Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 27, 2022

At each company, there is a relationship between the metrics of growth, margin, inventory, customer service, and asset strategy. For the purpose of this article, I will use Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) as the proxy metric to discuss asset utilization.) Understanding this relationship requires modeling. (A

Procurement Analytics 337

Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 337

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 92

Sourcing Strategies Inventory Reduction Waste Reduction Expense Reduction 92

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 1, 2021

In a previous post , I made a case for how the Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) and Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) are smarter together. Accordingly Supply Chain and Procurement will need continuous collaboration. By aligning supply chain and procurement, spend can be considered more holistically.

Optimal Sourcing 261

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 261

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

By maximizing space utilization, improving inventory control , and boosting workflow efficiency, you can unlock significant cost savings and elevate your customer service game. Data-Driven Decision Making : Using analytics to continuously refine operations.

Optimal Sourcing 95

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction 95

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. Alex Zhong, Director Product Marketing at GEP.

Supply Chain Network Software 291

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing 291

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. We’re talking real-time tracking, automated purchasing, and a whole lot less stress. Spreadsheets just don’t cut it anymore.

Inventory Management Software 52

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

Jaggaer

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

In today’s dynamic market, procurement is far more than just a buying and purchasing center. Forward-thinking organizations have transformed the department into an untapped gold mine that creates value for the entire end-to-end manufacturing process—from design and sourcing to production and delivery.

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics 52

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 25, 2021

Orbit Chart of Four Industry Sectors at the Intersection of Operating Margin and Inventory Turns (Year-over-Year Averages for the Sector). In general the ERP technology providers underperformed, and the investment was an opportunity cost to the adoption of new forms of analytics and building effective business networks.

Procurement Analytics 370

Procurement Analytics Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Planning Software 370

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

I see a preponderance of reports and white papers that have lots of pages but say little. Optimization engines to improve functional metric performance resulted in an exploding number of planners. Rolling up a perpetual inventory signal takes eleven hours. Contract Manufacturing Signal Latency. Back to John.

Supply Chain Planning Software 340

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 340

ToolsGroup

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

BOSTON, February 16, 2022 : ToolsGroup , a global leader in supply chain planning and optimization software, has partnered with Planalytics to integrate their weather-driven demand (WDD) analytics with ToolsGroup’s retail planning solutions, enabling customers to isolate, measure, and manage the influence of weather on their businesses.

ToolsGroup 177

ToolsGroup Procurement Analytics Predictive Analytics Analytics Software 177

AFFLINK

JANUARY 13, 2025

For businesses with seasonal inventory, estimating yearly demand fluctuations with reasonable accuracy can be both challenging and costly. After all, over-estimating can lead to inventory surplus and associated warehousing costs. This is where predictive analytics can prove instrumental for strategic supply chain management.

Predictive Analytics 48

Predictive Analytics Inventory Reduction Inventory Management Software Procurement Analytics 48

ToolsGroup

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

This sector is driven by several factors, including the ageing vehicle population, the rise of e-commerce platforms , and technological advancements in vehicle manufacturing. Moreover, the proliferation of e-commerce is reshaping how aftermarket products are purchased.

Manufacturing Procurement 156

Manufacturing Procurement Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software ToolsGroup 156

SYSPRO Smarter ERP

MARCH 13, 2025

Advances in automation, sensors, analytics, and other technologies have made significant changes in manufacturing. A modern manufacturing ERP system will make use of these technologies so that their benefits can be realized. Two major transformational changes have occurred in manufacturing.

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 52

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 5, 2021

PwC reports that almost half of assets under management are held by investment firms committed to decarbonization. Similarly, UPS has strong commitments to sustainability and invests in many options, such as alternative fuel vehicles, e-cycles in dense cities, and carbon offsets for purchase with shipping. Buffering creates waste.

Supply Chain Planning Software 308

Supply Chain Planning Software Sustainability Material Savings Supply Chain Planning 308

The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society

FEBRUARY 15, 2021

IoT supports operational efficiencies in areas such as asset tracking, inventory management and forecasting, improving productivity and aiding decision-making across the supply chain. Advanced and predictive analytics. Advanced and predictive analytics are deployed in real- or near-real time.

