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

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 17, 2025

Inventory is both our most important buffer and greatest source of waste.) Muda comes from many sources. The ontology encompasses clear naming, and definitions of the categories, properties, and relations between concepts, data, or entities. Ontological definition is a new role for the Supply Chain Center of Excellence.

Supply Chain Planning Software 195

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software Scenario Planning 195

The Logistics of Logistics

JUNE 10, 2025

Authoritative Source for Industry News: Transport Topics has been a leading news source for the trucking and freight transportation industry since 1935, providing essential information for decision-making across the logistics and supply chain sectors.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 245

Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Analytics Software 245

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 2, 2025

We have not designed the planning systems to serve managers, directors, and vice presidents, aiming to improve decision-making and collaboration across the source, make, and deliver processes. This could all change if we discard our current definitions of supply chain planning and start anew. In short, don’t AI stupid.

Optimal Sourcing 195

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

Logistics Viewpoints

JANUARY 29, 2025

It adopts the International Labor Organizations definition of forced labor and mandates the European Commission to release compliance guidelines by June 2026. Businesses will need to ensure accurate data reporting across core operations such as sourcing, procurement, and transactions. from Canada and Mexico.

Study 275

Study Global Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Software 275

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 9, 2023

The panel group is sourced from my group of LinkedIn followers. The problem is that few companies have a clear definition of excellence compounded by the lack of clear definition of a business strategy. and there were no respondents that rated their process effective on this definition. There is no standard definition.

S&OP 408

S&OP Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Sourcing Strategies 408

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 10, 2025

Supply chain was defined in 1982 as interoperability between source, make and deliver. Using design theory, the current definitions of planning have regressed despite the advance of promising technologies. The problem is that the focus is on process automation of the current state versus reinventing work. Why is a reinvention needed?

Supply Chain Planning Software 221

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

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

Too few companies have a holistic approach to embrace the plan, make, source, and deliver together. 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. Current State of Visibility. What To Do?

Supply Chain Planning Software 390

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

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 Metrics Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software 393

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 26, 2025

“ Definition Cambridge Press I firmly believe that unlearning must precede change management. Here I share the definitions given by the students in their final homework submitted at the end of class: “Outside-in planning is a proactive, market-driven approach that uses external signals (e.g., What Is Outside-in Planning?

Material Savings 221

Material Savings Waste Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Price Reduction 221

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 7, 2023

We are not clear on definition. Source: Supply Chain Insights ASCM defines resilience in the SCM Supply Chain Dictionary as the ability of a supply chain to anticipate, create plans to avoid or mitigate, and to recover from disruptions to supply chain functionality. Align on definitions. The reason? The result was restatement.

Supply Chain Design Software 395

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

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

Jaggaer

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

Strategic Sourcing Success: Best Practices and Key Strategies Of course, there are many definition s of source-to-pay but put simply, strategic sourcing is a data-driven approach to securing the best value for your organization from its strategic suppliers. How Has Strategic Sourcing Evolved?

Negotiating Skills 52

Negotiating Skills Purchasing Skills Sourcing Strategies Optimal Sourcing 52

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 15, 2022

As an analyst, I am always searching for answers and clear definitions. Companies became less clear on the definition of supply chain excellence and how to implement decision support technologies. This increasing gaps in alignment and clarity of the definition of supply chain excellence was an unspoken risk entering the pandemic.

Manufacturing Procurement 397

Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics 397

ToolsGroup

MARCH 19, 2025

Like betting that a champion racehorse will win a specific race, this “single-number” forecast assumes one definitive result. The Limitations of Traditional Single-Number Forecasting There are fundamentally two approaches to prediction in supply planning : The first is the traditional method of predicting one specific outcome.

Forecasting 156

Forecasting Modeling Forecasting Software Supply and Demand 156

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. Today’s definition of supply chain planning is my starting point. What is supply chain excellence?

Supply Chain Planning Software 365

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

ivalua

JULY 1, 2025

This blog explains what a successful procurement strategy looks like in 2025, including a working definition, a strategic procurement framework, and the key steps to building one. Centralizing data enables better sourcing decisions and improves collaboration across procurement, legal, and business other units.

Material Savings 130

Material Savings Sourcing Strategies Cost Reduction Strategies Vendor Strategies 130

ivalua

JUNE 12, 2025

This blog offers a clear, practical overview of what spend analysis is, how it supports strategic sourcing, and why it matters for both direct and indirect procurement. When done right, spend analysis enables cost savings, supplier optimization, risk reduction, and more strategic sourcing decisions.

