The Aberdeen Supply Chain Summit in Chicago earlier this month was a productive event for supply chain executives and practitioners. The conference format and size were just right to allow comfortable sharing of ideas and lessons learned about various topics from S&OP and supply chain planning, to inventory optimization and transportation. It was the general consensus of the group that there is value to be delivered from supply chain segmentation. MORE

Finance speaks a different language than supply chain. But by monetizing Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), supply chain planners can speak the language of finance while developing S&OP into a more mature process. It’s a problem of “lost in translation”—the differing lingo used by the finance side versus planning, supply, production and logistics. The language of finance is numbers, but they’re different numbers than the ones used by supply chain. MORE

The next time you feel the need to toast someone, raise your glass to all the supply chain professionals involved in omnichannel retail operations. To meet consumer needs, everyone in the supply chain needs to work harmoniously together or risk bad reviews and loss of business. Lack of Inventory Visibility and Metrics. Segmented Supply Chain Processes. There can be a difference between segmented supply chains and unintegrated supply chains. MORE

At this time of year, we find many companies planning workshops to stimulate thinking on building a digital supply chain and igniting next-generation supply chain thinking. Use our Metrics That Matter methodology to look at improvement and performance. Customer-Centric Supply Chain Research. The activity helps employees better understand the value of outside-in processes and supply chain processes. Summer is ending. MORE

Mark Hersh (shown here) is now a Director of Supply Chain Strategy at Clorox while Dave retired in 2018. Mark and Dave, both career Clorox employees, drove a program to customize the supply chain response using Value Chain Segmentation. Designing a Fit For Purpose Supply Chain. Value Chain segmentation—designing a fit for purpose supply chain—was the focus of the strategy day workshop. Map of Segmentation. MORE

This thing called research in the supply chain market has many arms and legs. I struggle to find a good supply chain academic journal, and often speak to my academic network about the need for one. As I study research methods, and the market, I realize the lies I’ve spun for prior employers (Gartner and AMR Research) are untrue: The AMR Research Hierarchy of Supply Chain Metrics. Bimodal Supply Chains Are a Viable Strategy. MORE

On May 7, 2016 we announced a partnership with CorpU for next-generation supply chain learning. Today our first course, Supply Chain Metrics That Matter, is ready for sale. The full course catalog will be complete by the Supply Chain Insights Global Summit. The seven courses currently in joint development between CorpU and Supply Chain Insights are: Supply Chain Metrics That Matter. Supply chain excellence MORE

Most companies segment their supply chain by breaking it down according to operational and logistical metrics. But there is another way to segment supply chains that begins with the customer. Gartner research director Jennifer Loveland calls it end-to-end segmentation, where you determine first what your customers want, then create end-to-end models—from sales through sourcing, delivery, and customer service—to serve them. MORE

I always come back from these conferences inspired and fascinated at how diligent chemical supply chain managers must be to mitigate risk and adverse events. At LogiChem, attendees interacted through roundtables and panel discussions on topics that identified best practices around inventory and supply chain metrics, third party logistics provider (3PL) management, rail logistics strategy to combat the driver shortage dilemma, and a host of other topics. MORE

This heightens the need for having a global procurement network which can support and respond to a company’s supply chain needs in a timely manner. A consolidated supplier base eliminates variances in inventory and reduces overheads, particularly for the supply of C-parts. 5 Identifying the Right KPIs Identifying and implementing the right KPIs to manage and operate supply chains effectively remains one of the biggest problems in supply chain management. MORE