Apple CEO Tim Cook joined as supply chief when Apple was struggling, and with his just-in-time inventory genius turned things around.Cook loathes inventory, telling Forbes he finds it “fundamentally evil”. “Inventory is like dairy products,” he has also said. “No one wants to buy spoiled milk.” Thanks to his JIT Read more…
There are 2 ways to answer the above question: Option #1 1. The growing length of supply chains and the increased number of parties in the transaction creates the perfect recipe for a bullwhip effect: the amplification of changes in order volume as one progresses from the origin of the Read more…
Even though the last few years have witnessed decrease in world trade volume, Better Supply chain is a need that will only grow with time. An open world of fast-moving markets and technological change is scary. One answer is to close it down. Populists would like us to believe we Read more…
Many managers are reluctant to make valid demands from their team members. To avoid having to impose new requirements on subordinates, a manager may decide to take on the job himself. He reassures himself that his people are already overloaded or that they lack some qualification that he possesses.At the Read more…
Companies are not aligned on the strategy cross-functionally. It is impossible to drive great tactical outcomes if you are unclear on the goal. If the goal is to meet the budget objectives, the organization will never maximize the opportunity within the value chain. While companies almost unanimously state the supply chains Read more…
The idea that a company that practices pull supply chain methodologies will suddenly enjoy massive inventory savings and replenishment nirvana can be as flawed as the belief that the company that practises push supply chain methodologies will maximise sales and freshness in stores. If you only use supply-side/ push methodology, your Read more…
One of the hot topics we have been coming across nowadays is the resilience of supply chains- specifically Pharma and Automobiles supply chains. Intertwined in these discussions are 2 words which are (incorrectly) being used almost interchangeably – Lean and Agile. If you have a hammer, everything looks like a Read more…
Black Swan events are almost impossible to predict. Instead of coming under the illusion that we can anticipate the future, risk management should try to reduce the impact of the threats we don’t understand. To change the way we think about risk, we must avoid making six mistakes. You CANNOT Read more…
Last year companies were grappling with higher e-commerce order volumes, an uncertain global tariff environment, a tough political environment and stiff competition for both labour and warehousing space. Immediate reactions included reshoring manufacturing operations, seeking out new, non-Chinese sources of supply, transforming physical stores into full-blown delivery hubs and investing Read more…
As the supply chain management field has broadened and shifted over time, and as the term has been coopted and redefined by various interests, many views of supply-chain management have emerged. Some are detailed and operational; many focus on information technology. Executives are often uncertain about what falls within the Read more…