Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 13, 2024

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% P&G did not appreciate the work Gilette accomplished on form and function of inventory and using market signals. Clearly Define an Operating Strategy.

S&OP 393

S&OP Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction Expense Reduction 393

RFgen

DECEMBER 4, 2024

In the automotive sector, manufacturers are simultaneously reducing inventory costs and delivery times. Additionally, we’ll discuss best practices for optimization and strategies for balancing efficiency with resilience. Technology integration: Leveraging digital tools to enhance visibility and decision-making.

Sourcing Strategies 96

Sourcing Strategies Inventory Reduction Waste Reduction Expense Reduction 96

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 14, 2016

The client leaned across the table and asked, “Is a customer-centric supply chain strategy the same as a demand-driven supply chain strategy?” Drawing from the Whiteboard: Building Customer-Centric Supply Chain Strategies. The focus is on channel data: price; inventory positions; and policies.

Material Savings 246

Material Savings Inventory Reduction Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 246

The Logistics of Logistics

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Richard Lebovitz and Joe Lynch discuss leading inventory attack teams. Richard is the CEO of LeanDNA , a purpose-built analytics platform for factory inventory optimization. About Richard Lebovitz Richard Lebovitz is the CEO of LeanDNA , a purpose-built analytics platform for factory inventory optimization. acquired by SAP).

Optimal Sourcing 278

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement 278

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

By maximizing space utilization, improving inventory control , and boosting workflow efficiency, you can unlock significant cost savings and elevate your customer service game. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key elements of warehouse optimization and provide actionable strategies you can implement today.

Optimal Sourcing 97

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction 97

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 2, 2021

import volumes still climbing (see Figure 1), limited processing capacity at key West Coast ports and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) contract expiring next summer, importers will be scrambling to maintain the inventory they need to support the demand increase.

Predictive Analytics Software 354

Predictive Analytics Software Predictive Analytics Waste Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 354

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 27, 2022

In a recent research project, we found that 2/3 of companies had a digital supply chain transformation strategy; however, those that were evolving their strategy performed better during the early months of the pandemic than those that were “clear” on the project plan for a digital transformation. I know, a head-scratcher.

Supply Chain Software 418

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction 418

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

When I hear companies discussing the implementation of a customer segmentation strategy, I ask a series of questions: Who is your customer? How do they buy from you? What are you trying to accomplish through the execution of a customer segmentation strategy? How do they buy from you?” Why does it matter to you?

Inventory Reduction 150

Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Strategy 150

DELMIA Quintiq

NOVEMBER 17, 2020

From raw material procurement to final product sales, these supply chains’ ability to minimize inventory through product life cycle controls and facilitate prompt product supply is every bit as important as product differentiation strategies. The establishment of efficient global supply chains has become critical to competitiveness.

Optimal Sourcing 296

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Optimization Supply Chain Planning Software 296

RFgen

DECEMBER 27, 2024

You’re juggling production schedules, managing inventory, keeping an eye on finances, and making sure everything runs smoothly on the shop floor. Think of it as the central nervous system of your operation, connecting everything from production planning and inventory control to supply chain management and financial reporting.

Supply Chain Planning Software 98

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement Inventory Management Software 98

Procurement Academy

APRIL 24, 2025

When you look behind the scenes of a global business operation, procurement strategy and supply chain management are usually top priorities, though theyre not always working in sync. This blog explores procurement vs supply chain strategy and looks at how aligning the two leads to operational excellence. The problem?

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 52

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 27, 2022

Supply chain excellence is easier to say than to explain. At each company, there is a relationship between the metrics of growth, margin, inventory, customer service, and asset strategy. Keith was an undisputed leader in building talent to drive manufacturing excellence. The reason? Discontinued in 2011.

Procurement Analytics 369

Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 369

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Nick Lynch is the Global Excellence Manager at Shell Lubricants, a division of Shell Global. The lubricants are oils and greases to reduce friction and prevent moving machine parts from grinding. What can often look like compliance in APO could actually be numbers calculated in Excel and posted into the SAP system.

