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'Last week, I wrote about the evolution of supply chain planning. In my blog post, I commented on HOW little supply chain planning has changed in its twenty-year evolution. As I worked with clients this week, I had a long and hard talk with myself. I am part of the problem. I, like other analysts, are stuck in the traditional software APS paradigm.
'Current logistics and supply chain management trends are discussed very often on social media sites. How can we identify them really? This article will show you some trends in the past and reveal what the future holds. Background Expert opinions appear to be the most important source of information for a trend prediction. In the year 2000, Journal of Business Logistics published the article named " Ten Mega-Trends That Will Revolutionize Supply Chain Logistics ".
'Over 110 supply chain leaders gathered in the desert to discuss the future of supply chain management. With nine out of ten companies stuck in their ability to improve corporate performance through advancements in supply chain, the discussion at the 2013 Supply Chain Insights Global Summit was not a rehash of the past. Instead, the group was challenged to think about supply chains differently.
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.
'Are you working in a Company of Yesterday or a Company of Tomorrow ? I love that question, which is from a blog posting by supply chain executive and consultant Tony Martins, who was my guest on Talking Logistics earlier this year; Tony was also a panelist in the Mega Trends Impacting Supply Chains session I moderated at last week’s CSCMP conference.
'About 100 years ago, Frederick Taylor created history by separating planning from production. He was the first person to create a planning office with well-defined roles. There was someone to create production routes. Another person to ensure that the relevant raw materials were available. Yet another person to track the orders and update the status of tasks.
'About 100 years ago, Frederick Taylor created history by separating planning from production. He was the first person to create a planning office with well-defined roles. There was someone to create production routes. Another person to ensure that the relevant raw materials were available. Yet another person to track the orders and update the status of tasks.
'It is Monday morning. As the sun rises, I find myself on the 6:00 AM train drinking coffee. I am giving thanks that I am able to do what I do. There is nothing like a cup of coffee at this time of morning. As I hold the warm ceramic mug in my hands, the horizon rolls forward with the rhythmic sounds of the train on the track. I love the sounds of the train.
'The value of supply chain management as a discipline has gained more and more recognition from the business communities. Some supply chain leaders now take the helm at the world''s leading companies like Apple Inc, Wal-Mart and Tesco in UK as the CEOs. This article will discuss about the leadership quality of Apple''s Tim Cook and some reasons why Steve Jobs chose him to lead the company.
'This year’s CSCMP Annual Global Conference took place in Denver, Colorado. It has become a good tradition that some of the leading journals of our field announce their best paper awards during the CSCMP’s Supply Chain Management Educators’ Conference, the academic part of the CSCMP Conference ( see my previous post from Atlanta last year ). The best paper published in the International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management is The Impact of Individual Debiasing Efforts on F
'Are you attending the CSCMP Annual Global Conference later this month in Denver? It’s is one of the best conferences in the supply chain and logistics industry to learn and network. The challenge, of course, is choosing which sessions to attend, spread out across twenty-six tracks. Let me help you. Below are the sessions that I am participating in focused on social networking, transportation management systems, and “mega” supply chain trends.
'Are your business goals aligned with your technology priorities? A Gartner survey of 2053 CIOs has revealed significant differences in the priorities of CEOs and CIOs. While CEOs are prioritizing business growth, CIOs are focusing on business intelligence. In a review of the survey , CIO Insight made the following observation: ‘Theoretically, analytics and business intelligence would help drive overall business growth.
'I have traveled 12,000 miles this week. When I get off the plane, I am accosted by the signs at airports around the world. SAP touts “best-run companies” while the Accenture ads claim “ high-performance supply chains.” As I shuffle along, I am not sure. I shake my head. I am a nomad, searching for a good definition of supply chain excellence.
'Are you a supply chain management professional who are looking for inspiring ideas to improve the operations of your supply chain? This article will show you 10 amazing SCM books that provide the information you can really use. Background Early this year, I published one article named " 10 Greatest Supply Chain Management Books of All Time ". The reason for this was to provide a list of "classic" scm books that people can study by themselves while working full-time.
“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.
