Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 11, 2012

This year supply chain leaders will celebrate thirty years of progress in supply chain management; but we have not made progress on one of the funamentals: inventory management. I think that it is time for us to take the litmus test and ask the hard questions, “Have our practices impacted days of inventory? I want to believe.

Inventory Reduction 248

Inventory Reduction Vendor Strategies Resource Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 248

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

Consumers want to shop anywhere, and buy in the way that they want to buy. I have studied the building of collaborative processes and written about the shifts and highlighted where we are gaining value. Current State of Perpetual Inventory. Replenishment is fueled by an effective perpetual inventory signal.

Forecasting 353

Forecasting Optimal Sourcing Forecasting Software Supply Chain Network Software 353

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). The total cost of ownership analyzes the total costs of the buying decision.

Supply Chain Software 30

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

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 21, 2024

In 2016, we finished a study on continuous improvement. In the study, when we asked for the top elements of business pain to drive continuous improvement for companies greater than 5B$ in annual revenue, as shown in Figure 1, we found the largest issues with cross-functional alignment and availability of talent. What Drives Value?

Procurement Analytics 394

Procurement Analytics Metrics Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software 394

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 16, 2014

Despite two decades of advancement in supply chain technologies, companies are struggling to gain balance at the intersection of operating margin, inventory turns and case fulfillment. Along the way, I will be doing more work on network design case studies. I would build an expertise system in the Supply Chain Center of Excellence.

Supply Chain Design Software 319

Supply Chain Design Software Network Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software 319

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 20, 2014

However, what is clear from our recent study of 73 manufacturers using supply chain planning is that companies using best-of-breed solutions implement faster, achieve a quicker Return-on-Investment (ROI), and are more satisfied. However, this is not supported by the facts of a recent study. (At Study Results. Was it intentional?

Supply Chain Planning Software 366

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Supply and Demand 366

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Nick Lynch is the Global Excellence Manager at Shell Lubricants, a division of Shell Global. The Company implemented SAP Advanced Planner and Optimizer (APO) including the standard functionality of Demand Planning (DP), Supply Network Planning (SNP), and Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (PPDS), yet many planners also used Excel.

Demand Planning Software 323

Demand Planning Software Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 323

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

If S&OP efforts were that effective, don’t you think that we would have made more progress against inventory levels, margin, and growth? The issues are largely rooted in politics and the lack of clarity on supply chain excellence. Or planned orders to purchase orders?) And how do we measure it? (Is I don’t know.

Supply and Demand 433

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 433

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 14, 2022

Supplier problems will cause a cascade of problems up and down the value stream, leading to supply order delays that cause inventory shortages, production disruptions, missed shipments and lost revenue. The study found that these leaders considered the largest gap to be between supply chain and procurement, citing it as a major issue.

Supply Chain Planning Software 289

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software Procurement Solutions 289

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. In this case, the metrics are operating margin and inventory turns.

Supply Chain Planning Software 288

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimization Software Forecasting Software 288

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 363

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Strategy 363

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 3, 2015

When it comes to the management of inventory in value chains, frustration abounds. Executive, after executive, lament, “They have purchased many technologies and sponsored many projects to reduce inventories, but they are not seeing results.” Inventory is the culmination of many business decisions.

Inventory Reduction 150

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Management Software 150

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

MAY 1, 2014

As hospitals adopted consignment planning programs, inventory progress slowed. The turns are the lowest of any industry, and despite investments in technologies and processes, inventory turns have only improved 3%, and Cash-T0-Cash (C2C) cycles have declined 4%. This precipitous drop in margin hurts. Companies are feeling pain.

Supply Chain Planning Software 333

Supply Chain Planning Software San Diego Supply and Demand Pharmaceutical 333

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 26, 2023

In a recent study, roughly 1/3 of respondents were familiar or very familiar with the concepts of the Graph Approach. Like Linus clinging to his blanket, supply chain teams make most of their decisions on Excel spreadsheets. Most current spending is focused on deploying traditional optimization on relational databases.

Optimal Sourcing 369

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply and Demand Manufacturing Procurement 369

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

<Bear with me… > Here I share a nine-step process in an attempt to help companies unravel the process for buying supply chain planning software. They center on how to make a good decision in the purchase of supply chain planning solutions. Most have purchased software, but are dependent on Excel spreadsheets.

Supply Chain Planning Software 252

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 252

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. The focus is on channel data: price; inventory positions; and policies. I only know of five case studies of cross-functional listening.

Material Savings 246

Material Savings Inventory Reduction Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 246

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2013

Here is a link to the healthcare research study in the field. Pharmaceutical companies are struggling with falling margins and rising inventories. They each lag in their understanding of supply chain excellence, and are now struggling to build effective supply chain teams. It is rising inventory levels. What Can We Do?

Pharmaceutical 171

Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Network Software Eliminating Excel in Purchasing Procurement Analytics 171

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 14, 2013

It was a story where people believed that functional excellence leads to supply chain superiority. I strongly feel that a blind focus on functional excellence will cause the supply chain to become out of balance. A Case Study. One that is going to eat you up! It is a low probability that this will ever happen.

