Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 10, 2025

Reducing cost was the primary objective, and most operational decisionsfrom sourcing to fulfillmentreflected that mindset. Sudden tariff increases can quickly make a cost-optimized procurement strategy untenable, leaving companies scrambling to adjust. Procurement is another area seeing change.

Optimal Sourcing 228

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Optimization 228

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 1, 2025

They emphasized being an Industry Cloud Complete Company with industry-specific solutions for over 2000 micro verticals across Process Manufacturing, Distribution, Service Industries, and Discrete Manufacturing. Industry-specific content is available for processes like Source to Settle, Procure to Pay, Order to Cash, and more.

Prescriptive Analytics Software 223

Prescriptive Analytics Software Optimal Sourcing Material Savings Predictive Analytics Software 223

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 1, 2021

In a previous post , I made a case for how the Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) and Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) are smarter together. Accordingly Supply Chain and Procurement will need continuous collaboration. Such sourcing events can be in the context of direct materials or logistics capacity.

Optimal Sourcing 295

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 295

DELMIA Quintiq

NOVEMBER 17, 2020

New technologies revolutionizing transportation are creating tremendous opportunities but also unprecedented challenges for tire manufacturers. Supply chain optimization is essential to achieve this and can help tire manufacturing companies deliver significant reductions in supply chain costs and improvements in service levels.

Optimal Sourcing 296

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

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Production plans might be locked for as long as a month, regardless of how accurate the forecast was. That supply planning application needs to be integrated into an array of internal systems ERP, transportation management, warehouse management, procurement, and other applications. That makes the integration even more difficult.

Supply Chain Planning Software 301

Supply Chain Planning Software Prescriptive Analytics Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software 301

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Process-based companies continue to focus on manufacturing efficiency (OEE) and discrete on procurement (PPV) without designing the supply chain to balance transportation, manufacturing, and procurement to a balanced scorecard. Functional Metrics and the Lack of Alignment to Strategy. The Lovefest with Shiny Objects.

Supply Chain Design Software 222

Supply Chain Design Software Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Planning Software 222

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 21, 2014

.> Unfortunately, companies have invested money in traditional forecasting processes believing that if they make the forecast better that corporate performance will improve. Improving forecasting is not sufficient. It is about much more than conventional forecasting. Forecastability. Independent Demand.

Supply and Demand 393

Supply and Demand Modeling Demand Planning Software Forecasting 393

Logistics Viewpoints

JUNE 29, 2023

It is crucial for organizations to understand the importance of Purchase Order collaboration to effectively manage their direct spend, optimize operations, and mitigate risks. Make to Order: Here, products are manufactured based on specific customer orders.

Manufacturing Procurement 275

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Material Savings Inventory Reduction 275

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Traditionally, the definition of end-to-end supply chain planning meant: Forecasting based on order or shipment patterns. Forecast consumption into supply planning based on rules (rules-based-consumption). Translation of the demand forecast into planned orders to minimize manufacturing constraints.

Optimal Sourcing 411

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Manufacturing Procurement Modeling 411

ToolsGroup

OCTOBER 14, 2024

Moreover, maintaining optimal service levels while balancing inventory costs is a delicate act that requires sophisticated forecasting and inventory management techniques, underlining the importance of advanced spare parts management solutions.

Inventory Reduction 156

Inventory Reduction Negotiating Skills Optimal Sourcing Cost Reduction Strategies 156

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 2, 2024

The high-tech firm is more than a manufacturer of PCs, tablets, smartphones, and servers. The company has more than 2000 suppliers and operates over 30 manufacturing sites. It might highlight logistics jams, manufacturing capacity, quality issues, or procurement cost trends. Factories serve local markets.

Supply Chain Planning Software 294

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Network Software 294

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

The essence of the question is resilience and the ability to forecast in a variable market reliably. This gets us to the question of what is the role of the forecast?` For most, forecasting is a conundrum full of potholes, politics, and bias. When he speaks of the supply chain, he means procurement. This is his world.

