Supply Chain Management Archives - Page 52 of 54

What is Deep Learning? And What Does it Mean for Supply Chain?

Preparing Business for the Digital Supply Chain! (Oracle Interviews Mike Mortson)

When I start writing text messages or emails these days I automatically receive prompts for the next words that I may want to use, or even phrases to complete my sentence, as I’m typing.

The word and phrase suggestions are ones that are consistent with the type of language I would use. And the name suggestions are unique to people I know and communicate with regularly.

My Google mini recognizes family voices instantaneously and responds not only to our questions but adds custom comments directed at each of us individually.

It’s clear to me that my computer and smart phone and Google mini are learning what language I typically use. With increasing accuracy they can predict what I might want to write next based on words I am typing. And the voice activated devices are increasingly interactive.

How does this Machine Learning, or Deep Learning, actually work? And how will it shape Supply Chain now and in the future?

Seasoned Leadership in Action™ – An Interview with Anthony Magaraci!

Our 2022 All Star Seasoned Leadership in Action™ Interviews!

At Supply Chain Game Changer we believe in sharing experiences and expertise from people in every industry and from across the globe. As such we have introduced our “Seasoned Leadership in Action™” Interview series. This interview is with Lorrie Watts, Director of Logistics at Red Stag Fulfillment.

Since the inception of Supply Chain Game Changer our mission has been to share experiences and expertise for the benefit of everyone.

Here is our interview with Anthony Magaraci, Founder and CEO at Trinity Packaging Supply.

Optimizing Supply Chain Efficiency: Lessons from BetOnline Casino’s Operations!

Valuable Ways to Improve Supply Chain Efficiency!

Efficient supply chain management is crucial for the success of any business, including online casinos like BetOnline. By streamlining and optimizing their supply chain processes, organizations can enhance customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge.

This article explores the lessons that can be learned from BetOnline Casino’s operations in optimizing supply chain efficiency.

Naming a Product or Company? It’s Not That Easy!

Naming Your Project Will Rally Everyone To Your Cause!

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The organization was spinning off from the parent company within a year to become its own corporation. A lot of work had to be done to in order to get ready to be an independent, publicly traded company, including naming.

The CEO called me into his office and said, “I’d like you to lead the effort to name the company.”

Wow! This was certainly an honour. But how do you name a company and where do you start?

While it may seem easy to come up with a company, or product, name I was about to find out how incredibly difficult and complicated this process can be.

Enable Spend Aggregation in Procurement!

Spend Aggregation Obstacle Course for Procurement!

Aggregating your procurement spend for the purpose of delivering greater value is a sound objective. Theoretically you should be able to generate better service, better terms and conditions, and better cost. Therefore you should enable spend aggregation.

Yet there can be many obstacles in your way to achieving this seemingly simple goal. Loss of control, fear of job loss, questionable benefits, and a perceived loss of margin are some of the obstacles you may run across. We discussed these in greater detail in our post Procurement (Part 1!) – The Spend Aggregation Obstacle Course!

Supplier Synergy: Aligning Your Business Goals with the Right Supply Chain Partners!

What is Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)?

The partnership between businesses and their suppliers is the linchpin upon which success pivots. Understanding mutual objectives lies at the heart of effective collaboration. The synergy between a business and its supply chain partners is not merely a transactional necessity; it’s a strategic imperative.

Keep reading as we explore the intricacies of selecting Supply Chain partners whose values and capabilities resonate with your business objectives.

From defining clear, measurable goals to nurturing enduring relationships built on trust and communication, we uncover the strategies that drive businesses toward sustained prosperity.

How to Optimize Your Factory for Industry 4.0!

Industry 4.0 – Smart Manufacturing of the Future! (Infographic)

Believe it or not, Industry 4.0 — the latest specialization for modern factories and manufacturing plants — does factor into design and and help optimize your factory layout. That is because digitization, or the current movement to connect and bring all equipment into modern times, absolutely influences design.

In essence, that is the heart of Industry 4.0, a complete synergy between operations, equipment, properties and, of course, the people who spend their time there. If 3.0 was about automation and boosting efficiency, this generation is about injecting the human touch back into the work environment, and that means accommodating such things from a design standpoint.

What is Product (or Master) Data Management?

Product Management KPIs!

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I had just inherited a new department into my organization, the Product Data Management (PDM) team.

Shortly thereafter I started getting calls from the CEO. We were missing customer deliveries due to problems in getting the correct, and complete data, into the systems which enabled us to manage bills of material and manufacture products.