Demand Planning Software 322

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

How Do You Define Excellence? In retrospect, I find that technology is an enabler, but only if we are clear on what defines supply chain excellence. Many believe that an ex-supply chain exec knows the definition of supply chain excellence. An average margin of 21% with inventory turns of 1.58 I admit it. Lora was as well.

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 21, 2024

In follow-up qualitative interviews, one of the largest issues with organizational alignment was metric definition and a clear definition of supply chain excellence. To manage continuous improvement, companies need a clear definition of excellence and organizational alignment to that goal. They do not excel in planning or forecasting.

Procurement Analytics 393

Procurement Analytics Metrics Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software 393

Kinaxis

OCTOBER 20, 2014

Reason #4 Making key decisions by modelling the supply chain in Excel. Reason #6 Not effectively managing inventory. I lost track of how many carrots we had and ended up buying more when we really didn’t need any. Unfortunately, all the same kinds of things can happen to your supply chain inventory. and it didn’t leak.

Supply Chain Planning Software 257

Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Reduction Modeling Cost Reduction Strategies 257

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 30, 2023

Each executive has a different perspective on the definition of supply chain excellence, but they are never discussed and aligned. His organization purchased an advanced planning technology from well-known best of breed provider, and the implementation should have been successful, but it was not. What Is The Ring of Fire?

Supply Chain Planning Software 387

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 387

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 25, 2024

So, the parking spots are getting more and more occupied with drop trailers, meaning lot capacity shrinks while finding the trailer with the highest-priority inventory becomes even harder. Create a facilities “Center of Excellence.” Problem number three: appointment scheduling is a mess. Yes, yards are hard.

Expense Reduction 316

Expense Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Cost Reduction Strategies Inventory Reduction 316

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 6, 2020

Tom, the colorful warehouse manager, constantly heckled Frank for the increasing inventory levels while Ed, the quiet material/logistics manager, constantly questioned if there was a better way. He felt that inventory was no problem, he would just cut it at the end of each quarter to make the balance sheet goals.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 362

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Strategy 362

Logility

JULY 22, 2024

As Raheel Hussain, Director of the Supply Chain Center of Excellence at Reynolds Consumer Products notes during a recent webinar , a level of synchronization is critical to systemically share information and cut down the constant offline back-and-forth (conversations) between different functions.

Continuous Improvement 207

Continuous Improvement Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Cost Reduction Strategies 207

Kinaxis

DECEMBER 3, 2014

Reason #4 Making key decisions by modelling the supply chain in Excel. Reason #6 Not effectively managing inventory. One example that I’ve seen several times is around inventory targets. The result is a lower inventory level, but much higher expedited costs and reduced customer service.

Expense Reduction 250

Expense Reduction Procurement Analytics Cost Reduction Strategies Metrics 250

Supply Chain Opz

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

Paul Dittmann , Executive Director of the Global Supply Chain Institute at the University of Tennessee Improving operational efficiency in the global supply chain is a complex undertaking, and requires a documented, multi-year strategy instead of knee jerk reactions, and programs of the month. But, it can be overdone.

Waste Reduction 274

Waste Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Cost Reduction Strategies Inventory Reduction 274

SCMDOJO

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Key takeaways Importance of Procurement Procurement vs. Purchasing Key Functions Departmental Structure Role Descriptions The blog emphasizes the significance of a well-structured procurement department with qualified personnel to achieve organizational objectives. Read In Detail About Procurement Department Here 2.

Negotiating Skills 93

Negotiating Skills Purchasing Skills Purchasing Training Buyer Training 93

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 23, 2014

In 2014, ecommerce strategies grew in importance. At that time, manufacturers talked about customer-centric supply chains, but were afraid to aggressively adopt ecommerce strategies. Manufacturers, today, are aggressively pursuing e-commerce strategies. Get Good at Having a Real-time Perpetual Inventory Signal.

Packaging 332

Packaging Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software San Francisco 332

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Peeling Back the Lid on Supply Chain World Salad In this world, where board discussions focus on eliminating waste and meeting corporate social responsibility goals, supply chain teams respond with projects like end-to-end planning, control towers, and real-time decisions. Each concept is flawed adding to, not reducing, cost and waste.

