By Stan Aronow, Debra Hofman, Mike Burkett, Jim Romano, and Kimberly Nilles ·
September 1, 2014
2014 marks the 10 year anniversary of the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 ranking. This year we have a diverse set of large, global companies with mature, demand-driven supply chains. There are lessons to be learned from these supply chain leaders, many of whom have led their industries over the past decade.
By John Dawson ·
September 1, 2014
Intel has always had superlative internal supply chain processes within its vertically integrated operations. But until recently, the same could not be said of one of its business units that outsourced to subcontractors around the world. In fact, the ad hoc nature of that unit’s supply chain interactions posed a threat to its competitiveness. Here’s how a determined team championed a powerful supply chain collaboration model that is getting real results—and that is now being rolled out across the company.
By Steve Banker ·
September 1, 2014
If warehouses are to utilize new sensors and intelligence to optimize performance and connect to the enterprise, warehouse management systems and warehouse control systems architectures need to be re-conceptualized.
By Jack Ampuja, Marshall S. White, V.G. Venkatesh, and Rameshwar Dubey ·
September 1, 2014
Packaging has traditionally operated in its own silo, disconnected from the rest of the supply chain. However, the growth of e-commerce, smaller and more frequent deliveries, and proposed changes in the way that parcel and LTL carriers calculate shipping charges are combining to put packaging front and center for supply chain managers. It could be the next—or last—frontier in supply chain optimization. In the following articles, the authors examine the role of packaging in the supply chain, including the corrugated box used by contract manufacturers, the unit load, and the emergence of e-commerce order fulfillment.
By Andrew S. Winston ·
September 1, 2014
Reprinted by permission of Harvard Business Review Press. Adapted from The Big Pivot: Radically Practical Strategies for a Hotter, Scarcer, and More Open World. Copyright 2014 Andrew S. Winston. All rights reserved.
By Larry Lapide ·
September 1, 2014
For successful S&OP, Telescoping Planning Horizons are best. I met a young woman at a semi-conductor manufacturer who wanted advice concerning Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) processes. Her Chief Operating Officer (COO) had asked her to start a process among executives. Her main concern was that the COO wanted it to focus exclusively on the immediate fiscal quarter.
By Patrick Burnson ·
September 1, 2014
Companies must demonstrate their commitment to long-term engagement on climate sustainability with suppliers.
By Edgar Blanco and Ken Cottrill ·
September 1, 2014
While conventional supply chains seek to efficiently move products in a linear fashion from raw materials to end consumers, a "circular" or "closed-loop" supply chain is one that is also dependent on feeding used products back as raw materials. The resulting circular supply chain poses unique challenges and opportunities for supply chain professionals.
By Bernd Schmidt, Patrick Van den Bossche, Marc Lakner, and Alexander Rathfelder ·
September 1, 2014
Despite increasing automation, human labor remains one of the most important resources in any manufacturing operation
By Becky Partida ·
September 1, 2014
Access to real-time demand and inventory data gives a more accurate picture of customer needs. But for real operational improvements, data is only one part of a strategy. Processes should be part of the focus too.