Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 24, 2025

Self-congratulations notes abounded this week as vendor-after-vendor shared their rankings on the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Supply Chain Planning. I believe that the Gartner Magic Quadrant is a barrier to progress in supply chain planning, and that vendors that rally in support have a false sense of superiority.

Gartner 195

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning 195

RFgen

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

It’s the key to transforming your supply chain from a source of frustration into a well-oiled, profit-generating machine. You’ll learn how to leverage data to streamline operations, reduce costs, improve efficiency, and exceed customer expectations. That’s where data analytics comes in. Ready to get started?

Optimal Sourcing 98

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Optimization Modeling Inventory Reduction 98

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 11, 2012

” CFO of a major manufacturer. Have the early adopters of inventory optimization seen a reduction in inventory on their balance sheets?” So far I can only find one industry that has systemically reduced inventory and working capital over the ten-year period. Ownership of Inventory as a Metric. I really do.

Inventory Reduction 248

Inventory Reduction Vendor Strategies Resource Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 248

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 310

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing 310

Jaggaer

OCTOBER 24, 2024

Supplier Collaboration: Fundamental to Elevating Manufacturing Performance Supplier relationships are at the heart of manufacturing performance. That’s why supplier collaboration—that consistent, trusted, and responsive interaction between supplier and manufacturer—is pivotal to manufacturing success.

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Planning Software 52

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

While each is different in vendor selected and problem solved, what is common is the depth of modeling and the ability for business leaders to change the model with shifts in business conditions. Advanced planning evolved with a focus on modeling manufacturing constraints. Watermelon Metrics Don’t Drive The Right Results.

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

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

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 14, 2016

The client leaned across the table and asked, “Is a customer-centric supply chain strategy the same as a demand-driven supply chain strategy?” Drawing from the Whiteboard: Building Customer-Centric Supply Chain Strategies. It had been a long night. However, I had little time to be tired. ” I smiled.

Material Savings 246

Material Savings Inventory Reduction Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 246

Precoro

JUNE 3, 2025

Businesses often use it in retail and purchasing. Category management isn’t just another procurement trend. It’s a way for companies to group similar goods or services (like IT infrastructure, facilities, or raw materials) and manage them holistically instead of handling every purchase in isolation.

Manufacturing Procurement 45

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions Material Savings 45

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 1, 2013

As I work with companies, I often contrast the strategies, approaches and outcomes within a peer group. Both companies provide packaging materials to the food manufacturing industry. Six years ago, Owens Illinois’ primary question was IT standardization versus the choice of best-of-breed vendor. Owens Illinois (OI), a $6.3

Illinois 253

Illinois Waste Reduction S&OP Supply Chain Planning Software 253

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2013

This landed me in front of the Vendor Review Board at Gartner to defend my research. <This It was funded by 50 large consumer products manufacturing companies (CPG). In the dawn of e-commerce, conservative manufacturers, anteed up $240 million in four months. I was dubbed by my boss as the ultimate-contrarian.

Supply Chain Design Software 322

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

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 18, 2022

The company sources goods from 34,000 suppliers out of 30 nations. In the annual report where they report on their key performance indicators (KPIs), they don’t just report on core financial metrics and the NPS, they also have people metrics. The company has shown sustained improvement on this metric. Key Processes.

Supply Chain Design Software 303

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Network Design Software 303

Silvon Software

JUNE 23, 2020

As I mentioned in my previous post, Sales Dashboards – 16 Metrics for Manufacturers , a strategy for measuring business performance should also incorporate metrics that focus on the supply chain and other operational areas of the enterprise. You can refine as you go! Inventory Turns and Sales-to-Inventory Ratio.

Manufacturing Procurement 111

Manufacturing Procurement Metrics Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software 111

GlobalTranz

JULY 28, 2021

An optimized supply chain is one that is as efficient as possible; it is more likely to reduce costs, increase customer satisfaction rates, and add value for stakeholders. That means identifying areas of waste, overlap and large volumes and enabling continuous improvement through the use of transportation metrics to track performance.

