Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 24, 2025

The research methodology for the Supply Chains to Admire compares the performance of a company against its industry peer group for the metrics of Year-over-Year Revenue Growth, Inventory Turns, Operating Margin, and Return on Capital Employed (ROCE). 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

Suddenly, managing inventory is the name of the game for companies trying to manage working capital and maximize profit while keeping customers happy. And that’s where real-time perpetual inventory signals come in. Plus, accurate inventory information is the key to optimal decision-making.

Real-time Visibility 294

Real-time Visibility Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction 294

RFgen

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Picture this: You’re a warehouse manager, and with a few taps on your smartphone, you instantly know the exact location and quantity of every item in your inventory. That’s not science fiction—it’s the power of mobile inventory management. Ready to turn your inventory from a headache into a strategic asset?

Inventory Management Software 96

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

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. AI-powered warehouse management improves inventory flow and reduces waste. Immutable records enable accountability throughout the supply chain.

Optimal Sourcing 267

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Material Savings Supply Chain Planning Software 267

RFgen

DECEMBER 4, 2024

In the automotive sector, manufacturers are simultaneously reducing inventory costs and delivery times. We’ll examine the key components of efficient supply chains, explore essential performance metrics, and uncover the fundamental drivers that influence efficiency.

Sourcing Strategies 96

Sourcing Strategies Inventory Reduction Waste Reduction Expense Reduction 96

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 12, 2025

Every day, I got a notecard of meetings to attend. Teams make recommendations based on latent data to their managers, but decisions are often bogged down in meetings and corporate politics. Form and socialize your own hierarchy of metrics. Design your supply chain with a focus on the form and function of inventory.

Modeling 221

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

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 13, 2024

How aligned do you believe your organization is to drive these metrics? P&G did not appreciate the work Gilette accomplished on form and function of inventory and using market signals. As a result, the company’s performance at the intersection of margin and inventory turns was circular for the past decade.

S&OP 393

S&OP Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction Expense Reduction 393

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).

S&OP 390

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

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 6, 2020

My Monday morning staff meetings could have been a Saturday night live skit. Frank, the line manager for manufacturing, dominated the meetings. He felt that inventory was no problem, he would just cut it at the end of each quarter to make the balance sheet goals. The second step is to align metrics to the strategy.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 362

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Strategy 362

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

RFgen

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Supply chain optimization software tracks items as they move through your supply chain and generate alerts at important points to improves decision-making and enhance visibility across the supply chain by integrating various capabilities like procurement, inventory, and customer relationship management.

Optimal Sourcing 98

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Optimization Modeling Inventory Reduction 98

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 2, 2024

We talk about the move from functional metrics to a balanced scorecard, but we don’t use a balanced scorecard as an objective function. Orbit charts of four companies for the period of 2013-2022 at the intersection of operating margin and inventory turns. We talk about complexity, but do not measure the impact on forecastability.

Gartner 368

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Case Study 368

Silvon Software

APRIL 16, 2025

Inventory is the lifeblood of any manufacturing business. By leveraging analytics and key performance indicators (KPIs), manufacturers can optimize inventory, reduce waste, and boost profitability. Tracking inventory flow and performance across your supply chain is a must. Thats where data-driven decision-making comes in!

Optimal Sourcing 65

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Optimization Price Mitigation Strategies 65

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2014

The meeting is on everyone’s calendar. There is an abundance of pastries flowing from the basket, and the stage is set for an impactful meeting. Even though things seem to be going well (all of the meeting details are well-executed and the speaker is giving an energized presentation), the room is eerily quiet.

Supply Chain Planning Software 379

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning Software Optimization Software 379

Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy

JULY 3, 2024

If you don’t, you risk choosing the wrong distributor partner and, for example, the market entry fails to meet expectations. Ensure they have the necessary inventory, marketing materials, and training to effectively introduce your products to the market. Utilize inventory management tools and techniques to optimize stock levels.

Inventory Reduction 263

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

Logistics Bureau

JANUARY 21, 2025

An efficient supply chain strategy is one that takes every aspect of your supply chain into account, from inventory management and warehouse design to freight tendering and transport optimisation. A responsive supply chain can help to ensure that you always meet customer demand, even if you face inevitable obstances.

Supply Chain Design Software 98

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Design 98

BlueYonder

JUNE 18, 2025

Command centers offer four key advantages over traditional control towers: Focus on action, not just visibility.Unlike traditional systems that rely on integrations, a modern command center taps into network data on inventories and capacities, supply and demand imbalances, across the nodes of the extended supply chain.

Real-time Visibility 58

Real-time Visibility Meeting Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 58

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

SCMDOJO

MAY 26, 2025

These breakdowns accumulate and threaten the ability to meet delivery commitments. Streamline Material Flow and Inventory Management Delays often begin when components are not where they need to be when required. Inventory systems must also reflect real-time conditions on the factory floor.

