July, 2017

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Life is complicated. Supply chain management shouldn’t be.

Kinaxis

by Alexa Cheater Rushing kids out the door, walking the dog, navigating traffic—life is complicated enough without having to deal with overly complex supply chain management processes. Unfortunately, increasing consumer demands, growing globalization and mounting pressure to stay profitable in an ever-changing world is the new reality, and for many it means working harder than ever.

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Catch up on Supply Chain Analytics news with our Summer Reading List

AIMMS

The first half of this year has flown by and for many of us, it’s time for a much needed vacation. We’ve put together a new reading (and watch) list for this summer to help you gather some refreshing ideas as you gear up to plan for 2018. The list includes the best of our blog and news items, our latest webinars and most recent case studies.

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A New Red Wagon?

Supply Chain Shaman

I grew up in the mountains of West Virginia. In my youth, my mom would frequently exclaim, “Be careful where you hook your red wagon.” The mountain expression is a warning. My mom wanted me to make smart choices and be careful on placing my bets for the future. Amazon bought Whole Foods. Google is launching autonomous vehicles. There are seismic shifts occurring between industries in value chains.

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A Path Towards IoT Enabled Service Parts Planning

ToolsGroup

Editor's Note: This week we have a guest post from Bob Ferrari, Managing Director of the Ferrari Consulting and Research Group. This blog first appeared in Supply Chain Matters. It is the second in a series on how companies can build foundational service parts planning technology to prepare for the Internet of Things (IoT). In a previous blog , I declared that one of the most promising line-of-business areas that will benefit from Internet of Things (IoT) enabled technologies applied to supply c

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4 Ways To Drive Supply Chain Excellence in the Food Industry

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.

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10 Skills You Should Have To Be Successful Logistics Manager

GlobalTranz

While a logistics manager has responsibilities that can vary from one company to another, we can agree that it’s not an easy task. Logistics managers have the crucial role of ensuring things go smoothly no matter what. To establish a good career in logistics, we rounded up ten skills that you must work on and keep in mind at all times. 1. Forward Thinking.

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The rise of IoT in supply chain planning

Kinaxis

by Alexa Cheater There’s no denying the Internet of Things (IoT) has taken hold of nearly every aspect of our lives. With the number of connected devices estimated to surpass six billion next year and more than 20 billion by 2020, the steady stream of data these devices are providing can easily crowd and clog your supply chain planning processes if you’re not prepared.

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Why you don’t need perfect data to start implementing S&OP

AIMMS

An interview with Boon Edam’s Aron Waas. As we wrote in a previous blog post , implementing Sales and Operations Planning has many benefits. To truly leverage it to improve business performance and predictability, you need to embark on a change management process and you need the right technology to self-enable your team. Often, teams think they also need plenty of clean and accurate data to do it right.

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6 Strategies for Better Supply Chain Management in the Current Economy

Oracle SCM

By Maha Muzumdar. Original version published in APICS Extra , July 2010. The years from 2007 through 2009 were notable for their economic volatility, reflected not only in the global economic recession but also the instability of customer demand and rapid movement in raw material, fuel, and commodity prices. Supply chain executives were under pressure to develop more efficient, customer-centric supply chains while finding innovative ways to reduce costs and enable growth.

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Avoid “Lost in Translation”. Monetize S&OP to Include Finance.

ToolsGroup

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. In its report Partner with Finance to Monetize the S&OP Conversation , Gartner says finance is not taking part in S&OP meetings at 40% of companies; mostly because finance leaders are unaware of how S&OP can help a business realize its financial goals and objec

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15 Modern Use Cases for Enterprise Business Intelligence

Large enterprises face unique challenges in optimizing their Business Intelligence (BI) output due to the sheer scale and complexity of their operations. Unlike smaller organizations, where basic BI features and simple dashboards might suffice, enterprises must manage vast amounts of data from diverse sources. What are the top modern BI use cases for enterprise businesses to help you get a leg up on the competition?

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The Digital Supply Chain: How Are Supply Chain Managers Responding?

