Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 27, 2025

A disruption at any point in the global logistics network including the average of 12 touch points from shipment packaging to final delivery can prove disastrous for profits, service levels, customer loyalty, and other key metrics. With the global e-commerce market predicted to reach $8.1

Supply Chain Planning Software 330

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software Logistics Network Optimization Software Predictive Analytics Software 330

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 18, 2024

The logistics and supply chain industry is a critical component of global trade, responsible for moving goods and materials efficiently to meet consumer and business demands. Road freight alone accounts for approximately 7% of global CO2 emissions, with maritime and air transport further amplifying the environmental burden.

Optimal Sourcing 266

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Material Savings Supply Chain Planning Software 266

Logistics Viewpoints

JUNE 3, 2025

These steps include sourcing and receiving inventory, storing inventory, order processing, picking and packing an order, shipping the order, and returns management. Factors like planning tools, inventory management, demand patterns, and innovations in technology contribute to the success or failure of fulfillment optimization.

Optimal Sourcing 225

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Price Mitigation Strategies Sourcing Strategies 225

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 24, 2025

Not much has changed in the methodology, but a lot has changed in the market–consolidation, technology advancements, and the growth of the global multinational. For 80% of industries, the supply chain metrics represent more than 40% impact on value. Today, companies measure too many metrics without a clear definition of value.

Gartner 195

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning 195

ToolsGroup

JUNE 2, 2023

But then, supply chain disruption became the rule instead of the exception, consumers changed their tastes as often as their socks, and global competition started playing hardball. Suddenly, managing inventory is the name of the game for companies trying to manage working capital and maximize profit while keeping customers happy.

Real-time Visibility 294

Real-time Visibility Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction 294

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Supply shortages resulting in empty shelves or parking lots of WIP inventory represent a spectre causing supply chain leaders to reconsider supply chain inventory practices. Opinion of just-in-time (JIT) as a practice has taken a battering and inventory is rising. Is supply chain inventory the problem?

Inventory Reduction 329

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning 329

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 10, 2025

But todays global environment is more unstable than it was a decade ago. More recently, fluctuating trade policies have emerged as a persistent challenge, especially for firms with global footprints. Metrics must reflect the new priorities. For years, supply chains were engineered to be lean.

Optimal Sourcing 216

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply Chain Optimization Cost Reduction Strategies 216

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 12, 2025

The Global Pressure Index published monthly is rising, but we are still operating in a period of low variability. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, [link] What can you do? I work with a company that had 210 planners in 2005 and now has 1475 global planners. Decline in consumer confidence.

Modeling 221

Modeling Waste Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 221

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 27, 2022

At each company, there is a relationship between the metrics of growth, margin, inventory, customer service, and asset strategy. For the purpose of this article, I will use Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) as the proxy metric to discuss asset utilization.) Understanding this relationship requires modeling. (A A Case Study.

Procurement Analytics 369

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

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 16, 2023

A shift from functional metrics to a balanced scorecard. I like the use of growth, margin, inventory turns, Return on Invested Capital, customer service and ESG metrics. The focus on functional metrics sub-optimizes balance sheet results. Funny, isn’t it? Improved Forecast Value Added (FVA). Political sandbagging.

S&OP 390

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

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 28, 2020

Only four percent of companies compared to their peer groups improved balance sheet performance of growth, operating margin, and inventory turns. When compared to pre-recession years, we ended the decade with twenty more days of inventory. Days of Inventory Comparison. Now, let’s take consumer products. What can we learn?

Supply Chain Planning Software 418

Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling 418

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 29, 2021

Using balance sheet data from 2011 to 2019, we chart companies’ progress by peer group on rate of improvement and performance in the metrics of growth, operating margin, inventory turns, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). Each division with global oversight drives the decision process.

Supply Chain Planning Software 370

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Design 370

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

Over the last six years, we studied the connection between business results (growth, operating margin, inventory turns and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)) and the link to company characteristics. Reward teams for cross-functional metrics. Focus functional metrics to improving reliability. What did we find?

