Best Practices

The top-performing S&OP companies are realizing these benefits and in the process gaining competitive advantage. This article details the traits of the top performers and gives a practical approach to help others enhance their own S&OP performance level.

Our panel, representing a combined 80 years of inventory experience, gets back to the basics, reviewing critical strategies that some organizations have been neglecting over the past several years.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is Amazon’s fulfillment service and an incredibly powerful stimulus for the marketplace’s growth. It also offers a myriad of benefits to participating third-party sellers. With this eBook, you'll learn the benefits of FBA for third-party sellers, tips for getting started and how ChannelAdvisor can help.

Since 1983, LEGACY Supply Chain Services has grown by a compound annual growth rate of 18% and continues to evolve by expanding its service portfolio, entering new customer industries, and strategically acquiring 3PL companies to become a fully integrated supply chain and logistics services provider.

Many organizations struggle to make use of financial data from a variety of information systems, which are often disaggregated, complex and duplicated. This makes it harder for the CPO and CFO to see the “true situation” and to skillfully manage cash, volatility and risk in the supply chain.

The rise of questionable ethics may be partly driven by the financial crisis that began in 2007-2008. As the global economy tanked, companies became increasingly desperate to maintain and grow their business. This could be a reason why purchasing now receives more intense gifting efforts aimed at creating implied obligations.

Starting on July 9, 2013, liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation will be issued for inaccurate, incomplete, or untimely filings. CBP may also withhold the release or transfer of cargo for which an ISF has not been filed. Noncompliant cargo will also be subject to further inspections.

Combining a comprehensive range of rugged technologies, a collaborative approach, and strong industry partnerships, Intermec makes implementation of your retail supply chain systems simpler, easier, more complete and effective.

Rail and intermodal continue to improve service and create value for shippers despite an uneven economy engulfed in an atmosphere of political uncertainty. Our panel of top analysts maintains that the railroads are only looking at extending their lead.

An Interview by Dustin Mattison with Edith Simchi-Levi, VP of Operations at OPS Rules Management Consultants, who discussed The Role of Analytics in Supply Chain and Operations Strategy.

In many organizations, maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) inventory accounts for a significant slice—as much as 40 percent—of the annual procurement budget. Yet it is still not managed with the level of rigor typically applied to production inventory. There are five basic practices that can quickly close the gap with best practices in MRO inventory management.

Too often, supply chain and procurement leaders are not well-prepared for complex negotiations with key suppliers. So what does it take to get ready for even the toughest adversaries? Here are seven techniques that top supply management negotiators put into action—techniques that prove effective even when the deck is stacked against them.

The key question that supply chain professionals are asking these days is, What can we do to maximize the ROI from our technology investment? This article provides some practical answers from the experts. It also presents the results of a survey detailing how well practitioners are actually doing in getting the most from their investment.

Regardless of what industry you're in, increasing the visibility of your supply chain is the only way to keep your company from ever facing the intense consumer backlash that comes with the discovery of counterfeit components cropping up in your supply chain.

Lora Cecere over at Supply Chain Insights has been writing for some time about Conquering the Supply Chain Effective Frontier. Lora characterizes this as a focus on long term resiliency of the supply chain, not just short term cost efficiency.

Hours of Service (HOS) changes announced in December 2011 are scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2013. As this date gets closer, here is a summary of the impending changes: Within the 34 hour restart, a driver will only be able to use the restart once a week and Similarly, the 34 hour restart will need to include two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. time periods.

Companies and their supply chain managers can no longer afford to treat reverse logistics as an afterthought. There is just too much at stake in terms of brand protection, sustainability requirements, and ultimately profitability. In short, reverse logistics needs to become a core competency. The practical insights offered here will help you develop that competency.

You make your business decisions on the best information you can. But it’s easy to be held back by assumptions that don’t always hold up. Busting the following two major myths and constituent assumptions will help you make the best decisions you can with regard to choosing a logistics company.

The impact of the cloud on logistics can sometimes be so overwhelming that it's hard to discern exactly what it is changing. In the next few hundred words, we'll boil down the essence of this revolution and why you should expect more than ever from your 3PL.

If your supply chain is going to involve a logistics company, properly vetting that company will determine whether or not your supply chain adds value or hobbles along. The tips in this article will give you a solid benchmark of what you should be looking for from a 3PL.