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 331

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning 331

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 25, 2024

Wikipedia In 2014, I was exploring methods to publish what is now the Supply Chains To Admire report. The use of orbit charts allowed me to see the patterns of performance at the intersection of metrics over time. By charting the performance against peer groups, I could see the story. We purchase data from Y charts. (A

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 385

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing Gartner Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Strategy 385

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

Procurement Analytics 369

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

As an old gal, with over forty-years of supply chain experience, writing this report for ten years taught me many lessons. I find in the orbit chart analysis that 45% of companies in the report are unconsciously incompetent. They are unconscious that they are underperforming their peer group and have not driven industry improvement.

Supply Chain Planning Software 388

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 388

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 15, 2022

GEP and the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Supply Chain Resource Cooperative surveyed supply chain, procurement and IT professionals across a range of industries to gain insight into their priorities and strategies regarding supply chain resilience and optimization. Alex Zhong, Director Product Marketing at GEP.

Supply Chain Network Software 315

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing 315

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 15, 2022

The idea is that data points within a group share similar properties, and each group is different (statistically speaking) from another. There is so much data, and to make use of it, we need to use data mining and analytics to drive meaningful insights that can be put to some good use. The retail industry is rich with data.

Optimal Sourcing 264

Optimal Sourcing Analysis Procurement Analytics Purchasing Skills 264

Precoro

JULY 1, 2024

Small companies may also lack the resources to create a dedicated procurement team for proper sourcing and supplier vetting. Group purchasing organizations can be the perfect way for these companies to increase cost savings. Keep reading to learn: What is a group purchasing organization?

Purchasing Skills 105

Purchasing Skills Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics Negotiate Pricing 105

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

I know that your primary focus is procurement. If S&OP efforts were that effective, don’t you think that we would have made more progress against inventory levels, margin, and growth? In part, this results in increasing swings in inventory in response to shifts in consumer demand as one moves further up the supply chain.

Supply and Demand 433

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 433

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2014

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which there is a desire for harmony within the group, but the result is an irrational or dysfunctional outcome. I feel that the industry is engaged in ‘Group Think’ No one in this meetings is going to ask tough questions.

Supply Chain Planning Software 379

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning Software Optimization Software 379

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 5, 2021

PwC reports that almost half of assets under management are held by investment firms committed to decarbonization. Similarly, UPS has strong commitments to sustainability and invests in many options, such as alternative fuel vehicles, e-cycles in dense cities, and carbon offsets for purchase with shipping.

Supply Chain Planning Software 325

Supply Chain Planning Software Sustainability Material Savings Supply Chain Planning 325

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 397

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

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 5, 2018

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. Orbit Chart for L’Oréal at the Intersection of Inventory Turns and Operating Margin.

Case Study 330

Case Study Inventory Reduction Study Agile and Lean Supply Chain 330

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 19, 2022

Analytical techniques like linear programming can create the mathematically “optimal” plan, but these methods must be implemented well to avoid creating other challenges. Fusing analytical approaches improves the math behind optimization, but to avoid highly-efficient silos it should be paired with concurrent planning.

Optimal Sourcing 306

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply Chain Optimization Optimization Software 306

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 30, 2023

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. As a result, demand planning is largely manual, inventory management is a series of manual inputs, and production planning is via spreadsheet.

Supply Chain Planning Software 388

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 388

Jaggaer

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

In today’s dynamic market, procurement is far more than just a buying and purchasing center. Our latest e-book, “ Is Manufacturing Missing Out On Procurement’s Value Add? Our latest e-book, “ Is Manufacturing Missing Out On Procurement’s Value Add? Here are some key insights from the e-book.

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics 52

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 14, 2014

I think about this discussion with Keith often as I work on the Supply Chain Index and edit the chapters of Metrics That Matter. 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.

Manufacturing Procurement 346

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Modeling 346

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 18, 2014

Most have a supply organization that has a sub-group that is chartered with forecasting demand for use by supply. In contrast, the demand organization that I am advocating is an analytics group that crosses over sales and marketing into supply. 2) Invest in New Forms of Analytics. Treat demand latency as the evil empire.

Supply and Demand 279

Supply and Demand Forecasting Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Software 279

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

I wrote my first report on Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) while sitting on the floor in the Atlanta airport in 2005 when I was an AMR Research analyst. I wrote many reports on airport floors in those days–electrical plugs were just too scarce.) Sales and Operations Maturity Model from 2005-2008. Mistake #3.

S&OP 195

S&OP Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 195

Precoro

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Within this setup, an ERP procurement module helps companies make purchases and manage suppliers. Numbers speak louder: According to Procurement Tactics’ top procurement trends in 2025 , 83% of CPOs prioritize digitization.   Keep reading to learn: What Is ERP in Procurement?

Procurement Solutions 45

Procurement Solutions Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 45

ThroughPut

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

In todays fast paced industrial world, inventory mismanagement poses substantial financial risks. With approximately $30 trillion of trade flowing from node to node, inventory rebalancing or mismanagement contributes to two major and often preventable issues: lost uptime, and lost sales. The Solution: ThroughPut.AI

Inventory Reduction 52

Inventory Reduction Optimal Sourcing Waste Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 52

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 13, 2025

Supply chain leaders are feeling the squeeze on multiple fronts: costs and interest rates remain high, tariff rates are rising (then falling, then rising again), and consumer demand feels about as solid as consumer confidence which is to say, shaky at best.