Supply Chain Planning Software 377

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software 377

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 23, 2024

This integration includes tracking individual components and collecting data on environmental impact, including sustainability metrics such as carbon footprint and recyclability. Tracking key performance metrics and conducting regular audits help identify areas for improvement and ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements.

Resource Reduction 292

Resource Reduction Vendor Strategies Inventory Reduction Price Mitigation Strategies 292

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 13, 2024

How aligned do you believe your organization is to drive these metrics? This research, completed in 2006, was during the transformation of multi-national to global supply chains. P&G did not appreciate the work Gilette accomplished on form and function of inventory and using market signals. Is your plan feasible?

S&OP 393

S&OP Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction Expense Reduction 393

Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy

JUNE 10, 2025

Do Set Clear KPIs and Governance Structures : Establish transparent metrics for sales, coverage, and service levels. Do Embrace Technology and Data : Use real-time data for demand forecasting, inventory management, and route optimization. A well-equipped distributor is an extension of your brand and a key to market penetration.

Waste Reduction 165

Waste Reduction Vendor Strategies Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 165

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 21, 2021

What is the Perfect Delivery Metric? Improving on this metric will always involve a focus on people and processes, but often also includes implementing new, more robust, supply chain applications. The wrong metrics drive suboptimal behaviors and metrics can often be manipulated. You can watch the full video below.

Sourcing Strategies 301

Sourcing Strategies How To Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software 301

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 25, 2024

The use of orbit charts allowed me to see the patterns of performance at the intersection of metrics over time. This data source synchronizes corporate reporting across global markets while tracking restatements, name changes, and currency shifts.) The second part of the story is that inventory turns for Lenovo are 10.8,

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 384

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing Gartner Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Strategy 384

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 5, 2018

At the Supply Chain Global Summit 2018 , Francois discussed the impact of digitalization, Industry 4.0, The award, based on beating the industry peer group on rate of improvement on the key metrics of growth, operating margin, inventory turns, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) while outperforming their peer group, is tough to achieve.

Case Study 329

Case Study Inventory Reduction Study Agile and Lean Supply Chain 329

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

And, that the same techniques used in planning for a regional company could work for a global multi-national. An average margin of 21% with inventory turns of 1.58 As shown in Figure B, the company improved cash-to-cash through the extension of payables, but never improved inventory levels after the spin-off from Kraft.

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 24, 2022

The future inventory fire sale. One of my stark realizations this year is that smaller companies are beating larger and often more established companies on growth metrics, inventory turns, operating margin, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). (In The metrics selection resulted from work with Arizona State University in 2013.)

Supply Chain Planning Software 397

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 397

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 21, 2023

In the early 1980s, As a result, we did not have a perpetual inventory signal. Without a perpetual inventory signal, we were never synchronized on where to place customer orders. As a result, inventories ballooned after the DRP implementation. The metrics were not aligned. I also ran three outside warehouses.

Supply Chain Planning Software 406

Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Cost Reduction Strategies 406

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 19, 2014

Instead, what I observed when I looked at the data, was that most companies that I had worked with (in my role as an industry analyst, I had worked with over 300) were going backwards on margin and inventory turns. Resiliency is the pattern at the intersection of operating margin and inventory turns. “Ugh,” I said.

Gartner 382

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Strategy Supply Chain Software 382

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 16, 2021

In a survey of 150 global manufacturing executives, 47% committed to improving supply chain visibility and tracking. According to the Global Supply Chain Disruption and Future Strategies Survey Report, this goal was the top-ranked planned tool investment. Agility to act on transparency.

Supply Chain Visibility 329

Supply Chain Visibility Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Planning Software Scenario Planning 329

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 15, 2022

ABC Analysis for Inventory Planning : Clustering products that behave similarly highlights issues, challenges, and opportunities for serving customers better. Price index and price elasticity are useful metrics on their own, and a combination of these can help determine the right price point to maximize revenue and profit.

