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Companies leaning heavily on global sourcing? Theyre feeling the heat most, as sudden trade policy curveballs throw procurement plans into chaos. manufacturer I know saw their import costs jump overnight, forcing a rethink of a decade-old sourcing strategy. What Is Agile Procurement?
Access to Unique Process and Asset Capabilities: Some suppliers offer unique skills, technologies, or processes that are not available in-house or through other sources. Or they may have expertise in manufacturing processes and have flexible capacity to allow contract manufacturing for new product introduction.
SAP is embedding its generative Joule across the SAP Ariba source-to-pay solution portfolio to make it easier for their customers to manage routine inquiries, such as status updates, summarization, and frequently asked questions. When a procurement contract is negotiated, the buyer has planned to achieve a certain level of savings.
Procurement and supply chain management are often used interchangeably—but in practice, the lines between them can blur in ways that create real friction. Misaligned priorities, siloed systems, and unclear ownership can directly impact key performance indicators like cost savings percentage and procurement cycle time.
Speaker: Olivia Montgomery, Associate Principal Supply Chain Analyst
The supply chain management techniques that dominated the last 30 years are no longer supporting consumer behavior or logistics and manufacturing capabilities. Forecasting techniques to manage inventory. Procurement strategies in response to network delays and bottlenecks. So what’s working now?
The manufacturing sector is facing unprecedented volatility in global trade, with tariffs becoming the latest in a series of uncertainty drivers that are impacting virtually all industries. Manufacturing plants are deeply entrenched; tied to infrastructure, suppliers, skilled labor, and regulatory requirements.
They integrate AI into demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and logistics operations to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risks. Excess inventory, stockouts, and increased transportation expenses are common consequences of outdated planning methods. Amazon is a leader in AI-driven supply chain management.
For example, if I improve the cost structure in transportation, procurement, manufacturing and sales independently, what decision support framework decides the right trade-offs? The data outcome is open source and can be used to improve project outcomes. You are right. The answer is not th e Gartner Top 25. Your next step?
The most common form of trading partner collaboration is purchase order collaboration. With PO collaboration, buyers send digital purchase orders over the network to suppliers or other trading partners. 18,000 suppliers ship 70,000 different types of parts to 72 Molex manufacturing plants across the globe. You took 30 days.
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.
Just-in-time (JIT) inventory models, lean supplier networks, and offshore manufacturing reduced expenses but left companies exposed to disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical shifts demonstrated the risks of relying on single-source suppliers and minimal inventory buffers.
From raw material sourcing to logistics and regulatory compliance, stakeholders across the value chain will need to prepare for structural adjustments. Sourcing and Ingredient Availability A central impact of this policy is the need to replace synthetic colorants with natural alternatives. Production scheduling may also be affected.
Automotive: Can JIT manufacturing survive legal disruptions to tariff policy? Automakers must model dual-path sourcing strategies and reintroduce buffer inventory—not just for parts, but for regulatory flexibility. Every major industry now faces a unique supply chain challenge. But failing to seek alternatives is also risky.
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.
In the competitive industrial landscape, efficient spare parts inventory management is crucial to maintaining seamless operations and driving profitability. Organizations require robust inventory management systems capable of handling diverse parts throughout their lifecycle.
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.
In today’s dynamic market, procurement is far more than just a buying and purchasing center. Forward-thinking organizations have transformed the department into an untapped gold mine that creates value for the entire end-to-end manufacturing process—from design and sourcing to production and delivery.
While executive support for purchasing SCP has waned, future sales of supply planning are still linked to a suppliers ability to support agile planning. They also cover supplier-managed inventory, quality collaboration, manufacturing line collaboration, and asset collaboration.
If you would like to participate in a current research study, we would love your help and participation in the contract manufacturing study. We are trying to assess the value of a network in managing contract manufacturing.) One of the alignment gaps that is growing and is unfortunate is the gap between procurement and manufacturing.
Despite the evolution of technology, none of the 28 industry segments I follow can drive improvement at the intersection of operating margin and inventory turns. Change is Hard. Unlearning is Tougher. While many might see the issue as change management, I think that the journey must start with unlearning. The industry is full of experts.
If you’re evaluating procurement technology or exploring ways to drive more value from existing systems, chances are you’re looking beyond tactical fixes – you want a smarter, scalable strategy. Misaligned priorities across finance, legal, and procurement create friction that delays decision-making and reduces impact.
In May 2025, one in seven home-purchase agreements fell through resulting in the cancellation of 56,000 purchase contracts. Supply chain was defined in 1982 as interoperability between source, make and deliver. Ask a procurement or transportation professional if they have a good demand signal and expect a laugh.