Supply Chain Planning Software 419

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling Forecasting Software 419

RFgen

DECEMBER 27, 2024

Running a manufacturing business isn’t easy. That’s where a manufacturing ERP comes in. Manufacturing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software integrates all your core business processes into one powerful platform. It’s a lot to handle. Let’s get started.

Supply Chain Planning Software 98

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

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Scaling manufacturing operations is crucial for business growth but presents unique challenges. Balancing increased demand with consistent quality and controlled costs is difficult but essential for manufacturers looking to expand. Successfully scaling manufacturing requires more than just adding resources.

Material Savings 92

Material Savings Sourcing Strategies Resource Reduction Inventory Reduction 92

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 28, 2020

The first story is about a large regional food manufacturer. The SAS forecasting system implemented in 2019 was not tested for model accuracy. An example for this client would be to use 2017 and 2018 history to forecast 2019. So, I asked the questions, “Is your data forecastable? Let’s Be Customer Centric.

Supply Chain Planning Software 420

Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling 420

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 25, 2024

My definition of a network is the bi-directional information exchange of manufacturing, procurement, quality, and transportation signals across multiple tiers of trading partners in a many-to-many trading partner information exchange with minimal latency. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) does not meet this definition.

Supply Chain Network Software 360

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Inventory Reduction Purchasing Skills 360

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 14, 2023

And even before they begin, they must realize these problems are too big for any single team—supply chain must connect with finance and procurement to treat the n-tier suppliers as an extended part of their network and become their preferred customer. By identifying these gaps, you can create sourcing events to close them.

Supply Chain Design Software 326

Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling 326

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2024

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. ” Does the Dog Hunt? Makes sense. So, my conclusion? So, does this dog hunt?

Supply Chain Planning Software 369

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

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

I forecast that this interest will grow and the market is going to become more confusing. Globally ten percent of jobs are in manufacturing, while 37% are associated with supply chain management. The discipline, first defined in 1982, includes source, make, deliver, and planning functions. Kinaxis Purchase of Rubikloud.

Supply Chain Design Software 362

Supply Chain Design Software Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software 362

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

Assumptions around demand are in the center here because, unlike all other main components, they are the most difficult to forecast. Another strategy is to dedicate resources and build the best algorithm for demand forecasting. This means that pouring resources into better forecasting will not produce the anticipated result.

Sourcing Strategies 312

Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Inventory Reduction 312

Enterra Insights

DECEMBER 17, 2024

They write, “This includes tackling bigger issues such as compliance, supplier relationship management, risk and disruption, responsible sourcing, and transparency. “Sophisticated predictive analytics tools process sales data, seasonal trends, and market fluctuations to forecast demand accurately.

Optimal Sourcing 130

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Optimization Modeling Optimization Software 130

Jaggaer

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

What Is Strategic Sourcing? A Complete Guide Strategic sourcing is a data-driven approach to securing the best value for your organization from its strategic suppliers. It is called strategic because it replaces traditional ad hoc approaches to sourcing, which were almost entirely focused on cost savings, item by item.

Negotiating Skills 52

Negotiating Skills Sourcing Strategies Purchasing Skills Optimal Sourcing 52

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 21, 2024

During the 1980s, I was on a management team for a large manufacturer. The Company was attempting to gain economies of scale by grouping manufacturing technologies within a common infrastructure to reap the benefits of a co-generation facility, a centralized warehouse, and a talented administrative team. Instead, we need to Jump.

Inventory Reduction 435

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Design Software 435

RFgen

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Supply chain efficiency is the cornerstone of success and involves the effective management of processes, resources, and technologies from procurement to production, transportation to warehousing. In the automotive sector, manufacturers are simultaneously reducing inventory costs and delivery times.

Sourcing Strategies 96

Sourcing Strategies Inventory Reduction Waste Reduction Expense Reduction 96

SCMDOJO

APRIL 24, 2025

Manufacturers are shifting to on-demand production to align output with real-time demand. By producing only whats needed, when its needed, they eliminate the burden of forecasting errors and reduce warehouse dependency. On-demand production meets that need by replacing batch manufacturing with agile, made-to-order workflows.

