Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 14, 2025

As I write about the need to rethink how we make decisions with new forms of technology and the definition of a good decision, I turn to the Cynefin model advocated by my friend Trevor Miles. Still, few can answer the question of how to improve decision-making with technology and the definition of a good decision.

Supply and Demand 391

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Inventory Reduction 391

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 4, 2018

At the session, we discussed why companies have not made more progress on inventory management. In the case of Apparel and Automotive industries there are slight improvements, but they have shifted inventories to suppliers. Days of Inventory Pre and Post-Recession. IT View of the Current State of Inventory. Five Reasons.

Inventory Management Software 337

Inventory Management Software Inventory Reduction Inventory Management Supply Chain Planning Software 337

Logistics Viewpoints

JANUARY 26, 2021

The definition of agility and resilience will continue to evolve. The creation of a new digital ecosystem has enabled these and other changes that will shape the definition of supply chain agility and resilience in the 2020s and beyond. There are Also Commercial Reasons. The Road to Agility and Resilience.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 293

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Strategy 293

RFgen

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Picture this: You’re a warehouse manager, and with a few taps on your smartphone, you instantly know the exact location and quantity of every item in your inventory. That’s not science fiction—it’s the power of mobile inventory management. Ready to turn your inventory from a headache into a strategic asset?

Inventory Management Software 96

Inventory Management Software Real-time Visibility Inventory Reduction Inventory Management 96

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 6, 2022

I did a little digging to find out the specifics about excess inventory, the stated causes, and the potential implications. Retailers’ Inventories – Just Keep your Returns? Unfortunately, I am unsure about the order of magnitude or the duration of these inventory mismatches. Here’s my take on the topic.

Inventory Reduction 307

Inventory Reduction Inventory Retail Purchasing Skills 307

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 14, 2025

Neils here is some feedback to consider: VMI: Vendor-managed inventory logic enables the downstream trading partner to manage inventories and the sell-through the channel. Flowcasting: The definition is a sell-one/make-one logic using flow from the channel to guide planning logic. The problems are many.

Modeling 320

Modeling Material Savings Vendor Strategies Supply and Demand 320

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. As a result, demand planning is largely manual, inventory management is a series of manual inputs, and production planning is via spreadsheet. Anne is a lean disciple and sees all inventory as Muda.

Supply Chain Planning Software 387

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

SCMDOJO

JANUARY 29, 2025

Supply chain reports are data-driven documents that provide key metrics and insights into various aspects of your supply chain, including: Inventory Levels Tracking stock levels in real-time to ensure adequate inventory to meet demand while minimizing holding costs.

Inventory Reduction 98

Inventory Reduction Negotiating Skills Waste Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 98

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 7, 2023

We are not clear on definition. So, if you use the Supply Chain Insights definition, you might ask, how are we doing commercially against this goal? I believe that the ASCM definition is too reactive and rooted in the traditional, and outdated concepts on risk management. I am currently doing research on inventory management.

Supply Chain Design Software 395

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

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 2, 2025

This could all change if we discard our current definitions of supply chain planning and start anew. The next step is to throw away the conventional definition of supply chain planning. The third step is to do a data inventory. We should not rely on AI to be stupid; the goal should not be to make the planner more efficient.

Optimal Sourcing 195

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Design Software 195

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 27, 2022

The race started in 2016 as a foggy definition of digital appeared in supply chain marketing from technology providers. Today, there is no standard definition of digital. The numerous definitions across the supply chain technology and consulting providers are very different and often confusing. What is a digital brain?

Supply Chain Software 418

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction 418

ToolsGroup

MARCH 19, 2025

Like betting that a champion racehorse will win a specific race, this “single-number” forecast assumes one definitive result. In modern distribution networks, meeting service levels requires getting precisely the right inventory to the right locations at the right time.

Forecasting 156

Forecasting Modeling Forecasting Software Supply and Demand 156

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 26, 2025

Table 1: Aligning the Organization to a Balanced Scorecard to Maximize Market Potential When we isolate the impact and only focus on only operating margin/inventory turns compared to a focus on cost of goods/inventory turns (as shown in Table 2), the impact is a 63% reduction in market capitalization/employee.

Material Savings 221

Material Savings Waste Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Price Reduction 221

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 16, 2023

Clear operating strategy and definition of supply chain excellence across plan, source, make and deliver. There is a clear definition of the role of the supply chain in the delivery of value. Definition and alignment on why should make a decision and what a good decision looks like. Drives Value. S&OP is a business process.

S&OP 390

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

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 13, 2024

P&G did not appreciate the work Gilette accomplished on form and function of inventory and using market signals. As a result, the company’s performance at the intersection of margin and inventory turns was circular for the past decade. Strategy definition precedes process definition.

S&OP 393

S&OP Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction Expense Reduction 393

The Smart Software

JULY 8, 2024

Inventory optimization software that supports what-if analysis will expose the tradeoff of stockouts vs. excess costs of varying service level targets. This will avoid miscommunication and the false sense of security that can develop when less stringent definitions are used. This facilitates better decision-making.

Inventory Management Software 103

Inventory Management Software Inventory Management Inventory Optimization Software 103

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 14, 2014

Organizations are unable to power progress on operating margin and inventory turns together in the same year. For example, I have just finished interviewing thirteen Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) leaders. Clear Definition of Each Planning Horizon. The slides all look the same. And, they are anything BUT end-to-end. This is sad.

Supply Chain Design Software 367

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Vendor Strategies 367

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 5, 2021

Let’s Start With a Discussion on Inventory. When we look at table 1, we see burgeoning inventories in some industries and extreme shortages in others. We are not good at inventory management. Inventory Levels Over the Quarters of the Pandemic. Companies struggle to have the right inventories. The end result?

