SupplyChainBrainMore from SupplyChainBrainAll LogisticsNext-Generation Rail Fleet ManagementAnalyst Insight: As the global economy slowly begins to improve, large-scale manufacturers who ship bulk product by rail are again experiencing the issues of service reliability, asset turnover, capacity constraints, working capital optimization and risk. With that said, after the dismal 2008-2009 economy, we're right back into the bane of a one-hundred-year rail dilemma: enhancing service reliability while improving fleet utilization to sustain a lean rail fleet. Current rail management tools are effective at tracking historical transit times and identifying the position of each car at a certain point in time. However, an important disconnect exists between seeing the future demand for rail shipments and predicting the usage and location of the cars over the entire enterprise planning horizon. - Alfred Sherk, CEO, SherTrack LLCMarch 14, 2012Business Strategy AlignmentProcurement and Sourcing Has Talent! Or Does It?Analyst Insight: Procurement and sourcing is a continuously evolving profession. A global Gartner Supply Chain study of 453 companies finds 51 percent of procurement and sourcing talent hired in the last three years was to satisfy short-term needs, with a focus on basic, intermediate and advanced procurement and sourcing skill sets. Procurement and sourcing hiring strategies for 2012 shifts to long-term needs and advanced skills requirements in the areas of SRM, supplier collaboration, performance management and analytics, and financial procurement. - Mickey North Rizza, Gartner Supply Chain ResearchMarch 13, 2012All LogisticsA Well-Designed Inventory Planning & Optimization Strategy Must Be MaintainedAnalyst Insight: It can be a struggle for organizations to obtain the right balance between keeping enough inventory on hand to meet customer demand and minimizing costs related to carrying inventory. APQC's research indicates that best-practice organizations achieve this balance through the creation of inventory optimization programs with well-designed strategies, effective processes, appropriate technology, and regular assessment. - Becky Partida, knowledge specialist, APQCMarch 13, 2012Air CargoCase Study Shows Ralph Lauren Embraces Airfreight OptimizationWith $12bn in brand revenue, Ralph Lauren was facing the challenge of coping with rapid growth, both at the wholesale and retail levels. Complicating matters were the apparel leader's broadly diverse customer base, geographic coverage and product array.March 12, 2012All LogisticsYou Need to Create Lean Value StreamsAnalyst Insight: 2011 marked a watershed year in the way supply chain managers conceived of global practice. Natural disasters that shook up traditional global sourcing coupled with a growing willingness to rethink the value of lowest piece-part pricing led companies to reassess what it means to operate efficient, effective supply chains. Companies are rethinking and reconfiguring supply chains to be more rational, regional, practical, low in total cost and risk, and high in fostering quality and customer value - moving toward rational, lean value streams. - John Shook, chairman and CEO, Lean Enterprise InstituteMarch 12, 2012All TechnologyGeographic Concentration Risks in the High-Tech Supply ChainAnalyst Insight: It is common for high-tech companies to have established processes to ensure they are not overly dependent on too few suppliers. Far less common are processes or intelligence to ensure they are not overly dependent on a specific geographic region. But recent events have pushed the issue of risks from geographic concentration of the supply base to the forefront. - Bill McBeath, Chief Research Officer, ChainLink ResearchMarch 12, 2012Business Strategy AlignmentA Model for Tomorrow's Supply Chain LeadershipAnalyst Insight: Supply chain organizations over the past several decades have experienced the structural pendulum as it has swung from one extreme of specialization and parallel silos of expertise to another of all generalists with relatively limited experience in a number of organizations. New findings from a number of highly regarded supply chain organizations and research enterprises show the need for a balanced approach of specialists and generalists for truly world-class performance. - Michael G. Hasler, Ph.D., The University of TexasMarch 12, 2012Business Strategy AlignmentFood & Beverage Technology: It's Cold, It's Safe - and It's Got ROIAnalyst Insight: The generally low-margin and high-waste food & beverage sectors will continue to increase their technology investments in 2012. Traceability, quality and fulfillment technologies are emerging with strong ROI, though compliance and traceability get much of the attention. No doubt global regulations on food safety may be somewhat of a catalyst, but companies say that the benefits are what really drive their investments. - Ann Grackin, CEO, ChainLink ResearchMarch 9, 2012All TechnologyTo ERP or Not to ERP in Central Eastern Europe?Analyst Insight: Central Eastern Europe (CEE) is developing into a lucrative market for ERP software integrators and solution providers. With economies in most CEE countries undergoing structural changes and modernization across a variety of industries, there is a growing need for more robust enterprise information technology infrastructure. The demand is increasing across multiple industries, especially in manufacturing, utilities and the public sectors. - Viktoria Sadlovska, managing director and CRO at Prameya ResearchMarch 9, 2012Logistics OutsourcingFood & Beverage Traceability Impacts Brand, Consumer SafetyAnalyst Insight: Food and beverage manufacturers have the distinct advantage (or detriment, depending on how you view it) of often having direct access to the customer. In today's more open, collaborative, social world this can reap major benefits of understanding one's customer base and responding to its needs. On the flip side, food and beverage manufacturers are susceptible to a major downfall simply from minor issues across its supply chain. Open or not, it's the new reality. - Simon Ellis, practice director, Supply Chain Strategies, IDC Manufacturing InsightsMarch 9, 2012Previous PagePage 539 of 590Next Page