Running a manufacturing business isn’t easy. You’re juggling production schedules, managing inventory, keeping an eye on finances, and making sure everything runs smoothly on the shop floor. That’s where a manufacturing ERP comes in. It’s a lot to handle. Let’s get started.
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.
Advanced supply chain planning is being transformed by probabilistic forecasting , which revolutionizes demand forecasting, supply planning, and inventory optimization. Enhancing Inventory with Probabilistic Forecasting A supply chain is a complex ecosystem influenced by dynamic variables. The result?
Probabilistic forecasting is revolutionizing demand forecasting, supply planning, and inventory optimization by significantly improving forecast accuracy and decision-making across distribution networks. Enhancing Inventory with Probabilistic Forecasting A supply chain is a complex ecosystem influenced by dynamic variables.
Let’s take a closer look at how four key industries—automotive, consumer packaged goods (CPG), high tech, and industrial manufacturing—are navigating the tariff rollercoaster and adjusting to the shifting landscape. Key takeaway Top challenge: Sourcing volatility driven by EV component shortages and fluctuating global tariffs.
An increasing lineup of advanced digital solutions have given manufacturers the edge to transform and achieve better inventory control. The manufacturing industry is constantly searching for new and inventive ways to improve inventory management. Types of inventory that can be optimized.
Excess inventory weighs down supply chains. Manufacturers are shifting to on-demand production to align output with real-time demand. The Hidden Costs of Traditional Inventory Models Traditional inventory models were built for predictability. It ties up capital, wastes storage space, and risks product obsolescence.
Richard Lebovitz and Joe Lynch discuss leading inventory attack teams. Richard is the CEO of LeanDNA , a purpose-built analytics platform for factory inventory optimization. About Richard Lebovitz Richard Lebovitz is the CEO of LeanDNA , a purpose-built analytics platform for factory inventory optimization. acquired by SAP).
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.
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. Today, this network operates with less capacity and ballooning inventories.
Robotic Process Automation Deployment According to the APQC data, organizations are exploring Robotic Process Automation across a number of supply chain areas, including supply chain planning, sourcing and procurement, logistics and warehousing, and manufacturing. Many technologies are implemented as a source of cost cutting.
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. Procurement solutions are often updated with purchased information.
In Orlando, thought leaders, procurement professionals, and supply chain executives came together under the theme of building resilient, responsive supply networks. private companies are facing increased days in inventory and receivables, adding to liquidity strain. This is especially relevant in light of proposed 2025 U.S.
How should a global manufacturer make a decision? In short, the research tells me that the manufacturing industries are stuck. In contrast, for a global manufacturer, the answer is more complex. What is the role of make, source, and deliver? And how can supply chain planning help? What defines a feasible plan?
Do Embrace Technology and Data : Use real-time data for demand forecasting, inventory management, and route optimization. Do Set Clear KPIs and Governance Structures : Establish transparent metrics for sales, coverage, and service levels. Regular reviews and joint business planning foster accountability and trust.
Translation of the demand forecast into planned orders to minimize manufacturing constraints. Use of optimization to consume planned orders into manufacturing scheduling and distribution requirements planning (including inventory optimization of safety stock). MRP is translated based on the manufacturing schedule into ERP.)
Trey is the Co-founder and CEO at Amplio , an Atlanta based tech firm that predicts and prevents material and parts shortage for companies in the electronic manufacturing space. Trey Closson is the Co-founder and CEO at Amplio, an Atlanta based tech firm builds supply chain resilience for electronics manufacturers. About Trey Closson.
Keeping track of all your moving parts in manufacturing is a tall order. That’s where manufacturinginventory management software comes in. We’re talking real-time tracking, automated purchasing, and a whole lot less stress. Spreadsheets just don’t cut it anymore.
That’s the power of manufacturing data collection. Manufacturing data collection is your secret weapon for boosting efficiency, cutting waste, and staying ahead of the competition. Manufacturing data collection is your secret weapon for boosting efficiency, cutting waste, and staying ahead of the competition.
We have not designed the planning systems to serve managers, directors, and vice presidents, aiming to improve decision-making and collaboration across the source, make, and deliver processes. The third step is to do a data inventory. Focus Outside-in and Orchestrate Market-to-Market. In short, don’t AI stupid.
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.
Leveling up your inventory life cycle can be crucial, but keeping all the fundamental factors jumping is essential to let the life cycle evolve. However, if the life cycle stock is healthy, inventory management is smooth. Inventory management revolves around the pivotal concept of the product life cycle. Click here!
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