Supply Chain Design Software 111

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Logistics Network Optimization Software 111

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 1, 2024

In this scenario, by adopting an adaptive supply chain, the retailer uses real-time data analytics to identify emerging trends and collaborate closely with suppliers to quickly adjust production and inventory levels to meet customer demand. This collaboration enables faster response times and cost savings.

Modeling 317

Modeling Network Optimization Supply Chain Design Software Material Savings 317

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 2, 2023

ARC Advisory Group did a study on the supply chain collaboration network (SCCN) a couple of years ago. The company’s customers report that the ETAs provided by these FourKites are more accurate, timely and easier to access than those provided by carriers. That is fast growth. Today, FourKites can track order visibility.

Real-time Visibility 315

Real-time Visibility Supply Chain Visibility Inventory Reduction Agile and Lean Supply Chain 315

ToolsGroup

AUGUST 1, 2022

Retail returns occur when a customer returns the purchased items to a seller in exchange for a refund, store credit, or a similar product. Returns come with plenty of challenges around logistics, inventory, and predicting volatile sales trends. It’s true that returns cost retailers money.

Retail 296

Retail Optimal Sourcing Purchasing Skills Procurement Solutions 296

Precoro

MARCH 27, 2025

Rising costs, supply chain chaos, and economic swings put businesses under enormous pressure to protect their margins. According to McKinsey & Company, procurement accounts for 50% to 80% of a company’s cost base. That’s why organizations zero in on strategies to achieve procurement cost reduction. 

Cost Reduction Strategies 45

Cost Reduction Strategies Price Reduction Expense Reduction Vendor Strategies 45

Logility

JANUARY 4, 2022

Planalytics’ weather-driven demand analytics help businesses stay ahead of never-ending sales variability. Logility customers can leverage Planalytics weather-driven demand analytics to factor in the weather’s influence on top line revenue and product/category sales across specific time periods and locations. ATLANTA – Jan.

Supply Chain Planning Software 130

Supply Chain Planning Software Logility Demand Planning Software Analytics Software 130

DELMIA Quintiq

AUGUST 27, 2014

NPD Group reports that Millennials spent 81 percent of their shopping dollars in brick and mortar stores, and only 19 percent online. This emerging adult population, often referred to as the Gen Y, are the largest group to have grown up in an age of consumerism. They are known to have a sense of entitlement and big expectations.

Costa Rica 240

Costa Rica Retail Purchasing Skills Procurement Analytics 240

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 30, 2025

following the reporting of fourth-quarter results. This is despite the strengths of the recent purchase of Optimity. Note the lack of resilience of Eastman through the pandemic and the negative shift in operating margin and inventory turns since 2018. In short, there is no substitute for visionary leadership.

Supply Chain Planning Software 222

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Modeling Software 222

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 7, 2021

Gartner purchased the firm in 2010.) My desire was to make the rankings of the Top 25 supply chain report data-driven based on balance sheet results. Companies entered the pandemic with twenty more days of inventory than at the beginning of the great recession. AMR Research was an industry analyst firm in Boston. Reflection.

Gartner 222

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 222

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 30, 2022

However, two decades later, there is still no technology solution to enable demand visibility or help companies use channel data to translate demand into an inventory, replenishment, or manufacturing strategy. The decline in inventory turns uses cash. My question is, “Why?” Background. Growth requires cash.

Supply Chain Design Software 195

Supply Chain Design Software Supply and Demand Data Supply Chain Planning Software 195

ToolsGroup

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

Moreover, the proliferation of e-commerce is reshaping how aftermarket products are purchased. Consumers increasingly turn to online platforms to buy replacement parts and accessories due to the convenience of browsing a wide range of products, comparing prices, and making purchases from home.

Manufacturing Procurement 156

Manufacturing Procurement Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software ToolsGroup 156

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). Note the balanced results of Rockwell Automation against their peer group.

Supply Chain Software 34

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement 34

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 19, 2023

The issue wasn’t poor planning – they had the inventory. Multiple calls only muddied the waters, but a few things became clear: inventory was in the warehouse, but my order for it was stuck. The combinatorial factors disrupting supply chains persist, but in this case the problem was completely preventable.

Supply Chain Planning Software 311

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning 311

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 29, 2014

With the purchase of i2 by JDA, and Logictools by IBM, manufacturing companies serious about network design started looking for a company, with a well-established community, that was more serious about network design. It could no longer be just about inventory levels. Instead, the design needed to be more encompassing.

Supply Chain Design Software 268

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design Network Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software 268

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 9, 2023

CPG companies that utilize an autonomous supply chain technology see a reduction in their inventory and cost and an increase in revenue. Many innovative CPG companies also collaborate with their internal and external suppliers on net requirements planning for the factory and Purchase Orders (PO) for components and OEMs.

Supply Chain Planning Software 288

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Forecasting Software Optimization Software 288

Precoro

MAY 19, 2023

To monitor supply chain performance, stakeholders of successful companies typically define supply chain metrics that are relevant to the given business and track these KPIs regularly. By setting benchmarks for metrics, analysts can recognize unsettling trends and take preventive measures on time.

Procurement Analytics 98

Procurement Analytics Metrics Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software 98

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 21, 2023

Almost two decades of reporting. While companies that supply chain leaders believe are top performers– J&J, P&G, and Unilever– do not outperform their peer group. I list sixteen in Table 2, but of the 29 companies listed in the Gartner Top 25, 27 underperform their peer group sector. Is this success?

Gartner 426

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning 426