional orchestration is the continuous redesign of supply options across make, source and deliver to reduce costs and improve customer service.)

Supply Chain Planning Software 195

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Waste Reduction 195

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2014

The promise was the delivery of a decision support system that would allow the organization to optimize the relationships between cash, cost and customer service against the strategy. Leadership teams struggle with the trade-offs between cash, cost and customer service. Why does this happen? The book is a story.

Supply Chain Planning Software 379

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning Software Optimization Software 379

SCMDOJO

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Key takeaways Importance of Procurement Procurement vs. Purchasing Key Functions Departmental Structure Role Descriptions The blog emphasizes the significance of a well-structured procurement department with qualified personnel to achieve organizational objectives. Read In Detail About Procurement Department Here 2.

Negotiating Skills 95

Negotiating Skills Purchasing Skills Purchasing Training Buyer Training 95

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 3, 2015

When it comes to the management of inventory in value chains, frustration abounds. Executive, after executive, lament, “They have purchased many technologies and sponsored many projects to reduce inventories, but they are not seeing results.” Inventory is the culmination of many business decisions.

Inventory Reduction 150

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

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 23, 2014

Get Good at Having a Real-time Perpetual Inventory Signal. Foundational for ecommerce is a real-time perpetual inventory (PI) signal. If you are going to be excellent at ecommerce fulfillment, you need to have great perpetual inventory capabilities. No matter where inventory is, put it to work. 3) Test and Learn.

Packaging 332

Packaging Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction San Francisco 332

SCMDOJO

APRIL 11, 2025

The way they customize Shopify for operational effectiveness bridges gaps between marketing, customer service, and logistics and converts stand-alone silos into end-to-end digital ecosystems. Check out SCMDOJO’s Inventory Optimization Tool , and enhance your inventory management capabilities!

Supply Chain Planning Software 84

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software Inventory Management Software 84

Kinaxis

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Excess and obsolete inventory. When you don’t make what you sell and don’t sell what you make you create inventory. A well-executed sales and operations planning process can transform a company; allowing them to better control inventory and costs while meeting rapidly changing demand pictures. How about excellent planning?

Supply Chain Planning Software 235

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning S&OP Supply Chain Software 235

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

JUNE 7, 2018

Or agreement on the definition of supply chain excellence. As a result, functional excellence anchors action. The focus is on digitization—automating today’s processes—versus rethinking process excellence based on the art of the possible. In this case, the metrics are operating margin and inventory turns.

Supply Chain Planning Software 287

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimization Software Forecasting Software 287

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 29, 2014

With the purchase of i2 by JDA, and Logictools by IBM, manufacturing companies serious about network design started looking for a company, with a well-established community, that was more serious about network design. There are seven reasons: Customer Service. It could no longer be just about inventory levels.

Supply Chain Design Software 268

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

Supply Chain Opz

JULY 15, 2018

We evaluate books related to customer service based on sales rank, reviews/endorsement by leading business leaders and show you the best customer service books. If you don't want to compete in the price war, outstanding customer service is the holy grail because customer loyalty is the key. -

Customer Service 100

Customer Service Six Sigma Agile and Lean Supply Chain Purchasing Skills 100

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 14, 2013

It was a story where people believed that functional excellence leads to supply chain superiority. I strongly feel that a blind focus on functional excellence will cause the supply chain to become out of balance. Multi-tier inventory optimization was a fad in the last decade. One that is going to eat you up!

Supply Chain Planning Software 260

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling 260

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

The secondary problem is the lack of definition of process requirements and a buying team that cannot see past simple MRP/MRP II/DDMRP requirements. Procurement processes–encumbered by a focus on paperless processing, RFPs/RFQs, and efficient procurement–do not embrace the capabilities and requirements of direct material sourcing.

Supply Chain Planning Software 390

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

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

The discussion of customer-segmented supply chains happens often. When I hear companies discussing the implementation of a customer segmentation strategy, I ask a series of questions: Who is your customer? How do they buy from you? How do they buy from you?” Why does it matter to you? It is systemic.

Inventory Reduction 150

Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Strategy 150

Kinaxis

DECEMBER 3, 2014

Reason #4 Making key decisions by modelling the supply chain in Excel. Reason #6 Not effectively managing inventory. One example that I’ve seen several times is around inventory targets. The result is a lower inventory level, but much higher expedited costs and reduced customer service.

Expense Reduction 250

Expense Reduction Procurement Analytics Cost Reduction Strategies Metrics 250

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2024

similarly, over 95% of manufacturers invested and implemented supply chain planning, but their primary tool today is Excel. How does the plan tie to the balanced scorecard of growth, inventory health, operating margin, customer service, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)? ” Does the Dog Hunt? (The Makes sense.

Supply Chain Planning Software 369

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 14, 2018

Yes, companies need the right materials at the right time to drive customer service. A slight change within a function–in sourcing or manufacturing, or along the chain–can greatly impact the outcomes of cost, customer service, or working capital. Days of Inventory by Industry Across Years.

Optimal Sourcing 191

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain 191

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 4, 2018

For the past five years, the team at Supply Chain Insights identified Supply Chains to Admire Award Winners by analyzing performance by peer group on the key metrics of growth, operating margin, inventory turns and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). The total cost of ownership analyzes the total costs of the buying decision.

Supply Chain Software 30

Supply Chain Software Case Study Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 30

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

By maximizing space utilization, improving inventory control , and boosting workflow efficiency, you can unlock significant cost savings and elevate your customer service game. Operational Efficiency: See an improvement in order processing speed, enhanced inventory accuracy , and smoother picking and packing processes.

Optimal Sourcing 97

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Waste Reduction Modeling 97

Logistics Bureau

DECEMBER 4, 2023

Inventory management is a crucial aspect of supply chain management, and effective strategies can help businesses reduce costs, improve customer service, and increase profits. But what does a great inventory management strategy look like? Why not start with a free online call with one of our IM specialists?

Inventory Reduction 75

Inventory Reduction Inventory Management Software Inventory Management Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 75

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 7, 2012

For the purpose of this discussion, I define agility as the design of the supply chain to deliver the same cost, quality and customer service given a level of both market volatility and process variability. Q: Is it only inventory disrupting the agility resulting from inaccurate forecasts by S&OP? It requires design.

Supply Chain Design Software 231

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction 231

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

This team is not buying the message. So much so, that three years ago, I founded a research company to focus on understanding supply chain excellence. I also believed that this company would have the best inventory and customer service. My favorites are customer service, operating margin, inventory turns, and ROIC.

Manufacturing Procurement 318

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Benchmarking Supply Chain Design Software 318

Logistics Bureau

NOVEMBER 3, 2024

Such an approach results in unnecessary cost, a lack of resilience, and unwanted challenges in meeting customer service requirements – yet sadly, it’s still the approach most commonly taken. That should be sobering news for any business not yet focused on supply chain excellence as a lever for business success.

Inventory Reduction 74

Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Vendor Strategies Supply Chain Design Software 74

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 12, 2022

At Dow, Mr. Baker had Purchasing experience in raw materials, and logistics for their plastics supply chain. After being hired at Myers Industries, Mr. Baker was promoted to Vice President of Shared Services and tasked with creating a centralized supply chain organization. This replaced an Excel based, part-by-part approach.

Supply Chain Planning Software 261

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Procurement Solutions Scenario Planning 261