Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 3, 2025

Ibrahim Al Syed, the director of digital manufacturing at Celanese, was surprisingly forthcoming about how Celanese developed these capabilities at ARC Advisory Groups 29th Annual ARC Industry Leadership Forum. The company has 55 manufacturing sites across the world. The company runs some plants, and some are operated by third parties.

Negotiating Skills 183

Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software Supply Chain Planning Software 183

ThroughPut

APRIL 15, 2025

Summary of the Impact A globally recognized Automotive Interiors Manufacturer deployed ThroughPuts AI-powered supply chain solution, Supply chain decision intelligence & analytics platform , to optimize Just-in-Time manufacturing across all operational shifts.

Just-in-Time 52

Just-in-Time Supply Chain Planning Software Analytics Software Automotive 52

Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy

JUNE 10, 2025

As a Principal FMCG Supplier, mastering this balance is essential; not just for growth, but for long-term sustainability. Do Set Clear KPIs and Governance Structures : Establish transparent metrics for sales, coverage, and service levels. Urban vs. rural, modern trade vs. traditional trade—each requires a tailored approach.

Waste Reduction 165

Waste Reduction Vendor Strategies Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 165

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

APRIL 27, 2022

The promise of a well-intended consultant just sounds sooooooo good. 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.)

Procurement Analytics 369

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

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 28, 2020

We had just recovered from a recession, and my goal was to help supply chain leaders create a better supply chain by the end of the decade. At that time, Supply Chain 2020 seemed so far away. When I started my business in 2012, I frequently wrote about the future using the moniker of Supply Chain 2020. My focus was simple.

Supply Chain Planning Software 418

Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling 418

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

The output was just not helpful. We have too hard-wired solutions bolted into IT architectures to enable the flexibility needed by business leaders during times of high variability. Advanced planning evolved with a focus on modeling manufacturing constraints. Over time, this changed. It will not be over soon. The reason?

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics 355

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Warehouse optimization isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a lifeline for businesses seeking to thrive in the demanding world of modern commerce. Warehouse optimization isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a lifeline for businesses seeking to thrive in the demanding world of modern commerce. Ready to get started?

Optimal Sourcing 97

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Waste Reduction Modeling 97

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 21, 2023

My client attempted to have a supply chain discussion to improve flow, and his executive group just did not get it. I worked three layers down in the organization for a well-established leader in manufacturing named Dan. Dan had a very manufacturing view and Fred focused on logistics. The metrics were not aligned.

Supply Chain Planning Software 406

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

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 18, 2023

For organizations layered in functional metrics and driving a cost agenda, this is a tough nut to crack. Process latency, the time for an organization to make a decision using a traditional S&OP process, is two-to-six weeks. The traditional leader values cost reduction but is blind on how to value time. Unrest in Sudan.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Software 417

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

Second, they adapt over time as market structures and strategies evolve. We consistently see that companies focused on functional excellence–a focus within a functional silo like manufacturing, transportation or distribution– or singular metrics– like inventory or costs– underperform against their peer groups.

Supply Chain Planning Software 377

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

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 7, 2022

These include: Challenges getting ESG metrics from suppliers, partners, and other third parties. Time-consuming manual processes to report on ESG metrics. Cloud applications that manage your supply chain provide real-time access—a single source of truth no matter where you are. But cloud applications are just the start.

Material Savings 317

Material Savings Waste Reduction Resource Reduction Supply Chain Design Software 317

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 6, 2020

Frank, the line manager for manufacturing, dominated the meetings. The changeover times for the CM Bartlelts was 5X more prolonged than the more agile IM machines. Equipment washouts represented 11% of the change over time and were a significant barrier to agility. Sharing My Experience. The year was 1982.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 362

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

Logility

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

From retail and food and beverage to manufacturing and life sciences, companies from a wide variety of industries are realizing the benefits of the technology, revolutionizing how they operate, collaborate, and generate value. Manufacturers use cloud technology for predictive maintenance, production planning, and supplier collaboration.

Supply Chain Planning Software 200

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Pharmaceutical 200

ivalua

MAY 29, 2025

Misaligned priorities, siloed systems, and unclear ownership can directly impact key performance indicators like cost savings percentage and procurement cycle time. Procurement and supply chain management are often used interchangeably—but in practice, the lines between them can blur in ways that create real friction.

Procurement Solutions 130

Procurement Solutions Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software 130

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 16, 2021

In a survey of 150 global manufacturing executives, 47% committed to improving supply chain visibility and tracking. Supply chain visibility often means “where’s my stuff,” or the ability to trace parts in transit from the manufacturer to the final destination. 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

OCTOBER 4, 2021

But just how bad was it? They can then use the data to provide an apples-to-apples benchmark on a variety of innovative supply chain metrics applicable to the grocery supply chain. Even in the best of times, this method has limitations. Dramtatically Reduced Service in Grocery Stores Since Pandemic was Declared.

Supply Chain Performance 284

Supply Chain Performance Inventory Reduction Supply and Demand Cost Reduction Strategies 284

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 23, 2014

At that time, manufacturers talked about customer-centric supply chains, but were afraid to aggressively adopt ecommerce strategies. Manufacturers, today, are aggressively pursuing e-commerce strategies. Get Good at Having a Real-time Perpetual Inventory Signal. In 2014, ecommerce strategies grew in importance.

Packaging 332

Packaging Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software San Francisco 332

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 29, 2014

It is just mush. 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. As a result, the metrics have to be viewed together as a pattern over time. Mush is a thick cornmeal pudding boiled in water or milk.