Supply Chain Planning Software 260

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

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

SCMDOJO

OCTOBER 23, 2024

Pricing Structure Affordable pricing, with annual access to purchased courses and practical resources through Pro Plan. This learning platform covers every angle of supply chain management, from demand planning and inventory management to supplier relationship management, procurement, and logistics.

Supply Chain Planning Software 90

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Course Supply Chain Software 90

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

How do they buy from you? How do they buy from you?” Instead, in the SanDisk journey , they adjusted the speed of response to their customer segments, and actively designing inventory postponement strategies. The discussion of customer-segmented supply chains happens often. Why does it matter to you? It is systemic.

Inventory Reduction 150

Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Strategy 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2024

My 67 quantitative studies over the past decade do not support the value. similarly, over 95% of manufacturers invested and implemented supply chain planning, but their primary tool today is Excel. This technique has been very useful for retail store inventory and MRO where demand is lumpy, latent, and difficult to forecast.

Supply Chain Planning Software 369

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software Forecasting Software 369

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

This team is not buying the message. “I study supply chains. So much so, that three years ago, I founded a research company to focus on understanding supply chain excellence. In our work, we tie research from quantitative and qualitative studies to financial results to drive new insights. I am passionate about it.

Manufacturing Procurement 318

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Benchmarking Supply Chain Design Software 318

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2014

By purchasing planning and transactional systems for a common vendor, they had one throat to choke and they were familiar with the architectural elements. In the study, the respondents were asked to rate time to Return on Investment, and satisfaction. Instead, he wants to drive supply chain excellence and build the metrics that matter.

Supply Chain Planning Software 379

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning Software Optimization Software 379

ToolsGroup

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Excess inventory – it’s taking up your warehouse space, tying up working capital, and limiting your planning team’s range of motion. It’s time to Marie Kondo your supply chain by eliminating excess inventory and learning how to avoid it in the first place. Let’s talk about: What Excess Inventory Is. What Causes Excess Inventory.

Inventory Reduction 156

Inventory Reduction Material Savings Inventory Cost Reduction Strategies 156

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 14, 2014

In Figure 1, I share a composite orbit chart of progress of Cisco Systems, Intel, Samsung and Flextronics on the Effective Frontier at the intersection of inventory turns and operating margin for 2006-2012. However, no company in this chart is on a linear path towards improving both margin and inventory turns. What can we learn?

Manufacturing Procurement 345

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Modeling 345

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 18, 2019

Eerily the case studies sound the same as the ones heard when I completed S&OP research in 2004. And, when it comes to their case studies, I do not find the step change. Dependency on Excel. Excel–while widely used for planning–is not equal to the challenge of modeling complex supply chains. The reason?

S&OP 231

S&OP Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 231

ThroughPut

MAY 20, 2025

Managing spare parts inventory has always been a delicate balancing actexcess inventory ties up capital, while shortages risk costly downtime and production delays. Thats why a growing number of organizations are turning to AI software for spare parts inventory management. What is Spare Parts Inventory Management?

Inventory Management Software 52

Inventory Management Software Inventory Reduction Prescriptive Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software 52

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

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 3, 2013

It was called multi-enterprise inventory optimization. In the beginning, the inventory management solutions of LogicTools , Optiant and SmartOps pushed to take operations research to a new level through supply chain optimization. SmartOps was purchased by SAP. They knew little about the software market. It is no more.

Supply Chain Planning Software 219

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Optimization Software SAP 219

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 14, 2018

Bonuses and incentives align with functions and are often counter productive to driving supply chain excellence. Today, over 90% of companies have deployed ERP and APS, but as shown in Table 1, inventory levels have grown not decreased in over 80% of industries studied. Days of Inventory by Industry Across Years.

Optimal Sourcing 192

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain 192

Logistics Bureau

DECEMBER 4, 2023

Inventory management is a crucial aspect of supply chain management, and effective strategies can help businesses reduce costs, improve customer service, and increase profits. But what does a great inventory management strategy look like? But consider, too, how you can turn those needs to your advantage in inventory management.

Inventory Reduction 75

Inventory Reduction Inventory Management Software Inventory Management Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 75

Kinaxis

DECEMBER 3, 2014

Reason #4 Making key decisions by modelling the supply chain in Excel. Reason #6 Not effectively managing inventory. Social studies? 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. Don’t care.

Expense Reduction 252

Expense Reduction Procurement Analytics Cost Reduction Strategies Metrics 252

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 29, 2022

Concurrent macro forces–material shortages, war, shifts in consumer buying patterns, logistics constraints, inflation/recession, and climate change– are reshaping today’s reality necessitating the need for a supply chain reset button. Focus on right-sizing inventories. These are our weakest links. What can be done?

Supply Chain Design Software 261

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Pricing Training 261

Logistics Bureau

NOVEMBER 3, 2024

Mini Case Study: Walmart Walmart may be the most famous example of a company that has succeeded primarily because of a well-developed and aligned supply chain strategy. That should be sobering news for any business not yet focused on supply chain excellence as a lever for business success.

Inventory Reduction 74

Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Vendor Strategies Supply Chain Design Software 74

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. Granular data by volume is a must to be able to manage replenishment, network design, and inventory targets. Time horizon. The takeaway?

Supply Chain Design Software 208

Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting 208