Technology | SupplyChainBrain

Technology: Page 973

The Connected Plant

Andy Chatha Image 02

Same-Day Fulfillment: The Value of Speed to Retail

Analyst Insight: Next-day delivery is the new normal. And fulfillment windows are compressing even further as companies like Amazon continue to raise customer expectations. But companies wrestle with what level of service makes sense, and how to justify investments. It's not about making every process in the DC faster. It's a delicate balance of revenue gains and improved customer service against investment and operating costs. - Helgi Thor Leja, Industrial & Electrical Industry Leader, Fortna Inc.

Jan Feb2014 Cover Art 41

Identifying the Right Metrics Is Your Starting Point

Analyst Insight: Tracking supply chain metrics can help organizations identify opportunities for quality and performance improvement. However, identification is half the battle; organizations must adopt practices that can lead to improvement. One of these practices is the development of close relationships with key suppliers and service providers. Through these relationships, organizations can realize improvements in both performance and quality. - Becky Partida, Research Specialist, APQC

Jan Feb2014 Cover Art 40

Jobs Available in Supply Chain Management, Logistics

SupplyChainBrain and JobsInLogistics have joined forces in 2014 for the specialized purpose of:

Job Board 2014 06

For Many, 'Information Disconnects' Make Comprehensive Visibility a Dream

Ideally, the goal of the information supply chain is end-to-end visibility. Without adequate end-to-end visibility, including all internal and external tiers, the globally connected supply chain is doomed to suffer the consequences of volatility - and in many cases, experience amplified consequences. Unfortunately, most companies still struggle with information disconnects and black holes.

How Good a Bet Was It to Enter an Emerging Market?

This year Western firms' giant bet on the emerging world will come under more scrutiny. Most multinationals are profitable in emerging markets. American firms, for example, made a 12 percent return on equity in 2012, roughly in line with their global average. But having grown fast, profits are now falling in dollar terms.

SAS Issues Demand Signal Analytics Tool for CPG

SAS, a vendor of business analytics software and services, has created SAS for Demand Signal Analytics.

'Perfect Storm' in Pharma Vertical Raises Value of Supply Chain Management

Analyst Insight: The industry finds itself in the eye of a perfect storm. Profits are falling from the patent cliff, pressuring companies to adopt new supply chain value propositions. Regulatory compliance and the Affordable Healthcare Act create process and cost pressure. The cold chain manages the Cs: challenges from complexity, connectivity, compliance and continuum of care. And, above all is the shift from fee-based services to outcome-based care and payment. - Rich Sherman, Principal Essentialist, Trissential

Jan Feb2014 Cover Art 39

What Is Driving the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Supply Chain?

Analyst Insight: If 2012 was the year of climbing the emerging market mountain, then 2013 was the cliff. Not just for patents, but also in succeeding across multiple global markets. Quality issues, bad business practices, failure to integrate acquisitions, these were all common threads. Reputable players stumbled. Lesson learned: focusing on core business is the key to success. Many smaller non-core acquisitions such as animal health, devices, and OTC products will continue to spin off. Emerging and core markets will focus on profitability and smart growth, not just volume. - Brian Hudock, Partner, Tompkins International

Jan Feb2014 Cover Art 38

The Perfect Order Requires Integrated Processes

Analyst Insight: A number of factors are drawing increased attention to the order-to-cash (OTC) process. Achieving a perfect order, one that is filled to completion and arrives at the customer undamaged and properly documented, is under stress from doing new ways of business and increasing customer expectations. - Alex Bajorinas and Jim Morton, both Senior Managers, Ernst & Young LLP

Jan Feb2014 Cover Art 37

Push to Move Freight onto Trains and Off the Road

President Obama announced an initiative to improve the fuel efficiency of trucks. That's a lofty goal, but here's an even better idea: Let's make an effort to move more freight by rail and less by road. Trains are far more energy-efficient than trucks "” and they always will be.

Rail Intermodal 2 05

Short-Term Cost Reduction Higher Priority Than Long-Term Growth in 2014, Most Chief Procurement Heads Say

Fifty-seven percent of surveyed chief procurement officers (CPOs) said short-term cost reduction is a higher priority than long-term growth in 2014, according to a new survey by Consero Group, which specializes in creating high-level, invitation-only events for senior executives. The results were reported as part of the 2014 Procurement & Strategic Sourcing Data Survey, compiled by Consero Group.

Sc Finance 21

Page 973 of 1805

Featured Product

Photo: iStock/Anastasiia Yanishevska

How a Leading U.S. Floral Distribution Company Reduced Warehouse Labor Costs by 45% with RFID

Recycled Tagging Fasteners: Small Changes Make a Big Impact

Mobile geolocation service for track delivery, cargo shipment and freight transportation. Logistic Import Export business (Elements of this image furnished by NASA)

Enhancing High-Value Electronics Shipment Security with Tive's Real-Time Tracking

Franchise business e-commerce online e-marketplace or digital marketing branch expansion for growth or use technology to analyze product consumer data website management plan for sale service concept.

Moving Robots Site-to-Site