Procurement

Supply Chain Seems Capable of Handling iPhone Surge

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 · Patrick Burnson As consumer demand for high-end electronic merchandise ramps up, economists are not seeing any disruptions in the supply chain

Study reveals ERP users need specific functionality

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 · SCMR Staff This need was most pronounced in the most complex and demanding industries, including procurement

Always Have an Exit Strategy

Monday, November 14, 2011 · Robert A Rudzki Don’t get locked into a provider and its technology in such a manner that the “exit costs” make it difficult to change directions when the time comes to do so.

Selling Procurement Transformation

Tuesday, November 8, 2011 · Robert A Rudzki Greg Schuth, a Senior Advisor with Greybeard Advisors LLC shares his views on Total Cost of Ownership.

More evidence that “on-shoring” may gain currency

Tuesday, November 8, 2011 · Patrick Burnson When higher U.S. productivity, the actual labor content of a product, shipping, and other factors are taken into account, the cost advantage of making many goods in China that are bound for sale in the U.S. will be marginal.

The Value of Reducing Complexity

Monday, October 17, 2011 · Robert A Rudzki Complexity tends to increase costs. Complexity can adversely affect the resilience of your supply chain (its ability to bounce back after events). Complexity makes risk management more difficult. Complexity tends to slow down decisions and actions.

China’s trade surplus narrows in September

Thursday, October 13, 2011 · Patrick Burnson It was only a matter of time before the turmoil in the U.S. and eurozone fed into China’s trade data, noted two IHS Global Insight China economists today

Supply Chain Council examines emergency response

Monday, October 3, 2011 · Patrick Burnson Top business leaders speaking at the Supply Chain Council’s Executive Summit last week agreed on one key point: preparation is everything

Recent survey points to a weakening EU manufacturing trend

Thursday, September 22, 2011 · Patrick Burnson The overall contraction in Eurozone manufacturing and services activity in September highlights the recent marked faltering in economic activity across the region

New report says e-invoicing is gaining traction

Monday, September 19, 2011 · Patrick Burnson A report by The Institute of Financial Operations indicates that companies are becoming more sophisticated in how they approach procurement and finance

Parcel shippers may be ready to invest in their supply chains

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 · Patrick Burnson With its fifth annual bechmarking survey of logistics professionals, Kewill came to some rather startling conclusions about the current state of the parcel shipping industry

Inventory Optimization: Show Me the Money

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 · Marisa Brown, Director, Knowledge Center, APQC Minimizing inventory investment and carrying costs while maintaining high service levels can be a tough balancing act. But best-practice companies have shown that it can be done - profitably.

Gartner says worldwide software as a service revenue Is forecast to grow 21 percent in 2011

Tuesday, July 12, 2011 · Patrick Burnson Worldwide software as a service (SaaS) revenue is forecast to reach $12.1 billion in 2011, a 20.7 percent increase from 2010 revenue of $10 billion, according to Gartner, Inc.

Supply Chain Management: Ariba study looks into procurement’s crystal ball

Monday, July 11, 2011 · Patrick Burnson A recent study conducted by Ariba reveals there may be broad agreement among supply chain executives about the industry’s fortunes over the next decade

How to Get Procurement Strategy Right

Friday, July 1, 2011 · Per Segerberg Many procurement organizations still have blurred ideas of what their true strategic purpose should be. But a few—the procurement “masters”—do properly understand strategy. And they regularly practice it. The product lifecycle framework presented here provides a useful…