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SC Security & Risk Mgmt: Page 453

Pick the Perfect Plan. Then Add People

How we love our information systems, our management theories, our best-laid plans. And how often they fail us. It reminds me of what the playwright and novelist Samuel Beckett once said about his work. "Each time one thinks one starts fresh, new," he mused. "Yet each time one reaches the same impasse. There are many ways to begin, many roads to it, but always the same impasse at the end."

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Pain Points in Business Forecasting

People, processes and technology are the three key areas where companies are experiencing "pain points" in their forecasting efforts, says Eric Ball, solutions manager with Avercast LLC. The people side is especially vital, given the trend within many companies of "trying to do more with less." Too often businesses rely on a new piece of technology to improve their forecasting, ignoring the need for humans to run the system. "Coupled with budget cutbacks left and right, developing personnel is a tremendous issue," he says.

California Cantaloupe Handlers Approve State's First Mandatory Food Safety Program

California cantaloupe handlers have voted overwhelmingly in support of the state's first mandatory food safety program to be implemented by a commodity board. The California Department of Food and Agriculture said that 100 percent of handlers voting in a statewide referendum are in favor of amending the existing California Cantaloupe Advisory Board to establish the new food safety program.

Coping With Demand Variability in the Electronics Supply Chain

The electronic industry has always been characterized by high variability in supply and demand. With recent natural disasters such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and flooding in the parts of the U.S., the problem has only become more acute. Tackling it requires state-of-the-art systems, strong management commitment, good customer service, well-run business processes, integration among functions and effective inventory-control procedures, says Dave Lentz, director of innovation and solutions marketing with Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas.

Manufacturing Returns to the West: The Implications

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Global Supply Chains As Competitive Weapons

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Report From SCOPE Spring 2012

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Excessive Water Use 'Threatening Business' in Major Economies

Unsustainable water use is threatening agriculture, other business and populations in China, India and the U.S., according to a study by risk analysis company Maplecroft.

Managing Global Supply Chain Risk

As a tier one automotive supplier, Active Tools International knows the importance of avoiding and mitigating supply chain disruptions. Bill Keller, president of global operations, says the company has developed written risk mitigation plans that emphasize the use of dual sourcing of parts.

Scorecards Can Assess the Long-Term Viability of Your Suppliers - or Can They?

One of the often overlooked and undervalued components of supplier selection is trying to determine the supplier's long-term potential. Simply stated, it is not very difficult to identify the lowest price option during an RFP process. The key for long-term success is based on analyzing each supplier's potential for the long haul, encompassing areas such as strategic alignment, cultural fit, common delivery centers, industry outlook and social responsibility efforts. The best overall strategic value is not necessarily the lowest cost.

Using TMS to Become Your Carrier's Best Customer

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Supply Chain Risks Continue to Trouble U.S. Tech Industry, Study Finds

Interruptions and impediments to supply chain operations continue to rank among the greatest concerns for U.S. technology companies, according to an annual report issued by BDO USA, an accounting and consulting organization. Eighty-eight percent of tech companies cite concerns over reliable suppliers, vendors, distribution of products and services, as well as the global distribution chain.

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