Supply Chain Planning Software 343

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Optimal Sourcing 343

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Let’s Start With Clear Definitions My inbox is full. The market is flooded with references to AI, but few stop to give a definition. To combat the hype cycle to drive value, I think that we need to get clear on use cases and definitions. Before reading this post, consider reading my prior blog post, Don’t AI This.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Supply and Demand 417

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. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) does not meet this definition.

Supply Chain Network Software 359

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Inventory Reduction Purchasing Skills 359

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 21, 2024

We explore the concept of holistic inventory strategies focused on the form and function of inventory. In the process, we learn that only 15-20% of inventories are safety stock and that the current APS frameworks do not enable a holistic analysis of the form and function of inventory. I think that the answer is no.

Inventory Reduction 434

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

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 The industry assumes that since the person led a supply chain that they are clear on the definition of supply chain excellence. Most companies are not clear. The issue is ubiquitous.

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2024

A Closer Look at Digital For a decade, I have struggled to get a clear definition on the digital supply chain. Definition: With reference to a dog used for hunting game, the colloquial American-English phrase that dog won’t hunt , and its variants, are used to express the opinion that a particular plan or approach will not succeed. (The

Supply Chain Planning Software 369

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

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 24, 2025

Philip, and other supply chain planning sales teams, have profited over the decades on the back of the historic definition of supply chain planning. Today, companies measure too many metrics without a clear definition of value. The video is captured in front of beautiful yachts and homes on the Florida canal.

Gartner 195

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning 195

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. Alignment of the programs was an issue.

Procurement Analytics 393

Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing Metrics Supply Chain Planning Software 393

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

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. Over the past decades the definition of the supply chain has become narrower with a focus on supply and improving enterprise efficiency which decreases resiliency. Guess what?

Supply Chain Design Software 221

Supply Chain Design Software Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Planning Software 221

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 27, 2023

Definitions: Oxymoron: The combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness) Juxtaposition: The act of placing words or concepts close together or side by side, for comparison or contrast. What is the role of inventory? Today’s definition of supply chain planning is my starting point.

Supply Chain Planning Software 365

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Supply Chain Design Software 365

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Definitions Before we move to the discussion of the actions to take, let’s get clear on some definitions. Rolling up a perpetual inventory signal takes eleven hours. days to get a perpetual inventory signal and 2.2 What is the impact of the amplification and distortion on inventory and cost?

Supply Chain Planning Software 392

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 392

Silvon Software

APRIL 16, 2025

Inventory is the lifeblood of any manufacturing business. By leveraging analytics and key performance indicators (KPIs), manufacturers can optimize inventory, reduce waste, and boost profitability. Tracking inventory flow and performance across your supply chain is a must. Thats where data-driven decision-making comes in!

Optimal Sourcing 65

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Optimization Price Mitigation Strategies 65

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. The goal for all should start with a clear definition of the term “visibility” and the process definition of what capabilities are required to drive success. What To Do?

Supply Chain Planning Software 390

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 31, 2024

In our work with Georgia Tech using data from 1982-2023, we find that the R² of the Regression analysis of Cost-of-Goods Sold/Inventory Turns when compared to correlations of Operating Margin/Inventory turns to Market Capitalization/employee is 40-65% lower. For additional insights check out our presentation at Informs.

Supply Chain Planning Software 413

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Design Software Scenario Planning 413

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

Over the last six years, we studied the connection between business results (growth, operating margin, inventory turns and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)) and the link to company characteristics. Let’s Start with Definitions: One of the difficulties in supply chain is the lack of common definitions. What did we find?

Supply Chain Planning Software 377

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software 377

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 10, 2025

Using design theory, the current definitions of planning have regressed despite the advance of promising technologies. A negative FVA increases cost, inventory, and risk. The current definition of technology needs to change to be outside-in and enable bidirectional data flow from the channel to supply to enable orchestration. (Bi-directional

Supply Chain Planning Software 221

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Waste Reduction 221

Precoro

MAY 13, 2025

Cost-efficient meaning Formula for cost efficiency Cost-effective definition Formula for cost-effectiveness Cost efficiency online calculator Benefits of cost efficiency for your company Steps to improve cost efficiencies Frequently asked questions about cost efficiency Cost-efficient vs. cost-effective: What's the difference?

Sourcing Strategies 45

Sourcing Strategies Cost Reduction Strategies Purchasing Skills Negotiating Skills 45

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 9, 2023

Each box has an optimizer that drives output from a model based on a functional definition using enterprise data. A Focus on Safety Stock Is Too Narrow for Effective Inventory Management. A manufacturing company’s safety stock is 30-40% of the total inventory requirement. My response is a big YAWN. The reason?

Optimal Sourcing 363

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Supply and Demand Manufacturing Procurement 363

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 21, 2014

Slowly the words take definition in everyday speech. Companies are stuck at the intersection of inventory turns and operating margin. Many supply chain consultants will quickly rattle off case studies and proof points, but the smart supply chain leader will ground the discussion with clear definitions. Pauses are awkward.

Supply and Demand 393

Supply and Demand Modeling Demand Planning Software Forecasting 393

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

Shown in Figure 1 is the definition of the layers of outside-in planning. They implemented a simple planning technology with an outside-in channel-centric model (Ship to model definition). The implementation of NoSQL for inventory management gives them an inventory signal with little to no process latency.

Modeling 273

Modeling Supply and Demand Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software 273