While Product Data Management seemed to have been a rather basic function I quickly learned that their role and responsibilities were not understood, were undervalued, and yet were absolutely pivotal and essential to the ability of the entire company to operate.

This was one of many lessons I learned about this critical part of any organization.

What then exactly is Product, or Master, Data Management?

Ground Rules for Creating a High Performance Organization (HPO)!

Creating a High Performance Organization! (Infographic)

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A High Performance Organization is one in which there is tremendous alignment among and commitment by the team members. And as a result this motivated team is able to achieve superior results. The level of collaboration and innovation they demonstrate is remarkable. But what are the ground rules?

There are many characteristics of the culture which allows such teams to be high performing. And when they set out to drive change and make improvements it is those cultural characteristics which allow them to succeed.

Purchase Price Variance (PPV)! A Profit or Loss Opportunity?

Featuring Our 12 Best Procurement Articles!

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Purchase Price Variance, or PPV, is a common term in the realm of Purchasing/Procurement and Finance.

For some, PPV is a mechanical metric only, measured and reported on but without any further attention paid to it. For others it is tightly managed, actioned and used to determine Procurement’s effectiveness in either reducing losses or generating profit. Still for some others it isn’t even on their radar.

In my experience proactive, attentive, and detailed Purchase Price Variance (PPV) can make an incredible contribution to the profitability of a company. To ignore or downplay it is to lose sight of both the potential to drive profits and the exposure to incur losses.

What exactly is PPV, how can it be managed, and what is the strategic value of investing time and energy in this metric?

Supply Chain Education and Certification – What’s Missing?

Quantum Leap to the Top 10 Supply Chain Skills of the Future!

The phrase “Supply Chain Management” was originally coined by Keith Oliver in 1982 and subsequently gained increasing popularity as its usage was proliferated in books and language. That was the start of Supply Chain education.

Since that time there has been an ever increasing number of Universities, Colleges, Institutions and Associations offering credits, diplomas, degrees and certifications in all or some aspect of Supply Chain.

But is just taking courses in basic topics like Procurement, Negotiation, Statistics, Operational Research or Planning sufficient?

While the basic courses are truly important we believe that they are insufficient for really preparing people for a Supply Chain career.

What is missing in Supply Chain education and certification?

Why $0.001 Matters!

Purchase Price Variance (PPV)! A Profit or Loss Opportunity?

As the old saying goes, “Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves!” This phrase, or rather the British version thereof, is attributed to William Lowndes, who lived from 1652-1724. And taking care of the penny is as true now as it was those many centuries ago.

Any savvy professional who works in Procurement or in Finance knows that this adage applies to everything they do. But it is not only the pennies that matter any more, but the fractions of a penny are just as important as ever.

Micromanaging the fractions of a penny across hundreds and thousands of skus in your inventory can add up to substantial savings, and profits, for any company astute enough to understand the opportunity.

Can Lean Manufacturing Really Help Supply Chain?

Is Just In Time Past Its Time?

From the outset, it may not seem relevant to someone who has never applied lean manufacturing processes to their manufacturing methods. On the other hand, lean manufacturing processes can really help the supply chain perform a lot better.

In fact, some of the core principles of lean can also be applied directly to supply chains for making them more productive and efficient. Stay with us as we explain the connection between the two.

The Supply Chain Detective ™! In Search of Broken Supply Chain Clues!

The Supply Chain Detective™: The Case of the Unpaid Invoices!

How can you tell if your Supply Chain is broken? Do you need a Supply Chain Detective?

Certainly there can be obvious clues: your CEO starts firing and hiring people, consultants are brought in, customers start leaving, or operating and financial performance suffers.

But before the situation gets to those extremes what are the clues that your Supply Chain is not working as well as it could, or should?

Supply Chain effectiveness is absolutely critical for companies in most industries to survive, let alone succeed. And even if your company seems successful now that is no guarantee that it will be in the future.

So detecting those clues and solving these problems is of paramount importance.

Navigating Global Events: Leveraging an Electronic Component Database for Supply Chain Success!

What is Product (or Master) Data Management?

Global events can impact supply chains, affecting the flow of materials. Events like natural disasters and economic crises have demonstrated the vulnerability of global supply chains. Companies increasingly turn to the electronic component database to mitigate the risks and ensure a resilient supply chain.

These databases provide essential information on electronic components, availability, pricing and sources. Read on to discover how an electronic component database can be a game-changer for supply chain management during such events.