Supply Chain Planning Software 298

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Prescriptive Analytics Software Predictive Analytics Software 298

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 2, 2023

A large consumer products manufacturer with nine Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) instances and several divisions wanted to discuss forecasting. The Company focused primarily on retail planning and wanted to extend its capabilities into a consumer products manufacturing solutions offering. Models Matter. Traditional Models.

Supply and Demand 372

Supply and Demand Modeling Demand Planning Supply Chain Planning Software 372

Silvon Software

APRIL 19, 2022

The past few years have created a lasting impact on the way business is conducted, driving many companies to analytics to gain the visibility they need to control and optimize key processes. The Basics of Procurement KPIs. To accomplish this, our clients rely on the built-in data hub of our Stratum reporting application.

Optimal Sourcing 124

Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Negotiate Pricing 124

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 15, 2022

There is so much data, and to make use of it, we need to use data mining and analytics to drive meaningful insights that can be put to some good use. ABC Analysis for Inventory Planning : Clustering products that behave similarly highlights issues, challenges, and opportunities for serving customers better.

Optimal Sourcing 253

Optimal Sourcing Analysis Procurement Analytics Purchasing Skills 253

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 19, 2022

Operational innovations like the invention of containers led to the huge growth in global value chains, and today 95% of manufactured goods move on ships. Analytical techniques like linear programming can create the mathematically “optimal” plan, but these methods must be implemented well to avoid creating other challenges.

Optimal Sourcing 284

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply Chain Optimization Optimization Software 284

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 23, 2020

I write for this blog, craft reports from research for our newsletters, create blogs for Linkedin, and build articles for Forbes. Orbit Chart for Ecolab at the Intersection of Inventory Turns and Operating Margin Versus the Chemical Industry for the Period of 2010-2019. Procurement and transportation operated as islands.

Supply Chain Design Software 292

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Analytics Software Optimization Software 292

Precoro

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Within this setup, an ERP procurement module helps companies make purchases and manage suppliers. Numbers speak louder: According to Procurement Tactics’ top procurement trends in 2025 , 83% of CPOs prioritize digitization.   Keep reading to learn: What Is ERP in Procurement?

Procurement Solutions 45

Procurement Solutions Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 45

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

As Allyson presented her story of working for multiple consumer products companies, with very advanced technologies (demand sensing, advanced automation of forecasting, data lakes and descriptive analytics), she spoke of why at the end of the day, the most important technology that she uses is Excel. Using Analytics In the World of Gray.

Optimal Sourcing 221

Optimal Sourcing Analytics Software Procurement Analytics Supply Chain Planning Software 221

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 14, 2022

Supplier problems will cause a cascade of problems up and down the value stream, leading to supply order delays that cause inventory shortages, production disruptions, missed shipments and lost revenue. The study found that these leaders considered the largest gap to be between supply chain and procurement, citing it as a major issue.

Supply Chain Planning Software 269

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software Procurement Solutions 269

SYSPRO Smarter ERP

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Automotive distributors play a vital role in the automotive supply chain by procuring parts, warehousing them, and then supplying them to OEMs (original equipment manufacturer), retailers or end consumers. The data can be used to identify inefficiencies in the supply chain, improve inventory management, and streamline operations.

Automotive 98

Automotive Optimal Sourcing Purchasing Skills Manufacturing Procurement 98

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

I wrote my first report on Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) while sitting on the floor in the Atlanta airport in 2005 when I was an AMR Research analyst. I wrote many reports on airport floors in those days–electrical plugs were just too scarce.) Sales and Operations Maturity Model from 2005-2008. Mistake #3.

S&OP 195

S&OP Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 195

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

I know that your primary focus is procurement. If S&OP efforts were that effective, don’t you think that we would have made more progress against inventory levels, margin, and growth? In part, this results in increasing swings in inventory in response to shifts in consumer demand as one moves further up the supply chain.

