ToolsGroup

MARCH 25, 2025

The latest ML algorithms can detect subtle shifts in consumer sentiment that precede actual purchasing behavior changes by weeks or even months. ML excels in these scenarios, quickly identifying and adapting to intricate seasonal patterns and trends that traditional statistical methods miss entirely.

Supply and Demand 156

Supply and Demand Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling 156

SCMDOJO

MARCH 24, 2025

Introduction Gardner, (1954) and Huntzinger, (2007) define Purchase price variance (PPV) as a metric used to measure the effectiveness of cost-saving efforts by calculating the difference between the planned cost (standard pricing) allocated for purchasing activities and the actual cost incurred.

Purchasing Skills 69

Purchasing Skills Negotiating Skills Negotiate Pricing Procurement Analytics 69

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 8, 2014

Interview for Metrics That Matter. My kitchen table is piled high with interviews for the upcoming book, Metrics That Matter. I recently interviewed him for my upcoming book, Metrics that Matter, that publishes in August 2014. Which metrics do you think matter to supply chain excellence? I am behind.

Procurement Analytics 279

Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Metrics Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 279

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Initially, the output was published to procurement to design strategic buying strategies. Watermelon Metrics Don’t Drive The Right Results. I love the metaphor of watermelon metrics. The issue is that traditional functional metrics drive underperformance—the greater the variability, the larger the gap.

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics 355

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 13, 2024

How aligned do you believe your organization is to drive these metrics? Observations on What It Takes In the Mea Culpa post, I wrote that I used to believe that excellence in S&OP was a ratio of 60/30/10. (60% For example, in the research, I found maturity in Cadbury, DuPont, and Gilette processes.

S&OP 393

S&OP Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction Expense Reduction 393

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 21, 2024

For example, in my qualitative research studies, I find few can answer the questions of what defines a feasible plan, how to measure inventory effectiveness, or how to tune and refine models. The shifts over the last decade are profound: Is the answer a Supply Chain Center of Excellence? Lack of aligned metrics. Let me explain.

Inventory Reduction 434

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Design Software 434

Logility

MAY 22, 2020

Users are accustomed to building everything in Excel and manipulating the data as needed for their own particular use, typically using static reports or spreadsheets that are siloed in specific departmental needs. A key first step is to have buy-in at the highest level of the organization. Starting at the Top.

Analytics Software 148

Analytics Software Metrics Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software 148

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2013

While there is work within SAP to rethink SNC and use the assets purchased with Ariba to build multi-tier capabilities, the progress is not encouraging. the company is owned today by 20 organizations representing manufacturers, distributors, hospitals and group purchasing organizations (GPOs). Marketplace Rebirth.

Supply Chain Design Software 321

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 321

RFgen

DECEMBER 4, 2024

We’ll examine the key components of efficient supply chains, explore essential performance metrics, and uncover the fundamental drivers that influence efficiency. An efficient procurement process optimizes vendor selection and purchasing decisions to maintain cost-effective inventory levels.

Sourcing Strategies 96

Sourcing Strategies Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction Expense Reduction 96

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 9, 2023

The classical approach involves functional silos, sequential decisions, and Excel and people to render a plan executable. Big data is used to understand a customer’s propensity to buy, the tendency to return, conversion of clicks to orders, demand sensing signals, individualized promotions, etc.

Supply Chain Planning Software 282

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Forecasting Software Optimization Software 282

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 7, 2018

Or agreement on the definition of supply chain excellence. As a result, functional excellence anchors action. The focus is on digitization—automating today’s processes—versus rethinking process excellence based on the art of the possible. An orbit chart is a plotting of data at the intersection of two metrics.

Supply Chain Planning Software 287

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimization Software Forecasting Software 287

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 14, 2013

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. Metrics comparison of Kellogg Co. Don’t get me wrong. You got it! A Case Study.

Supply Chain Planning Software 260

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling 260

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 4, 2018

For the past five years, the team at Supply Chain Insights identified Supply Chains to Admire Award Winners by analyzing performance by peer group on the key metrics of growth, operating margin, inventory turns and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). Solutions, for example, can take from 12 to 16 weeks to manufacture.