'Recently, I discovered an article by Ahuja (2000), Collaboration Networks, Structural Holes, and Innovation: A Longitudinal Study , which was published in Administrative Science Quarterly. It contains a framework that “relates three aspects of a firm’s ego network —direct ties, indirect ties, and structural holes (disconnections between a firm’s partners)—to the firm’s subsequent innovation output.” The author suggests that “[t]he more direct ties that a firm
'It’s a rite of passage for the most serious of shoppers. Black Friday. It conjures up images of long lines of intrepid bargain-hunters camped out overnight. Stampedes when the doors open. And frenzied crowds ready to drop-kick their way to door-busting prices on the year’s hottest products. Aside from the sheer entertainment (or blood sport) value, Black Friday marks more than the start of the holiday season when retailers make most of their annual profits.
'Welcome back to the present (assuming you’ve just been to the future and back)! This is part 2 of a two-part series discussing insights revealed at the recent sales & operations webinar hosted by Quintiq and EyeOn. Continuing from where we left off , we explore key messages shared by Dr. Michiel Jansen, senior solutions consultant at Quintiq. 35% of companies using only Excel as #demand planning tool whereas 18% using integrated end-to-end planning tools #DemandPlan2013. — Quintiq (@Quintiq
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
'As I work with companies, I often contrast the strategies, approaches and outcomes within a peer group. Over the last five years, I have helped two companies, Sonoco Products and Owens Illinois (OI) with their selection of technologies to improve Sales and Operations (S&OP) planning. Both companies provide packaging materials to the food manufacturing industry.
'In recent years, the auto-id technology such as bar code and RFID together with the electronic data transmission are considered the holy grail of supply chain visibility. In this article, we will explore the basic concept and propose ways that you can use to create the better visibility. Background Nobody knows exactly how the visibility concept was developed.
'To make the supply chain more transparent, Fairphone opens up the entire system to understand what shapes our economy. I am happy to share the following guest post by Bas van Abel, CEO and founder of Fairphone. Thank you for contributing to my blog. Business practices in the supply chains of the electronics industry are in urgent need of moral revision.
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.
'Collaboration has always been a hot topic in the supply chain and logistics industry, although historically, relatively few companies have “walked the talk” and taken the necessary action to make it work. Today, however, more and more companies are revisiting collaboration with renewed interest and motivation. Supply Chain Operating Networks are the perfect platform to enable collaboration because they bring all of the necessary data and trading partners together into a single platform.
'A new model, which is currently being tested academically, gives shippers insight into the strategic added value they could gain by outsourcing their logistics – or not, as the case may be. DSV Solutions, Districon, Nyenrode Business University and Supply Chain Magazine have developed an online assessment that can be used as a practical tool for determining both the current situation and the ideal one, and which provides users with company-specific advice.
'The healthcare provider network is fragmented. As the power shifted from the supplier to the healthcare provider, over the last decade, the healthcare provider responded. The hospital built a supply chain organization that is now viewed as stronger than that of its suppliers. Today, providers of healthcare self-assess that they are more successful meeting their goals than the supplier.
'Many people think a supply chain research is boring and it is the ivory tower that they don''t need to climb. This article will show you why a research is relevant to you and how to study without damaging your brain! Background What is a research? In layman''s terms , a research is the way you solve problems in a systematic manner. And, you know very well, problems are a part of business environment.
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.
'Mutual benefits. The Zaragoza Logistics Center, Zaragoza, Spain, is based in PLAZA, Europe’s largest logistics park, and both organizations benefit from the relationship. This post will be published in the fall 2013 issue of MIT CTL’s online newsletter Supply Chain Frontiers. Subscribe to Frontiers here. The Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC), Zaragoza, Spain, is celebrating its 10 th anniversary this week.
'Several years ago, I interviewed CIOs and IT executives from leading third party logistics (3PL) companies, and one of the most interesting findings was that their teams spent a majority of their time fixing and cleansing data. I’m sure if I conducted those interviews again today, the story would still be the same. Therefore, I wasn’t surprised by an article in today’s Wall Street Journal about how faulty data is hindering the HealthCare.gov rollout.
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