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Definition of a Mistake: An action or judgment that is misguided or wrong. Synonyms: Error, fault, blunder, oversight, miscalculation or a misunderstanding. Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is important to building value chain agility and improving enterprise performance. (Agility is the ability to have the same performance in cost, quality, and customer service given a level of demand and supply volatility.
Logistics is the prime example of a changing industry – colossal, ripe for disruption and utterly opaque. And it’s about to get hit by a freight train of innovation. How much do we love freight innovation? Enough to go through every single article published in the top tech blogs – Techcrunch, Verge, Mashable and Recode – since 2007 to count how often articles about logistics startups, freight or cargo were published.
The more people you add into any project, the more complicated everything gets. Sometimes it makes sense to have as few people involved so that there are no crossed wires or misunderstandings, but often it's more practical to have the people who specialize at a certain task lend their expertise to the matter. Supply chain management in manufacturing is by no means a simple process, but the United States is learning from past mistakes and they're poised to start playing a little catch-up in the m
Growing practice of supply chain modeling requires more than just technology smarts What types of supply chain roles are on your company’s career webpage? What skills are important for new hires to possess in order to manage this increasingly critical area of the business? Many of the best practices LLamasoft has advocated related to supply […].
Procurement leaders are at a pivotal moment. With CPOs playing an increasingly strategic role, it’s time to leverage innovation and technology to drive resilience and efficiency. Download The 2025 Annual ProcureCon CPO Report to uncover key insights to thrive in a dynamic procurement landscape. What’s Inside: How CPOs are driving strategic decision-making and technology adoption The top priorities and challenges for procurement in 2025 Why AI, sustainability, and data analytics are essential for
In case you missed it, the Wall Street Journal and others reported last week that Sealed Air Corp., the makers of Bubble Wrap, have developed a new version of the product called iBubble Wrap that doesn’t pop. The reaction on Twitter was quick and furious: It’s a sad, sad day in our nation’s history. [link]. — Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) July 2, 2015.
by Alexa Cheater It seems like everywhere I look I see mention of millennials, that ‘next generation’ who seems to be shaking things up in a big way. From the way companies do business to the products available on store shelves to the rising stars of the executive world, there’s no mistaking the millennial influence. That got me wondering, what kind of sway does this technology-loving, values-driven, need-to-know right now, group have over your supply chain.
by Alexa Cheater It seems like everywhere I look I see mention of millennials, that ‘next generation’ who seems to be shaking things up in a big way. From the way companies do business to the products available on store shelves to the rising stars of the executive world, there’s no mistaking the millennial influence. That got me wondering, what kind of sway does this technology-loving, values-driven, need-to-know right now, group have over your supply chain.
Benchmarking is a measurement of the quality of an organization’s policies, products, programs or strategies against standard measurements. Business Dictionary.com. Writing a Shaman blog post is now a Sunday night ritual. For me, it is a good time to reflect, think and share what I am learning. In my work with Supply Chain Insights , I immerse myself in learning.
For most enterprise companies, ERP has become a foundational infrastructure technology and a cost of doing business. However, many are finding that it is not the optimal technology for Supply Chain Planning and Optimization. This has led to usage of spreadsheets to help fill in the gaps. But spreadsheets come with new challenges. Leading companies are overcoming these obstacles and finding success with an alternative that is quickly gaining adoption.
The world has changed from the oil days of machine assisted assembly lines and manufacturing processes as more robots have entered the workforce. Robotics is not just a way to help companies, but many manufacturers have recognized how robots can improve their supply chain processes, benefit the company, and drive their future success. Rethink Robotics introduced Sawyer in 2015 and pioneered the “friendly” robot game with the introduction of Baxter in 2012, which will make the integra
After analyzing the long tail supply chain challenge in the last two blogs , this week we see how Dart tackled their long tail and achieved a 99.6% service level with about 20% less inventory. This story starts in 2012 with Dart Container acquiring Solo Cup. Solo is famous for its disposable red party cup and also sells a broad assortment of other products through retail and food service channels.
Savvy B2B marketers know that a great account-based marketing (ABM) strategy leads to higher ROI and sustainable growth. In this guide, we’ll cover: What makes for a successful ABM strategy? What are the key elements and capabilities of ABM that can make a real difference? How is AI changing workflows and driving functionality? This Martech Intelligence Report on Enterprise Account-Based Marketing examines the state of ABM in 2024 and what to consider when implementing ABM software.
The deafening whirr of giant machines, the parade of parts on conveyor belts, the spinning, grabbing, twisting, bending and turning that magically transform raw materials and parts into products. There’s nothing quite as impressive as a factory, wouldn’t you agree? But let’s get back to reality. Consumer expectations are changing. They want their products to be customized and they want them now.
by Andrew Dunbar This post concludes my inventory management blog series. Throughout this series I’ve proposed an elevated role for the inventory manager that challenges the assumption that an inventory manager is a victim of his colleagues’ business decisions and plays only a limited role in formulating inventory results. Inventory management is not a stand-alone business process that occurs after other processes are complete.
Definition. A Tough Nut to Crack: A problem that is very difficult to solve. Cambridge Dictionary. Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is over thirty years old. I have been studying it as a researcher for fifteen years. With the rise of the global multi-national, S&OP increased in importance as a way to align and drive organizational balance.
A recent report by the ACE European Group identifies supply chains as of the biggest sources of concern for European businesses today. On the one hand, companies are facing growing uncertainty due to volatile exchange rates, rising oil prices and economic and geopolitical events, such as Greece’s financial crisis and the conflict in Ukraine. On the other hand, there is a rising need for smarter and more flexible tools as well as more staff with analytical capabilities.