Supply Chain Software 30

Supply Chain Software Case Study Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 30

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Nick Lynch is the Global Excellence Manager at Shell Lubricants, a division of Shell Global. The Terra Technology implementation is an example of demand sensing while the DDMRP implementation is an example of demand translation of the probability of demand into materials requirements. The reason?

Demand Planning Software 322

Demand Planning Software Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 322

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Optimization engines to improve functional metric performance resulted in an exploding number of planners. Let’s take a couple of examples: Retail Available to Promise (ATP). days to receive a purchase order confirmation. The average purchased order changes 3.5 How does this happen? On average, it takes 2.8

Supply Chain Planning Software 392

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 392

Kinaxis

DECEMBER 12, 2017

When making discretionary purchases, I could look at my projection to make sure that if I made that purchase, I would have enough money in the bank, not only now, but at the end of the month when my mortgage and car loan came out. Then could I buy it? For me, this was game changing! What if I save my money this month?

Supply Chain Planning Software 196

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Scenario Planning Supply Chain Planning 196

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

In this blog, I’ll try to shed more light on it with examples from our work with our customers. Think of the Lego as the ultimate example of a composable toy. Examples of Composability in Supply Chain Planning Platforms. Here are some real-life examples from the trenches to demonstrate what I mean by flexibility and modularity.

Supply Chain Planning Software 286

Supply Chain Planning Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 286

ivalua

JUNE 29, 2020

Buying supplies, equipment, low preference items and the latest innovations to support high-value care delivery is expensive and while it’s not an area where you want to skimp, there are certainly ways to reduce these expenses without impacting quality of care. The Path to Supply Chain Excellence.

Supply Chain Planning Software 219

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Optimal Sourcing 219

Silvon Software

APRIL 16, 2025

Weve even included some examples of these KPIs using pre-built views for inventory reporting from our Stratum business intelligence solution. Available to Promise (ATP) Available to Promise (ATP) is a real-time inventory management metric that tells you how much of a product you can promise to customers without overcommitting.

Optimal Sourcing 65

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Optimization Price Mitigation Strategies 65

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 7, 2021

Gartner purchased the firm in 2010.) Driving Improvements in Supply Chain Excellence. He felt strongly that supply chain leaders knew how to drive supply chain excellence and needed a forum– or maybe two or three depending on the business model– to help them network and refine their approaches. I disagreed.

Gartner 221

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 221

ShipBob

APRIL 9, 2025

In this guide, we’ll unpack the essential functions every ecommerce warehouse must master, along with best practices, real-world examples, and technology tips to help. For example, adding additional warehouse associates during the holidays can have a positive impact on fulfillment speeds. What are warehouse functions?

Warehousing 52

Warehousing Supply Chain Design Software Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software 52

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

Let me give you an example: Last week, I gave a presentation at a global supply chain team meeting of 175 professionals. This team is not buying the message. So much so, that three years ago, I founded a research company to focus on understanding supply chain excellence. It was a large multinational company. What do you think?

Manufacturing Procurement 318

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Benchmarking Supply Chain Design Software 318

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 27, 2023

Organizations then convert those demand forecasts to the associated quantities of raw materials to purchase, goods to be manufactured, or finished products to ship. It is important to benchmark forecast accuracy and similar supply chain metrics against your peers. forecasting product sales at 10,000 stores. This sounds obvious.

Forecasting 271

Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling Optimal Sourcing 271

SCMDOJO

APRIL 11, 2025

While it does an excellent job in streamlining the front-end customer experience from discovery to checkout its true potential is unleashed when combined with CRM tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, or Pipedrive. An example of such a scenario is a European fashion retailer experiencing stockouts and unpredictable delivery times.

Supply Chain Planning Software 84

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software Inventory Management Software 84

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 3, 2017

It is hard work to maintain the status quo in metrics performance. A balanced portfolio of metrics delivers the greatest value. Companies balance supply chain metrics better in good times than bad. Growth in car buying stimulated the value chain. 2) Focus on a balanced portfolio of metrics. Most are treading water.

Inventory Reduction 199

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Cost Reduction Strategies 199

Logility

SEPTEMBER 24, 2013

You’ll note in the headline I use the preposition “of” instead of “to” when describing the “journey of Supply Chain Excellence.” The differentiator is whether Supply Chain Excellence is defined as a one-time project or as on ongoing process. Circuit City failed to adapt and is now history.

