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This week I am busy packing. It is the same feeling that I had as a child getting ready for camp. For the next 18 weeks I will be in the air. I will be speaking and working with clients in wonderful locations in Brussels, China, Germany, London, Mexico, Peru, and South Africa. In the process I needed a visa for China, and I wandered into an old-fashioned photo shop to have my picture taken for the visa application.
Being selected for the Gartner Magic Quadrant leader’s quadrant is a pretty big deal. For a software vendor, it’s like winning an Academy Award. So I can say we at ToolsGroup were proud to be recently recognized as a leader in the newly released Magic Quadrant for Supply Chain Planning System of Record (SOR). I thought this would be a good time to reflect on how a supply chain software vendor gets into the leaders quadrant.
Big data, analytics, BI…Everyone in business today has heard these terms at some point, and yet the path to analytics-driven business improvement remains somewhat elusive. We spoke with Keith B. Carter, Actionable Intelligence Expert and Decision Sciences Visiting Senior Fellow at the National University of Singapore Business School and Affiliate Professor Business Analytics Center, to unravel some of the difficulties managers face while embracing an analytics culture and discuss some best
by Kevin McGowan If you read any of the articles about the “vinyl resurgence” in the music industry, it’s easy to understand why record companies, artists, and fans are getting so excited. The pendulum has swung ever so slightly from music fans streaming music on their phones and tablets to buying an actual physical object — a 12” slab of vinyl.
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.
Recycling and reuse of scrapped products have become hot-button topics in the modern world. A quick scan of Craigslist shows how entire businesses have been created on the sole purpose of reclaiming raw materials from existing goods. For example, some people are offering to pay up to $10 for old, discarded car batteries. Old computer equipment, such as monitors, printers, and hard drives, can fetch great value when recycled and reused properly.
A rich stream of data has long been available to improve ocean visibility. AIS is an automatic tracking system used on ships. But CargoSmart is doing something new – they are using this near real time data to improve vessel scheduling and shipment tracking.
A rich stream of data has long been available to improve ocean visibility. AIS is an automatic tracking system used on ships. But CargoSmart is doing something new – they are using this near real time data to improve vessel scheduling and shipment tracking.
Why is supply chain risk management important? Why should CEOs and CFOs care? Over the past two years, I’ve addressed those questions in various posts (see links below), but you have to look no further than Chipotle’s Q4 2015 financial results for the answers. Compared to Q4 2014: Revenue decreased 6.8% to $997.5 million — the first decline in quarterly revenue since the company went public in 2006!
Abraham Maslow created his magnum opus “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” by studying the best performing humans and their needs. While reading more about his theory, I realized that best performing supply chain systems also possess certain hierarchical needs. Similarly to a human being’s need of self-actualization, supply chain systems are designed to achieve high service levels while being cognizant of competing pressures such as demand volatility, competition, etc.
Big data, analytics, BI…Everyone in business today has heard these terms at some point, and yet the path to analytics-driven business improvement remains somewhat elusive. We spoke with Keith B. Carter, Actionable Intelligence Expert and Decision Sciences Visiting Senior Fellow at the National University of Singapore Business School and Affiliate Professor Business Analytics Center, to unravel some of the difficulties managers face while embracing an analytics culture and discuss some best
by Alexa Cheater This guest post comes to us from Argentus Supply Chain Recruiting , a boutique recruitment firm specializing in Supply Chain Management. From time to time, Argentus’ recruiters give talks to people entering the field of Supply Chain at venues like APICS, Centennial College, Rotman University, and others. The reason we do this is to do our small part in the immense task of helping ready the next generation of Supply Chain talent to face what experts predict will be a shortage of
Supply chain risk management and resiliency are hot-button topics in the industry. However, minute supply chain entities do not understand how resilience relates to risk management and what it means for improving focus on the supply chain. As the supply chain continues to grow in complexity and regulation, the opportunities for problems and other events to impact operations negatively will consequently grow.
I’ve made the argument before that the Internet of Things is nothing new. In the logistics space, for example, we’ve been taking RF scans and using that data to improve warehouse processes since at least 1975 when McHugh Freeman, an early warehouse management system supplier, began business. Internet protocols make it easier to communicate that sensor data to applications.
Much has been said about how omni-channel is transforming the retail industry, but what impact is it having on manufacturers? How is it affecting their supply chain and logistics processes? What impact is it having on their talent and technology requirements? How are leading manufacturers overcoming these challenges? Is omni-channel serving as a catalyst for enhanced collaboration between manufacturers and retailers?
Disruptive innovation is changing the supply chain planning vendor space. Later we will investigate why, but first let’s look at what’s happening, starting with the recently released Gartner Magic Quadrant for Supply Chain Planning System of Record (SOR). In the latest Magic Quadrant there was a fairly major reordering in the vendor landscape. Gartner says the Supply Chain Planning (SCP) market has reached a tipping point after years of relatively slow evolution.
