Expert insights. Personalized for you.
by Manda Schweitzer-Miller With the pace of change in the automotive industry as of late, making any predictions seems a bold move. It’s hard to imagine what the next twelve months and beyond hold for an industry facing seemingly non-stop innovation. MORE
Using this information, supply chain leaders can address supply chain challenges, reduce costs and at the same time improve service levels. MORE
According to Supply Chain Digital Magazine, many manufacturers are falling behind with more than two-thirds of them being unable to provide data-driven analytical information to support their business decisions. MORE
Best Practices Life Sciences Supply Chain Supply Chain Planning & Optimization covid19 digital supply chain MORE
There are some young supply chain technologies that are getting a lot of buzz. But how mature are these technologies? Do they have a proven ROI? Are they worth piloting? Or can we safely ignore them for a few more years? MORE
On Monday mornings, I usually write a post about some emerging trend or topic in the world of supply chain and logistics. MORE
Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Pick” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide practical knowledge and advice on timely and important supply chain and logistics topics. MORE
Machine Learning for demand forecasting has matured to a level of accuracy, transparency and replicability that translates into transformative results, including in these five areas: Accuracy, transparency, thoroughness of analytical options and results. MORE
Supply chain leaders are continuously looking for ways to improve inventory management, and the role of technology in the supply chain offers significant advantages. MORE
With supply chain planning software you can automate the achievement of service levels, even under changing constraints resulting from major disruptions. MORE
Just like you, we’re taking the news day by day and continuously brainstorming ways to serve our community. The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on our lives, the kind we have not seen in centuries. MORE
The world of supply chain has changed. Just a few decades ago, processes were still fairly linear and easier to control. MORE
With over 17,000 infections and more than 300 deaths, recent news about the outbreak of the coronavirus in China has grabbed attention from a global audience, including supply chain and logistics managers. MORE
The post The Coronavirus and the Supply Chain appeared first on The Network Effect. Supply Chain Management Coronavirus Covid-19 MORE
152 
With spring in the air, it’s the perfect time to reevaluate the state of your business and review outdated supply chain operations technologies. MORE
Everyone is working hard to figure out how to stay safe, what is going on, how to minimize the impact to our personal lives and the companies we work for, and to plan for the future. MORE
Supply chain leaders often interchangeably refer to both a warehouse management system and an inventory management system as one and the same. MORE
“I love to work in growing companies,” a VP of Supply Chain told me as we were making introductions and explaining our work histories. We had just settled on a deal to perform a network and facility design that would enable his company to add another 10 years to the growth path they were on. MORE
The Internet of Things, or IoT, is the name that the IT folks have given to the now billions of physical devices throughout the world that are connected to the internet. These devices not only collect data, but they share it as well. MORE
2020 seemed a world away just a few years ago and yet, here we are. This promises to be a very eventful year. What’s on the horizon for supply chain professionals? Here are three trends to consider. . Sustainability on the agenda. MORE
Supermarkets are heavily impacted by unexpected peaks in demand and product unavailability from areas that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This global health crisis has uncovered vulnerabilities in our food supply chains, affecting the capacity of food retailers to ensure its continuity. MORE
At what point does erosion cause the side of a mountain to give way? It is usually the small shifts… over time, there is degradation. And, then suddenly, the mountain gives way collapsing to the land below. S&OP Slip Slidin’ Away. MORE
Take a moment to think about the state of last-mile logistics in the last year. An argument does exist for the continued support of last-mile innovation and a relentless push to build better customer experiences within the final mile. MORE
Over the years we’ve built strong relationships with hundreds of global companies, and we hear the same challenges again and again: they can’t accurately plan for intermittent demand, they’ve got too much capital tied up in inventory, and their planners are overwhelmed by data management and complicated math. In an ever-changing global economy with all its unexpected twists and turns, supply chain leaders are looking for a way to be ready for anything the real world throws at them. That’s why we announced a new brand identity here at ToolsGroup last week: ‘Be ready for anything.’ To us, this encapsulates more than an ideal — it’s an imperative for ourselves and our customers. When we can rapidly and efficiently respond to whatever surprises tomorrow brings, we ensure a higher degree of supply chain stability in today’s interconnected, global world. (And add more dollars to your bottom line.). How? . It boils down to three essential supply chain capabilities: Predict, Protect and Perform. Predict. The ability to predict more behaviors is critical to accurate forecasting. The nuances of demand across items, locations and time frames makes traditional demand forecasting little better than a guessing game. Layer on uncontrollable factors like weather and third-party promotions, and the picture becomes even less clear. . The key to bringing your planning back into focus lies in evolving beyond single-number forecasts. By offering a range of predicted outcomes with varying levels of probability, we give you the flexibility to follow the model, or make calculated trade-offs based on your business priorities. . Protect. The real world doesn’t follow the rules — which is why no prediction will be 100% accurate all the time. The companion to optimized prediction capabilities is the foresight to protect against inevitable surprises. By defining your specific service goals and balancing them against business objectives like minimizing working capital and maximizing profit margins, you can determine optimal levels of safety stock to keep on hand in the event of unanticipated changes. . ToolsGroup’s self-learning platform is continually refining its accuracy, and helps eliminate bias introduced by human decision-making. The algorithm becomes more accurate over time, and safeguards institutional knowledge through its accumulation of data. The use of an automated tool also allows you to react faster to unexpected events and recalibrate your model to reflect changing realities, such as: Sporadic demand and escalating SKUs. New product introductions. Shifting product trends and internet-ignited crazes. Acquisitions and divestiture. Tariffs and trade wars. New partners and channels . Tighter service level requirements. The next S&OP meeting. Perform . Optimizing your predictions and determining the right amount of safety stock to protect against the unexpected gives your operations a solid foundation. By optimizing replenishment cycles and honing the logistics of moving inventory across your network, you can reduce excess inventory and minimize losses stemming from product obsolescence. Be Ready for Anything. What does this look like in practice? . Like beating the world at its own game. Outdoor products manufacturer Thule faced growing distribution complexity and challenges due to the seasonal nature of its products, creating intermittent demand and a slow-moving spare parts inventory. . Working with ToolsGroup and its partner, Optilon, Thule implemented automated forecasting that created a higher-quality demand planning process, and was able to increase service levels from below 80% to 92% over two years in spite of booming sales and SKU growth. In the process, they lowered inventories, and have set a goal of 15% inventory reduction. . Aston Martin, renowned for its luxury sports cars for over a century, faced a challenge when increasing international demand prompted its board to raise first time availability targets for its parts across all car categories from 95% to 97%, without increasing inventory. Already a ToolsGroup customer, Aston Martin approached ToolsGroup with this new goal and within two months had raised service levels to 97.1% and reduced inventory by 18%. The global kitchen and bathroom equipment company, Franke, had grown from a one-person workshop a century ago to an international company with operations in 40 countries. This growth came with a lot of supply chain complexity, with 12 production facilities, four echelons, and over 125,000 SKUs managed through 17 different ERP systems. . Franke was able to integrate ToolsGroup’s planning automation software with its SAP system to unify the planning process and offer better service. Forecast and demand planning time has been reduced by 50%, with greater accuracy and an eight point reduction in MAPE. . Start Today. It’s no secret — with the ability to Predict, Protect and Perform, you can future-proof your business and respond swiftly and efficiently to supply chain disruptions. And that means you’re ready for anything the real world throws your way. Blog Featured supply chain planning MORE
Properly organized inbound shipments are vital to successfully operating supply chains. The retailers, distributors and customers heavily rely on the performance of inbound deliveries. MORE
With more consumers than ever doing their everyday shopping online instead of at brick-and-mortar retail stores, a phenomenon known as the ‘Amazon Effect’ has emerged. MORE
AIMMS
MARCH 30, 2020
Just like you, we’re taking the news day by day and continuously brainstorming ways to serve our community. The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on our lives, the kind we have not seen in centuries.
DELMIA Quintiq
JANUARY 7, 2020
The Internet of Things, or IoT, is the name that the IT folks have given to the now billions of physical devices throughout the world that are connected to the internet. These devices not only collect data, but they share it as well.
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Cerasis
MARCH 9, 2020
Take a moment to think about the state of last-mile logistics in the last year. An argument does exist for the continued support of last-mile innovation and a relentless push to build better customer experiences within the final mile.
OneSCM
MARCH 12, 2020
With spring in the air, it’s the perfect time to reevaluate the state of your business and review outdated supply chain operations technologies.
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In today's new supply chain paradigm, resilience and agility are key. Is your planning process fit enough to keep up with the pace of change? Is your tech stack helping or hindering your progress? Take AIMMS's new quiz to uncover learnings and benchmark yourself against peers!
Logility
MARCH 13, 2020
Everyone is working hard to figure out how to stay safe, what is going on, how to minimize the impact to our personal lives and the companies we work for, and to plan for the future.
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Supply Chain Brief brings together the best content for supply chain and logistic professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
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Logistics Viewpoints
JANUARY 6, 2020
There are some young supply chain technologies that are getting a lot of buzz. But how mature are these technologies? Do they have a proven ROI? Are they worth piloting? Or can we safely ignore them for a few more years?
