Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic tested the global supply chain. Like riding a bumpy road, the supply chain leader is riding the ups and downs of changing market conditions facing greater variability day-to-day. Here, based on interviews with supply chain leaders, I share lessons learned. It will not be over soon.

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

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

RFgen

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Supply chain efficiency is the cornerstone of success and involves the effective management of processes, resources, and technologies from procurement to production, transportation to warehousing. In the automotive sector, manufacturers are simultaneously reducing inventory costs and delivery times.

Sourcing Strategies 96

Sourcing Strategies Inventory Reduction Waste Reduction Expense Reduction 96

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 6, 2013

Yesterday, I finished a post on supply chain planning maturity. A client had asked me, “How do I know if we have a mature supply chain planning organization?” ” Planning leadership is a problem for most organizations. General Mills is much better at planning than Kellogg.

Supply Chain Planning Software 331

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Optimal Sourcing Scenario Planning 331

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

” Here is an excerpt from the article: “…it isn’t by becoming more efficient that the supply chains of Wal-Mart, Dell, and Amazon have given those companies an edge over their competitors. According to my research, top-performing supply chains possess three very different qualities. 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

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 31, 2022

While demand is high, ongoing product shortages continue to cause supply chain disruptions, create unpredictable shopping behaviors and drive rapid delivery expectations. If there’s a bright spot anywhere it’s the fact that, as logistics challenges have grown, so has the availability of advanced technologies to manage these challenges.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 297

Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software Predictive Analytics Software Supply Chain Network Software 297

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 15, 2022

When reviewing strategy decks for supply chain teams, I often see statements like “move from a functional-silo’d focus to a drive a more holistic response.” Companies became less clear on the definition of supply chain excellence and how to implement decision support technologies.

Manufacturing Procurement 397

Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics 397

Silvon Software

MAY 6, 2025

Thats why modern BI systems are quickly becoming the go-to solution for data-driven enterprises. They integrate, align, and activate data across the business to drive better, faster decisions unlike legacy reporting tools that can’t. But lets be clear: not all BI platforms are created equal. Why does that matter?

Prescriptive Analytics Software 89

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

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. Here are some highlights from these trends in 2023 and implications on supply chain planning.

Supply Chain Planning Software 276

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 276

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 5, 2013

At that time, they planned on spreadsheets. Their goals were lofty, but their understanding of supply chain planning was hazy. In 2006, they made a decision to implement a supply chain planning solution. It was badly implemented by a system integrator. Tactical Supply.

Supply Chain Planning Software 256

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Supply and Demand Supply Chain Design Software 256

Taulia

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

­Driving decarbonization with technology In 2023, the SAP CPO Think Tank community has been closely examining how companies can accelerate supply chain decarbonization. This blog highlights key strategies from these recent forums on sustainable procurement and practical tips to achieve impactful results.

Supply Chain Planning Software 98

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimization Software Supply Chain Software Optimal Sourcing 98

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 18, 2022

Michael Jacobs, Senior Vice President Supply Chain, Ferguson. Mr. Jacobs is the senior vice president for supply chain at Ferguson. While nominally a distributor, “supply chain management is our core competency. In particular, Ferguson’s supply chain is built for speed and to provide high service levels.

Supply Chain Design Software 305

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Network Design Software 305

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

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.

Material Savings 92

Material Savings Sourcing Strategies Resource Reduction Inventory Reduction 92

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 28, 2020

When I started my business in 2012, I frequently wrote about the future using the moniker of Supply Chain 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.

Supply Chain Planning Software 418

Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling 418

RFgen

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Ever feel like your supply chain is a tangled mess of spreadsheets, frantic phone calls, and last-minute scrambles? It’s the key to transforming your supply chain from a source of frustration into a well-oiled, profit-generating machine. You’re not alone. That’s where data analytics comes in.

Optimal Sourcing 98

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Optimization Modeling Inventory Reduction 98

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 27, 2022

Supply chain excellence is easier to say than to explain. Executive teams strive to drive improvement in supply chain results; yet, sadly, only four percent of public companies succeed. The supply chain is a complex non-linear system. Now, I view the company as a supply chain laggard.

Procurement Analytics 369

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

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

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

Supply chain resiliency and sustainability are top priorities for CEOs today. To achieve these goals, corporate leadership must focus on two key areas: shift from internally focused supply chains to collaborative supply networks and actively design their supply chains.

Supply Chain Design Software 299

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software 299

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2013

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 asked companies to “Navigate through the hype focusing on the feasibility of scope and technology.” The stories border on the ridiculous. Marketplace Rebirth.

Supply Chain Design Software 322

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

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Last week was the Supply Chain Insights Global Summit. 110 supply chain leaders attended. In preparation for the summit, we readied the final report of the work on translating balance sheet results into a methodology to judge Supply Chain Excellence. A big bang technology focus has not worked.