Optimal Sourcing 260

Optimal Sourcing Analysis Procurement Analytics Purchasing Skills 260

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 22, 2015

The impact of complexity on inventory is not quick. To help, today I want to share some of the insights from our recent Inventory Optimization study. Inventory management is a hot issue. Companies invest in project after project, yet inventory levels remain the same. The Business Problem. The analogy is weight loss.

Inventory Reduction 150

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

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 29, 2014

I just don’t think the comparison of very different industries in a spreadsheet based on growth, inventory values, and Return on Assets (ROA) is meaningful. There is no methodology in the market today that applies to companies that do not qualify for the Global 1000. I find value in looking at these metrics together.

Gartner 366

Gartner Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical 366

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2014

I am speaking at their global kick-off. It is tough for me to see that nine out of ten companies are stuck, and not making progress, at the intersection of operating margin and inventory turns. In addition, I am now done with the page proofs for my new book, Metrics that Matter. Attendees at our 2015 Global Summit.

Supply Chain Planning Software 379

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning Software Optimization Software 379

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Last week was the Supply Chain Insights Global Summit. While the performance rankings were based on comparisons of inventory turns, operating margin and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) for the periods of 2006-2013 and 2009-2013, the concept is that to be a supply chain leader you must outperform and drive improvement.

Optimal Sourcing 365

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Manufacturing Procurement 365

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 27, 2024

Microsoft Datacenters comprise a globally distributed infrastructure designed to power the Microsoft Cloud. Mr. De Golia said they used the internationally approved Global Logistics Emission standard. A clear goal needs to be combined with good data and metrics. But how could we know their emissions?”

Supply Chain Design Software 305

Supply Chain Design Software Cost Reduction Strategies Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design 305

Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy

JULY 3, 2024

Ensure they have the necessary inventory, marketing materials, and training to effectively introduce your products to the market. Internal Perspective: Performance Monitoring: KPIs and Metrics: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor distributor performance. Work globally, with our local experts.

Inventory Reduction 263

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Material Savings Price Mitigation Strategies 263

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 21, 2024

We explore the concept of holistic inventory strategies focused on the form and function of inventory. In the process, we learn that only 15-20% of inventories are safety stock and that the current APS frameworks do not enable a holistic analysis of the form and function of inventory. Lack of aligned metrics.

Inventory Reduction 434

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

Supply Chain Matters

MARCH 14, 2025

Supply Chain Matters highlights indications providing added evidence that manufacturers and retailers are front loading inventory management actions in attempts to initially hedge against added U.S. We cited indications of the post Lunar New Year ramp-up of global production levels to replenish inventories, more so than in prior years.

Inventory Reduction 52

Inventory Reduction Inventory Report Price Reduction 52

Logistics Viewpoints

JUNE 4, 2025

His comments reflected a long-term orientation: technology and strategy are expected to evolve in parallel with shifts in the global supply chain environment. Recent examples included the rollout of a new inventory planning application and the introduction of a hybrid AI-powered demand forecasting engine.

Supply Chain Design Software 215

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Software Forecasting Software 215

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 19, 2018

It is now our fifth year of analyzing balance sheets to understand which companies are outperforming their peer groups on the metrics of growth, operating margin, inventory turns and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) while driving improvement. This is the fun part of my job. This work is not easy. Today, it is not.

Gartner 277

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Strategy 277

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Next week is the annual Supply Chain Insights Global Summit , and summit preparation is on my agenda for the weekend. We feel so strongly about this that we do not have an inventory planning role.” His feeling was that inventory is an asset to manage. Inventory is both. Inventory management is a complex subject.

Waste Reduction 150

Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction Inventory Optimal Sourcing 150

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 11, 2023

Building the Effective Global Supply Chain. We speak about the need to move from a functional understanding to a global, holistic capabilities, but the traditional supply chain leader defines bonus incentives and process performance goals based on functional metrics. Measurement.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software Supply Chain Network Software 417