ToolsGroup
MARCH 4, 2020
Over the years we’ve built strong relationships with hundreds of global companies, and we hear the same challenges again and again: they can’t accurately plan for intermittent demand, they’ve got too much capital tied up in inventory, and their planners are overwhelmed by data management and complicated math. In an ever-changing global economy with all its unexpected twists and turns, supply chain leaders are looking for a way to be ready for anything the real world throws at them. That’s why we announced a new brand identity here at ToolsGroup last week: ‘Be ready for anything.’ To us, this encapsulates more than an ideal — it’s an imperative for ourselves and our customers. When we can rapidly and efficiently respond to whatever surprises tomorrow brings, we ensure a higher degree of supply chain stability in today’s interconnected, global world. (And add more dollars to your bottom line.). How? . It boils down to three essential supply chain capabilities: Predict, Protect and Perform. Predict. The ability to predict more behaviors is critical to accurate forecasting. The nuances of demand across items, locations and time frames makes traditional demand forecasting little better than a guessing game. Layer on uncontrollable factors like weather and third-party promotions, and the picture becomes even less clear. . The key to bringing your planning back into focus lies in evolving beyond single-number forecasts. By offering a range of predicted outcomes with varying levels of probability, we give you the flexibility to follow the model, or make calculated trade-offs based on your business priorities. . Protect. The real world doesn’t follow the rules — which is why no prediction will be 100% accurate all the time. The companion to optimized prediction capabilities is the foresight to protect against inevitable surprises. By defining your specific service goals and balancing them against business objectives like minimizing working capital and maximizing profit margins, you can determine optimal levels of safety stock to keep on hand in the event of unanticipated changes. . ToolsGroup’s self-learning platform is continually refining its accuracy, and helps eliminate bias introduced by human decision-making. The algorithm becomes more accurate over time, and safeguards institutional knowledge through its accumulation of data. The use of an automated tool also allows you to react faster to unexpected events and recalibrate your model to reflect changing realities, such as: Sporadic demand and escalating SKUs. New product introductions. Shifting product trends and internet-ignited crazes. Acquisitions and divestiture. Tariffs and trade wars. New partners and channels . Tighter service level requirements. The next S&OP meeting. Perform . Optimizing your predictions and determining the right amount of safety stock to protect against the unexpected gives your operations a solid foundation. By optimizing replenishment cycles and honing the logistics of moving inventory across your network, you can reduce excess inventory and minimize losses stemming from product obsolescence. Be Ready for Anything. What does this look like in practice? . Like beating the world at its own game. Outdoor products manufacturer Thule faced growing distribution complexity and challenges due to the seasonal nature of its products, creating intermittent demand and a slow-moving spare parts inventory. . Working with ToolsGroup and its partner, Optilon, Thule implemented automated forecasting that created a higher-quality demand planning process, and was able to increase service levels from below 80% to 92% over two years in spite of booming sales and SKU growth. In the process, they lowered inventories, and have set a goal of 15% inventory reduction. . Aston Martin, renowned for its luxury sports cars for over a century, faced a challenge when increasing international demand prompted its board to raise first time availability targets for its parts across all car categories from 95% to 97%, without increasing inventory. Already a ToolsGroup customer, Aston Martin approached ToolsGroup with this new goal and within two months had raised service levels to 97.1% and reduced inventory by 18%. The global kitchen and bathroom equipment company, Franke, had grown from a one-person workshop a century ago to an international company with operations in 40 countries. This growth came with a lot of supply chain complexity, with 12 production facilities, four echelons, and over 125,000 SKUs managed through 17 different ERP systems. . Franke was able to integrate ToolsGroup’s planning automation software with its SAP system to unify the planning process and offer better service. Forecast and demand planning time has been reduced by 50%, with greater accuracy and an eight point reduction in MAPE. . Start Today. It’s no secret — with the ability to Predict, Protect and Perform, you can future-proof your business and respond swiftly and efficiently to supply chain disruptions. And that means you’re ready for anything the real world throws your way. Blog Featured supply chain planning
LeanCor
JANUARY 27, 2020
“I love to work in growing companies,” a VP of Supply Chain told me as we were making introductions and explaining our work histories. We had just settled on a deal to perform a network and facility design that would enable his company to add another 10 years to the growth path they were on.
River Logic
MARCH 31, 2020
Using this information, supply chain leaders can address supply chain challenges, reduce costs and at the same time improve service levels.
Speaker: Rob Handfield, PhD, Bank of America University Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management at NC State University
Join this informative webinar with Rob Handfield, Bank of America University Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management at NC State University, who will go over how the Coronavirus has impacted supply chains, as well as discussing approaches for preparing your supply chain for future outbreaks of major global disruptions. The world is becoming a riskier place, and it is important to plan for disasters ahead of time.