Cost Reduction Strategies 130

Cost Reduction Strategies Material Savings Expense Reduction Negotiating Skills 130

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. Governance.

S&OP 390

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

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

Let’s Start with Definitions: One of the difficulties in supply chain is the lack of common definitions. To help the reader, let’s start with definitions used in our research: Efficiency. Successful network design strategies are holistic crossing the boundaries of source, make and deliver.

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

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

JULY 13, 2023

While teams wave their hands and talk digital, I find digital projects ideas lack definition, clarity of process, and success. Let’s start with a clear definition. The investments in new approaches and deploying outside-in processes enables quicker sensing and bi-directional orchestration across source, make, and deliver.

Optimal Sourcing 368

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Planning 368

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.

Supply Chain Planning Software 369

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

Supply Chain Matters

APRIL 16, 2025

The following Supply Chain Matters multi-part guest commentary is authored by Michael Lamoureux who provides over 18 years of experience and observations and experience in procurement sourcing technology applications. Michael is the Editor-in-Chief of the Sourcing Innovation blog. We’ll explore each of these. Why is this?

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software 52

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

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

DECEMBER 30, 2014

In the mid-1980s, leaders like Colgate, Intel, and Procter & Gamble defined supply chain organizations where source, make and deliver functions reported through the same organization, and had a common leader. We are still very early in the definition of end-to-end supply chain excellence. It was a special club. This all changed.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 320

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Strategy Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain 320

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 5, 2021

Definition of Form and Function of Inventory. The requirements definitions are not in the current definitions of planning. Bi-directional orchestration is the constant redesign of the supply chain across make, source, and deliver to improve outcomes and reliability.) Today, neither is constant or reliable.

Supply Chain Planning Software 343

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

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

When deploying enterprise decision support applications, there are many implementations and lots of hype but few clear and consistent definitions. We can never have great discussions unless we are clear on definitions. Over the last decade, most of the focus in supply management was on indirect sourcing. The takeaway?

Supply Chain Planning Software 418

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply Chain Software 418

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 31, 2024

What is the role of make, source, and deliver? Define a proactive approach and the value/economies of scale of planning manufacturing/transportation and sourcing together. Instead, the best results happen through training, alignment, and process definition of how to use planning systems help to drive better decisions.

Supply Chain Planning Software 413

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 22, 2019

Companies with traditional definitions of marketing and sales struggle to beat the competition. A clear definition of purpose and alignment of business process to corporate strategy is an apparent characteristic of companies that outperform. The source data for the analysis comes from Ycharts.). Leadership. Outside-in Processes.

Supply Chain Design Software 304

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Gartner Supply Chain Software 304

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

The team was organized around the functional silos of source, make and deliver. Their career paths, their identities, and their comfort zones were steeped in the traditional definitions. Most companies think that they know what this means; but, to be actionable they need definition. It had been this way for over two decades.

Manufacturing Procurement 318

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Benchmarking Supply Chain Design Software 318

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

The discipline, first defined in 1982, includes source, make, deliver, and planning functions. This is true even though we are not clear on the definition of next-generation processes. My overarching question centered on the vision and definition of a direct material solution. The supply chain career is new. Evolution is messy.

Supply Chain Design Software 362

Supply Chain Design Software Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software 362

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 29, 2024

Be very clear on the definitions, root issues, and desired outcomes. Explore to understand the data sources, the cleanliness and frequency of data, and evaluate the use of machine learning and NoSQL to improve data quality and reduce data latency. Source: Horse for Courses definition Oxford Dictionary Avoid pitfalls.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software 417

ToolsGroup

FEBRUARY 7, 2021

I think it’s more that the idea of sourcing and how to buffer certain inventory will be definitely more localized. So this is definitely something from the supply side, what is the takeaway? But I think it was definitely an interesting year. So I think it’s definitely a good question.

Predictive Analytics Software 295

Predictive Analytics Software Retail Modeling Forecasting 295

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 18, 2023

Challenges Traditional definitions of supply chain excellence focus myopically on cost but are too slow in making decisions in inflationary periods. Build in-market sourcing. Rationalize global strategies to focus on building markets based on in-market sourcing. Make divisions and regions self-sufficient.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Software 417

QAD

MAY 1, 2025

In todays complex and often volatile global environment, procurement leaders face mounting pressure to cut sourcing costs while navigating geopolitical instability, inflation, tariffs and talent shortages. The truth is, sourcing smarter isnt just about softwareits about strategy, support, and best practices.

Sourcing Strategies 52

Sourcing Strategies Cost Reduction Strategies Purchasing Skills Optimal Sourcing 52