GlobalTranz

How do you define the digital supply chain? Do you isolate it to processes involving the internet, or do you take a more progressive approach and combine cloud-based technologies, integration and unmatched customer service into one, data-based solution? Most supply chains have been involved in digital processes for years. Even computerized picking systems rely on the digital supply chain, but the digital supply chain relies on the actions of supply chain managers for continued growth.

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On-Time In-Full (OTIF) and the Growing Demand for Real-Time Freight Visibility

Talking Logistics

Achieving end-to-end supply chain visibility has always been (and remains) a top priority for companies, but over the past few years, the spotlight has been on a particular segment of the process: achieving real-time freight visibility. Why has this become so important for shippers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs)? “We’ve always had systems that allowed you to get visibility within your own four walls,” said Bennett Adelson, CEO of MacroPoint in a recent episode of Talking Logistics.

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Coming soon to a supply chain near you: 8 big digital disruptors

Kinaxis

by Alexa Cheater Every day it seems as if one company or another is touting they’ve just released the next big thing—that new device that will change your life. In reality, all this emerging tech, whether it’s turning your world upside down or not, is having a very real impact on how businesses manage their supply chains. None is feeling the effects more pointedly than those in consumer packaged goods (CPG), as all this new technology has fundamentally altered the way consumers research and shop

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Running efficiently: How athletics and logistics converge

DELMIA Quintiq

If you’ve read a few coaching books about running, chances are that the authors would agree that how well you run comes down to three factors: 1. VO 2 max. Your VO 2 max levels determine your body’s ability to transport oxygen to your muscles and your muscles ability to utilize this oxygen. 2. Lactate threshold. Lactate is a by-product of working your muscles.

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Freight Procurement Simplified: Bids from Hours to Minutes

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

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Looking Beyond Red Arrows

Supply Chain Shaman

When I engage with supply chain leaders , I ask the question, “Are you making progress?” Many will initially shake their heads “yes”, but upon a closer look at the data, they admit that they are stuck. Admitting this truth is a freeing moment. Why? It is hard work to maintain the status quo in metrics performance. Most are treading water.

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Demand-driven supply chain planning in a push business

ToolsGroup

A question we hear often is “How can I have demand-driven supply chain planning in a push business? Demand-driven seems more appropriate to a pull strategy, the opposite of a push strategy. How can they coexist?”. To answer the question we propose looking at the supply chain of two seemingly unrelated businesses, fashion companies and poultry producers.

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Less-Than-Truckload Technology: Will Machine Learning, AI & Automation Solve Shipping Problems?

GlobalTranz

Freight shipping has relied on the same systems for years, ranging from manual entries to a constant struggle in balancing delivery windows with costs. However, the pressure for tighter, faster and more deliveries has increased to a point where the only solution is change. According to William B. Cassidy of the Journal of Commerce , truck capacity is not tight; it is simply hidden from view.

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5 Key Trends Driving Supply Chain Innovation

Talking Logistics

When we speak to supply chain leaders about innovations in their supply chain, it’s not always about drones, self-driving trucks, or automated warehouses. To the contrary, it’s often about rethinking how we view our operations, leverage all our stakeholders, and in the end, deliver the best experience to the customer. Trend #1: Customers Buying Experience Not Products.

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How to Master Product Portfolio Management

Pursuing product portfolio management excellence empowers organizations to unlock the full potential of their offerings. This comprehensive guide unveils 10 essential keys that serve as the building blocks for success.

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Chasing perfection is killing your supply chain

Kinaxis

by Alexa Cheater There’s no such thing as 100% when it comes to forecast accuracy. Let me say it again. One hundred percent accuracy does not exist. I don’t care how good your demand sensing is or how sure your sales team is of their market projections. It’s just not possible. Anyone who says differently is either selling something, or a deity. So why are you spending so much time trying to make the impossible real?

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Catch up on Supply Chain Analytics news with our Summer Reading List

AIMMS

The first half of this year has flown by and for many of us, it’s time for a much needed vacation. We’ve put together a new reading (and watch) list for this summer to help you gather some refreshing ideas as you gear up to plan for 2018. The list includes our best supply chain analytics blogs and news items, our latest webinars and most recent case studies.