“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.
As you may have heard, AIMMS was recently featured in Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Planning (SCP). The Hype Cycle is a great resource for Supply Chain and IT leaders. It offers an overview of the enormous breadth of solutions for Supply Chain planning, giving you insight into the many fields where you can leverage technology to boost your company’s performance.
by Bill DuBois A recent post on Logistics Management cites some figures supporting the idea that e-commerce is a runaway train continuing to gather momentum. Based on data for the latest major shopping days, Cyber Monday has eclipsed Black Friday when it comes to sales numbers and what consumers did to meet their holiday shopping needs. This finding continues a clear statistical trend.
This is the second part of my series on various ways to reduce overall costs as it relates to logistics and warehouse cost reductions. In the first part I put forth 6 areas of focus in order to reduce logistics costs. Today, I will now address how a focus on inventory will allow for warehouse cost reductions as well. These are based on my 40 years working in operations at Schwinn and other companies as well as consulting many companies on how to select the best 3PL for my client's needs.
In September 2015 I began the update of ARC Advisory Group’s global supply chain planning (SCP) market study. In a Logistics Viewpoints article published at that time, I discussed some of the major changes in SCP over the previous decade. I am now concluding this SCP market study update. I have spoken with the vast majority of large SCP software suppliers within the market, discussed their companies’ SCP product roadmaps, learned about the evolving requirements […].
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
One of our most popular Talking Logistics episodes of all time is Important Factors to Consider When Evaluating and Selecting a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Partne r (6,220 views to date), which we summarized in a follow-up post and also included in our first Talking Logistics YOUniversity course, Fundamentals of Selecting and Working with 3PL Partners.
Last week offered an overview of how disruptive innovation is changing the supply chain planning vendor landscape. We mentioned that Gartner said that this significant disruption was driven by end users’ changing priorities and needs. Today examine those drivers in more depth across three dimensions: Top 10 SCP Capabilities - Rated by End Users. Top 10 Most Commonly Cited Issues by End Users.
As you may have heard, AIMMS was recently featured in Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Planning (SCP). The Hype Cycle is a great resource for Supply Chain and IT leaders. It offers an overview of the enormous breadth of solutions for Supply Chain planning, giving you insight into the many fields where you can leverage technology to boost your company’s performance.
by Alexa Cheater I recently had the opportunity to hear our CEO John Sicard talk about the challenges supply chain software providers such as Kinaxis face when demonstrating to businesses the value in updating their supply chain management practices. It likely doesn’t come as any big shock to most of you that a lot of times, organizations are resistant to change.
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.
Reverse logistics presents unique challenges and opportunities. To meet these challenges and take advantage of these opportunities, companies need to be both prepared and flexible. Ikea, a company known for innovation , is facing the enigma of reverse logistics head on. As part of the company’s sustainability strategy, Ikea is challenging the perception that its products are disposable by creating opportunities to recycle and reuse products.
Demand for grass-fed beef has grown at an annual rate of 25-30 percent for the past decade at the same time that per capita beef consumption for traditional beef products continues to decline. A recent study determined that grass-fed beef demand in several major US metropolitan markets is 3 to 6 percent of the total beef market share. There are several drivers for this growth.
The Regulation’s Impact on Ocean Shipping and Data Management. The revised Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) container weight verification requirement is a significant change in the ocean cargo supply chain. Also known as the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) requirement, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulation is scheduled to go to effect on July 1, 2016, leaving the industry with little time to adapt. .
Amongst the many variables in running a Supply Chain, the one certainty in FMCG, Pharmaceutical and Agri businesses is that inventory is solely in the eye of the beholder. Nobody else but Supply Chain actually sees the full unedited and excuse-free realism on inventory and what this stock is doing (always a negative effect) to overall company costs and service.
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.
Gloomy news about the mining industry is not abating, not even for one minute. The price of iron ore, coal, and copper make the eyes of mine operators and traders alike glaze over. The statistics suggest a prolonged slump ahead. In this grim environment, large and small operators are responding with predictable countermeasures. Mines are shuttered, capital projects postponed, equipment purchases cancelled, workforces severely trimmed, and cash is squirreled away.
by Alexa Cheater It seems like these days everyone in the retail space is playing a game of catch up to Amazon. The online retail giant has had an overwhelmingly strong impact on the way in which businesses sell their goods to the end consumer. Practically defining the very concept of omni-channel, they were early adopters of online and mobile sales.
Augmented.what? Reality? Augmented Reality Supply Chain? As Will Ferrell says, "You're crazy man. I love you, but.you're crazy." Not so fast. The Augmented Reality Supply Chain is here.and well.it's going to be effective. The Rise of the Augmented Reality Supply Chain. What separates science fiction from reality? Is it the application and use of new technologies that have yet to be discovered, or does science fiction simply blur the lines between idealism and reality?
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