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'Last week was the Supply Chain Insights Global Summit. It was great to see old faces at the kick-off. 110 supply chain leaders attended. I smiled on the week following the conference as the accolades piled up in my inbox. In preparation for the summit, we readied the final report of the work on translating balance sheet results into a methodology to judge Supply Chain Excellence.
'More than just charity. We often hear of companies participating in supplier diversity programs, and the standard reasons for their participation. Some companies say that it is a testament to their commitment as a socially responsible organization while others say that it is their contribution to society. We also see some companies implementing supplier diversity initiatives to meet customer mandates, to leverage governmental initiatives, or to comply with federal supplier requirements.
'I’ve been doing some research on the unconventional oil supply chain. Unconventional oil includes crude oil from shale and oil sands. I’ve talked to over 20 oil executives and experts about the inbound supply chain that supports oil well production. This is part of the supply chain that the oil industry refers to as “upstream.” […].
'by John Westerveld. Not having end-to-end supply chain visibility. Over the years, working for and with numerous manufacturing companies, I’ve seen many supply chain practices that cost companies money. Over the next several weeks, I’ll outline these issues and discuss some ideas around how to avoid these practices. You can find the previous posts here: Reason #1: Offshoring without getting the full picture.
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.
'On September 9–11, 2014, 110 supply chain visionaries will gather in the desert at the Phoenician Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona to think differently and define the future of supply chain. It is needed. Today, 90% of publicly-traded companies are stuck at the intersection of operating margin and inventory turns. While most companies have been able to make progress in one of these two critical metrics in the period of 2006-2013, they have not been able to make progress on both together.
'According to a July 2014 supply chain research study from Accenture focused on Big Data and supply chain risk management, most organizations have high hopes for using big data analytics in their supply chain but many have had challenges in deploying it. In fact, as noted in the study, “97 percent of executives reported having an understanding of how big data analytics can benefit their supply chain, but only 17 percent reported having already implemented analytics in one or more supply chain fu
'According to a July 2014 supply chain research study from Accenture focused on Big Data and supply chain risk management, most organizations have high hopes for using big data analytics in their supply chain but many have had challenges in deploying it. In fact, as noted in the study, “97 percent of executives reported having an understanding of how big data analytics can benefit their supply chain, but only 17 percent reported having already implemented analytics in one or more supply chain fu
'Definition: Brass tacks are a type of pin or nail. The phrase to come (or get) down to brass tacks is sometimes used idiomatically to consider the basic facts of a situation. Source Wikipedia. In the 1990s suppliers had channel power. The formula for success seemed foolproof. A new product was launched, the ads ran on national TVs, and “poof” a new brand was created.
'Fully optimized planning across the strategic, tactical and operational horizons is something many manufacturers only dream of. They’re busy spinning plates and fighting fires, often losing focus on the bigger picture as they struggle to keep things moving in the right direction. So why do some organizations seem better equipped to achieve their goals than others?
'ARC was briefed by Mike Mulqueen of Manhattan Associates on their transportation management (TMS) product. Mike is a Senior Director for Product Management at Manhattan. What I found most interesting was a short conversation we had about the carrier capacity crunch and the role various supply chain software solutions can play in improving matters for […].
'by John Westerveld. Here, there and everywhere | The economist. Reason #1: Offshoring without getting the full picture. Over the years, working for and with numerous manufacturing companies, I’ve seen many supply chain practices that cost companies money. In a series of blog posts, I’ll outline these issues and discuss some ideas around how to avoid these practices.
'The world’s population is increasing. We all know that. We also know that feeding that population is going to require … Continued The post Big Data’s Big Role in Agriculture appeared first on Enterra Solutions.
'Same-day delivery continues to generate a lot of buzz in the industry. Check out the following developments in just the past few months: Macy’s, Inc. Outlines New Developments in Omnichannel Strategy and Technology. Target tries out same-day delivery service in select markets (Retailing Today). Amazon Same-Day Delivery Selection Grows in New York (Re/Code).
'The Supply Chain Insights Global Summit is a week away. We are currently tabulating the results to publish the report, “Top 15 Supply Chains to Admire.” In this report, we track the progress on balance sheet performance of companies by peer group and chart the relative improvement for the period of 2006-2013. This work has taken us two years to finish.
'Not so long ago I was chatting with the management team of one of the top ten bulk transporters in Europe. The company in question had an enviable track record and those at the helm were thinking long and hard about its future. What would it take to build on its success and ensure its position as a leading logistics service provider in the 21st century?
“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.
'Hadoop – the word – is everywhere, it’s ubiquitous. But, knowing how to spell it, and knowing what it means for your company, are two very different things. So, should supply chain professionals be concerned about Hadoop? Yes, because although at the moment, Hadoop is probably being used most widely for marketing applications, the marketing […].