Fulfillment is no longer just about getting products from point A to point B – it's about crafting seamless, scalable, customer first experiences. Flexible fulfillment strategies are more important than ever for those aiming to stay ahead and build resilience as retail enters a new era in 2025. Learn how to optimize fulfillment processes, tackle complex, multi-vendor orders, and create seamless customer experiences – from white-glove delivery for high-value items to quick-ship solutions for ever
Today’s supply chains function as a result of extensive research into how a supply chain behaves, its chief concerns, successful risk management , diverse markets, widespread collaboration, and technological advances. However, current supply chains fall victim to the problems of inefficiencies, inexcusable rigidity, and failure to recognize the growing demands of consumers.
Our last three posts covered the key messages of the recent Consumer Goods Technology (CGT) web seminar about long tail demand called “ Driving Results despite Item Complexity ”: Blog 1 : Lora Cecere discussed the drivers of increasing demand volatility, the pain and risk it causes for most companies and the roadblocks they hit when they try to use traditional demand forecasting approaches.
Warehouse Automation to Optimization Warehouse automation vendors are placing increased emphasis on the ability of their software solutions to take warehouse performance to the next level. For example, the term warehouse execution system (WES) is being used to describe the next generation, more advanced warehouse control systems (WCS) that coordinate disparate warehouse systems while also dynamically […].
by Alexa Cheater Hi, my name is Alexa and I am a chocoholic. It’s been less than a day since my last indulgence. There’s no two ways about it. When it comes to the cocoa-laden confectionery, I’m hooked. It doesn’t matter if it’s milk, dark or white. Anything with even a hint of chocolatey goodness will suffice – and sadly for my waist line, one little taste is never enough.
The Supplier Relationship Management Playbook is your guide to building effective supplier partnerships that drive supply chain excellence. This playbook equips supply chain professionals with strategies for managing compliance, tracking performance, and fostering collaboration to reduce supply chain risks. Inside, you’ll find: Strategies for Compliance: Best practices to help meet regulatory standards.
As a research analyst, I am studying things that are incredibly difficult to measure. The topics may sound easy, but they are not. In my research, I answer questions like: Which technology systems drive the greatest satisfaction? How satisfied are users with supply chain planning technologies? What drives the highest level of satisfaction? The answer to these questions requires the analysis of many factors.
One of my supply chain and logistics predictions for 2015 was that 3PLs and software vendors would focus more on acquiring small and midsized business (SMB) clients this year. As I wrote back in December: For a variety of reasons (the high cost of sales being one of them), most 3PLs and software vendors have historically underserved the SMB market, focusing their sales efforts on large companies instead.
Throughout the supply chain, the use of metrics to track and understand processes provides an invaluable resource for ensuring increased production and customer satisfaction. Additionally, the use of metrics fosters positive relationships with coworkers and adherence to rulesets and best practices for the respective third-party logistics provider (3PL).
Have you seen National Geographic’s Megafactories? The show takes viewers into some of the most iconic car factories in the world. Seeing how these cars – especially souped-up supercars – are manufactured is impressive enough. But the amount of planning required to keep production running smoothly is mind-blowing. Want a real taste at car production planning?
Speaker: Eric Berdinis, Ran Sun, & Chris Chmielewski
Procuring freight can be cumbersome, time-consuming, and error-prone. If you’re frustrated with the complex and manual processes for obtaining bids for your contract and spot freight, you’re not alone. In today’s fast-moving supply chain environment, optimizing these processes is critical to staying competitive and cutting costs. Join this exclusive webinar with experts from Uber Freight to learn how the latest digital tools and automation can transform your freight procurement strategy by strea
Procter & Gamble (P&G) has one of the best supply chains in the world. But when their top supply chain executives talk about supply chain management, it can be hard to understand what they are talking about. P&G has rather forgone talking about supply chain systems and instead talks about their investments in analytics. They […].
by Lori Smith Supply chain visibility… ah, yes, possibly the most over used term in the industry. And as is typical with over used terms, there are as many interpretations as there are colors in a kaleidoscope. What it means, what it involves, and what the goal is can be very different depending on the person, the organization… and even (or especially!
Hoax definitions – to trick into believing or accepting as genuine something false and often preposterous. A humorous or malicious deception. Synonyms include deception, fraud, scam. To move forward, goal clarity is essential. To measure improvement, performance needs a clear definition. Supply chain leaders are competitive. They want to drive supply chain excellence; but today, the definition is not clear.
The first drone delivery approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was conducted last Friday in rural Virginia. A drone operated by Australian drone startup Flirtey delivered 24 packages of medicines to a remote health clinic in Wise County, Virginia. It took the drone 3 minutes to make the journey, which typically takes a car 90 minutes over bumpy roads.
Innovation varies widely across sectors and organizations, creating value in diverse forms. Understanding different types is crucial for R&D teams to foster creativity and uncover missed opportunities. This guide explores 25 key types of innovation in management frameworks.
History has taught supply chain management organizations one common factor: failure to adjust to societal changes will contribute to business-downfall. In the modern, digital world, the impact of the cloud can be felt in every facet of existence, not just commerce. Cloud computing technology has allowed supply chain management providers to take advantage of a new era of processes, specifically those relating to the ethereal space.
A few weeks ago I witnessed supply chain history in the making. The Port of Rotterdam signed a contract for a system that will enable inland shipping companies to take supply chain collaboration to the next level. There were at least two noteworthy aspects: The Port was signing on behalf of Nextlogic , an organization that represents all affected parties in this particular logistics chain.
When two companies merge, the supply chain organizations also must merge. That means downsizing that department, making personnel choices, converging IT systems, and meeting the supply chain synergies promised to Wall Street. Mergers can go badly wrong, or they can be a new source of competitive advantage. Larry Hartley, the Senior Vice President of Supply […].
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