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'NAVIGATE. Home. Basics. Case Studies. Graphics. All Posts. About. Copyright. Privacy. Blogroll. Is Apple Supply Chain Really the No. 1? A Case Study. Everything about Apple Inc is the talk of the town, for example, the new Ipad, Iphone, Apple Map or even the environmental and labor issues at its suppliers facilities. Surprisingly, IT research firm Gartner ranks Apple Supply Chain as the best supply chain in the world for 4 years in a row.
'Within an organization, the words “Demand Planning” stir emotions. Usually, it is not a mild reaction. Instead, it’s a series of emotions defined by wild extremes including anger, despair, disillusionment, or hopelessness. Seldom do we find a team excited about demand planning. Supply chain leaders want to improve it, but are not optimistic that they can make improvements.
'In our “Executive Perspective” episodes, we explore the key issues and topics that are “top of mind ” for supply chain and logistics executives today. In this episode, Adrian discusses a variety of industry trends and topics with Jim Matcham , Director of Logistics and Supply Chain Business Improvement at a leading manufacturing company.
'Every industry seems to have its silver bullet for creating improvement. If you know the buzzwords and “tools” for the system of choice you can become a guru, sitting on top of the mountain dispensing golden pearls of wisdom for all to wonder at. At least, that’s the idea. My particular improvement soapbox is Lean Management with some Six Sigma thrown in for good measure.
The $53 trillion manufacturing economy in the US is undergoing a major automation paradigm shift due to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Thanks to new practical frameworks, automation projects that were once impossible or inefficient to implement are now being fast-tracked, and robotics automation is becoming increasingly relevant to a growing number of users and scenarios.
'In his new book, Full Product Transparency , sustainability pioneer Ramon Arratia argues that we have to move from corporate to product sustainability. I am happy that Ramon followed my invitation to contribute to my blog: The conventional approach to exercising corporate responsibility in a company’s supply chain is to draft a company supplier standard and then audit for compliance using that document.
'In his new book, Full Product Transparency , sustainability pioneer Ramon Arratia argues that we have to move from corporate to product sustainability. I am happy that Ramon followed my invitation to contribute to my blog: The conventional approach to exercising corporate responsibility in a company’s supply chain is to draft a company supplier standard and then audit for compliance using that document.
'Usually in a fairy tale there is a big, bad wolf… or a hairy monster. One that is going to eat you up! In part one of this blog series, I started the saga of the supply chain fairy tale. It was a story where people believed that functional excellence leads to supply chain superiority. Year after year, well intentioned people toiled against improving metrics that reduced, not improved, the effectiveness of the supply chain.
'In this episode, Kate Vitasek (University of Tennessee) and Karl Manrodt (Georgia Southern University) discuss the current state of Vested Outsourcing and the key findings from their latest book, Vested: How P&G, McDonald’s, and Microsoft are Redefining Winning in Business Relationships. If you have questions or comments for Kate, Karl, or Adrian, post them below and keep the conversation going!
'Please check out the most popular blog posts of 2012. Five Lessons from Military Logistics. Military folks excel in logistics because they focus on the five areas below and we would all be wise to do the same. Core Values / Culture. Regardless of which branch of the military or specific job responsibilities, the military instills core values into every soldier.
'By Paul Martyn — BravoSolution. The first deadline regarding last year’s SEC Conflict Minerals Rule is fast-approaching on January 31 – and companies are scrambling to report what conflict minerals – gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and surrounding countries – have entered their supply chains since the start of 2013.
'Some months ago, Symrise, a global supplier of fragrances, flavors, active ingredients, and aroma chemicals, has won the German Sustainability Award 2012 in the “Germany’s Most Sustainable Initiatives” category for its approach to procure vanilla in Madagascar : Symrise closely collaborates with more than 1,000 vanilla farmers and “the entire procurement process takes place locally, from cultivation and harvesting, to the fermentation of the beans, all the way through to extraction”
'Jenny Sebley, former supplier sustainability manager at Burt’s Bees, spoke in my sustainable supply chain class today. Sustainable supply chains was a key issue at Burt’s Bees, and continues to play an important role. There were several business drivers behind this. The first focus was on reducing waste and leaning the supply chain. The brand was also key – Burt’s Bees needed to ensure it was sourcing raw materials using sustainability materials and labor rights.
'“A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” is an idiom of Biblical origin. It is used to describe those playing a role contrary to their real character, with whom contact is dangerous. – Wikipedia. Buzz words filled the air at the NRF Big Show, held at the Javitz Convention Center in New York last week. The air was thick. Words like big data, omni-channel fulfillment, smarter commerce, mobility and customer-centric retail filled the room.