Optimal Sourcing 317

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Network Optimization Supply Chain Optimization 317

Unleashed

OCTOBER 6, 2021

So your company is looking to reduce costs, and you’ve been asked to contribute by reducing your inventory cost. Here we explain how you can do this with 16 cost reduction strategies in inventory management?that that are each proven to reduce a company’s costs.?

Inventory Reduction 95

Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Material Savings Vendor Strategies 95

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2014

The first evolution of technologies were built by best-of-breed solution vendors. The promise was the delivery of a decision support system that would allow the organization to optimize the relationships between cash, cost and customer service against the strategy. How do I know this? They also have higher satisfaction rates.

Supply Chain Planning Software 379

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning Software Optimization Software 379

Supply Chain Opz

JUNE 1, 2014

Manufacturing systems and regulatory compliance are considered to be very complex, coupled with the limited number suppliers due to the high barriers to entry. Moreover, the aircraft manufacturers have to do whatever it takes to win the order long before the commencement of production. Zara is very famous for its time based strategy.

Case Study 239

Case Study Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Study 239

Logistics Viewpoints

JUNE 1, 2023

That’s why staying on top of the latest supply chain planning trends is so important – they can make all the difference when it comes to staying competitive, reducing costs, and meeting your customers’ needs. They are more likely to shop for discounts and sales and may delay purchases of some items.

Supply Chain Planning Software 273

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 273

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 22, 2021

As product flows rapidly shifted and hard baked assumptions about lead times and sourcing locations were put to test, users across many organizations bypassed their planning systems and turned to excel sheets, internal data science teams or non-traditional supply chain vendors who could deliver AI based solutions at a faster turn.

S&OP 287

S&OP Supply and Demand Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software 287

GlobalTranz

APRIL 5, 2017

With the added pressure to lower costs to end-users, your customers, it’s no surprise that the need for increased scrutiny and cost reductions among inbound logistics partners, your vendors, has gone rogue. Vendors need access to stringent, high-quality instructions for how to bring shipments to you.

Vendor Strategies 180

Vendor Strategies Cost Reduction Strategies Inventory Reduction Logistics 180

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 14, 2013

Year after year, well intentioned people toiled against improving metrics that reduced, not improved, the effectiveness of the supply chain. I feel that there is an opportunity cost to the organization to work on their third or fourth ERP upgrade and look blindly, and only, at analytics from the ERP vendor. You got it!

Supply Chain Planning Software 260

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling 260

Logility

AUGUST 4, 2023

A successful relationship with your vendor can last many years so companies may embark on supply chain planning implementations once every 10-15 years – or longer. We’re here to spill the proverbial beans – the critical success factors, or essential components, of supply chain planning vendor selection success.

Supply Chain Planning Software 209

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Vendor Strategies 209

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 9, 2023

Commerce is global and regional at the same time, the world is getting smaller and more interconnected, and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturers operate in this build-anywhere and sell-anywhere market. Here we have compiled a list of the top six challenges that CPG companies face in the post-pandemic market.

Supply Chain Planning Software 284

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Forecasting Software Optimization Software 284

Supply Chain Game Changer

AUGUST 21, 2022

A solid supply chain and logistics strategy is essential for large companies. A global chemical manufacturer recently had to replace ships that transported bulk materials to ports. This chemical manufacturer is converting its entire distribution system to containers. Email Address. Subscribe to Supply Chain Game Changer.

Inventory Reduction 117

Inventory Reduction Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Material Savings 117

Jaggaer

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

The Power of Source-to-Pay Digital Transformation To put it briefly, source-to-pay refers to the entire process that starts with finding, negotiating with, and contracting the suppliers of materials, goods and services, and culminates in the final payment for those items. Who Should Prioritize an S2P Digital Transformation?