Supply Chain Planning Software 392

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 392

Silvon Software

APRIL 16, 2025

Inventory is the lifeblood of any manufacturing business. By leveraging analytics and key performance indicators (KPIs), manufacturers can optimize inventory, reduce waste, and boost profitability. Tracking inventory flow and performance across your supply chain is a must. But what exactly should you measure?

Optimal Sourcing 65

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Optimization Price Mitigation Strategies 65

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

As a result, most projects are not clear in scope, with the implementation of visibility as a “functional extension to existing process” lacking a holistic outside-in approach/strategy to sense, respond, and act. Design an Over-Arching Strategy and Building Blocks. Build a multi-year visibility strategy. Reflection.

Supply Chain Planning Software 390

Supply Chain Planning Software Sourcing Strategies Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software 390

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 4, 2021

High e-commerce shopping rates combined with construction delays are causing a strain in the supply of new warehouse space, especially as companies shift their inventory management strategies from just- in-time (JIT) inventory management to larger safety stocks for better responsiveness.

Warehousing 264

Warehousing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Network Software Inventory Management Software 264

SCMDOJO

FEBRUARY 20, 2023

To get ahead in today’s competitive marketplace, distributors must remain on the cutting edge of innovation and stay up-to-date on new developments. Therefore, evaluating performance and creating a comprehensive digitalization strategy are essential for a distributor’s success.

Inventory Reduction 119

Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Resource Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software 119

SCMDOJO

APRIL 11, 2025

Economic downturns can disrupt the flow of goods, increase operational costs, and reduce profit margins. In this blog post, well explore the importance of robust supply chains, the key risks they face during economic downturns, and practical strategies. Recession-proofing a supply chain doesn’t mean eliminating all risks.

Supply Chain Planning Software 58

Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Reduction Waste Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 58

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 16, 2023

Clear operating strategy and definition of supply chain excellence across plan, source, make and deliver. Most companies buy decision support technology, but do not redefine work to improve decisions. I like the use of growth, margin, inventory turns, Return on Invested Capital, customer service and ESG metrics.

S&OP 390

S&OP Supply and Demand Forecasting Supply Chain Design Software 390

The Logistics of Logistics

MARCH 13, 2021

Sourcing Strategy: Effective vs Efficient with Ron Crabtree. Joe Lynch and Ron Crabtree discuss sourcing strategy: effective vs efficient. When developing a sourcing strategy, the focus can be effectiveness (gaining desired results) or on efficiency (reducing cost, labor, and resources used). About Ron Crabtree.

Sourcing Strategies 130

Sourcing Strategies Resource Reduction Price Reduction Waste Reduction 130

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

We were discussing the results of the planning benchmarking work that we have just finished, and I was sharing some insights on inventory management when one of the panelists emphatically stated, “Inventory is a waste to manage. We feel so strongly about this that we do not have an inventory planning role.”

Waste Reduction 150

Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction Inventory Optimal Sourcing 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 25, 2024

With slim margins and ever-increasing inventories, companies invested less in capital assets. Today, this network operates with less capacity and ballooning inventories. As product complexity increased, item forecastability decreased, and companies chased cost reduction. Customer Service.

Supply Chain Network Software 359

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Inventory Reduction Purchasing Skills 359

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 7, 2023

I am currently doing research on inventory management. In the research, I ask inventory planners to define resilience. Of the twenty companies interviewed, only one can answer the question, “Do you have a good inventory plan?” No technology in the market measures inventory health. Today, this is not the case.

Supply Chain Design Software 395

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Software 395

The Logistics of Logistics

MARCH 16, 2022

Esther is the Chief Revenue Officer at Flowspace , an ecommerce fulfillment platform that helps brands meet their customers’ post-purchase expectations. Flowspace is an ecommerce fulfillment platform that helps brands meet their customers’ post-purchase expectations. About Esther Kestenbaum Prozan.

Supply Chain Network Software 245

Supply Chain Network Software Supply Chain Planning Software Network Optimization Network Optimization Software 245

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 11, 2023

In the warehouse context, a digital twin can be created to represent the physical layout, inventory, equipment, and workflows of a warehouse. This can reduce the time and effort required for picking and packing, ultimately leading to improved productivity.

Modeling 312

Modeling Analytics Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimization Software 312