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. From natural disasters to geopolitical tensions and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, supply chains have been significantly impacted.

Manufacturing Procurement 272

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Material Savings Inventory Reduction 272

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 312

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing 312

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

JUNE 3, 2025

The formula for OTIF is: Measuring a supply chain against OTIF metrics is a key strategy that helps decision makers attach a tangible value to the success of their fulfillment and allows them to determine key strategies. Organizations are ready to implement AI and ML-driven prediction and productivity gains.

Optimal Sourcing 147

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Sourcing Strategies Price Mitigation Strategies 147

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 6, 2023

Procurement and Supply Chain Management are essential functions that can help companies navigate these challenges, but they are often siloed and operate in separate departments. Their metrics are often misaligned as well – supply chain focuses on service and procurement focuses on the cost of acquiring materials and services.

Optimal Sourcing 246

Optimal Sourcing Sourcing Strategies Manufacturing Procurement Material Savings 246

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 263

Optimal Sourcing Analysis Procurement Analytics Purchasing Skills 263

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2013

In the height of the e-commerce craze, the marketplace offerings started with a focus on e-procurement. The widely-held view was that the e-procurement market would fuel the next generation of marketplace applications. The rebirth of marketplace offerings is not on the back of e-procurement or ERP. The debates were heated.

Supply Chain Design Software 322

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 322

Talking Logistics

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

Today’s post is by Joel Holt at Kenco Group , where he discusses several ways that supply chain metrics bring value to your organization. Your current car is not broken or limping along or anything of that nature, you just saw other drivers with cars that run a little more smoothly, go a little bit faster and cost less at the gas pump.

Procurement Analytics 124

Procurement Analytics Metrics Supply Chain Modeling 124

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

Precoro

JUNE 3, 2025

Definition: Category management is a systematic way to organize and supervise groups of products or services within a company. Businesses often use it in retail and purchasing. In category management, you sort items with similar characteristics and treat each group as a separate unit.

Manufacturing Procurement 45

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions Material Savings 45

Precoro

MAY 19, 2025

Companies often push aside procurement compliance to focus on more pressing issues. No wonder—procurement often gets tedious and burdened with time-consuming processes. However, ignoring procurement compliance is like ignoring a ticking time bomb. Scroll down to find out: What is procurement compliance?

Procurement Analytics 45

Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement Examples 45

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

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

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. The orbit chart below illustrates L’Oréal’s performance at the intersection of two metrics.

Case Study 329

Case Study Inventory Reduction Study Agile and Lean Supply Chain 329

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

Logility

JANUARY 26, 2017

The second part of Drucker’s quote, “if you can't measure it, you can't improve it,” really brings home the importance of having the right set of metrics. In the field of supply chain management, we have created an abundance of metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). requires a different set of metrics.

Procurement Analytics 100

Procurement Analytics Metrics Supply Chain Planning Software Gartner 100

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 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. This is a group of leaders. E2open last week announced the purchase of Serus. If you respond to one of our surveys, we keep all of the responses confidential and only report the findings in aggregate.

Manufacturing Procurement 345

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Modeling 345

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 3, 2025

According to a survey by ARC Advisory Group, only 10% of industrial companies are ready to apply artificial intelligence/machine learning. They prepare equipment for maintenance, do isolation (disconnect a piece of equipment from the flow of chemicals by closing valves), look at quality or reliability metrics, and do rounds.

Negotiating Skills 187

Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software Supply Chain Planning Software 187

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

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Concurrent means to “happen at the same time,” so applying this principle to the supply chain, any change, to any input across the supply chain can be considered and evaluated by demand, supply, distribution, capacity, and purchasing; in real-time. A change to one link (e.g. on-time delivery). A change to one link (e.g. on-time delivery).

Inventory Reduction 331

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

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. I smiled as I began to present the story of the “Metrics that Matter.”