Sourcing Strategies 52

Sourcing Strategies Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Negotiating Skills 52

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2020

Cash-to-Cash Metrics. Cash-to-cash is a compound metric: (Days of Receivables+Days of Inventory)-Days of Payables=Cash Conversion Cycle. Instead, the focus is on reducing the costs of finance by eliminating labor costs through Business Process Reengineering (BPOS) and elongating payables. This was not a new relationship.

Optimal Sourcing 300

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction 300

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

ivalua

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

In recent years, the overall state of Procurement has been bolstered by increased proficiency, expanding engagement, and a growing direct impact on operations. And they’re not the only ones—other department heads are also increasingly budget-conscious, creating a new opportunity to partner with procurement for better budget management.

Procurement Analytics 130

Procurement Analytics Metrics Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing 130

Supply Chain Opz

JANUARY 7, 2013

Apple Inc purchases raw materials from various sources then get them shipped to an assembling plant in China. Some re-sellers may also distribute products from the competing manufacturers. Some components are currently obtained from the single or limited sources. Number of Key Vendors Amazon vs Apple.

Case Study 279

Case Study Study Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Planning Software 279

Logistics Bureau

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Procurement has never played such an important role in the increasingly globalised economy. Has procurement fundamentally changed itself in the past 10 years? Strategic Procurement can mean totally different things in different industries and sectors. The time when Procurement was almost a synonym to Purchasing has long gone.

Manufacturing Procurement 98

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 98

Logility

APRIL 29, 2021

Know your vendors and apply consistent policies and procedures. As global supply chains and procurement scrutiny become more and more complex, risks increase and the range of stakeholders who demand a compliant supply chain has increased from simply regulators to investors, providers, partners, consumers, and the media.

Optimal Sourcing 204

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Optimization 204

ivalua

JUNE 29, 2020

It is also helping to bridge the supply chain management gap that has traditionally existed between healthcare providers and other industries such as manufacturing. According to this same research, there is an opportunity to reduce total supply expense by average of 17-18% for a given hospital. Share on Twitter. Big Opportunity Ahead.

Supply Chain Planning Software 219

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Optimal Sourcing 219

SCMDOJO

MARCH 8, 2024

In this blog, we’ll explore some key inventory optimization strategies that can benefit businesses of all sizes and industries. Top 5 Inventory Optimization Strategies Explained Managing inventory efficiently is vital for any business.

Inventory Reduction 98

Inventory Reduction Optimal Sourcing Cost Reduction Strategies Resource Reduction 98

Logility

MARCH 31, 2022

There are obvious risks involved in sourcing goods from other countries. Managing global vendors well is an investment in the future of your business. However, if you manage your vendors well, issues can often be avoided, or at the very least mitigated, before they do harm. 3 Core Tenets of Vendor Management.

Vendor Strategies 26

Vendor Strategies Global Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software 26

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 8, 2019

I find senior executives love to throw around superlatives like customer-centric, agile, efficient and responsive but lack the understanding of how the words translate to supply chain strategy in the real world. Managing a supply chain requires big feet—grounding in real-world experience—coupled with big wings—conceptualization of strategy.

Supply Chain Design Software 208

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

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. AT A HIGH LEVEL ….

Purchasing Skills 90

Purchasing Skills Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 90

Precoro

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

For some businesses – usually smaller or with a single-source purchasing flow – it may be sustainable to react to the immediate needs. However, growing organizations that face increasing complexity recognize the value of thoughtfully-planned and managed procurement. Office supplies would be an example of indirect procurement.

Manufacturing Procurement 98

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing 98

Silvon Software

MAY 6, 2025

They need visibility across multiple internal systemslike ERP, CRM, and financial platformsand even external sources shared with suppliers, partners, and customers. Modern platforms pull data from a wide array of sources: ERPs, relational databases, Excel files, cloud apps, third-party providers, and beyond. Why does that matter?

Prescriptive Analytics Software 89

Prescriptive Analytics Software Analytics Software Predictive Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software 89