Supply Chain Shaman
FEBRUARY 5, 2020
At what point does erosion cause the side of a mountain to give way? It is usually the small shifts… over time, there is degradation. And, then suddenly, the mountain gives way collapsing to the land below. S&OP Slip Slidin’ Away.
AIMMS
MARCH 16, 2020
The world of supply chain has changed. Just a few decades ago, processes were still fairly linear and easier to control.
DELMIA Quintiq
MARCH 27, 2020
Best Practices Life Sciences Supply Chain Supply Chain Planning & Optimization covid19 digital supply chain
Cerasis
MARCH 13, 2020
Supply chain leaders often interchangeably refer to both a warehouse management system and an inventory management system as one and the same.
Speaker: Brian Dooley, Director SC Navigator, AIMMS
It’s no secret that demand is getting more difficult to predict. Is your demand forecasting process evolving with the times? How does your process stack up against others? Are you satisfied with your level of forecast accuracy? This webinar shares research findings from a recent survey among supply chain planning professionals to help you answer these questions.
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OneSCM
FEBRUARY 7, 2020
With over 17,000 infections and more than 300 deaths, recent news about the outbreak of the coronavirus in China has grabbed attention from a global audience, including supply chain and logistics managers.
Logility
MARCH 6, 2020
Machine Learning for demand forecasting has matured to a level of accuracy, transparency and replicability that translates into transformative results, including in these five areas: Accuracy, transparency, thoroughness of analytical options and results.
Talking Logistics
MARCH 5, 2020
Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Pick” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide practical knowledge and advice on timely and important supply chain and logistics topics.
The Network Effect
MARCH 9, 2020
The post The Coronavirus and the Supply Chain appeared first on The Network Effect. Supply Chain Management Coronavirus Covid-19
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AIMMS conducted research to assess how supply chain teams perceive the accuracy of their forecast and discover the tools and techniques they are using to upgrade the forecasting process. In this report, you will find helpful benchmarks and insights offered by your peers on the latest demand forecasting techniques, forecast granularity and periodicity, and expectations for the future.
ToolsGroup
MARCH 17, 2020
With supply chain planning software you can automate the achievement of service levels, even under changing constraints resulting from major disruptions.
PLS Logistics
FEBRUARY 11, 2020
Properly organized inbound shipments are vital to successfully operating supply chains. The retailers, distributors and customers heavily rely on the performance of inbound deliveries.
River Logic
MARCH 10, 2020
According to Supply Chain Digital Magazine, many manufacturers are falling behind with more than two-thirds of them being unable to provide data-driven analytical information to support their business decisions.
Kinaxis
JANUARY 9, 2020
by Manda Schweitzer-Miller With the pace of change in the automotive industry as of late, making any predictions seems a bold move. It’s hard to imagine what the next twelve months and beyond hold for an industry facing seemingly non-stop innovation.
Speaker: Max Muller, Attorney and Author
Supply chain managers should constantly be on guard against forces that could cause a significant point-of-failure in or to their supply chains. The sudden loss of a workforce is an evolving danger to those who provide raw materials, subassemblies, finished goods, and/or necessary services to supply chains; and to entities requiring those items or services. Join Max Muller for this timely, fast-paced and guidance rich webinar that will educate you on the specific steps involved in undertaking your own internal audit, as well as providing you with guidance on what your major and/or sole source suppliers should do as well.
AIMMS
FEBRUARY 3, 2020
2020 seemed a world away just a few years ago and yet, here we are. This promises to be a very eventful year. What’s on the horizon for supply chain professionals? Here are three trends to consider. . Sustainability on the agenda.
DELMIA Quintiq
MARCH 26, 2020
Supermarkets are heavily impacted by unexpected peaks in demand and product unavailability from areas that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This global health crisis has uncovered vulnerabilities in our food supply chains, affecting the capacity of food retailers to ensure its continuity.
Cerasis
FEBRUARY 28, 2020
Supply chain leaders are continuously looking for ways to improve inventory management, and the role of technology in the supply chain offers significant advantages.
OneSCM
JANUARY 7, 2020
With more consumers than ever doing their everyday shopping online instead of at brick-and-mortar retail stores, a phenomenon known as the ‘Amazon Effect’ has emerged.
Speaker: Brian Dooley, Director SC Navigator, AIMMS, and Paul van Nierop, Supply Chain Planning Specialist, AIMMS
Want to build your internal capability, reduce costs and make better decisions? It's easier than you think. This on-demand webinar shares research findings from Supply Chain Insights, including the top 5 obstacles that bog you down when trying to improve your network design efforts.
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