Gartner 366

Gartner Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical 366

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 19, 2014

“Lora in your own way, you are helping. You tell it straight. You are pissy and opinionated in this world of supply chain blandness. I find it refreshing.” ” Quote from a reporter this morning. The term supply chain excellence is easier to say than define. It permeates corporate strategy, but it lacks definition. I could taste it.

Gartner 382

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

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 21, 2024

During the 1980s, I was on a management team for a large manufacturer. The Company was attempting to gain economies of scale by grouping manufacturing technologies within a common infrastructure to reap the benefits of a co-generation facility, a centralized warehouse, and a talented administrative team. Why Jump Now?

Inventory Reduction 434

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

GlobalTranz

DECEMBER 29, 2014

We’ve already listed the top 10 manufacturing blog posts and the top 10 supply chain blog posts last week. Logistics encompasses certain subsets of practices within the supply chain, such as just in time logistics, mission critical logistics, and more. Top 15 Logistics Blog Posts of 2014.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 321

Logistics Network Optimization Software Reverse Logistics Manufacturing Procurement Logistics 321

Jaggaer

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

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.

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics 52

Logility

AUGUST 5, 2021

This means routinely bringing together the C-suite, finance, supply chain, manufacturing, sales and marketing teams so everyone is seeing, working from and agreeing to an aligned plan that achieves optimal business outcomes. It’s logical that a machined parts manufacturer and a grocery chain would review different KPIs in their IBP processes.

Metrics 130

Metrics Modeling Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 130

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 8, 2014

I now have a working manuscript for the entire book of Metrics That Matter. How has progress changed over time? It is time for reflections. In my opinion—it is a very biased opinion, I admit—the role of women in the workforce in supply chain has come sooooooooooo far during the time of my career. It has been a good week.

Supply Chain Planning 356

Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Strategy Supply Chain Software San Diego 356

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

Nvidia, Northrup Grumman, PACCAR Inc, PCA (Packaging Corporation of America), ResMed, Rockwell Automation, Ross Stores, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) Company, Tempur-Pedic, TJX, Toro, Toyota, West Pharma, United Tractors, and Urban Outfitters. Most supply chain leaders are stuck in their own paradigms. I admit it.

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

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. Based in Paris, L’Oréal is a global personal care manufacturing company.

Case Study 329

Case Study Inventory Reduction Study Agile and Lean Supply Chain 329

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

I find that many times companies have the wrong name, or a misnomer, for what they are trying to achieve. It was my first time working with this group. As I sat in the back of the room, shifting in my chair, waiting for my time to speak, I watched speaker after speaker endorse the concept of one team. I am passionate about it.

Manufacturing Procurement 318

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Benchmarking Supply Chain Design Software 318

GlobalTranz

DECEMBER 30, 2014

As with the logistics category where we featured 15 most popular blog posts vs. the 10 we covered in the top manufacturing blog posts and supply chain blog posts , we write so many transportation blog posts in that category, we are going to feature the 16 most viewed transportation blog posts. Read the Full Blog Post. Read the Full Blog Post.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 305

Logistics Network Optimization Software Expense Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Software 305

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 27, 2023

As discussions full of oxymorons, acronyms, and juxtapositions fill the air, I think that it is time to step back, and rethink planning based on the opportunities that new forms of analytics and data give us. ” Today only 7% of manufacturers are innovators. The difference between an oxymoron and a juxtaposition lies in usage.

Supply Chain Planning Software 365

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Supply Chain Design Software 365

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 21, 2022

But it is not just service level and costs that can be traded off. A planner could ask the SCP engine to achieve 95% service, with CO2 emissions under of under a million metric tons at a given factory in the coming month. Supply chain planning takes place at various time horizon s. Supply chain management has been in the news.

Supply Chain Planning Software 322

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Modeling 322

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 14, 2022

But even in more normal times, a supply plan usually can’t be fully executed. But, more commonly there are downside surprises: customers lower the volume they want on an order, delay their order, there are manufacturing problems, logistics problems, staffing issues, to name the most obvious downside risks. Stuff happens.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 293

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Network Software 293

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 26, 2021

Just as the saguaro is both nursed by and supports life in its ecosystem, it behooves supply chains to invest in their ecosystems, both suppliers and employees. It may feel like stormy times for supply chain right now, but not all rain is bad. Invest in your ecosystem. cm) in its first ten years.

Supply Chain Design Software 306

Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical 306

Freight Waves

JUNE 3, 2025

Transportation metrics saw little change in May as capacity, utilization and pricing remained in expansion territory, according to a monthly survey of supply chain professionals. Prices were just slightly inflationary at the beginning of the month but surged to 71.5 To learn more about SONAR, click here. in the second half.

Capacity 98

Capacity Transportation Nevada Colorado 98

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. It takes us three months and two full-time research assistants to finish the analysis.

Gartner 277

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

RFgen

JANUARY 16, 2025

Keeping track of all your moving parts in manufacturing is a tall order. Spreadsheets just don’t cut it anymore. That’s where manufacturing inventory management software comes in. It’s not just a nice-to-have; it’s the key to staying competitive.

Inventory Management Software 52

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

ivalua

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

For the first time in more than a decade, more CPOs are prioritizing savings. For example, consider the challenges in the automotive industry that stem from the supply chain issue in chip manufacturing. Tracking the Metrics that Matter. Inflation Metrics. However, the path to success is never easy.

Procurement Analytics 130

Procurement Analytics Metrics Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing 130