Found in 247 News & Content,
with a score of 0.86
…$1 billion biotechnology division of a leading corporate materials science innovator. This company had more than 10,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs); 16 manufacturing sites in 7 global regions; hundreds of product lines, product groups, and business segments; 3 key distribution centers on different continents; more than 50,000 individual data points to forecast throughout a 24-month horizon; and multiple separate forecast models that did not connect or share a common format. The challenges were significant. Company leaders recognized that their S&OP process was broken. Procedures were not codified; conversations broke down; and when meetings adjourned, everyone returned to private silos to complete…
Found in 247 News & Content,
with a score of 0.82
…isn’t always right. The same can be said of supply chain management. Since it was first introduced in 1982, supply chain management has experienced a series of transformations. Initially seen as a better way of reducing costs and leveraging resources, it has gone from being a function (purchasing, for example) to being a cross-functional, strategic capability. More importantly, it is now transforming from an art - something that is learned only through trial, error, and experience - to a science. A hallmark of science is the continuous testing of commonly held beliefs. These beliefs often take the form of conventional…
Found in 247 News & Content,
with a score of 0.81
…we continue to see the push to make that information more accessible. The other trend is the gamification of labor-management, by providing real-time insights on user performance and putting that information in front of users to allow them to shift performance, potentially mid-day.” The best way to think about LMS is as a more dynamic solution set than in the past. And, with the increasing use of automation in DCs, labor productivity monitoring for automated zones creates an area of overlap and potential integration between LMS and warehouse execution. Mobility and Business Intelligence LMS vendors have generally adopted web and…
Found in 247 News & Content,
with a score of 0.69
…expect collaborations across multiple disciplines; from 3D bio-printing, cell science, and process design, automated pharmaceutical screening methods to the supply chain expertise needed to rapidly produce and transport these live-saving materials. Modular Chemical Process Intensification (MCPI) Institute. In collaboration with the Department of Energy, the Institute will fundamentally redesign the process used for manufacturing chemicals, refining fuels, and producing other high-value products by combining many complex processing stages into one simple and streamlined step. Process intensification breakthroughs can dramatically shrink the footprint of equipment needed on a crowded factory floor or eliminate waste by using the raw input materials more…
Found in 247 News & Content,
with a score of 0.67
…It describes the importance of this key component of supply chain management and outlines how reverse logistics differs from forward logistics. We then describe some of the key considerations in building a reverse logistics competency and then list key metrics that need to be put in place. Finally, the article offers some practical steps that readers can take to build momentum for a successful reverse logistics program in their organization. Reverse Logistics: Important and Different Companies can no longer afford to treat reverse logistics as an afterthought. It needs to be a core capability within the supply chain organization. For…
Found in 247 News & Content,
with a score of 0.67
…other industries to consider. Finally, we outline the broader supply chain implications of a comprehensive safety initiative. The importance of considering safety issues when designing products, processes, and supply chains can be seen from a negative perspective—that is, the many examples of what can happen when safety is compromised. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan that put tremendous pressure on nuclear facilities, the 2010 mining accident in Chile, numerous product recalls in the toy industry, the BP oil spill, and Toyota’s unintended acceleration case. All of these examples point to the importance of safety. As with firms that are exemplars…
Found in 247 News & Content,
with a score of 0.59
…what’s called “motivated reasoning” - seeking out only the information that supports what you already believe. It was derogatory to women in our industry and elsewhere. Despite your stated support for diversity and fairness, it demonstrated profound prejudice. Your chain of reasoning had so many missing links that it hardly mattered what you based your argument on. We try to hire people who are willing to follow where the facts lead, whatever their preconceptions. In your case, we clearly got it wrong. Have you ever noticed that no one takes sentences that start “I’m not a racist, but…” at face…
Found in 247 News & Content,
with a score of 0.52
…explore the potential for further synergies. In their 2012 supply chain trends study (see [2]), Gartner recognized a further trend towards improving customer service and innovation, in contrast to focusing on operational cost cutting and efficiency improvements. Their expectations are that freight costs, including fuel costs, will show a steady rise but remain volatile. The effect of capacity constraints will again become apparent in the coming years, partly due to the retirement of a large section of the driver and logistics employee population, with fewer employees entering the industry. According to Gartner [2], major budget busters in transport are mode…