Supply Chain – Under the Microscope.
The irony is two-fold. First, for all our talk about processes and process improvement, we really spend an obscene amount of time manually adjusting and firefighting to achieve the desired outcome.
The irony is two-fold. First, for all our talk about processes and process improvement, we really spend an obscene amount of time manually adjusting and firefighting to achieve the desired outcome.
Because precision is, um, well, precise, you now have a different starting point for your journey’s second leg. Which means all the future plans you made will need changing.
Today’s buzzword is Visibility. Every business leader says that we need better visibility. Therefore, the rest of us run off searching for better visibility.
In traditional MRP, we start with a prediction of demand called a forecast, which is typically a range. We are forced to choose one single number to represent that range which we then input into a complex calculator.
I asked a group of supply chain purchasing and planning professionals a simple question. I asked them how they decide just when to place an order and just how much.
Typically, your family uses three eggs per day, so you set a safety stock level of six (two days worth). This means you never intend to have less than six eggs. That way, you should not have to rush to the grocery store just because of eggs.
Today, we find Julie, Matt and two other members of their team attending a Demand Driven Planner workshop. There is a certification possible, but right now Julie and Matt just want to evaluate if this methodology is as promising as it seems. We catch up with them during a break in the class.
Few, if any, follow recommendations of their traditional MRP system unquestioned. That gives a clue.
What if we could segment the precision, with built-in connectivity between the segments, rather than forcing the entire operation into a step by step linear process?
Let’s think about travel. It’s a great analogy for our supply chain challenges. You know where the event is going to be, but not when.
I came across an interesting discussion the other day. The initial question? Who in an organization is responsible for resource planning and scheduling? The responses
traditional planning tools are A) Not designed to do that and B) Designed Not to do that. No wonder they fail.
Inventory Positioning and the resulting Inventory Availability can prevent the negative impacts of many issues.
I can’t think of any decision, big or small, anywhere in life, where you have a 100% guarantee that you’re making the right choice.
There is always a bit of a conundrum when talking with potential clients. One common conversation sounds like, “We need to get our data clean
Because, by design, the execution is left up to individual participants. And, by design, those changes are not connected to the other players or back up to the customer due date.
We’ve all had the opportunity to arrange a small dinner gathering of friends. What can we learn about supply chain and inventory management from that
The two basic problems of inventory management: A—The supplier lead time is not achieved. B – The customer has impossible expectations and constant changes. If