“What should we do about the tariffs?” There’s no straightforward answer — every leader has a different expectation. CFOs want numbers. COOs want action. CEOs want strategy. And supply chain and procurement leaders need to be ready with the right response — fast. That’s why GEP has created a simple three-part framework that will help CPOs and CSCOs brief the board and C-suite with clarity and confidence.
'The Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry faced another year of challenges from economic turbulence and weak consumer confidence in 2011. Given the volatility and rapid pace of promotional activities and product innovation, the gradual increase in forecast error since 2009 comes as no surprise. Demand Planning provides more or less the same performance across companies, with average weekly error rates of 53%.
'Over the recent few years consumer behavior has changed dramatically. Easily available information coupled with the continued economic turmoil has made today’s consumers extremely discerning in their choices around travel. Hoteliers in turn, with access to the same data, have to fight harder to win customers’ loyalty. Just relying on standard approaches to marketing or relying on online travel agencies (OTA’s) to fill up the rooms is no longer enough.
'In a previous post, it was demonstrated that researchers can play two different roles, as they can either build or test theories. An SMJ article by Miller and Tsang (2011), which is titled Testing management theories: Critical realist philosophy and research methods , focuses on the latter role we can play. The authors claim: “Not only do we have a plurality of theories within management research, there is also no consensus about the criteria for evaluating theories.” Taking a criti
Speaker: Andrew Skoog, Founder of MachinistX & President of Hexis Representatives
Manufacturing is evolving, and the right technology can empower—not replace—your workforce. Smart automation and AI-driven software are revolutionizing decision-making, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency. But how do you implement these tools with confidence and ensure they complement human expertise rather than override it? Join industry expert Andrew Skoog as he explores how manufacturers can leverage automation to enhance operations, streamline workflows, and make smarter, data-dri
'Today’s Wall Street Journal printed a great story on the challenges that Walmart faces as it grows its logistics network in India. The article notes how India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, but that one-third of the produce rots because of its horrendous logistics infrastructure. The story highlights some of the findings of our recent global logistics study,which found that logistics infrastructure is one of the most challenging issues, particularly
'A plateau: a period of stability with no change. Last weekend, I wrote two reports. They published this past week. In the first report, I rolled up my sleeves and analyzed balance sheets of process companies over the past decade with Abby Mayer ( @indexgirl ). In the process, I discovered that the average process manufacturing company has reached a plateau in supply chain performance.
'</span><span style="color: #000000;">“You can’t manage what you can’t measure” – W. Edward Deming & Joe Lynch</span><span style="color: #000000;"> . If you move freight for a living, you know the importance of logistics key process indicators (KPIs). A KPI is an indicator (a metric) that you have chosen, and agreed with your partners and or customers, that will determine whether you are meeting your critical suc
Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.
'Every year, various companies, foundations, and associations recognize excellence in research with awards for outstanding dissertations. What follows is a selection of awards related to our field. The Science Award for Supply Chain Management (€10,000 honorarium for the winner) is awarded by the German Logistics Association (BVL). The Stinnes Foundation gives the DB Schenker Award (€10,000) to dissertations related to transportation and logistics.
'Josh Feldstein from the Center for Applied Value Analysis came to speak in my class today, and provided a fascinating view of the future for healthcare. CAVA started off as a spinoff of Josh’s medical education firm. He could clearly see that the industry was changing, and healthcare clients managing large hospitals were asking for value-based pharmaceutical solutions.
'This week, I am grounded due to weather. So, I am spending my time writing. Music is blaring, my toe is tapping, and I am hard at work on what I love. I enjoy writing research. I am currently writing an article on supply chain excellence. The time off the road is allowing me to think more critically about the path that got us here, and about what drives supply chain excellence (or more importantly, what does not drive improvement).
What is Remote-Insourcing? Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Not anymore. Remote-Insourcing isn’t outsourcing—it’s a revolutionary staffing model that lets our clients fill key entry-level positions with top-tier, loyal, long-term talent, integrated seamlessly into their businesses—just like local employees but without the turnover or W2 HR hassles. With under 4% unwanted attrition, you train once and keep the same team for years.
'“The thing about quotes on the internet is you cannot confirm their validity.” Abraham Lincoln. I love famous logistics quotes! I find a good quote can change my frame of mind, inspire me and put things in perspective. I especially love famous logistics quotes because they elevate my chosen field to the noble place where it belongs.
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