Supply and Demand 384

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 384

ToolsGroup

JUNE 11, 2019

With all the buzz around digital transformation, someone peering in from outside supply chain may assume most businesses have already digitized essential tasks like inventory planning. This article will share five things you need to know about optimizing inventory in the digital age.

Optimization Software 244

Optimization Software Supply Chain Optimization Supply Chain Planning Software Network Optimization 244

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

Nvidia, Northrup Grumman, PACCAR Inc, PCA (Packaging Corporation of America), ResMed, Rockwell Automation, Ross Stores, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) Company, Tempur-Pedic, TJX, Toro, Toyota, West Pharma, United Tractors, and Urban Outfitters. An average margin of 21% with inventory turns of 1.58 I admit it.

Supply Chain Planning Software 298

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 298

SYSPRO Smarter ERP

AUGUST 2, 2023

As members of one of the most highly regulated industries in the world, medical device manufacturers face numerous challenges. From stringent quality standards to comprehensive documentation requirements, Class 1 and 2 manufacturers must navigate a complex landscape to ensure compliance and product excellence.

Manufacturing Procurement 98

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Analytics Software Optimal Sourcing 98

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 30, 2021

Truck drivers report that maintenance issues are a constant nightmare. Manufacturers build “control towers” but there no network dial tone between parties to enable prescriptive analytics and alerting.). There is not a one-to-one relationship between a container and a purchase order. Be A Good Shipper.

Supply Chain Design Software 437

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Software 437

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 26, 2023

Primed for transactional efficiency, these legacy architectures based on relational databases drive order-to-cash and procure-to-pay efficiencies. Current Familiarity with Analytic Concepts (Fall 2022 Snapshot) Preamble Supply chain leaders love their rows and columns. I term this our data jail. The focus of the Gartner Magic Quadrant.)

Optimal Sourcing 341

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply and Demand Manufacturing Procurement 341

ToolsGroup

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

As we head into the holiday season, supply delays, logistics constraints and inflation are looming over shoppers and retailers—and the manufacturers and distributors who keep them in supply. The following strategies, based on data, analytics, and collaboration, are helping planners around the globe overcome a disrupted supply chain.

Supply Chain Planning Software 291

Supply Chain Planning Software Scenario Planning Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Software 291

Silvon Software

APRIL 29, 2022

Inventory can be a manufacturer’s most important asset. But a large inventory has its own liabilities such as cost to store and insure it, along with the risk of spoilage, theft and damage. The Basics of Inventory Management KPIs. Every inventory KPI needs a clearly defined goal.

Optimal Sourcing 119

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Procurement Analytics Price Mitigation Strategies 119

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 31, 2022

Companies that viewed the pandemic as another risk management event will struggle the most with Q1 and Q2 earnings reports. Focus on Cost. The Chief Financial Officer gained more presence with procurement and IT reporting to finance. In addition, Lucas used inventory as a slush fund to make quarterly earnings.

Procurement Analytics 221

Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing 221

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 1, 2024

In this scenario, by adopting an adaptive supply chain, the retailer uses real-time data analytics to identify emerging trends and collaborate closely with suppliers to quickly adjust production and inventory levels to meet customer demand. This collaboration enables faster response times and cost savings.

Modeling 297

Modeling Network Optimization Supply Chain Design Software Material Savings 297

QAD

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

For 58 years, food and beverage and consumer goods manufacturers have battled for dominance, from chips and wings to soda, beer, party supplies, and even aluminum foil for food storage and DIY trophies. Manufacturers that dont plan ahead will lose the game. That takes a data-driven approach to forecasting, procurement and distribution.

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Beverage Inventory Reduction Optimal Sourcing 52

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 7, 2023

Today, I speak at the North American Manufacturing Association, Manufacturing Leadership Conference, in Nashville on the use of data to improve supply chain resilience. Interestingly, in Q3 2023, 38% of manufacturers, distributors and retailers missed their target for revenue guidance for the quarter. The result was restatement.

Supply Chain Design Software 315

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Software 315