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SCI IMPACT! vs. the Beer Game

Supply Chain Insights

Recently I had the opportunity to go to Llamasoft headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan to play the game they have programmed for Supply Chain Insights around supply chain strategies and inside-out versus outside-in processes, SCI IMPACT! The game is a simple simulation of a supply chain where each month decisions are made by players and results are calculated in the game.

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Building the Network of Networks: Some Insights

Supply Chain Shaman

Let me start this blog with a story. I believe that Supply Chains build economies and save the planet. It is about value creation. I also believe that finance is the art of money changing hands until there is nothing left. Supply chain process and financial flows often run in counter currents. Two years ago, I completed a research study on supply chain visibility.

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The Ultimate Guide to Transportation and Load Building Optimization

Enhance your transportation and load building efficiency with our comprehensive guide. Learn to tackle today's supply chain challenges and optimize your approach with advanced planning strategies. This guide covers: Supply Chain Challenges: Discover how transportation planning can address critical issues and improve efficiency. Load Building Benefits: Understand how effective load building can enhance your transportation processes.

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Why Your Distribution Center Needs Flawless Cellular Connectivity

GlobalTranz

Editor's Note: Today's blog comes from Michael Copeland, a Commercial Support Manager with Wilson Electronics who shows us why cellular connectivity is imperative to your distribution center. As a distribution center manager, you administer a critical link in the retail supply chain. Space optimization, order fulfillment , shipping, personnel management, and security are all key responsibilities of your position.

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Before You Hire a Logistics Data Scientist

Talking Logistics

The digital transformation of supply chains — it’s a phrase you hear a lot these days, but what is different today compared to the late 1990s and early 2000s when the internet, Web, and dotcoms triggered their own business transformations? In other words, haven’t supply chains been digital for a while already? “If you look at supply chains and how they’re dynamically changing today and becoming more complex — things like e-commerce and direct-to-consumer deliveries, globalization (wh

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Logistics Technology Q2 2017 Roundup

Freightos

Logistics Technology Q2 2017 Roundup. Visibility, Ground Drones and Cross-Border SMB E-Commerce. Logistics Technology Trends. During the second half of June, Amazon and Alibaba both held conferences in the United States, appealing to small and midsize businesses selling on their platform. While Alibaba was advocating sales to China as Amazon advocated cross-border importing, both are clearly pursuing an SMB focus, as Big Box retailers continue to struggle.

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The game-changing solution to solve your biggest S&OP challenges

DELMIA Quintiq

From my previous blog post , it’s clear that the road to achieving sales and operations planning (S&OP) excellence is not an easy one. But having the right solution to drive performance, beat the competition and maximize profits is a step in the right direction. Read on to learn how to transform your S&OP workflow, boost your scenario planning capabilities and get the most out of your S&OP process.

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What Makes a Warehouse Worker Happy?

The 2024 Newcastle Systems Worker Satisfaction Survey provides insights into the life of a warehouse worker and what matters to them.

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Is Your Logistics Chain Leaking? The IoT May Be the Answer

4WL Consulting

Until a few years ago, inventory was a labor-intensive process that typically required either stopping operations for several days or bringing in a large crew to painstakingly count products overnight. These methods were heavily susceptible to human error, with end counts that didn’t necessarily reflect full accuracy. With buyers demanding transparency – particularly in eCommerce – the need for something better was clear.

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Nissan Motor Co. to revolutionize S&OP

Kinaxis

by Melissa Clow Headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, Nissan manufactures vehicles in 20 countries around the world. Nissan offers products and services in more than 160 countries and areas worldwide. As a leading global automotive manufacturer, Nissan Motor Co. operates in a complex and competitive environment. Because of this, the company struggled with disconnected, manual planning processes, which required a concurrent planning platform to enable a more efficient operation.

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What Should an LTL Transportation Management System Do for Me as a Shipper?

GlobalTranz

“Unsustainable.”. That is the word being used to describe the state of the logistics industry in 2017, reports William B. Cassidy of the Journal of Commerce. While it may not describe everything in supply chains, it does accurately describe the overhead costs today’s shippers and carriers have enjoyed recently. Last year, the 2016 State of Logistics Report alluded to rising shipping volume, partially responsible for decreased overhead costs, as a driving force behind declining overhead costs ac