Supply Chain Planning Software 59

Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Reduction Material Savings Resource Reduction 59

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 27, 2014

I rescheduled my Monday to meet with a client on a pressing deadline and worked through the night to edit and refine the reports/journals for last week’s newsletter. I also continued to work on the manuscript for the book Metrics That Matter to publish in the fall of 2014. The book is now a very worn manuscript.

Supply and Demand 342

Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction Demand Planning Software Forecasting Software 342

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 10, 2024

Supply chain resilience refers to planning for things that could go wrong and then creating inventory buffers or contingency plans. SCP solutions provide a solid ROI based on hitting targeted service levels with less raw material, work-in-process, or finished goods inventory. The ability to meet that demand can be less than expected.

Supply Chain Planning Software 317

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Modeling 317

ivalua

JULY 1, 2025

Measuring and Improving Procurement Strategy Performance A successful procurement strategy is data-driven andsupports continuous improvement across key metrics such as cost savings, supplier performance, delivery reliability, and ESG compliance. Platforms should support structured collaboration from intake management to invoice automation.

Material Savings 130

Material Savings Sourcing Strategies Cost Reduction Strategies Vendor Strategies 130

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

Taulia

DECEMBER 6, 2024

How are companies rethinking their liquidity management strategies in response to the recent degradation across major working capital metrics? In the wake of economic uncertainty, many companies have experienced a degradation in key working capital metrics.

Inventory Reduction 52

Inventory Reduction Forecasting Software Supply Chain Planning Software Optimization Software 52

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

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. Aligned Metrics. A big bang technology focus has not worked.

Optimal Sourcing 365

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

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 11, 2023

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. Organizations speak of the bullwhip, but don’t measure it or monitor the effects.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

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

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 261

Optimal Sourcing Analysis Procurement Analytics Purchasing Skills 261

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

Let me give you an example: Last week, I gave a presentation at a global supply chain team meeting of 175 professionals. They had seen my videos on the website and needed a speaker for their global kick-off meeting. I also believed that this company would have the best inventory and customer service. I was wrong. I am excited!

Manufacturing Procurement 318

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Benchmarking Supply Chain Design Software 318

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 16, 2021

And the impact doesn’t stop there, since trade-off decisions will be required to answer questions like which customer is most important to satisfy with the limited bolts in inventory and if production capacity should be reallocated. And then decisions on these questions will in turn affect other customers in your rattled supply chain.

Supply Chain Visibility 329

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

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Dependencies on suppliers who cant meet increased demand can lead to material shortages and production delays. Material Flow: Optimize material flow patterns to accommodate increased volume without creating bottlenecks or excessive inventory. Maintaining quality assurance requires robust quality control systems and rigorous monitoring.

Material Savings 92

Material Savings Sourcing Strategies Resource Reduction Inventory Reduction 92

RFgen

JANUARY 16, 2025

That’s where manufacturing inventory management software comes in. In this ultimate guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about manufacturing inventory management software. Its your single source of truth for inventory, constantly updated and readily available.

Inventory Management Software 52

Inventory Management Software Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Optimization Software 52

SCMDOJO

JANUARY 29, 2025

Supply chain reports are data-driven documents that provide key metrics and insights into various aspects of your supply chain, including: Inventory Levels Tracking stock levels in real-time to ensure adequate inventory to meet demand while minimizing holding costs.

Inventory Reduction 98

Inventory Reduction Negotiating Skills Waste Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 98

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 27, 2024

In the early 2020s, Microsoft’s transportation and logistics team needed to meet growing demand for cloud services while managing carbon, cost and cycle time. A clear goal needs to be combined with good data and metrics. Users can only take action once they have the goal, visible data, and metrics.

Supply Chain Design Software 305

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

Logistics Viewpoints

JUNE 4, 2025

Recent examples included the rollout of a new inventory planning application and the introduction of a hybrid AI-powered demand forecasting engine. Clark noted that these developments were designed to meet emerging customer needs, particularly in markets experiencing unpredictable demand and inventory constraints.

Supply Chain Design Software 219

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Software Forecasting Software 219

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Peeling Back the Lid on Supply Chain World Salad In this world, where board discussions focus on eliminating waste and meeting corporate social responsibility goals, supply chain teams respond with projects like end-to-end planning, control towers, and real-time decisions. Rolling up a perpetual inventory signal takes eleven hours.

Supply Chain Planning Software 392

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 392

GlobalTranz

FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Align Inventory Placement With Demand. Retailers must align inventory placement , its physical location, with demand. This means moving inventory to make it closer to markets where it is sells. Develop Metrics to Track the Effectiveness and Efficiency of the Omnichannel Strategy. The next step is simple.

Omnichannel 242

Omnichannel Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software 242