Waste Reduction 98

Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Expense Reduction 98

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 14, 2022

Experts from North Carolina State University and GEP conducted a survey on supply chain, procurement and IT leaders to determine their challenges and priorities, focusing on examining gaps in the supply chain. 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

Logistics Viewpoints

JANUARY 17, 2023

Over the past few years, supply chain and procurement pros have faced the challenge of navigating their enterprises through one disruption after another. Despite their best efforts, current events and market dynamics caught up with them, leading to issues managing their suppliers and sourcing the materials needed for their products.

Prescriptive Analytics Software 287

Prescriptive Analytics Software Supply Chain Software Predictive Analytics Software Forecasting Software 287

Enterra Insights

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Interestingly, in Q3 2023, 38% of manufacturers, distributors and retailers missed their target for revenue guidance for the quarter. If businesses cannot accurately forecast revenue, the organization is not resilient.”[3] ” • Implement digital and automated manufacturing. … My conclusion?

Supply Chain Planning Software 130

Supply Chain Planning Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning 130

Jaggaer

MAY 8, 2025

I am a big believer in procurement getting involved as early as possible in new product development based on all the market knowledge available. The worst-case scenario is product engineering developing a new product, selecting a supplier and then telling procurement to get on with negotiation. Do you give suppliers accurate forecasts?

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 52

ivalua

MAY 6, 2020

The key to Zara’s ability to establish an agile Supply Chain rests on the following unique approaches: Procurement Methodology: Zara’s Procurement team doesn’t work on the number of finished clothes but on the quantity of raw materials needed to manufacture the clothes. They ship very small batches twice a week.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 37

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement 37

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Advanced planning evolved with a focus on modeling manufacturing constraints. Initially, the output was published to procurement to design strategic buying strategies. Procurement became an island–isolated from the demand signal except for MRP. Procurement: Purchase price variance and procurement cost.

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

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

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Given your expertise, I’d love to hear what alternatives you recommend for better demand forecasting and real-time visibility beyond what’s commonly adopted today.” I know that your primary focus is procurement. Or planned orders to purchase orders?) Go to the source. ” Anna, this blog post is for you.

Supply and Demand 433

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 433

QAD

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

For 58 years, food and beverage and consumer goods manufacturers have battled for dominance, from chips and wings to soda, beer, party supplies, and even aluminum foil for food storage and DIY trophies. Manufacturers that dont plan ahead will lose the game. That takes a data-driven approach to forecasting, procurement and distribution.

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Beverage Inventory Reduction Optimal Sourcing 52

DELMIA Quintiq

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Meeting these objectives, on top of addressing existing industry challenges, requires steel manufacturing companies to become more efficient and flexible in their operations—and this means optimizing their master production schedules. As your steel manufacturing operations transform, so too will the complexity of your planning needs.

Optimal Sourcing 287

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Optimization Network Optimization Optimization Software 287

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 28, 2022

Machine Learning, a Form of Artifical Intelligence, Has Feedback Loops that Improve Forecasting. Having an agent detect how long it takes to ship from a supplier site to a manufacturing facility, and then doing a running calculation on how the average lead time is changing, is trivial math. But that was pre-COVID.

Optimal Sourcing 355

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning 355

Jaggaer

APRIL 24, 2025

Supply chain management typically does not fit very well with procurement, which is a challenge at the best of times, and can be a disaster in difficult times. It is now a matter of planning the procurement system and the supply management system outside-in and then look at the true demand to minimize the latency.

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Demand Planning Software 52

Logistics Viewpoints

JUNE 3, 2024

Manufacturers refer to it as the “shop floor to top floor disconnect.” This reflects manufacturers’ difficulty in synching the plans finalized in an integrated business planning executive meeting with what the shop floor is capable of manufacturing in the short-term time planning horizon.

Supply Chain Planning Software 311

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Manufacturing Procurement 311