Optimal Sourcing 366

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Manufacturing Procurement 366

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 13, 2021

Yes, a time when well-meaning supply chain leaders share their strategy decks for the upcoming year and ask me for an opinion. Their focus on technology for the sake of digital–doing the same things faster or hands-free–stalled out because of the lack of investment in human work systems. The reason?

Cost Reduction Strategies 413

Cost Reduction Strategies Price Mitigation Strategies Supply Chain Strategy Supply Chain Design Software 413

Logility

AUGUST 4, 2023

Selecting a new enterprise technology or supply chain planning software provider can be wrought with challenge and risk. Specifically: people have lost their jobs over poor technology selections and failed implementation projects. This is especially true in supply chain planning & management platforms.

Supply Chain Planning Software 209

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

ivalua

JUNE 26, 2023

Blog » Procurement on the Thames: Ivalua’s London Summer Symposium June 26, 2023 | | Thought Leadership by Eloise Barnum As businesses navigate through supply chain disruptions, high inflation, and sustainability initiatives, procurement, and supplier management has taken center stage in driving change.

Optimal Sourcing 244

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Sourcing Strategies 244

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 16, 2014

Today, nine out of ten supply chains are stuck. Despite two decades of advancement in supply chain technologies, companies are struggling to gain balance at the intersection of operating margin, inventory turns and case fulfillment. Like an artifact, I have kicked around in the supply chain space since the 1980s.

Supply Chain Design Software 320

Supply Chain Design Software Network Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software 320

Logistics Viewpoints

JANUARY 23, 2024

This year, nearly 40,000 attendees comprising 6,200 brands from all over the world headed to the Javits Center to see what new solutions and innovations software and hardware suppliers had in store for 2024 and beyond. Throughout the conference I met with several software and hardware providers to get a glimpse into what they were showcasing.

Supply Chain Planning Software 303

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Modeling 303

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

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

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.

Manufacturing Procurement 98

Manufacturing Procurement Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Reduction 98

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 19, 2022

He had a load full of cotton bales, and while idling away hours at a shipyard watching stevedores load other cargo onto ships he dreamed up containers that transformed global supply chains. Supply chain optimization has also improved in significant ways that can address these trade-offs better than before.

Optimal Sourcing 306

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply Chain Optimization Optimization Software 306

Logility

JULY 20, 2023

Good forecasting leads to good demand planning —and good demand planning means better profitability. That’s why it’s essential to be sure you’re equipping your organization with the right demand planning software. Here are our answers to some of the most common questions about demand planning software.

Supply and Demand 188

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Demand Planning Software Forecasting Software 188

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

While we will recover quickly in retail (moving from painful shortages to a glut of inventory), the chemical industry–sitting four and five layers back in the supply chain–takes longer to recover. The value chain supporting all industries is sick, requiring a leadership step-change. Time For Action. ” [link].

Supply Chain Design Software 355

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Sourcing Strategies Supply and Demand 355

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 11, 2014

Over the course of the last two years, we at Supply Chain Insight s have worked on a methodology to gauge supply chain improvement. We named it the Supply Chain Index. We have found that supply chain metrics are gnarly and complicated.During Background on the Supply Chain Index.

Case Study 305

Case Study Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 305

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

While consultants know the answers (or believe they do), I believe my goal as a research analyst is to unearth new questions that should be asked (and answered together openly in the supply chain community) to improve value. This is why I host training twice a year to challenge existing technology paradigms. Back to John.

Supply Chain Planning Software 392

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 392

RFgen

JANUARY 16, 2025

Keeping track of all your moving parts in manufacturing is a tall order. That’s where manufacturing inventory management software comes in. The right software can streamline your production, optimize stock levels, and even help you save money. Spreadsheets just don’t cut it anymore.

Inventory Management Software 52

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

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.

Supply Chain Network Software 313

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing 313

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 11, 2024

Makers of weight loss drugs are looking out a big picture window of patented opportunity right now, but this rosy view is blocked by supply chain challenges. What role can supply chain play in preventing stockouts? So how can supply chain orchestration help?

Pharmaceutical 316

Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Agile and Lean Supply Chain 316

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 22, 2021

Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) as a process has been around since the 1980’s. While the terminology evolved, the underlying thesis of S&OP has stayed the same, i.e., bridge the divide between sales forecasts and operational plans while respecting the budget. Does this mean at some point in time we move on from S&OP?

S&OP 290

S&OP Supply and Demand Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software 290

The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society

APRIL 26, 2022

Driving Sustainable Growth Through Supply Chain Resilience. Every industry sector and every business across the board, in APAC and around the globe have been impacted by the Great Supply Chain Disruption over the last two years, causing a blow out of transportation costs and continuous delays at every stage of the channel.

Supply Chain Planning Software 246

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software 246

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 1, 2013

Over the last five years, I have helped two companies, Sonoco Products and Owens Illinois (OI) with their selection of technologies to improve Sales and Operations (S&OP) planning. Both companies provide packaging materials to the food manufacturing industry. Here I contrast their results. The companies are similar in size.

Illinois 253

Illinois Waste Reduction S&OP Supply Chain Planning Software 253