'by Trevor Miles I have been in the advanced planning and scheduling (APS) space since 1995 when I joined i2 Technologies in Europe. Before that I was in management consulting doing what would be called supply chain design or reengineering today. While MRP and S&OP were defined as early as the 1980s, these provided rough cut analysis at the aggregate level, nowhere near the level of detail that is possible today.
'In earlier posts I’ve explained why existing enterprise management solutions are limited ( hint: it’s stale data ), and why I believe that the new generation of cloud platforms will enable a new kind of ‘social’ supply chain that looks and operates very differently from what we are used to today. For example, many of the major challenges for companies today are related to process and measurement.
'The first two quarters of 2014 impacted a lot of supply chain budgets. The combination of inclement weather, capacity shortages, and stiff marketplace competition had many companies spending more than budgeted. When budgets are affected, organizations often take it to mean they need to focus on spending less; however, spending less usually only leads to short term success.
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 we published a new report, Supply Chains to Admire. It is the end of a two-year research project, and identifies which publicly held companies outperformed their peer group on balance sheet results. Here we share the answers to the questions that we get the most often about this research: What is the source of data? The data analyzed to compile the Supply Chains to Admire report came from publicly-available information from balance sheets and income statements.
'According to PWC’s Global Supply Chain Survey (2013), the next generation of supply chains will be ‘efficient, fast and tailored’. What the survey failed to mention was that these supply chains are also going to seem chaotic – at least from the inside. I think we can all agree that the world has speeded up. As that PWC survey noted, ‘… customers are tightening their requirements in terms of throughput time and perfect-order delivery while demanding continuous reductions in supply chain costs.’.
'The World Economic Forum (WEF) released its annual Global Competitiveness Report last week. The WEF bases its competitiveness analysis on its Global Competitiveness Index (GCI). The index considers numerous determinants of national economic competitiveness. It outlines 12 pillars of competitiveness, categorized into three stages of economic development where the given pillars are most important.
'by Jonathan Lofton I recently read “Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration” and it got me wondering about creativity within supply chain management organizations. There’s obviously a level of ‘magic’ at Pixar, for them to be able to create 14 No. 1 movies in a row. Evidence that the principles they’ve developed has merit is easy to see as Disney Animation Studios, led by Pixar’s Ed Catmull (President) and John Lasseter (Chief Creative Off
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.
'Many companies in the pharmaceuticals sector are facing a challenge; they must decide if, when, and to what extent they should develop a direct-distribution channel to the end consumer. Sales of products in the OTC category have been growing faster than other pharmaceutical products in the past few years. Products catering to the consumer desire for private health monitoring are emerging; for example smartphone apps and add-on devices allow testing and digital recording of blood sugar values f
'For a long time, one of my favorite corporate taglines was Lexus’ “ The relentless pursuit of perfection. ” The word relentless invokes passion and commitment, which we should all have when working toward a business or personal goal, and if you’re going to set the bar high, why not perfection? This past spring, however, I confronted the “Why not perfection?
'This year, the CSCMP’s Annual Global Conference 2014 was held in San Antonio, Texas. The Educators’ Conference, which provides academics and students a forum to hear the latest in our research field, has become an integral part of it. As every year ( see my previous post from Denver last year ), several leading supply chain management journals have used this forum to present their best paper awards.
'There is a certain excitement in the air each year just before the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference 2014. September 9 is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to meet and exchange ideas with fellow planning experts in London. We’re most excited to hear about the latest supply chain planning and optimization challenges that attendees are facing because nothing invigorates the team more than solving a new complex supply chain puzzle.
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.
'We’ve written a lot about the truck driver shortage here at Logistics Viewpoints and the impact that this could have on the global supply chain moving forward. Often times we forget about, or simply don’t think about, everything and everyone that makes it possible for us to get the goods we desire. The shortage could […].
'by John Westerveld Reason #4 Making key decisions by modelling the supply chain in Excel. Over the years, working for and with numerous manufacturing companies, I’ve seen many supply chain practices that cost companies money. Over the next several weeks, I’ll outline these issues and discuss some ideas around how to avoid these practices. You can find the previous posts here: Reason #1: Offshoring without getting the full picture.
'In my last post I explained the concept of the enterprise social graph (ESG), and discussed why supply chains can benefit greatly from the advanced cloud platforms that can enable an ESG. Today I want to go a step further and show how Big Data and application development are handled within these new environments. First, today’s advanced cloud platforms provide a flexible architecture that enables the aggregation, storage, querying, processing, and analyzing of Big Data.
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