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 100

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain 100

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 8, 2019

The focus is on the role of supply chain finance in driving supply chain excellence. The design of the conference includes tours of several modern warehouses and centers of excellence. Let’s take an example. A simplistic view is that supply chain excellence is the trade-off of cost, inventory and customer service.

Supply Chain Design Software 207

Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting 207

Talking Logistics

NOVEMBER 10, 2014

Several customers addressed those questions in excellent case study presentations: Dr. Bernhard Herzog, Oxea GmbH – “Business Impact of a Supply Chain Operating Network”. “Vendor Interaction Portal – A practical Example for Business Process Management at BASF,” Ralf Kahre and Patrick Gött, BASF, Elemica reveal 2014.

Optimal Sourcing 207

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software Optimization Software 207

Supply Chain Insights

JANUARY 18, 2018

Here are my predictions for 2018: Supply Chain Excellence as We Know It Is Redefined. Supply chain excellence definitions evolve as companies explore the Art of the Possible. This includes SCOR, APICs, Gartner Top 25 Supply Chains, Gartner Hierachy of Metrics, etc. Examples include Bark Box, Dollar Shave Club, and Blue Apron.

Prescriptive Analytics Software 197

Prescriptive Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Predictive Analytics Software 197

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

They each lag in their understanding of supply chain excellence, and are now struggling to build effective supply chain teams. On the webinar, when the participants were polled on the reason for rising inventories, over 50% of respondents indicated that it was the lack of an executive understanding of supply chain excellence.

Pharmaceutical 170

Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Network Software Eliminating Excel in Purchasing Procurement Analytics 170

Enterra Insights

MARCH 17, 2022

“Reach out to other departments about ways to collaborate on sustainability initiatives, and talk to your executive team to gain buy in.” Translating corporate targets into specific team goals and building them into each function’s performance metrics helps embed sustainability into regular workflows.” The post St.

Supply Chain Design Software 147

Supply Chain Design Software Eliminating Excel in Purchasing Material Savings Waste Reduction 147

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 14, 2016

The network senses, translates, and orchestrates market changes (buy- and sell-side markets) bidirectionally with near real-time data to align sell, deliver, make and sourcing organizations outside-in. An example of a global demand network is IBM iBAT. In 2012 I built on these concepts to define the market-driven value network.

Material Savings 246

Material Savings Inventory Reduction Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 246

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 11, 2012

Procter & Gamble and Kimberly Clark); but for most companies that I have worked with, I see that they have purchased and implemented inventory technologies, but there has not been an impact on future years results in either Days of Inventory or Days of Working Capital. Ownership of Inventory as a Metric. What I Think it Means.

Inventory Reduction 247

Inventory Reduction Vendor Strategies Resource Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 247

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

Demand latency is two-eight weeks delayed from consumption purchase to translate to an order. Organizations can align to drive value despite the allegiance to functional metrics. I kept pressuring this client to use their channel data locked into the Excel files in their sales account teams. Mistake #3. My challenge? Measure it.

S&OP 195

S&OP Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 195

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 7, 2012

Q: You mention that Executive Buy-in is the biggest stumbling block. What techniques are being used to get executive buy-in? Q: What is the best metric to begin analyzing when starting to evaluate Supply Chain agility? Can you give a few examples of tools that are available today? Tips on Executing Agility Well.

Supply Chain Design Software 231

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction 231

Jaggaer

MAY 8, 2025

She works with supply chain leaders to take teams to higher levels of excellence and is an influencer with more than 340,000 followers on LinkedIn. How often do your purchase orders change? For example, if your supplier is on wafer-thin margins, it may be bulk purchasing in order to reduce costs, leaving it with excess stock.

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 52

Supply Chain Insights

JULY 27, 2017

Examples of the notifications include leadership mandates for inventory reduction and pending union strikes. The choices that must be made by the end of each round (where each round represents one month of play) include how much of each finished good to produce and how much of each raw materials to purchase at the various manufacturing sites.

Inventory Reduction 77

Inventory Reduction Material Savings Cost Reduction Strategies Resource Reduction 77