Supply Chain Design Software 268

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

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

Silvon Software

APRIL 23, 2019

Companies that focus on strategic sourcing can generate substantial economic value not just by eliminating waste, reducing costs and improving administrative efficiency, but also by building stronger supplier relationships that can make them more competitive, profitable and nimble. These metrics are noted in the following sections below.

Purchasing Skills 90

Purchasing Skills Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 90

GlobalTranz

DECEMBER 30, 2014

Transportation Metrics That Matter Most to Track and Improve Performance : How do you measure logistics efficiency and transportation metrics performance indicators when you are already doing the best job possible? To add insult to injury, they also rarely have reporting mechanisms to properly monitor those expenses.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 232

Logistics Network Optimization Software Expense Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Software 232

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

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. The methodology to understand supply chain peer group performance and improvement is named the Supply Chains to Admire. AMR Research was an industry analyst firm in Boston.

Gartner 221

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 221

The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

As part of the CMA CGM Group, CEVA Logistics has a global reach, which means that we can make a global difference. Photo Credit: Changi Airport Group. We are honored to partner with Changi Airport Group in this humanitarian effort for our friends in Indonesia.’’. The CMA CGM Group aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Supply Chain Planning Software 242

Supply Chain Planning Software Resource Reduction Global Supply Chain Software 242

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 17, 2013

The market shift is towards analytics, but this new market is confusing. The first definition of Demand-driven Supply Chains was pushed into the market by AMR Research (now part of the Gartner Group) in 2004. They are step change requiring either the redeployment of existing technologies or the purchase of new platforms.

Supply Chain Design Software 258

Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Supply and Demand 258

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 8, 2022

Based on ARC Advisory Group’s new global market report, the five largest providers of TES, listed alphabetically, are Descartes, E2open, FourKites, Infor Nexus, and project44. The company has grown significantly via acquisitions over the last few years, including the purchases of Amber Road, BluJay Solutions, and INNTRA.

Rail Software 280

Rail Software Real-time Visibility Supply Chain Network Software Supply Chain Planning Software 280

RFgen

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Key components of mobile inventory management include: Smartphone app: Allows field agents to log information, analyze metrics, and manage tasks even in remote areas with limited connectivity. Cloud software: Stores and distributes real-time data, producing reports accessible to all team members.

Inventory Management Software 96

Inventory Management Software Real-time Visibility Inventory Reduction Inventory Management 96

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 8, 2019

The discussions are with groups of executives—often ex-management consultants. The budget is for a fiscal year with quarter reporting and updates. The direct connection between the two processes increases costs and increases error. 5 A Focus on Functional Metrics Throws the Supply Chain Out of Balance. Time horizon.

Supply Chain Design Software 208

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

Talking Logistics

OCTOBER 29, 2013

What is this going to cost? You could answer them with a purchase order (P.O.) Diffuse resistance by inviting stakeholders from internal groups to become part of the solution as early as possible. Your stakeholders can: Align sourcing, purchasing, logistics, and I.T. Why is it late? When will it get here? gain equation.

Pricing Training 166

Pricing Training Purchasing Skills Purchasing Training Supply Chain Planning Software 166

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 30

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

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 27, 2020

How do we harness the power of data with new forms of analytics? Today, technology providers are selling analytics. This week, I received this email from a financial institution questioning why business leaders are not harnessing more insights and redesigning processes based on analytics. S&OP Challenges. Reflection.

Analytics Software 271

Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing 271

GlobalTranz

JUNE 30, 2017

In other words, manufacturers need analytics from point-of-sale systems, transportation metrics and more. Essentially, this creates a stronger level of customer service, and it can turn into additional purchases. For example, a customer is a shoe store may purchase shoes, but if offered a new brand of socks, he or she refuses.

Manufacturing Procurement 205

Manufacturing Procurement Manufacturing Procurement Analytics Price Reduction 205

SCMDOJO

APRIL 26, 2023

Category management is a procurement strategy that involves grouping similar products or services together into categories and managing them as a single unit. This approach can help organizations streamline their procurement processes, negotiate better deals with suppliers, and ultimately save money.

Procurement Solutions 107

Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing 107